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Finding Aid for the Ralph Edwards Productions Production Records
1940-
336
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Title: Ralph Edwards Productions Production
Records,
Date (inclusive): 1940-
Collection number: 336
Creator: Ralph Edwards
Productions
Extent:
250 boxes
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
University of California, Library Special
Collections
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: The collection consists of materials pertaining to
the various Ralph Edwards Productions projects such as
Truth or Consequences,
This is Your Life, and
Name That Tune. The finding aid will be updated as the
collection is processed.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections
for paging information.
Collection is in the midst of being processed; researchers should contact Performing Arts Special Collections staff to inquire
about access.
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.
[Identification of item], Ralph Edwards Productions Production Records, 336,
University of California, Library Special Collections, University of California,
Los Angeles.
Ralph Edwards was born near Merino, Colorado, in 1913, moving with his family
to Oakland, California, when he was 12. He worked his way through college at
radio stations in Oakland and San Francisco, graduating from the University of
California at Berkeley in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama. Edwards
moved to New York in 1936 and became one of radio's busiest announcers, doing as
many as 45 network shows a week. In 1940, in response to this hectic pace,
Edwards created, produced and hosted the landmark audience participation show
"Truth or Consequences".
The show's great popularity led to his appearance in the Lucille Ball-Victor
Mature film
Seven Days' Leave (1942). He moved the show and his production
company to Hollywood in 1945, where he made three more films for RKO:
Radio
Stars on Parade
(1945),
The Bamboo Blonde (1946) and
Beat the Band (1947), all
with Frances Langford. His big-screen career took a decided back seat in 1948,
when Edwards first brought to the air his other long-running show, "This Is Your
Life" (1952). On radio for its first two years, Edwards took the program to
NBC-TV in 1952, where it remained until 1961, winning two Emmys (he also hosted
a syndicated version from 1971-1973). His last feature film appearance came in
the Susan Hayward MGM bio-pic of Lillian Roth,
I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), which
ends with a recreation of Roth's appearance on "This Is Your Life" (1952).
Edwards' television career began in earnest in 1950, when "Truth or
Consequences" (1950) aired one season on CBS-TV and earned the first Emmy
awarded for an audience participation show. He turned over host duties to Jack
Bailey in 1954 and, in 1956, launched the career of Bob Barker as host of the
daytime version. Edwards, also well-known for his extensive charitable and
philanthropic activities, became one of TV's most prolific producers.
Biographical note courtesy of IMDB.com.
Collection consists of materials pertaining to the various Ralph Edwards Productions projects such as Truth or consequences,
This is your life, and Name that tune.
Arranged in the following series:
- Series 1. This is Your Life, 1952-1987
- Series 2. Truth or Consequences, 1940-1988
- Series 3. The Cross-Wits, 1975-1977
- Series 4. End of the Rainbow, 1957-1958
- Series 5. Funny Boners, 1954-1955
- Series 6. Face to Face
- Series 7. Knockout, 1977-1978
- Series 8. Name That Tune
- Series 9. Press Your Luck
- Series 10. Punchliners
- Series 11. Mouthtrap
- Series 12. The People's Court
- Series 13. The Ralph Edwards Show, 1952
- Series 14. That's Show Biz, 1985 October 23
- Series 15. About Faces, 1960-1961
- Series 16. So You Think You've Got Troubles
- Series 17. Superior Court, 1986-1989
- Series 18. Who in the World, 1962
- Series 19. Walk Across the Land, 1961 December
- Series 20. Portrait of an American, 1963
- Series 21. Human Thing to Do, 1961
- Series 22. Fatasies Fulfilled
- Series 23. Going, Going, Gone
- Series 24. Sing Out, 1960 October 13
- Series 25. Woody Woodbury Show, 1967
- Series 26. Ungame Show, 1977 March 10
- Series 27. That Crazy Show, 1977 April 14
- Series 28. It Could Be You, 1956-1961
- Series 29. Place the Face
- Series 30. Wide Country, 1962-1963
- Series 31. Beadle's About, 1986. 1 folder
- Series 32. Television's Good Housekeeping, 1972-1973
- Series 33. In Session
- Series 40. Ralph Edwards
- Series 41. Bob Barker
- Series 50. Business Papers
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Ralph Edwards Productions --Archives.
Television producers and directors --United States --Archival resources.