Collection context
Summary
- Abstract:
- Production files for The Danny Thomas Show, an American sitcom that aired throughout the 1950s and '60s.
- Extent:
- 8 Linear Feet (8 cartons)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], The Danny Thomas Show production files, PA Mss 270. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection contains episode production files from eleven seasons of The Danny Thomas Show. Production files may contain scripts, synopsis, list of credits, and sometimes music cue sheets, rerun payment schedules and publicity photos, and other materials. Not all items may be included for every episode.
- Biographical / historical:
-
The The Danny Thomas Show, originally titled Make Room for Daddy for its first three seasons, was an American sitcom that focused on Danny Thomas, as a successful night club entertainer, and his relationship with his family - wife, Margaret (Jean Hagen), and their two children, Terry and Rusty. It originally aired from 1953 to 1957 on ABC and after cancellation on ABC, was picked up by CBS from 1957 to 1964.
The show's premise involved Danny rarely having time to spend with his family and Margaret having to deal with the children virtually on her own. She often felt neglected by Danny, and on several occasions felt like leaving him. Margaret was a society woman and strict with the children, but loved her family.
Shortly after the third season finished filming, Jean Hagen left the show over dissatisfaction with her role and frequent clashes with Danny Thomas. Thomas wanted to continue to show, so at the start of the fourth season Thomas and producer Sheldon Leonard were forced to explain Hagen's absence. To have "Danny" and "Margaret" divorce in that era would have been unacceptable to television audiences, so it was explained that Margaret had died suddenly off-screen, which until this time, no character on a TV situation comedy had died.
The fourth season followed Danny as now a widower, juggling a performing career while raising two children on his own. This storyline saw ratings suffer, and although it was decided that a wife and mother was needed to complete the family unit and continue the show, ABC canceled the series. When CBS heard that ABC was cancelling the series, CBS picked it up as part of its 1957-58 schedule.
The Danny Thomas Show made its CBS debut on October 7, 1957, and had Danny and Kathy, the family's nurse, married and on their honeymoon. The Williams family moved into a larger brand-new apartment and Danny adopted Kathy's daughter, Linda. At the end of its fifth season, The Danny Thomas Show posted its highest rating, ranking at No. 2.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift, November 2024.
- Arrangement:
-
The collection is arranged by television season into eleven series:
- Season 1
- Season 2
- Season 3
- Season 4
- Season 5
- Season 6
- Season 7
- Season 8
- Season 9
- Season 10
- Season 11
- Physical location:
- This collection was transferred to off-site storage at the Systemwide Library Facility on August 2025
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research. This collection is located at off-site storage and requires at least one week advanced notice for requested materials.
- 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@library.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], The Danny Thomas Show production files, PA Mss 270. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.
- Location of this collection:
-
UC Santa Barbara LibrarySanta Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-3062