Writers Guild of America Oral History Collection

Title: Writers Guild of America Oral History Collection

Dates: 1978-1979

Collection Number: WGF-WGA-001

Creator/Collector:

Extent: 92 interviews

Repository: Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Abstract: This collection consist of 92 audiotaped interviews with screenwriters, WGA board members and WGA executive leadership. Most audiotapes have accompanying typed transcripts as well. 85 have been digitized. Topics discussed by interviewees concern Screen Writers' Guild organizing as a labor union in 1933, the screenwriting profession, the Hollywood Blacklist and the Hollywood Ten, and Guild achievements and goals from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Language of Material: English

Open for qualified researchers. Available by appointment only.

The responsibility to secure copyright and publication permission rests with the patron.

Writers Guild of America Oral History Collection. Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Transferred from WGA to WGF on an unknown date.

The Writers Guild of America West is the labor union that represents writers who write for film and television. In 1978, the WGA formed a History Committee and conducted audiotaped interviews with screenwriters important to the history of the Guild and the profession. The audiotapes and transcripts were subsequently transferred to the Writers Guild Foundation.

This collection consist of 92 audiotaped interviews with screenwriters, WGA board members and WGA executive leadership. Most audiotapes have accompanying typed transcripts as well. Topics discussed by interviewees concern Screen Writers' Guild organizing as a labor union in 1933, the screenwriting profession, the Hollywood Blacklist and the Hollywood Ten, the coverage of television, and Guild achievements and goals from the 1930s to the 1970s. Interviewees are: Bob Barbash Erik Barnouw John D.F. Black Michael Blankfort Lee Oscar Bloomgarden DeWitt Bodeen John Bright Jean Butler Len Chassman Richard Collins Oliver Crawford David Davidson Helen Deutsch Joan Dillard Philip Dunne George Eckstein Dale Eunson Pat Falken Smith Carl Foreman Michael Franklin Paul Franklin Hy Freedman Devery Freeman Everett Freeman Ketti Frings John Furia Jr. Erwin Gelsey Sheridan Gibney Ivan Goff Diana Gould Will Gould Jerry Gruskin David Harmon Michael Kanin Hal Kanter David Karp Ernest Kinoy Chris Knopf Bill Koenig Ring Lardner, Jr. Emmet Lavery Erna Lazarus Kay Leonard Mort Lewis Steve Lord William Ludwig Edward Mabley Albert Maltz Ellis Marcus Larry Markes Laurence Marks Mary McCall Herb Meadow Nate Monaster Sam Moore Edmund Morris Frank Moss Edmund North Barry Oringer Mitch Persons James Poe Dick Powell Samson Raphaelson Joe Richardson David Rintels Allen Rivkin Ben Roberts Wells Root Arthur Ross Lynn Roth Stanley Rubin Sy Salkowitz Dore Schary Bernard Schubert Sherwood Schwartz Paul Selvin Barry Shipman Stirling Silliphant Sheldon Stark Leonard Stern Gordon Stulberg Ann Froelick Taylor Elena Thurston Mel Tolkin Maurice Tombragel Harry Tugend Betty Ulius Ann (Weiner) Wade Malvin Wald Bob White Phyllis White Carey Wilbur Elihu Winer William H. Wright