John C. Becher papers

Catalogued by Johnson, Doug
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
333 S La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Published January 2023


Descriptive Summary

Abstract: The collection consists entirely of scripts. Represented are two films, NEXT STOP, GREENWICH VILLAGE (1976) and UP THE SANDBOX (1972), five teleplays, and nearly two dozen stage plays. Of special interest are the scripts for industrial films made by American Motors Corporation.
Collector: Becher, John C.
Dates: 1958-1978
Collection number: 195
Collection Size: 1.2 linear ft. of papers
Repository: Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Available by appointment only.

Publication Rights

Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing materials obtained from the library.

Preferred Citation

John C. Becher papers, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Acquisition Information

Gift of the Becher Family Trust, 2000

Collection Scope and Content Summary

The collection consists entirely of scripts. Represented are two films, NEXT STOP, GREENWICH VILLAGE (1976) and UP THE SANDBOX (1972), five teleplays, and nearly two dozen stage plays. Of special interest are the scripts for industrial films made by American Motors Corporation.

Biography

John C. Becher was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1915. He attended the Milwaukee State Teachers College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1938, then moved to Chicago and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Goodman School of Drama. Not long after he completed his studies in Chicago, the United States entered World War II and Becher was drafted into the Army. He was stationed at a special services school in Lexington, Virginia and assigned to instruct performers such as Red Skelton and Melvyn Douglas on what to expect while touring overseas to entertain.
After he had been discharged from the military, Becher married his wife, Margaret Williams, and in 1946 joined the American Repertory Theater. He made his acting debut in repertory productions of HENRY III, WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS, A POUND ON DEMAND, and ANDROCLES AND THE LION. This was followed by a revival of YELLOW JACK, directed by Martin Ritt, and a production of ALICE IN WONDERLAND which featured Julie Harris and Eli Wallach alongside Becher as the Queen of Hearts. Over the next thirty years, Becher acted regularly on stage in New York, while his wife served as comptroller of the Theater Guild. His notable stage credits include the original productions of SKIPPER NEXT TO GOD with John Garfield, THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFÉ, and AUNTIE MAME with Angela Lansbury. He also appeared in a 1970 revival of HARVEY starring James Stewart and Helen Hayes and a revival of GYPSY starring Lansbury. In 1957, at the opening of the Kongresshalle in West Berlin, he performed alongside Lillian Gish and Ethel Waters, among many others. He also regularly acted in Summer Stock and took part in the Theatre Guild's Theater at Sea program in the 1970s.
As an actor based in New York, Becher was also active in the burgeoning years of television. He appeared in numerous anthology series, such as THE PHILCO TELEVISION PLAYHOUSE, STUDIO ONE, and THE UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR and made repeated appearances, as various characters, on such shows as THE PHIL SILVERS SHOW, CAR 54, WHERE ARE YOU? and NAKED CITY. Becher also acted in film and, as with his television work, his film appearances were in smaller, supporting roles. He has uncredited parts in THE WRONG MAN (1957) and THE ODD COUPLE (1968), and he appeared in such films as UP THE SANDBOX (1972), NEXT STOP, GREENWICH VILLAGE (1976), HONKY TONK FREEWAY (1981), GREMLINS (1984), and MURPHY'S ROMANCE (1985). After he and Margaret moved to Los Angeles in 1979, he continued his prolific television career, making appearances on TAXI, CHARLIE'S ANGELS, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THREE'S COMPANY, MURDER, SHE WROTE, and THE FACTS OF LIFE, among many others. Becher died in 1986.

Arrangement of the Collection

1. Production files; 2. Television files; 3. Stage files; 4. Subject files

Indexing terms

Becher, John C.
Actors


 

Manuscripts

 

Production files

folder 1

NEXT STOP GREENWICH VILLAGE--script 1975--1975

Record ID: 71302625

folder 2

UP THE SANDBOX--script 1972--1972

Record ID: 71302628

 

Television files

folder 3

KOJAK [television]--script 1976--1977

Record ID: 71302629

folder 4

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP [television]--script 1958--1958

Record ID: 71302631

folder 5

THE LINEUP [television]--script 1958--1958

Record ID: 71302632

folder 6

MAN WITH A CAMERA [television]--script 1958--1958

Record ID: 71302633

folder 7

TOO FAR TO GO [television]--script 1978--1978

Record ID: 71302634

 

Stage files

folder 8

THE AMERICAN DREAM [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302635

folder 9

THE AUDIENCE [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302637

folder 10

THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE [stage]--script 1963--1963

Record ID: 71302638

folder 11

BEAT THIS [stage]--script 1964--1964

Record ID: 71302639

folder 12

BERNICE [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302640

folder 13

BRIGADOON [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302641

folder 14

THE CHILD BUYER [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302642

folder 15

THE CHILD BUYER [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302643

folder 16

THE DEATH TRAP [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302644

folder 17

GYPSY [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302645

folder 18

HAPPY DAYS [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302646

folder 19

KISS ME KATE [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302647

folder 20

LOVE AND INTRIGUE [stage]--script 1959--1959

Record ID: 71302648

folder 21

MAME [stage]--script 1966--1966

Record ID: 71302649

folder 22

PICNIC [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302650

folder 23

PORTRAIT OF A MADONNA [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302651

folder 24

THE RITZ [stage]--script 1975--1975

Record ID: 71302652

folder 25

THE SOLID-GOLD CADILLAC [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302653

folder 26

STATUS QUO VADIS [stage]--script 1967--1967

Record ID: 71302654

folder 27

SZECHUAN DYNASTY [stage]--script 1978--1978

Record ID: 71302655

folder 28

TEACH ME HOW TO CRY [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302656

folder 29

THAT THING AT THE CHERRY LANE [stage]--miscellaneous

Record ID: 71302657

folder 30

Unidentified--script

Record ID: 71302658

folder 31

THE WRECK OF THE FIVE-TWENTY-FIVE [stage]--script

Record ID: 71302659

 

Subject files

folder 32

American Motors Corporation--script

Record ID: 71302660

folder 33

American Motors Corporation--script 1963--1963

Record ID: 71302662