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An archive of research and writing materials gathered for a biography of Ormer Locklear, the daredevil aerial stuntman who was the first to change planes mid-air and died while filming the silent movie The Skywayman (1920). It took more than a decade for author Art Ronnie to research Locklear s life and find a publisher for his book, Locklear: The Man Who Walked on Wings (1973). Born in Greenville, Texas, Locklear (1891 1920) became fascinated with flying when aviation pioneer Calbraith Perry Rodgers landed in a Fort Worth field to unclog a fuel line. With his brothers, Locklear built gliders and later, learned to fly after joining the U.S. Army Air Force in 1917, eventually becoming a flight instructor. He left the Army in 1919 and with two colleagues, joined show promoter and manager William Pickens to form an aerial circus before he was recruited for the silver screen. In his personal life, Locklear married Ruby Graves in 1915, but they separated in 1919 and thereafter she refused to grant him a divorce. After moving to Hollywood, he became involved with silent screen actress Viola Dana, who was at the airfield the night of the accident and witnessed his death. One of the key items in this archive is a scarce, original poster for Locklear s first feature film, The Great Air Robbery (Universal, 1919). After watching one of Locklear s aerial circus shows, Carl Laemmle signed Locklear to a series of motion pictures. In this movie Locklear played Larry Cassidy, a pilot for the U.S. Air Mail Service, who defends a shipment of $20,000 in gold from the villainous clutches of the evil Chester Van Arland (Ray Ripley). The film made use of all the stunts that had made Locklear a household name as a barnstormer. The picture was a hit, and Locklear was well on his way to a fabulous career on the silver screen. The stone lithographic posters measures 27" x 41" and features a portrait of the daring aviator. It is archivally framed with an acid-free mount and UV plexiglass. This film and The Skywayman are both considered "lost films" as no known prints exists in archives. This archive also includes more than 300 hundred negatives and photographs of Locklear s short life and career that were collected by Art Ronnie from Locklear family members, newspapers, movie studios, and historical societies. Included among them is a framed 8" x 10" black-and-white photograph that is signed by Locklear who is wearing his military uniform. A second framed photograph from his Hollywood days includes a signature framed below the photo. Neither of these images have been inspected outside the frame. Ronnie was a meticulous record keeper. This archive includes copies of letters the author wrote to Locklearfamily members, friends, film studios, libraries, and historical societies. It includes two expandable folders containing copies of the more than 300 letters Ronnie wrote researching the book, with the recipients responses attached. He began his research in 1961 while working at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, using the newspaper s stationary with the intention of writing a magazine piece on spec. After the initial article was published, he decided to pursue a book and many of his later letters reflect the struggle to find a publisher. By 1962, he is using Twentieth Century Fox Television letterhead after having switched careers to be a publicist with the network. Among the early letters Ronnie wrote is one to Locklear s sister, Anita Mae Locklear, who still lived in the family s hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. "Would you please write down anything you recall about Ormer his personality, his motorcycling and racing days, any amusing anecdotes, his first desires to fly, his decision to come to Hollywood and his funeral, which I understand was one of the largest ever held in Fort Worth." In her return letter, Anita shared a few facts: "He was flying with Pickens Flying Circus when the studio was interested and signed him up for the pictures." Ronnie appear.
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