Pittsburgh Archivist Launches Digital Archive for Forgotten 1950s Star Joan Dixon

Pittsburgh archivist Steve Segal has launched the Joan Dixon Reference Archive, a new digital repository dedicated to the life and career of the forgotten 1950s RKO contract actress. The project aims to revive interest in Dixon, who starred in eight films from 1950 to 1952. The archive compiles contemporary newspapers, studio records, and interviews, including a previously unpublished 53-minute audio interview where Dixon details her on-and-off romantic relationship with billionaire Howard Hughes, which spanned from 1948 until his 1957 marriage. Newly digitized Hughes Production records also document her contracts and studio life. Dixon, who died in 1992, is best known for her leading role in the 1951 film noir "Roadblock." The repository also features rare photographs, pressbooks, and her official studio biography, offering a unique glimpse into RKO's publicity operations.