Douglas Benton papers, 1941-1996 (bulk 1950-1996), bulk 1950-1996

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Summary

Creators:
Benton, Douglas
Abstract:
Douglas Benton was a television writer, director, and producer who was best known for his work in detective show genres. The collection consists of script material and production information and material documenting his production company, Blackjack Productions.
Extent:
12.8 linear feet (28 boxes and 4 flat boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Doulgas Benton Papers (Collection 2216). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of material related to the career of television writer, director, and producer Douglas Benton. The bulk of the collection consists of scripts and treatments for television projects. Produced television projects represented include Dr. Kildare, Columbo, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., Hec Ramsey, and Policewoman, among others. Additionally, there is a small amount of production information, material related to Blackjack Productions, Benton's production company, a small amount of correspondence, both business and personal, script submissions, and a very small number of photographs.

Biographical / historical:

Douglas Carleton Benton II was born on September 24, 1925 in Hollis, Oklahoma and spent most of his childhood in West Texas. Benton earned a B.A. at the University of New Mexico (1948) and a Master of Science in Journalism at Northwestern University (1950). He began his career making documentary films for General Electric and was later placed in charge of the series General Electric Theater in Hollywood, CA. From there he went on to write and produce television series for Universal, MGM, and other studios. Benton's credits include Dr. Kildare (1961-1966), Hec Ramsey (1972-1974), Columbo, Police Woman, (1974-1978), and Magnum, P.I. (early-1980s), among others. He produced and directed several movies for television, among them A Holwing in the Woods, Undercover with the Ku Klux Klan, and MADD: Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Nominated a number of times for an Emmy, Benton earned the award in 1974 for his work on the series, Columbo. Benton died in November 2000.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Jacqueline Benton, 2013.
Processing information:

Processed by Karie Jenkins with assistance from Julie Graham.

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

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Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Biographical and Personal information
  2. Television Projects
  3. Black Jack Productions
  4. Projects in Development
  5. Submissions to Benton

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Doulgas Benton Papers (Collection 2216). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website