Finding aid for the Glenn Jordan papers 2682
Diann Benti
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
2022 November
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0185
ctlibarc@usc.edu
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library
Title: Glenn Jordan papers
Creator:
Jordan, Glenn, 1936-
Identifier/Call Number: 2682
Physical Description:
8.56 Linear Feet
11 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1954-2014
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Glenn Jordan (born 1936), an American film, television, and theater director and producer.
The papers include theater, film, and television production and legal materials, press clippings, promotional materials, and
photographs. From 1961-1983 Jordan worked as a stage director and as a director of television movies, specials, and series
from 1970-2001. His three feature films were released between 1981 and 1984.
Language of Material:
English.
Biographical / Historical
Glenn Jordan is a director and producer of television, film, and theater who was born in San Antonio, Texas, on April 5,
1936. Jordan received a BA from Harvard University in 1957 and attended the Yale Drama School from 1957-1958. He began his
career as a stage director (1961-1983) in New York. His theatrical works included "Another Evening with Harry Stoones" (1961),
"A Taste of Honey" (1968), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" (1969). While still in New York, for "New York Television
Theatre," Jordan directed a number of adaptations for public television including "Paradise Lost" (PBS, 1974), "Hogan's Goat"
(1971), and "Eccentricities of a Nightingale" (1976). Throughout his career, Jordan has been nominated for fourteen Emmys
and won Emmys for three of his made-for-television productions: "The Lives of Benjamin Franklin" (1974), "Promise" (1986),
and "Barbarians at the Gate" (1993). Jordan's first feature film, "Only When I Laugh" (Columbia), which was written by Neil
Simon, received three Academy Award nominations for best performance. His second feature, "The Buddy System" (20th Century
Fox) starred Richard Dreyfuss and Susan Sarandon. His third, "Mass Appeal" (Universal) starred Jack Lemmon, Zeljko Ianek,
and Charles Durning.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of material collected by Glenn Jordan (born 1936) throughout his career in theater, film, and television.
Included are film files (produced and unproduced), playscripts, teleplays, screenplays, legal documents, cast and crew lists,
correspondence and letters, ephemera, clippings, and photographs documenting Jordan's career as a director and producer.
The collection is organized into four series. The first series is "Theater Files," which include production files from 1957-1983,
playscripts including adaptations of Gore Vidal texts, playscripts written by Neil Simon, and personal notes from Jordan's
time at the Yale Drama School. The second series is Film and Television Production Files from 1981-2003, which include cast
and crew lists, correspondence with William Soroyen and teleplays. The third series is Photographs from 1959-2003, including
documentation of Jordan's theater, film, and television productions, photographs of Jordan, and a scrapbook from a trip to
the Shanghai Film Festival. The last series is Press and Promotion Files from 1954-2003, which include newspaper clippings
and promotion material for films.
The Glenn Jordan papers contains files reflecting a varied and consistent career in the theater, film, and television industries.
Documentation of Jordan's time with the New York Television Theatre, which he founded and was the director of is present in
the collection. Production files, promotional materials, and photographs of Jordan's Emmy-winning productions, "Barbarians
at the Gate," "Promise," and "The Lives of Benjamin Franklin" are also included in the collection.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library
at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Glenn Jordan, 2019.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Glenn Jordan papers, Collection no. 2682, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University
of Southern Califor
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Motion picture producers and directors -- Archival resources
Television producers and directors -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Theater -- United States -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Clippings
Photographs
Scripts
Jordan, Glenn, 1936- -- Archives
Production files
1957-1983
Box 1, Folder 9
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead
Gore Vidal and Neil Simon scripts
Film and television production
Box 6
Miscellaneous production files
Box 3
Production files
1981-1992
Box 4
Production files
1993-2003
Box 7
Photographs (1959-1973) + Glenn Jordan photographs
Box 9
Chronological files
1954-1969
Box 10
Chronological files
1970-1979
Box 11
Chronological files
1980-2003
