Petal (Marvin) KTLA Scripts Collection, 1959-1960

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Summary

Title:
Marvin Petal KTLA Scripts Collection
Dates:
1959-1960
Creators:
KTLA-TV (Television station : Los Angeles, Calif.) Petal, Marvin
Abstract:
Extent:
3 linear feet, 3 boxes
Language:
Preferred citation:

Marvin Petal KTLA Scripts Collection. Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of short scripts written for dramatized courtroom television shows Municipal Court and Youth Court produced in 1959 and 1960 by KTLA and Paramount. The scripts depict hundreds of court cases based on real court hearings. There are approximately 500 scripts for Municipal Court and 175 for Youth Court. 78 episodes of each were taped and marketed to stations for airing in syndication but it is unclear if any were sold or aired. The collection also contains a sample syndication sales letter for Youth Court and two support letters from police leaders praising the accurate depiction of juvenile delinquency. There are also three scripts from the Hollis Productions / KTLA show Emergency Ward.

Biographical / historical:

Marvin Petal was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1948, with a degree in journalism. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1952 and then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. After returning to LA, he worked for the LA Herald Examiner, and KTLA television station. He also did post-graduate work at UCLA. The Twilight Zone episode, "Five Characters in Search of an Exit" was adapted by Rod Serling from Petal’s story "The Depository." He covered business and economics for McGraw Hill World News for 22 years, writing stories for Business Week and other McGraw magazines. He was Bureau Chief in London, Tokyo and Los Angeles and he became European editor in 1975. After his retirement from McGraw Hill, Petal did writing, editorial and public relations work for various publications and businesses He moved from Santa Monica to Oxnard in 1991 and became active in his local community. Marvin Petal died on April 17, 2013, in Oxnard at the age of 84 after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Diane, his former wife Ruth, three children, a son-in-law, and three grandchildren. Youth Court and Municipal Court were dramatized court television series which were produced by Los Angeles TV station KTLA and Paramount Television in 1959 and 1960. They aired in LA on KTLA during that time. The scripts were written by Marvin Petal for Hollis Productions. James Tracy was the producer of Youth Court and Larry Menkin was the producer of Municipal Court. Youth Court was produced in collaboration with multiple departments in Los Angeles County - the Juvenile Court, the Probation Department, and the California Youth Authority.

Acquisition information:
Donated by the family of Marvin Petal on January 11, 2022

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Writers Guild Foundation Archive staff.
Date Prepared:
1959-1960
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on July 14, 2025, 2:54 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Available by appointment only.

Terms of access:

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

Preferred citation:

Marvin Petal KTLA Scripts Collection. Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Location of this collection:
7000 West Third Street
Los Angeles, CA 90048, US
Contact:
(323) 782-4680
hswett@wgfoundation.org
Website