Finding Aid for the Lou Frizzell Papers 1930s-1970s
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UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections
University of California, Los Angeles, Library
Performing Arts Special Collections, Room A1713
Charles E. Young Research Library, Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Phone: (310) 825-4988
Fax: (310) 206-1864
Email: speccoll-paging@library.ucla.edu
http://www2.library.ucla.edu/specialcollections/performingarts/index.cfm
©2008
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Lou Frizzell Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1930s-1970s
Collection number: 309
Creator: Frizzell, Lou
Extent:
3 boxes (1.25 linear feet)
3 flat boxes
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Performing Arts Special Collections
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Character actor Lou Frizzell appeared in numerous stage productions, television shows, and motion pictures between the 1930s-1970s.
The collection consists of scripts, photographs, scrapbooks, printed materials, and music related to his career.
Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access
Publication Rights
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections. Literary 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.
Preferred Citation
Lou Frizzell Papers(Collection 309). Performing Arts Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biography
Lou Frizzell was born June 10, 1920 in Missouri. He was character actor who appeared in numerous plays, Broadway productions,
television shows, and films. Frizzell is probably best known for his work on the television shows
Bonanza and
Chopper One. Among his noteworthy motion picture credits are
The Other (1972),
Ruby and Oswald (1977), and
Capricorn One (1978). He appeared in the Broadway production of
Oklahoma! as well as guest starred on popular television shows such as
The Waltons and
The Partridge Family. Additionally, he wrote music for productions of
Desire Under the Elms,
Wedding Night and
Aria Da Capo. One of Frizzell's most notable achievements came during World War II, when he served as Musical Director at the Japanese
Internment Camp in Manzanar, California. The Japanese Community was so appreciative of his kindness and compassion that when
the television movie, Return to Manzanar was in development, the Community requested that Frizzell play himself. Frizzell
died at June 17, 1979 in his Los Angeles home after battling a lengthy illness.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of materials related to the career of actor, Lou Frizzell. The collection includes scripts, scrapbooks,
photographs, printed materials, and music spanning the 1930s to the 1970s. The scripts are from various motion picture, television,
and what appears to be theater projects in which Frizzell was involved including
Bonanza,
Capricorn One,
The Odd Couple, and
The Walton's. The scrapbooks document Frizzell's career during the 1950s and include reviews, programs, and photographs from mostly theater
productions for which he was involved in some capacity. Also included is a small quantity of headshots and professional photographs
of Frizzell, clippings, memorabilia, and public notices of Frizzell's death. Additionally, there is a small amount of sheet
music and music scores from
Nuit De Noces,
Desire Under the Elms, and
Wedding Night, operas all written by Frizzell.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Music, no date
- Series 2. Photographs
- Series 3. Printed Material
- Series 4. Scrapbooks
- Series 5. Scripts
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Frizzell, Lou
Actors-United States--Archival resources.
Genres and Forms
Film scripts
scrapbooks
television scripts
Series 1.
Music
no date
Scope and Content Note
The Music Series consists of a small collection of sheet music and music scores for
Nuit De Noces,
Aria Da Copa,
Desire Under the Elms, and
Wedding Night, all of which are operas written by Frizzell. Additionally, there are photocopied, unbound pieces of music that may be related
to a production of
Desire Under the Elms. There are no dates included with the material. There is no specific order to the series.
Box 7
Aria Da Copa: A musical setting of Edna St. Vincent Millay's verse play by Lou Frizzell - handwritten score
no date
Box 7
Desire Under the Elms: An opera in three acts by Lou Frizzell, based on the play by Eugene O'Neill - handwritten scores
no date
Scope and Content Note
Act one, act two, and act three scenes one and two.
Box 6, Folder 2
Nuit De Noces: An Opera in One Act by Lou Frizzell - photocopy of music score
no date
Box 6, Folder 3
Nuit De Noces: An Opera in One Act by Lou Frizzell - photocopy of music score
no date
Box 6, Folder 4
Nuit De Noces: An Opera in One Act by Lou Frizzell - photocopy of music score.
no date
Box 3, Folder 1
Sheet music
no date
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied, unbound pieces of music that may be related to the production of Desire Under the Elms.
Box 3, Folder 2
Sheet music
no date
Scope and Content Note
Photocopied, unbound pieces of music that may be related to the production of Desire Under the Elms.
Box 7
Wedding Night : An opera in one act by Lou Frizzell, based on the play Nuit De Noces by Frederic Witney - handwritten music
score
no date
Series 2.
Photographs (date, box 1)
no date
Scope and Content Note
The Photograph Series includes professional headshots of Frizzell and stage stills. The stage stills are possibly from a production
of
Aria Da Capo. The photographs in this series are not dated or labeled with project titles. Additionally, there is a publicity still of
Gary Cooper from the production of
From Whom the Bell Tolls. The series is arranged alphabetically by file titles which reflect the content of the folders.
Box 1, Folder 1
Gary Cooper - publicity head shot for From Whom the Bell Tolls
c. 1943
Box 6, Folder 1
Lou Frizzell - head shots, contact sheet and negatives
no date
Box 1, Folder 2
Lou Frizzell - professional photographs
no dates
Scope and Content Note
Mostly head shots of Frizzell and some set shots from various projects in which he was involved.
Box 1, Folder 3
Stage stills
no date
Scope and Content Note
May be from Aria Da Capo. Photographs by D. W. Page.
Series 3.
Printed Material (Box 1)
1935, 1943, 1970s
Scope and Content Note
The Printed Material Series contains a mixture of clippings and memorabilia related to Frizzell. The clippings include an
edition of a Manzanar free press (1943), Variety clipping regarding Aria Da Capo (1972), and obituary notices of his death.
The memorabilia includes a Southern California Festival of Allied Arts certificate and a story believed to be written by Frizzell
titled, City College Choir. The series is arranged alphabetically by file titles which reflect the content of the folders.
Box 1, Folder 7
City College Choir - story
no date
Box 1, Folder 5
Frizzell clippings
1943, 1972
Scope and Content Note
Manzanar free press (1943) regarding high school choir piece. Variety tear out regarding Aria Da Capo (1972).
Box 1, Folder 4
Frizzell obituaries and grave site map
1979-1980
Box 1, Folder 6
Southern California Festival of Allied Arts - certificate (1st place)
1935
Scope and Content Note
Awarded to Frizzell for his script, David Copperfield.
Series 4.
Scrapbooks
1940s-1960s
Scope and Content Note
The Scrapbook Series contains eight fragile scrapbooks which document selected periods of Frizzell's career. Each scrapbook
may contain photographs and/or stills of selected live productions, reviews, programs, and other memorabilia. Productions
documented in the scrapbooks include
Bell Book and Candle,
Bus Stop,
The Glass Menagerie,
Life with Father and
Uncle Tom's Cabin. The bulk of information in the scrapbooks pertain to Frizzell's involvement with Cecilwood Theater and Totem Pole Playhouse
during the 1950s. Additionally there are two scrapbooks for what appears to be a 1941 UCLA production of
Warrior's Husband. There is no specific arrangement to the series.
Box 1, Folder 8
Knickerbocker Holiday - scrapbook
1941
Scope and Content Note
UCLA University Dramatics society production.
Box 4, Folder 1
Scrapbook
1947-1951
Scope and Content Note
Very fragile scrapbook of reviews, telegrams, programs, and stills from stage productions in which Frizzell was involved in
some capacity. Includes his performance in the Broadway production of
Oklahoma!, among other projects produced in various places.
Box 4, Folder 2
Scrapbook
1957-1962
Scope and Content Note
Contains stills, reviews, and programs from a variety of plays in which Frizzell was involved as an actor.
Box 5, Folder 1
Scrapbook
[ca. 1950s?]
Scope and Content Note
Fragile scrapbook contains photo stills, reviews, telegrams, and programs from Cecilwood Theater productions in which Frizzell
was involved as an actor.
Box 5, Folder 2
Scrapbook
1953-1954
Scope and Content Note
Scrapbook contains photo stills, reviews, telegrams, and programs from both Cecilwood Theater and Totem Pole Playhouse productions
in which Frizzell was involved as an actor. Productions include;
Affairs of State,
Bell Book and Candle,
Burlesque,
Cuckoo,
Dark of the Moon,
Gramercy Ghost,
Life with Father,
Moon is Blue,
Mr. Roberts,
My 3 Angels,
Peg O' My Heart,
The Plot of Stalag 17,
Ten Little Indians, and
Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Box 5, Folder 3
Scrapbook
1954-1955
Scope and Content Note
Contains stills, reviews, telegrams, and programs from Cecilwood Theater productions in which Frizzell was involved as an
actor.
Box 5, Folder 4
Scrapbook
1955-1956
Scope and Content Note
Contains photo stills, reviews, telegrams, and programs from Cecilwood Theater productions in which Frizzell was involved
as an actor. Included are:
Anniversary Waltz,
Apple of His Eye,
Bus Stop,
The Glass Menagerie,
Happy Birthday,
Red Rose for Me,
The Solid Gold Cadillac, and
The Time of Your Life.
Box 1, Folder 9
Warrior's Husband - scrapbook
ca. 1941
Scope and Content Note
UCLA University Dramatics society production.
Series 5.
Scripts
1970s, no date
Scope and Content Note
The Script Series contains fourteen scripts which document Frizzell's acting career in television, film and/or stage during
what appears to be the 1970s. Projects include:
Andersonville Trail,
Bonanza,
Capricorn One,
The Other, and
The Waltons, among others. The files are arranged alphabetically by project title.
Box 1, Folder 10
And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little - script
no date
Box 1, Folder 11
Andersonville Trail (The) - script
no date
Box 1, Folder 12
Bonanza - script
1970 May 1
Scope and Content Note
A Matter of Pride.
Box 1, Folder 13
Bonanza - script
1970 Jul 3
Scope and Content Note
A Matter of Faith. Formerly titled A Matter of Pride.
Box 1, Folder 14
Capricorn One - script and shooting schedule
1976
Box 2, Folder 1
Front Page (The) - script
1974 Mar 15
Box 2, Folder 2
Jackie and Darlene - Jackie's First Bust - script
1978 Jan 31
Box 2, Folder 3
Love is a Word - script
no date
Box 2, Folder 5
Odd Couple (The) - playscript
no date
Box 2, Folder 6
Other (The) - script and production information
1971
Box 2, Folder 7
Rage - script
1971 Sept 28
Box 2, Folder 8
Rudy and Oswald - script
no date
Box 2, Folder 9
Waltons (The) - script
1978 Jun 14
Scope and Content Note
The Empty Nest.
