Documenting American Icon Pat Boone Every Time and Anytime By Local Longtime Archivist Dottie Towle
Documenting American Icon Pat Boone Every Time and Anytime
By Local Longtime Archivist Dottie Towle
There were singing career, promoted by Arthur Godfrey, a contract with Dot Records, TV shows, ABC TV, Chevy Show (In the mid-1950’s), and films at 20th Century Fox. He came on the scene about the same time as Elvis Presley. They talked many times about their differences! Pat was known for his wholesome pop hits in the 1950’s. His first hit was “Two Hearts, Two Kisses” in 1955. Who can forget his milk commercials?
Pat Boone’s popularity soared in the 1960’s and he took his concerts tours to the international level, (eventually 60 tours), golf tournaments, (for example, with Bob Hope and President Ford) and endorsements of products. (Easter Seal fund raisers) interviews, books, philanthropic endeavors, plays, and many articles that Pat would write in later years. The files are filled with them and I would find them when needed. Also photographs he wanted pulled before hisTV interviews, magazine articles and concert engagements.
There were several Businesses that he would get involved in and many real estate deals that needed to be preserved.
In the 1970’s, there were singing, touring bookings and concerts with his family of 4 girls and Shirley, his wife. (Red Foley was her father). There were lots of Flyers and posters from appearances, Gospel songs he has written, Radio shows, and Gospel Hall of Fame Award in 2003, fan club magazines, fan mail, speaking engagements, and Plays. I’m still in contact with his Fan Club President. Many fans in Europe still want autographed pictures.
It has taken many years to filter through all the awards, photographs, newspapers and magazines to organize and store and file all of these different categories. He has been photographed with almost every president since President Truman. There were myriads of photographs with the old Hollywood Stars, and well known influential people. A very special photograph I came across is of J.C. Penny presenting Pat the “Father of the Year” Award in the 1957. The most daunting challenge I was tasked with was to collect and put together pictures for his publisher: Pat’s autobiography, “Pat Boone’s America. 50 years” which came out in 2006.
As Pat had hosted variety shows such as “The Pat Boone Show” and “Pat Boone in Hollywood”, we had a lot of performance outfits. (Made especially for him so they were one of a kind.)
There is a Boone Family Center at Pepperdine University that will house a lot of his memorabilia. I have met with them; they choose the materials to preserve.
For almost two decades, I had the delight and honor of documenting and preserving this extraordinary, significant and notable Hollywood heartthrob entertainer, Pat Boone. Although at times a daunting challenge, his life of accomplishments has been well preserved and archived for all generations to be inspired.
Dottie Towle Bio
A resident in Portuguese Bend for almost 50 years. I’ve worn many hats: Program Directer for the YWCA, real estate agent, travel agent, homeschool teacher. Hobbies included traveling, entertaining, gardening, decorating & working closely with churches, schools in theatre productions and European student tours.I am Glamma to two children, 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.