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Finding Aid for the Ben Starr Scripts, 1948-1968
1077  
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Container List

 

Radio Material

Box 1

First Nighter Radio Show (Half Hour)

Box 1

“Mama Tells Fortunes.” January 1948

Physical Description: (20pp.)

Note

“My original, typed by me script. First sale of my writing.”
Box 1

First nighter framework for “Mama Tells Fortunes” broadcast. May 20, 1948

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 13pp.)

Note

[Date from] night of the actual broadcast.
Box 1

“The Honest Dope.” Aired December 16, 1948

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 20pp.)

Note

“Second sale of writing. To same radio series.”
Box 1

Curtain Time Radio Show (Half Hour)

Box 1

“Dodie Writes Another Letter” script. March 9, 1949

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 37pp.)
Box 1

Stars Over Hollywood Radio Show (Half Hour)

Box 1

“A Penny Saved” script. May 29, 1950

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 28pp.)

Note

“Starred Jack Paar in first radio dramatic role.”
 

Television Material

Box 1

Climax: Show (One Hour Long)

Box 1

“Thin Air” revised script. September 14, 1955

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 100pp.)

Scope and Content Note

Contains original annotations on p.76.

Note

“Won the Edgar Allan Poe Special Award by Mystery Writers of America, April 19, 1956.”
Box 1

“The Pink Cloud” second revision. October 27, 1955

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 83pp.)
Box 1

Studio One Show (One Hour)

Box 1

“The Funny Looking Kid” final revised script. May 19, 1958

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 113pp.)
Box 1

Front Row Center (One Hour)

Box 1

“Uncle Barney” final revised script. February 26, 1956

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 112pp.)
Box 1

The Dick Powell Show (One Hour)

Scope and Content Note

3 original scripts co-written with Robert O'Brien.
Box 1

“No Strings Attached.” January 29, 1962

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 67pp.)
Box 1

“The Senator from Horse-Shoe Bend.” April, 12,1962

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 68pp.)
Box 1

“Special Assignment.” July 9, 1962

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 72pp.)
Boxes 1-2

The Phil Silvers Show (Half Hour)

Scope and Content Note

10 original television scripts.
Box 1

“Harry Today, Gone Tomorrow” production sheet. May 10, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed)

Scope and Content Note

Also, second draft, dated April 5, 1963 (mimeoed, 46pp.).
Box 1

“Moonlight and Dozes:” production sheet. June 26, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 39pp.)

Scope and Content Note

Also, final draft, dated (on production sheet) June 6, 1963.
Box 1

“Beauty and the Least” production sheet. June 27, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 41pp.)

Scope and Content Note

Also, revised draft, dated July 18, 1963.
Box 1

“Stop the Factory, I Wanna Get Off” production sheet and script. July 5, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 38pp.)
Box 1

“Who do Voodo? Harry do!” Production sheet and final draft. July 19, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 40pp.)
Box 1

“Will the Real Harry Grafton Please Stand Up?” Production sheet and final draft. Augist 1. 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 38pp.)
Box 1

“Cyrano De Grafton” production sheet. August 19, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 41pp.)

Scope and Content Note

Also, final draft of script, August 7, 1963.
Box 2

“How to Succeed in Business Without Crying” production sheet and final draft. September 10, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 36pp.)
Box 2

“Las Vegas Was My Mother's Maiden Name” production sheet and final draft. October 1, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 35pp.)

Scope and Content Note

  • Annotations on pp.11, 13, 14, 18, 19 and 20.
  • Revised pages typed by me, dated October 4, 1963: 11, 11-A, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 20-A (8pp.).
Box 2

“Take Her. She's Tall” production sheet and final draft. January 27, 1964

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 37pp.)
Box 2

My Favorite Martian Show (Half Hour)

Box 2

“Who Am I?” November 26, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 36pp.)
Box 2

“My Nephew. The Artist.” December 10, 1963

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 40pp.)
Box 2

“Coo Coo.” January 17, 1964

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 35pp.)
Box 2

“Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow.” 1966

Physical Description: (35pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“My original typed script with notes and cuts.”

Note

“Show was aired but I don't have a mimeoed copy.”
Box 2

Tugboat Annie Pilot (Half Hour)

Box 2

Script, co-written. February 24, 1956

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 44pp.)

Note

“Series bought off pilot script.”
Box 2

The Thin Man Pilot (Half Hour) January 1957

Physical Description: (40pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“My original pilot script typed by me (Can't find the mimeoed copy).”

Note

I was also co-producer on pilot film.
Starred Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk.
Box 2

Perry Mason Pilot (One Hour)

Note

“Final credits for writing was with Lawrence Marks.”
Box 2

My original outline. February 1956

Physical Description: (8pp.)

Scope and Content Note

Also, my mimeoed second draft script, dated April 25, 1956 (85pp.).

Note

“Typed by me.”
 

Feature Films

Box 2

Sammy

Note

“Unproduced Original; Sold to a Producer”
Box 2

The Elephant Who Couldn't Remember. April-1946

Physical Description: (8pp.)

Note

“Original short story typed by me.”
Box 2

Synopsis entitled Sammy. September 1951

Physical Description: Dittoed. (4 pages.)
Box 2

Screen treatment. November 1952

Physical Description: (20pp.)

Note

“Typed by me.”
Box 2

Original screenplay. 1955

Physical Description: (93pp.)

Scope and Content Note

With notes and cuts etc.

Note

“Typed by me.”
Box 2

Final script. Late 1955

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 97pp.)
Box 2

Our Man Flint

Note

(Produced by 20th Century Fox)
Starred James Coburn, Lee Cobb.
Box 2

Cartel of Evil. Original screenplay by Hal Fimberg. April 24, 1964

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 111pp.)

Scope and Content Note

Includes:
  • Memo from Darry F. Zanuck, dated May 2, 1964 (5pp.).
  • My First Draft, dated November 11, 1964 (Mimeoed, 129pp.).
  • Shooting Final Draft (co-written), March 12, 1965 (Mimeoed, 117pp.).
 

The Pad

Note

(Produced by Universal)
Final credit shared with Tom Ryan.
Starred Brism Bedford, Julie Summers, James Farentino.
Box 3

The Private Ear First Draft screenplay by Tom Ryan. August 4, 1965

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 126pp.)
Box 3

My original screenplay. November 4, 1965

Physical Description: (107pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“Typed by me, with notes, cuts etc.”
Box 3

The Pad (And How to Use It). November 10, 1965

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 103pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“Final Screenplay by me.”
Box 3

Texas Across the River

Note

(Produced by Universal)
Final screen credits shared with Wells Root and Harold Greene.
Starred Dean Martin, Apin Delon.
Box 3

Original screenplay by Wells Root and Harold Greene. n.d. [1953?]

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 136pp., with blue cover)
Box 3

First draft screenplay by John Gay. April 12,1965

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 134pp.)
Box 3

Second Draft screenplay by John Gay. May 18, 1965

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 126pp.)
Box 3

Revised Second draft screenplay by Ben Starr. January 4, 1966

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 123pp.)

Scope and Content Note

Hand notations by me on pp.1, 2, 6, 7, 12, 14, 16, 20-22, 24-26, 31-35, 44, 50, 52, 55, 60, 62, 64, 66, 73, 94, 96, 97, 100, 101, 106.
Box 3

Final Screenplay by me. January 21, 1966

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 123pp.)
Box 4

The Spirit is Willing

Note

(Produced by Paramount)
Still entitled Poltergeist, but subsequently changed to The Spirit is Willing.
Starred Sid Caesar.
Box 4

Outline. January 5, 1966

Physical Description: (5pp.)

Note

“My original typed by me.”
Box 4

The Visitors February 24, 1966

Physical Description: (134pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“My first draft screenplay.”

Note

“Typed by my secretary at Paramount studios.”
Box 4

Poltergeist preliminary script. February 24, 1966

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 131pp.)
Box 4

Shooting script by me. March 15, 1966

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 130pp.)
Box 4

The Busy Body

Note

(Produced by Paramount)
Starred Sid Caesar, Anne Baxter.
Box 4

My original screenplay-with notes and changes. June 6, 1966 (133pp.)

Scope and Content Note

  • My changes on pages: 1, 1-A, 2, 5, 12, 15, 22-27, 34, 35, 37, 38, 38-A, 39, 40-44, 47, 27-A, 47-B, 52-54, 57, 62, 63, 66, 70-A, 71, 78, 78-A, 78-B, 81, 86, 86-A, 87, 91, 97, 101, 106-108, 110-114, 118, 119, 121, 126-A, 127,129.
  • Back yellow sheet with casting suggestions.

Note

“Typed by me.”
Box 4

Preliminary script. July 7, 1966

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 141pp.)
Box 4

Shooting script. August 24, 1966

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 135pp.)
Box 5

How to Commit Marriage

Note

(Produced) (Co-written) (Inerama)
Starred Bob Hope, Jackie, Gleason, Jane Wyman.
Box 5

Screen Treatment. April 28, 1965

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 47pp.)
Box 5

Step Outline. September 4, 1967

Physical Description: (7pp.)

Note

“Typed by me.”
Box 5

First draft. January 1968

Scope and Content Note

Annotated by me on pages: 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 23, 37, 37-A, 39, 40, 43, 45, 51, 57, 61, 64, 75, 85-88, 97, 107-110, 112, 117, 121, 122.

Note

“Typed by professional typist.”
Box 5

Second draft. January 1968

Physical Description: (130pp.)

Note

“Typed professionally.”
Box 5

Notes. January 1968

Physical Description: (7pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“Written by me after talking with producer Bill Lawrence.”
Box 5

First draft mimeoed by Naho Productions. January 31, 1968

Physical Description: (126pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“With typed changed by Michael Kanin and myself, based on notes dated January 1968.”
Box 5

Rough step outline. February 23, 1968

Physical Description: (12pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“Typed by me after learning that Jackie Gleason was hired to co-star with Bob Hope.”

Note

“Outline was collaborative effort.”
Box 5

Revised script. May 10, 1968

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 122pp.)
Box 5

Outline. May 12, 1968

Physical Description: (6pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“Typed by me to accomodate more changes. Loose notes and ideas.”
Box 5

Revision. May 20, 1968

Physical Description: (122pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“Practically a new version of screenplay.”

Note

“Typed by Michael Kanin and me.”
Box 5

Second Revision reflecting above re-write. May 22, 1968

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 122pp.)
Box 5

Final Draft. June 5, 1968

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 124pp.)
 

Broadway Play

Box 6

The Family Way

Note

(Produced by Leonard Sillman)
Box 6

“It's Better With Two.” 1955

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 124pp.)

Scope and Content Note

First version of play.
Box 6

“The Family Way” (new title). 1957

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 119pp.)
Box 6

Version. early 1964

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, 117pp.)
Box 6

Version. late 1964

Physical Description: (Mimeoed, typed and handwritten, 130pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“Reflects numerous changes.”
Box 6

Rehearsal script. December 1964

Physical Description: (124pp.)

Scope and Content Note

“Filled with changes I made by hand during the two weeks run in Philadelphia.”
Box 6

Clean copy of play as presented in New York at Lyceum Theatre. January 13, 1965

Physical Description: (Photocopy, 122pp.)

Scope and Content Note

Includes set, prop and costume breakdowns.

Note

Versions available from Samuel French Company.