The Antonio Moreno papers span the years 1912 to 1959 (bulk 1922-1937) and encompass 3.7 linear feet. The collection contains subject files, an oversize series, and a scrapbook series. The subject files include clippings, contracts, programs, and a small amount of correspondence. There are date and memo books kept by Moreno covering several years in the 1930s and 1940s. Of interest is a drawing by Jesse Lasky Jr. as well as Moreno’s membership card for the actors’ branch of Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Produccion Cinematografica. The oversize material includes a pressbook for LA GRAN CRUZ (1937). The three scrapbooks in the scrapbook series consist of clippings covering Moreno’s career from roughly 1923 to 1926.

Antonio Moreno was born Antonio Garrido Monteagudo in Madrid in 1887. As a child, he worked as a baker’s apprentice prior to emigrating to the United States in 1902. He finished his schooling in Massachusetts and travelled to New York circa 1911 to begin his acting career. Moreno briefly worked on stage before appearing in the Rex Motion Picture Company short THE VOICE OF THE MILLIONS (1912). This was followed by appearances in several Biograph Co. shorts. By 1914 his popularity had grown, and he was regularly paired with Norma Talmadge in shorts for Vitagraph Co. of America.

Moreno enjoyed his greatest success as a leading man during the 1920s, starring opposite Gloria Swanson in MY AMERICAN WIFE (1922), Mary Miles Minter in THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE (1923), Greta Garbo in THE TEMPTRESS (1926), and Clara Bow in IT (1927). His career faltered with the advent of sound as the studios, uncertain of how to utilize his Spanish accent, consigned him to smaller roles. This led to his appearances in numerous Spanish-language productions of films produced by the major studios in the 1930s, such as EL HOMBRE MALO (1931), the Spanish-language version of THE BAD MAN (1930), and ALAS SOBRE EL CHACO (1935), shot simultaneously in English as STORM OVER THE ANDES.

As his acting career underwent these adjustments, Moreno became active in the Mexican film industry. He directed SANTA (1932), Mexico’s first narrative sound production, as well as ÁGUILAS FRENTE AL SOL (1932) and REVOLUCIÓN (1933). In the 1940s and 1950s, he reestablished his acting career in Hollywood by transitioning to character roles. He worked steadily for the rest of his life, appearing in several notable films, including CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE (1947), DALLAS (1950), THUNDER BAY (1953), CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954), and THE SEARCHERS (1956).