Philip Rapp papers (ARA), approximately 1932-1981, bulk 1930s -1960s

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Summary

Creators:
Thousand Oaks Library Foundation and Rapp, Philip (1907-1996)
Abstract:
The Philip Rapp papers consists of 27 linear feet, or 35 boxes of mostly scripts and administrative materials ranging between 1926-1989, with the bulk of the material from the 1930s-1960s. He was an award-winning writer, director and producer, and the man behind the popular and long-running radio series The Bickersons. He wrote for comedians such as Ben Blue, Don Ameche, Eddie Cantor, Joan Davis, Joe E. Brown and Frank Morgan. He also created the Baby Snooks character for Fanny Brice of the Ziegfeld Follies. He wrote six movies for Danny Kaye and directed and produced several TV series, including Topper and The Adventures of Hiram Holiday.
Extent:
27 Linear Feet; (35 boxes: 18 cartons, 6 document boxes, 11 shoe boxes, 1 7" disc, 3 10" reels)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Philip Rapp papers, PA Mss 202. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Background

Scope and content:

The Philip Rapp papers consists of 27 linear feet, or 35 boxes of mostly scripts and administrative materials ranging between 1926-1989, with the bulk of the material from the 1930s-1960s. The scripts include both radio and television scripts for spots like The Bickersons and Baby Snooks, and the television series The Adventures of Hiram Holiday He also wrote scripts for comedians like Ben Blue, Don Ameche, Eddie Cantor, Joan Davis, Joe E. Brown, and Frank Morgan. Along with the scripts there are other written materials for sketches, gags, plays, speeches and poems, as well as, movie scripts mostly written for Danny Kaye. The administrative materials consists of correspondence, legal documents (contracts, agreements, lawsuits), publicity materials, notes and story ideas and financials all pertaining to the work he did as a wrtiter. There also includes one 7" disc, two audio recordings and a short film reel.

Biographical / historical:

Philip Rapp was an award-winning writer, director and producer, and the man behind the popular and long-running radio series The Bickersons. He wrote for comedians such as Ben Blue, Don Ameche, Eddie Cantor, Joan Davis, Joe E. Brown and Frank Morgan. He also created the Baby Snooks character for Fanny Brice of the Ziegfeld Follies. He wrote six movies for Danny Kaye and directed and produced several TV series, including Topper and The Adventures of Hiram Holiday.

Custodial history:

This collection forms part of the American Radio Archives (ARA), which documents the early history of broadcasting, with an emphasis on California. The ARA was formerly housed at the Thousand Oaks Public Library and was owned and administered by the Thousand Oaks Library Foundation. It was transferred to the UCSB Library in 2021.

Arrangement:

The material in this collection are arranged in four series by type.

  • Series 1, Scripts
  • Series 2, Administrative Materials
  • Series 3, Other Written Materials
  • Series 4, Audio/Visual Material

Physical location:
Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Names:
Thousand Oaks Library Foundation

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and are retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.

All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assigns for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Philip Rapp papers, PA Mss 202. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Location of this collection:
UC Santa Barbara Library
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
Contact:
(805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
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