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Paulist Productions records
LSC.2300
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Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Paulist Productions records
Creator:
Paulist Productions
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2300
Physical Description:
36 linear feet
(82 boxes, 3 flat boxes, 2 shoe boxes)
Date (inclusive): ca. 1937-2000
Date (bulk): 1960-1987
Abstract: Paulist Productions was founded in Los Angeles in 1960 by Ellwood "Bud" Kieser (b. March 27, 1929-d. September 16, 2000),
a Catholic priest and member of the Paulist Fathers. Its initial television series,
Insight, originally consisted of little more than Father Kieser delivering a lecture about Christian values on an empty stage. Though
production values remained modest, the syndicated program's non-dogmatic, ecumenical approach was soon able to attract top-flight
Hollywood talent who would often donate their fees back to the company. In its quarter-century of activity,
Insight addressed issues such as poverty, racism, and war from a liberal perspective, while still maintaining a resolutely anti-communist
stance, and winning nine Daytime Emmy Awards. In addition to
Insight, Paulist Productions was responsible for the feature film
Romero, and for a number of television movies and specials. It also produced several short films for classroom use. The collection
consists mostly of scripts, photographs, and publicity material for
Insight, as well as for various other productions. Many scripts are annotated, and appear in multiple drafts. Photographs tend to
consist of scene stills and off-camera photographs, in the form of prints, negatives, contact sheets, and color transparencies.
Publicity material consists primarily of press releases. There is a small amount of information about distribution, but virtually
no production records or correspondence apart from cast and staff lists and notes written in scripts. There is also a significant
amount of material about Ellwood Kieser. Most of this material consists of photographs documenting his travels and on-set
activities. There are also many examples of Father Kieser's writing, though his autobiography,
Hollywood Priest, is not present in draft or published form.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Language of Material: Machines are in English.
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the 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.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Donated by Joseph Kim on behalf of Paulist Productions, May 5, 2015.
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
9978157993606533
[Identification of item], Paulist Productions Records (Collection 2300). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young
Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Processed by Doug Johnson, 2016.
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Paulist Productions was founded in Los Angeles in 1960 by Ellwood "Bud" Kieser (b. March 27, 1929-d. September 16, 2000),
a Catholic priest and member of the Paulist Fathers. Its initial television series,
Insight, originally consisted of little more than Father Kieser delivering a lecture about Christian values on an empty stage. Though
production values remained modest, the syndicated program's non-dogmatic, ecumenical approach was soon able to attract top-flight
Hollywood talent who would often donate their fees back to the company. Actors such as Martin Sheen, Edward Asner, and Patty
Duke starred in several episodes each, and dozens of other luminaries (for example, Irene Dunne, Carol Burnett, Walter Matthau,
and Louis Gossett, Jr.) appeared in just one or two shows. Rod Serling, Michael Crichton, and William Peter Blatty were among
the writers who offered scripts for the program, and Arthur Hiller and Ted Post directed several episodes each. In its quarter-century
of activity,
Insight addressed issues such as poverty, racism, and war from a liberal perspective, while still maintaining a resolutely anti-communist
stance, and winning nine Daytime Emmy Awards.
In addition to
Insight, Paulist Productions was responsible for the feature film
Romero, and for a number of television movies and specials. It also produced several short films for classroom use.
In 1974 Father Kieser established the Humanitas Prize, which honors film and television writing that reflects on the human
condition and inspires compassion in viewers.
Though no longer producing an ongoing television series, Paulist Productions remains an active company.
The collection consists mostly of scripts, photographs, and publicity material for the syndicated television program
Insight, as well as for various other productions. Many scripts are annotated, and appear in multiple drafts. Photographs tend to
consist of scene stills and off-camera photographs, in the form of prints, negatives, contact sheets, and color transparencies.
Publicity material consists primarily of press releases. There is a small amount of information about distribution, but virtually
no production records or correspondence apart from cast and staff lists and notes written in scripts.
There is also a significant amount of material about Paulist Productions founder Ellwood Kieser. Most of this material consists
of photographs documenting his travels and on-set activities. There are also many examples of Father Kieser's writing, though
his autobiography,
Hollywood Priest, is not present in draft or published form.
This collection is arranged into the following series, most of which correspond to a production banner:
- Series 1. Insight
- Series 2. Capital Cities specials
- Series 3. Reflections
- Series 4. Bloomin' Human Films
- Series 5. Values: Educating for Responsibility
- Series 6. Buchanan High
- Series 7. Miscellaneous productions
- Series 8. Unrealized productions
- Series 9. Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Motion pictures -- Religious aspects -- Catholic Church
Motion pictures in education
Motion pictures in church work
Christian television programs
Paulist Productions -- Archives
Kieser, Ellwood E.