William Brennan was an impresario who worked for CBS as a network sales manager, program manager, and contract producer, as a writer on shows such as “Death Valley Days” and “The Mighty O,” for the San Francisco Civic Opera as a supervisor for the renovation of the Orpheum Theatre and eventual manager, as talent coordinator on the Mary Martin PBS Series, “Over Easy,” and producer for a benefit starring Miss Martin for the Trauma Foundation at San Francisco General Hospital. These papers consist of specifications, contracts correspondence, publicity, and pictorial material related to Brennan’s career from the 1970s to the 1980s, particularly pertaining to the renovation of the Orpheum Theatre, the revitalization of the San Francisco Civic Light Opera, and the presentation of “Mary Martin at Davies Hall.”

William Brennan was born and raised in Iowa. While attending the University of Southern California, he started working for CBS serving as a network sales manager, program manager and a contract producer for the network. During this time, he also worked as a writer for such shows as “Death Valley Days” and “The Mighty O”. In 1977, Mr. Brennan came to San Francisco to supervise the San Francisco Civic Light Opera's renovation of the Orpheum Theatre. He served as manager until 1981 when the CLO sold its interest in the Orpheum. For two years, he served as talent coordinator on the Mary Martin PBS series, “Over Easy” and in 1984 produced a benefit starring Miss Martin for the Trauma Foundation at San Francisco General Hospital. Mr. Brennan died in 1992 at the age of 71.

2 Boxes. 1 linear foot.

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