Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Fowler (William Randolph) Collection
URB.WRF
No online items
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: William Randolph Fowler Collection
Creator:
Fowler, Will, 1922-
Identifier/Call Number: URB.WRF
Physical Description:
31.61 linear feet
Physical Description:
97.8 Gigabytes
Date (inclusive): 1891-2001
Abstract: The William (Will) Randolph Fowler
Collection highlights the literary works of Will and his father Gene Fowler. Gene is best
known as a New York newspaperman and screen writer for 20
th
Century Fox. Will Fowler is known for his many endeavors, including musician, newspaperman,
publicist, and author. The collection contains materials written by both Fowlers, including
articles as they appeared when published, correspondence, drafts, galley proofs,
typescripts, and musical scores as well as photographs and audio recordings.
Language of Material: English
William Randolph Fowler (1922-2004) was born in New York in 1922. He and his family moved
to Southern California in 1935. Fowler attended Beverly Hills High School, graduating in
1940.
Throughout his life, Fowler engaged in a number of occupations. He became a member of the
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 1939 after writing the hit song
He's so Married with Jimmie Dodd. He worked as an actor and
newspaper reporter in addition to later work as publicist, playwright, novelist, and
composer. Fowler joined the staff of the
Los Angeles Examiner
in 1944. As a newspaper man, he is remembered for his claim of being first on the scene of
the unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, the "Black Dahlia." He also followed the cases of
executed killer Louise Peete, and Beulah Louise Overell and her lover George "Bud" Gollum.
Fowler left the
Examiner in 1947, but returned to the newspaper
business in 1949 when he joined the
Los Angeles Herald &
Express
staff under city editor Agness Underwood.
After his father's death in 1960, Fowler resigned from his position as News Director at
local television station KTTV to write Gene Fowler's biography,
The
Young Man From Denver
(1962). Other literary works by Fowler include
The Second Handshake (1980),
The
Reporters
(1991),
Bud and Louise (undated manuscript),
and
Odyssey of a Spring Lamb (undated manuscript).
Fowler married his high school girlfriend, Beverly Blanchard, and the two had four
children, Will Jr., Michael, Claudia, and Jenny. Fowler died in April 2004 after a long bout
with cancer.
The
William Randolph Fowler Collection documents the career of
author and composer Will Fowler. The collection also contains manuscript drafts and office
files produced by Will's father, Gene Fowler, a biographer and newspaperman. Included in the
papers are drafts, corrected typescripts, galley proofs, published manuscripts, and
transcripts and notes for the articles, books, plays, screen scripts and short stories
written by both men. The collection also includes musical scores and photographs, and has
been divided into three series:
William Randolph Fowler Files
(1891-2001),
Gene Fowler Files (1915-1963), and
William Randolph Fowler Research Files (1909-1997).
Series I,
William Randolph Fowler Files, documents the writings
of Will Fowler, and includes correspondence as well as manuscripts for numerous works,
including articles, books, and musical scores. Materials are separated into six subseries:
Subseries A,
Articles
by William Randolph Fowler (1946-1989), includes materials
published in magazines, newspapers, and other publications are filed alphabetically by
article title. Subseries B,
Books
by William Randolph Fowler (1946-2001) consists of notes, drafts,
galley proofs, and other iterations of manuscripts including photographs, and is filed
alphabetically by title. Subseries C,
Newspaper Coverage
by William Randolph Fowler (1945-1952), consists of newspaper
clippings documenting some of the news stories Fowler covered as a reporter for Hearst
papers in Los Angeles, and is filed chronologically. Subseries D,
Plays
and Screen Scripts,
(1938-2000) consists of script drafts filed alphabetically by
title. Subseries E,
Office Files (1891-2000), represents Fowler's
personal and professional dealings, reflecting the association of the Fowler family with
figures such as Ben Hecht and H. Allen Smith, as well as his business relationship with
author Robert Slatzer. The subseries consists of contracts, correspondence, Fowler family
genealogical information including family photographs, legal files, scrapbooks, and audio
and video recordings. Non-manuscript material is arranged by format. This series is filed
alphabetically. Subseries F,
Music and Musical Scores
(1940-1986), includes scores authored by Fowler, some of which are accompanied by audio
recordings. Non-manuscript material is arranged by format. The series is filed
alphabetically by title.
Series II,
Gene Fowler Files, documents work by Gene Fowler.
This series is divided into two subseries. Subseries A,
Literary
Works
by Gene Fowler (1922-1961), includes manuscript drafts for such
titles as
Illusions in Java (1939),
Lady
Scatterly's Lovers
(1973) and
Queen Christina (ca.
1933), and a taped recording of John Barrymore reading "The Cowboys Lament" written by Gene
Fowler. Also included are transcripts from an in-depth interview with entertainer Red
Skelton and his wife conducted in early 1951. Subseries B,
Office
Files
(1915-1963), documents some of Gene Fowler's professional and personal
relationships, and consists primarily of correspondence that is filed alphabetically.
Series III,
William Randolph Fowler Research Files, contains
research files for Will Fowler's writing projects. These files consist of correspondence,
clippings, and notes and include significant material regarding his father Gene as well as
recorded interviews and conversations conducted by or with Will Fowler for the writing of
his book
The Reporters with Agnes Bane, Jim Murray, Gus Newman,
and Agness Underwood, among others. Of particular interest are the interviews for the
investigation of the "Black Dahlia Murder Case" with Edward and Alice Miller. There are also
extensive audio-recordings of interviews and discussions between Will Fowler and Robert F.
Slatzer, Frank Capell, Harlan V. Baker, Bob Yeager, doctors Gulligsrud, Wisley, and Choi,
and others during the investigation and writing of the biography
The
Life and Curious Death of Marilyn Monroe.
Please note that some of the language
and/or content may be inappropriate or offensive to some patrons and that recordings are of
varying quality. Non-manuscript material is arranged by format. The series is filed
alphabetically.
Series I: William Randolph Fowler Files, 1891-2001
Subseries A: Articles by William Randolph Fowler, 1946-1989
Subseries B: Books by William Randolph Fowler, 1946-2001
Subseries C: Newspaper Coverage by William Randolph Fowler, 1945-1952
Subseries D: Plays and Screen Scripts, 1938-2000
Subseries E: Office Files, 1891-2000
Subseries F: Music and Musical Scores, 1940-1986
Series II: Gene Fowler Files, 1915-1963
Subseries A: Literary Works by Gene Fowler, 1922-1961
Subseries B: Office Files, 1915-1963
Series III: William Randolph Fowler Research Files, 1909-1997
The collection is open for research use.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
William Randolph Fowler. 05/1990.
Other Information:
This collection was processed with generous support from the Tom W. Reilly estate.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials
protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires
the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be
commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any
use rests exclusively with the user.
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival Materials
guide.
April Feldman, 2013
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Documents
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Audiovisual materials