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Thomas (Danny) papers
PASC.0356  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
Entertainer Danny Thomas is best remembered for his role in the television series Make Room for Daddy later known as the Danny Thomas Show. The collection consists primarily of script files documenting the popular television series Make Room for Daddy (1953-1956) and The Danny Thomas Show (1956-1964).
Background
Muzyad Yakhoob, later changed to Danny Thomas, was born on 6 January 1914 in Deerfield, MI. Thomas first worked in local radio and nightclubs, under his Americanized name, Amos Jacobs, before becoming a hit as Danny Thomas at the 5100 Club in Chicago. It was at the 5100 Club that Abe Lastfogel, head of the William Morris Agency, saw and signed Thomas. Thomas went on to host his own radio program, The Danny Thomas Show, on CBS-Radio from 1944 to 1949. During this same time, Thomas made his motion picture debut in The Unfinished Dance (1946). He started his television career in the early 1950s on All Star Revue, and not long after, he was given the opportunity for his own television show. Loosely based on Thomas' own life, the television series Make Room for Daddy (1953-1956) later known as the Danny Thomas Show (1956-1964) was a sitcom about Danny Williams, a nightclub singer and comedian, and his family. It included cast members Jean Hagen, Sherry Jackson and Rusty Hamer. When Jean Hagen left the show at the end of the 1955/56 season, the series was renamed The Danny Thomas Show. Thomas spent the 1956/57 season playing a widower, but in the spring of 1957 Marjorie Lord and Angela Cartwright were added to the cast. The Emmy winning series was on air for eleven seasons and remained one of the top ten rated shows until it voluntarily left the air in 1964.
Extent
10.2 Linear Feet (20 boxes and 1 shoe box)
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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.
Availability
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.