Gary Belkin
Finding aid created by Writers Guild Foundation Archive staff using RecordEXPRESS
Writers Guild Foundation Archive
2022
7000 West Third Street
Los Angeles, California 90048
(323) 782-4680
hswett@wgfoundation.org
https://www.wgfoundation.org/archive/
Title: Gary Belkin
Dates: 1955-1985
Collection Number: WGF-MS-013
Creator/Collector:
Belkin, Gary, 1927-2005
Extent: 3.2 cubic feet
Repository:
Writers Guild Foundation Archive
Los Angeles, California 90048
Abstract: The Gary Belkin Papers, 1955-1985, document Belkin’s writing career, especially his early years. The bulk of his collection
consists of skits he wrote or co-wrote for “The Danny Kaye Show” and “Caesar’s Hour.”
Language of Material: English
Available by appointment only.
The responsibility to secure copyright and publication permission rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Gary Belkin. Collection Number: WGF-MS-013. Writers Guild Foundation Archive
Donated by Tony De Sena, June 28, 2010
Biography/Administrative History
Born April 24, 1927, Gary Belkin grew up in New York City. After serving in the Army in WWII, he began his career as a writer
for radio comedians and proposed cartoon ideas to the New Yorker magazine. He started in television when he was hired as a
writer for Caesar’s Hour. Afterward, he wrote for shows including Car 54, Where are You?, The Danny Kaye Show, and The Carol
Burnett Show, as well as specials for performers including Doris Day and Anne Bancroft. He wrote for Newhart, Three’s Company
and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson later in his career. Belkin won many awards over the course of his career. He earned
two Emmys and a WGA Award on the Carol Burnett Show, and won an Emmy and a WGA Award for Annie, the Women in the Life of a
Man. He was nominated for seven additional Emmy Awards: two for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, one for The Carrol
Burnett Show, one for The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special, one for The Danny Kaye Show, and two for Caesar’s Hour. He also
won a WGA Award for Car 54, Where Are You? in 1963 and the Danny Kaye Show in 1966 and was nominated in 1975 for Annie and
the Hoods. Additionally, he won and was nominated for two Daytime Emmys for Sesame Street.
Belkin died on July 28, 2005 of emphysema and he was survived by friends.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Gary Belkin Papers, 1955-1985, consists of television scripts and skits, books, and other materials. While the collection
dates from 1955 to 1985, the bulk covers between 1955 and 1965 when he wrote for Caesar’s Hour and The Danny Kaye Show.
The largest part of the collection, Series I, comprises skits he wrote or co-wrote for Caesar’s Hour and The Danny Kaye Show
although the scripts are sometimes incomplete. The collection covers episodes #31-88. Also included are award nominated and
winning scripts for specials hosted by Anne Bancroft. They include revised pages with his written comments and changes. Also
included is an unproduced television pilot entitled Inspector Benjamino co-written with Mel Brooks.
Series II comprises a small collection of items including a telegram from Danny Kaye to Belkin about losing the Emmy award
and a comedy record album and accompanying transcript of I am the President for comedian David Frye. Belkin co-wrote the material
with Tony Geiss, Donald Ross, and Norman Steinberg.
Teleplays
Caesar's hour (Television program)
Television Comedy writers.