Finding Aid for the Charles Isaacs papers, 1941-1973
Processed by Arts Special Collections Staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Elizabeth Graney and Julie Graham.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Performing Arts Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www2.library.ucla.edu/specialcollections/performingarts/index.cfm
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Charles Isaacs papers,
Date (inclusive): 1941-1973
Collection number: 80
Creator: Isaacs, Charles, 1914-2002
Extent: 26 boxes (11.0 linear ft.)
Abstract: Charlie Isaacs's numerous radio and television writing credits include
Kraft Music Hall,
The Martin and Lewis Show, and
The Johnny Carson Show among others. The collection consists primarily of television and radio series scripts and a small amount of photographs
and correspondence.
Language: Finding aid is written in English.
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Performing Arts Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Performing
Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Performing
Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
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.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Charles Isaacs, 1972, 1985, 1989.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Charles Isaacs papers(Collection 80). Performing Arts Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, UCLA.
Biography
Charles Isaacs was born in Winnipeg, Canada on Sept. 17, 1914. After attending the University of Minnesota School of Journalism
in the early 1930's, he became a correspondent for Radio Guide magazine. He moved to Hollywood, CA in 1937 and served in the
Coast Guard Seventh Amphibious Force from 1942-1945 before being transferred to
Armed Forces Radio. Isaacs wrote for numerous television and radio shows including
Kraft Music Hall,
The Martin & Lewis Radio Show,
The Chase and Sanborn Hour,
The Texaco Star Theater and
The Milton Berle Show. He also worked as the head writer for multiple series including
The Jimmy Durante Hours,
The Johnny Carson Show ,
The Colgate Comedy Hour,
The Dinah Shore Hour,
The Real McCoys, and
The Red Skelton Show. In addition to writing, Isaacs worked as a script consultant for the series
The Thin Man and as the executive story editor for the series
Alice . Throughout his career, he wrote for some of the most famous actors and comedians of the day including Jack Benny, John Barrymore,
Edgar Bergan, Rudy Vallee, Al Jolson, Jimmy Durante, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Johnny Carson. Isaacs died of cancer December
13 2002 in Santa Monica, CA.
Scope and Content
Collection consists primarily of television and radio series scripts from the career of writer Charles Isaacs. The collection
also includes photographs, correspondence, and ephemera. Television script materials include such titles as
The Jimmy Durante television show (1950-54),
The Johnny Carson show (1955-56), and
The Dean Martin show (1971). Radio script materials include such titles as
Kraft music hall (1947-49),
The Bob Burns show (1946-47),
The Rudy Vallee show (1941), and
The Martin and Lewis show (1949-50). Includes some bound volumes. The correspondence comprises notes from creative talents such as Fred Allen, Johnny
Carson, Betty Davis, Bob Hope, Jack Lemon and Frank Sinatra, among others.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Correspondence
- Ephemera
- Photographs
- Radio script materials
- Television script materials
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Isaacs, Charles, 1914-2002 -- Archives.
Radio writers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources.
Television writers -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources.
Genres and Forms of Material
Television scripts
Radio scripts
Box 11
Allen, Fred
(1935 June 28)
Box 11
Benchley, Robert
(1939 Aug 27)
Box 11
Burns, Bob (envelope only)
(1946 Dec 20)
Box 11
Carson, Johnny
(1978 Feb)
Box 11
Davis, Bette
(1952 April 27)
Box 11
Garroway, Dave
(1971 July)
Box 11
Hope, Bob
(1963 Feb 11 and no date)
Box 11
Jolson, Mrs. Al (Erle)
(1951 Oct 21)
Box 11
Lemmon, Jack
(1962 May and 1970 Oct)
Box 11
Leonard, Sheldon
(1974 Mar)
Box 11
Sinatra, Frank
(1985 Aug)
Box 11
Truman, Margaret
(20 Nov 1951)
Box 11
Jimmy Durante Show (The) - progams and clipping
(1950-1952)
Box 11
Bob Burns Show (1 item)
(no date)
Note
Ray Sinatra's orchestra on the Bob Burns radio show.
Box 11
Chez Pree Club, Chicago (1 item)
(no date)
Box 11
Hey, Jeannie (11 items)
(no date)
Box 26
It Pays To Be Ignorant - cast photograph
(1977)
Box 11
Jimmy Durante Club date in Miami (1 item)
(1952)
Box 11
Jimmy Durante Show (19 items)
(no date)
Note
Publicity and behind the scenes.
Box 11
Jimmy Durante Special (1 item)
(no date)
Note
Isaacs and Jane Powell.
Box 26
Johnny Carson Show
(1955)
Box 11
Johnny Carson Show (1 item)
(1955)
Box 11
Kraft Music Hall (1 item)
(no date)
Note
Isaacs, Mannie Manheim, and Jolson.
Box 26
Kraft Music Hall: Al Jolson portrait
(no date)
Note
Autographed (faint pencil).
Box 11
Lindy's Restaurant, New York (1 item)
(no date)
Box 11
Martin and Lewis Show (1 item)
(no date)
Note
Inscribed by Jerry Lewis.
Box 11
Real McCoys (1 item)
(no date)
Note
Walter Brenan boarding airplane.
Box 11
Red Skelton Show (1 item)
(no date)
Box 11
Tycoon (The) (2 items)
(no date)
Note
One image inscribed by Brenan.
Box 11
Walgreen's Anniversary Show (3 items)
(1947)
Note
One image inscribed by Bob Hope.
Box 10
Armed Forces Radio Services
(1945)
Note
G.I. Journal. Six episodes. Written by Charles Isaacs, Al Bobrick, and Bill Morrow.
Box 10
Armed Forces Radio Services
(1949)
Note
Command Performance. Five episodes. Written by Charles Isaacs, Bill Morrow, Frank
Galen, and Dick McKnight.
Box 10
Armed Forces Radio Services
(1945)
Note
Jubilee. One episode. Written by Charles Isaacst.
Box 7
Bob Burns Show (The)
(1946-1947)
Note
Twenty-nine episodes. Written by Charles Isaacs, Arthur Stander, and Duke
Atteberry.
Box 10
Ford Show (The)
(1947)
Note
Two episodes. Written by Charles Isaacs.
Box 6
Kraft Music Hall
(1949 Mar 3 - May 26)
Note
Bound volume. With Al Jolson and Oscar Levant. Written by Charles Isaacs and
Manie Manheim.
Box 5
Kraft Music Hall
(1947 Oct 2 - 1948 Jan 8)
Note
Bound volume. With Al Jolson and Oscar Levant. Written by Charles Isaacs and
Manie Manheim.
Box 5
Kraft Music Hall
(1948 Jan 15 - Mar 3)
Note
Bound volume. With Al Jolson and Oscar Levant. Written by Charles Isaacs and
Manie Manheim.
Box 5
Kraft Music Hall
(1948 April 1 - June 10)
Note
Bound volume. With Al Jolson and Oscar Levant. Written by Charles Isaacs and
Manie Manheim.
Box 6
Kraft Music Hall
(1948 Dec 23 - Mar 3 1949)
Note
Bound volume. With Al Jolson and Oscar Levant. Written by Charles Isaacs and
Manie Manheim.
Box 9
Martin and Lewis Show (The)
(1949-1950)
Note
Nineteen episodes. Written by Charles Isaacs, Hal Goodman, Jack Douglas, Dick
McKnight, Ray Allen, Ben Starr.
Box 10
Milton Berle Show (The)
(1942)
Note
Four episodes. Written Charles Isaacs, Arthur Marx, Ray Singer, Elon Packard.
Box 10
Ransom Show (The)
(1942 - 1943)
Note
Four episodes. Written by Charles Isaacs, Arthur Stander, and Hank Garson.
Box 8
Rudy Vallee Show (The)
(1941)
Note
Eighteen episodes. Written by Charles Isaacs, Norman Panama, Mel Frank, Paul
Henning, Jess Oppenheimer, and Dick Chevillat.
Box 3
Sad Sack Radio Series (The)
(1946)
Note
Written by Charles Isaacs and Arthur Stander.
Box 4
Ben Blue Show
(1952 June 12)
Box 21
Bobby Darin Show (The)
(1973 Feb 21-Mar 14)
Box 20
Bobby Darin Show (The)
(1972 Dec 30 - 1973 Feb 18)
Box 24
CBS Newcomers
(1971 June 9 - 14 July)
Box 23
CBS Newcomers
(1971 May 2 - 31)
Box 12
Dean Martin Show
(1971 Sep 2 - Oct 14)
Box 14
Dean Martin Show
(1971 Nov 11-27)
Box 13
Dean Martin Show
(1971 Oct 15 - Nov 5)
Box 4
Ed Wynn Show
(1951 May 30)
Box 4
Ethel Merman Show
(1954 Jan 24)
Box 24
Hollywood Palace
(1969 Dec 20-27)
Box 4
How About Freddie!
(no date)
Box 17
It Pays To Be Ignorant
(1973 Nov 4 - Dec 10)
Box 15
It Pays To Be Ignorant
(1973 Jan 21, 1973 Aug 4-26)
Box 16
It Pays To Be Ignorant
(1973 Sep 8 - Nov 3)
Box 2
Jimmy Durante Show
(1952 Sep 20 - 1953 April 11)
Note
The All Star Revue (The). Written by Charles Isaacs and Jack Elinson. Bound
volumes, revised final scripts.
Box 2
Jimmy Durante Show
(1953 Oct 11 - 1954 Jan 3)
Note
Colgate Comedy Hour (The). Written by Charles Isaacs and Jack Elinson. Bound
volumes, revised final scripts.
Box 1
Jimmy Durante Show
(1951 Oct 6 -1952 April 19)
Note
All Star Revue (The). Written by Charles Isaacs and Jack Elinson. Bound volumes,
revised final scripts.
Box 1
Jimmy Durante Show
(1950 Oct 28 - 1951 May 13)
Note
Four Star Revue (The). Written by Charles Isaacs and Jack Elinson. Bound
volumes, revised final scripts.
Box 4
Jimmy Durante Show
(1954 Feb 7 - May 9)
Note
Colgate Comedy Hour (The). Written by Charles Isaacs and Jack Elinson. Bound
volumes, revised final scripts.
Box 25
Jimmy Durante Show
(1959 Sep 25- Nov 22)
Note
Loose script material.
Box 4
Johnny Carson Show
(1956 Jan 12 - 1956 March 29)
Note
Bound volumes. Written by Charles Isaacs, Jack Douglas
and Jack Elinson.
Box 4
Johnny Carson Show
(1955 Oct 27 - 1956 Jan 1956)
Note
Bound volumes. Written by Charles Isaacs, Jack Douglas and Jack Elinson.
Box 22
Real McCoys (The)
(1962 June 22 - 1963 Mar 12)
Box 25
Red Skelton Hour
(1967-1968)
Box 4
Ritz Brothers
(1952 May 17)
Box 24
Salute to Stan Laurel
(1965 July 9)
Box 24
Shirley Temple Show
(1960 Oct 28)
Box 18
Tycoon (The)
(1964 May 4 - Sep 21)
Box 19
Tycoon (The)
(1964 Oct 21 - 1965 Jan 14)
Box 24
Victor Borge
(1961 Sep 27)