Finding Aid for the Joe Alvin papers, 1931-1980 (bulk 1940s)
Finding aid prepared by Michele James with assistance by Julie Graham; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
© 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Joe Alvin papers
Collection number: 1929
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.6 linear ft.
(3 boxes and 1 flat box)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1940-1949
Date (inclusive): 1931-1980
Abstract: The collection consists of material related to the career of journalist and publicist Joe Alvin. Included in the collection
are publicity photographs, writings by Alvin and others, correspondence, and memorabilia.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Creator:
Alvin, Joe
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library
Special Collections for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the
creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright
owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Joe Alvin papers (Collection PASC 1929). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Biography/History
Joseph John Alvin Czyzewski was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1908. He began his career as a journalist for the South Bend
Tribune, where he worked for seven years in various different capacities. He worked as an Associated Press correspondent in
Chicago for one and a half years before taking a publicity job in NBC's Chicago office. He relocated to the West Coast in
1935 and was eventually hired by the press department of NBC's western division where he was promoted to assistant manager.
He was responsible for special events originating in NBC's Pacific territory and is credited with having started camp shows
for service men in World War II, recruiting entertainers such as Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen, and Bob Hope.
In 1946 he left NBC to become the assistant to the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers president Donald Nelson.
After 1947 he took a position at the public relations firm of Carl Byoir as vice-president in charge of West Coast operations.
Ultimately Alvin established his own public relations firm, Joe Alvin and Company, in 1957.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of publicity photographs, writings, correspondence, and memorabilia related to the career of publicist
Joe Alvin. The majority of photographs are images of Alvin and/or entertainers such as W.C. Fields, Bob Hope, Irene Rich,
Red Skelton, and Rudy Vallee, among others. The writings are newspaper articles written by Alvin compiled in a scrapbook,
a very small number of radio broadcast scripts, and a small number of typescript essays/articles written by Alvin and others.
The bulk of the correspondence is from various armed service branches and concerns publicity events.
Organization and Arrangement
There is no specific order to the collection.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Alvin, Joe--Archives.
Press agents--Archival resources
Box 2, Folder 5
37th National Orange Show photographs.
no date.
Box 2, Folder 20
Articles by Donald M. Nelson.
no date.
General note
Including The Independent Motion Picture Producer and Merchandising Your Future.
Box 3, Folder 4
Brag book facsimile pages.
no date.
Box 2, Folder 6
Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen publicity - photographs, correspondence, press releases, and clippings.
1940-1942.
Box 3, Folder 2
Clippings (assorted).
1937, 1940s, 1958 1980.
Box 3, Folder 1
Clippings relating to Alvin.
1938-1939, 1950.
Box 2, Folder 7
Hamburger Queen Contest photographs.
1938.
Box 2, Folder 11
Irene Rich photographs, clipping, and playbill.
no date, 1938, 1940.
Box 2, Folder 8
J.J. Newberry and Co. store opening publicity photographs and press clippings..
1940.
General note
With Dick Powell, Irene Rich, Meredith Wilson, and Helen Wood.
Box 3, Folder 5
JG check Scrapbook of writings by Alvin.
ca. 1930s.
Box 2, Folder 1
Joe Alvin resume.
no date.
Box 3, Folder 7
KRLA - Confidential Memo to Staff regarding the KRLA Story.
no date.
Box 3, Folder 9
KRLA - In the Public Service the KRLA Story A Yearbook: How Radio Serves the Community, State and the Nation - booklet.
1962.
Box 3, Folder 6
KRLA - In the Public Service the KRLA Story A Yearbook: How Radio Serves the Community, State and the Nation recepient thank
you letters.
1961.
Box 3, Folder 8
KRLA - In the Public Service the KRLA Story A Yearbook: How Radio Serves the Community, State and the Nation -booklet.
1960-1961.
Box 2, Folder 3
Letters and press release regarding Alvin's role at NBC.
1944, 1946.
Box 2, Folder 2
Letters to Alvin.
1931-1935, 1941-1946, 1973.
Box 2, Folder 4
Letters to Alvin from military departments with photographs.
1941, 1943.
Box 1
Light of Notre Dame (The) by Joe Alvin - book.
1978.
Box 2, Folder 14
NBC radio scripts.
1940, 1944-1945, 1977.
Box 2, Folder 16
NBC-UCLA Radio Institute letters and syllabus.
1945.
Box 2, Folder 18
P.R. book material - typed notes.
no date.
Box 2, Folder 12
Photographs.
no date.
General note
Mostly Alvin with others who are unidentified and at unidentified events. Many appear to be publicity shots; a small number
appear to be personal.
Box 2, Folder 10
Photographs.
no date, early 1940s.
General note
Appears mostly to be publicity shots including Eddie Cantor, Jerry Colonna, Bing Crosby, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, W.C. Fields,
Gale Gordon, Bob Hope, Dick Powell, The Ranch Boys, Will Rogers Jr., Red Skelton, and Rudy Vallee.
Box 4, Folder 3
Photographs.
1958.
General note
One item with Vincent Price, Joe Alvin, et al.
Box 2, Folder 13
Photographs of Alvin and others.
ca. 1930s-ca. 1950s.
General note
Some inscribed to Alvin; some with captions.
Box 4, Folder 1
Photographs signed to Alvin.
no date.
General note
Including Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Elinor Harriot, Gertrude Niesen, Conrad Thibault, Don Wilson, and Walter Winchell.
Box 4, Folder 2
Photographs signed to Alvin.
no date.
General note
Including Edgar Bergen, Irene Dunne, Jane Froman, and Rudee
Box 1, Folder 1
Pilot log book.
ca. 1930s.
Box 2, Folder 15
Rescue of US Army fliers from Tonto Plateau special events broadcast material.
1944.
Box 2, Folder 9
Santa Claus Lane Parade clipping and press release.
1941.
Box 4, Folder 4
Time Faces in the News - magazine.
no date.
Box 2, Folder 17
Writings by Alvin.
no date, 1933, 1940.
Box 2, Folder 19
Writings by unknown author.
no date.
General note
Biographical sketch of Walt Disney, A New Way of Life for Gale Gordon, The Store of Family Theater, and war-related article.