Adrian Michaelis (1901-2000) was the producer and program manager for Standard Oil Company's The Standard Hour radio broadcast, subsequent School Broadcast, and television show. In 1919, Michaelis began working for the Standard Oil Company as a hall boy. In 1926, through a collaboration with the then-struggling San Francisco Symphony, Standard Oil sponsored a series of broadcasts of the Symphony's performances. Due to his background with the company and strong interest in music, Michaelis was appointed as the Program Manager for the newly created Standard Symphony Hour Broadcast, later simply known as The Standard Hour. Michaelis remained with Standard Oil Company until his retirement in 1966 and worked subsequently as a consultant. Following his retirement, Michaelis became actively involved with the Los Californianos organization. A small amount of this material is strictly biographical or personal, but the vast majority of it pertains to Michaelis’ career as Program Manager for the Standard Oil Company’s music related programs. The collection includes correspondence, libretti, clippings, photographs, negatives, programs, brochures, flyers, souvenir books, scrapbooks, sheet music, and transcripts. The arrangement of the collection is as follows: Biographical, Correspondence, All Broadcasts, Standard Hour Radio Broadcast, Standard School Broadcast, Standard Hour Television Broadcast, People, Photographs, Miscellaneous, and Sheet Music

Adrian Michaelis was born in San Francisco on December 1, 1901. In 1908, his family moved to Oakland, where he attended Oakland public schools and graduated from Oakland Technical High School. Following graduation, Michaelis began work for the Standard Oil Company as a hall boy. Over the next few years, he progressed to positions such as typist, clerk, editor of the employees' magazine, photographer, writer, and finally into positions in advertising and public relations. In 1926, through a collaboration with the then-struggling San Francisco Symphony, Standard Oil sponsored a series of broadcasts of the Symphony's performances. Due to his background with the company and strong interest in music, Michaelis was appointed as the Program Manager for the newly created Standard Symphony Hour Broadcast, later simply known as The Standard Hour, a role he would retain until the show's final broadcast in 1955. Alongside this role, Michaelis worked as the Producer-Writer for The Standard Hour's companion broadcast, the Standard School Broadcast. Michaelis also served as creator and producer for the short-lived The Standard Hour television series in 1952. Michaelis remained with Standard Oil Company until his retirement in 1966 and worked subsequently as a consultant.

24.0 Linear feet 14 cartons, 6 flat file boxes

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The Michaelis Papers are open to researchers.