KCET-TV Collection of "Life and Times" production files

Taz Morgan

William H. Hannon Library

Loyola Marymount University

One LMU Drive, MS 8200

Los Angeles, CA 90045-8200

Phone: (310) 338-5710

Fax: (310) 338-5895

Email: Special.Collections@lmu.edu

URL: http://library.lmu.edu/collections/archivesandspecialcollections/

and#x00A9; 2013

KCET-TV Collection of "Life and Times" production files

Collection number: CSLA-38

William H. Hannon Library

Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, California

Processed by:: Taz Morgan
Date Completed:: October 2013
Encoded by:: Taz Morgan

Descriptive Summary

Title: KCET-TV Collection of "Life and Times" production files

Dates: 1991-2007

Collection number: CSLA-38

Creator: KCET (Television station : Los Angeles, Calif.)

Collection Size: 54 linear feet

Repository: Loyola Marymount University. Library. Department of Archives and Special Collections.

Los Angeles, California 90045-2659

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection is open to research under the terms of use of the Department of Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Marymount University.

Publication Rights

Materials in the Department of Archives and Special Collections may be subject to copyright. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, Loyola Marymount University does not claim ownership of the copyright of any materials in its collections. The user or publisher must secure permission to publish from the copyright owner. Loyola Marymount University does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or of publication rights held by the original author or artists or his/her heirs, assigns, or executors.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Series number, Box number, KCET-TV Collection of "Life and Times" production files, CSLA-38, Department of Archives and Special Collections, William H. Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University.

Acquisition Information

Gift of KCET. 2012

Custodial History

The materials in the collection were in custody of KCET-TV, stored at its Hollywood offices, until they were transferred to Loyola Marymount University's William H. Hannon Library in April 2012.

Administrative History

KCET-TV Channel 28 is an educational independent television station located in Los Angeles, California. KCET first signed on the air on September 28, 1964 as an affiliate of National Educational Television (NET). When the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) was established in 1970, KCET became a charter member. The station was Southern California's flagship PBS member station until December 31, 2010, when it ended its partnership with PBS after 40 years to become the nation's largest independent public television station. Until moving to new offices in Burbank in 2012, KCET broadcast from its studios in Hollywood. In addition to its signature news program "Life and Times," KCET produced Huell Howser's "Cailfornia Gold," "Tavis Smiley," "California Connected," and a number of children's programs including "Storytime."

Chronology

1992-01-14	"Life and Times" debuts on January 14, 1992 in the 7:30 p.m. time slot. In-studio programs air on Monday and Friday nights. Documentary programs air on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays each week. The programs are hosted by Patt Morrison, Hugh Hewitt, and John Ochoa. Ochoa is replaced by Ruben Martinez within three to four months.
1992 Fall	"Life and Times" switches to three studio programs and two documentaries a week. Wednesdays are devoted to arts and culture.
1993 Fall	"Life and Times" switches to four studio programs and one documentary per week. The new format is comprised of news of the state on Mondays; one-on-one interviews on Tuesdays; documentaries on Wednesdays; arts and culture on Thursdays; and timely news of the week on Fridays. During this time, Kerman Maddox is added as a fourth host.
1994 Fall	KCET begins distributing the Monday night programs to a state-wide network of public television stations. Ruben Martinez is only available sporadically, and George Ramos subs frequently.
1995 Fall	Ruben Martinez no longer available to host the show.
1996 Fall	"Life and Times" changes to a magazine format for nightly continuity. George Ramos no longer with the program. He is replaced primarily by Monica Lozano. Distribution to state-wide networks is discontinued.
1998 January	"Life and Times" becomes a live nightly program with Yolanda Nava.
1998-09-14	The show is moved to a 7 p.m. time slot.
1999-01-28	Yolanda Nava's last day hosting "Life and Times Tonight"
1999 June	Warren Olney hosts show intermittently.
1999-07-05	Val Zavala begins hosting show intermittently.
1999-07-08	Last program airs with Patt Morrison, Hugh Hewitt, and Kerman Maddox as hosts of 'News of the Week Round-up' on Friday nights. Val Zavala begins co-hosting with Warren Olney. End of nightly live show.
2000-09-20	Warren Olney's last show.
2001 January	Jess Marlow begins hosting "Life and Times Tonight" with Val Zavala.
2003-05-05	Jess Marlow bids farewell to the show.
2003-07-07	The show begins a new field-based format.
2004-01-05	The show no longer repeats on KCET at the 11 p.m. hour. The Tavis Smiley Show airs instead.
2004-08-06	Last day for Philip Bruce, KCET's News Director from 2001 to 2004. Bruce moves on to NPR.
2004 August	"Life and Times" moved to 6:30 p.m. time slot. Huell Howser's show airs during the 7 p.m. time slot.
2005 February	KCET adopts widescreen (16 x 9) format for its broadcasts of "Life and Times"; no longer broadcast at 4 x 3.
2007-04-01	"Life and Times" moves back to 7 p.m. time slot.
2007 December	"Life and Times" ends. The final three episodes reflect on the show's history.

Scope and Content of Collection

Collection CSLA-38 contains documents created during the production of "Life and Times," a half-hour public affairs series produced by and broadcast on KCET-TV from 1992 to 2007. The collection is comprised of 128 boxes, which contain administrative notes, script revisions, shooting schedules, contracts, and expense reports created by the producers of "Life and Times." Related materials may be found in the following collection in this repository: "Life and Times" Program Masters, CSLA-37.

From its start, the show aired Monday through Friday. Over the course of its 16-year run, "Life and Times" went through a number of format changes, but its goal to provide a quality alternative to commercial television news for Southern Californians remained constant. "Life and Times" won numerous Los Angeles Area Emmy awards and Golden Mikes.

As KCET-TV's signature news program, "Life and Times" held a prominent evening timeslot. The show reported on politics, education, the environment, demographics, transportation, science, culture and arts. The show featured interviews, in-depth analysis of important local and regional issues, and documentaries about citizens making a difference in Los Angeles communities. "Life and Times" offered an alternative to commercial television news. The show was a platform for Los Angeles voices with a wide variety of guests including community leaders, elected officials, educators, authors, artists, activists, actors and scholars.

In its later years, the series was hosted by Val Zavala, who was also KCET's vice-president for public affairs and news. Hosts included Patt Morrison, Hugh Hewitt, Ruben Martinez, Kerman Maddox, Jess Marlow, Warren Olney, Monica Lozano, and Yolanda Nava.

In October 2007, KCET announced that it would stop producing "Life and Times." The final episode aired in December 2007. The successor to "Life and Times" was "SoCal Connected," a weekly newsmagazine program hosted by Val Zavala, which premiered on KCET-TV in January 2008.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into three series. Series 1: "Life and Times" Documentaries; Series 2: "Life and Times" Studio Programs; Series 3: Miscellaneous Production Files.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

KCET (Television station : Los Angeles, Calif.)

Broadcasting--California--Los Angeles

Television

Television programs

Public television--California

Public affairs television program--California--Los Angeles

Series 1: "Life and Times" Documentaries 1992 March-1996 December

Physical Description: 9 boxes.

Scope and Content Note

Series 1 contains 9 boxes of production notes, script revisions, shooting schedules, and expense reports related to the documentary programs produced for "Life and Times" from 1992 to 1996. The production files also include contracts with producers and personal appearance releases from its subjects.

The documentary unit of "Life and Times" focused on the accomplishments, attitudes and goals of the people who make up the culturally, ethnically, and geographically diverse spectrum of Los Angeles. Subjects told their own stories, with no host or narrator. Each program follows the stories of two or three people in a particular arena that includes, but is not exclusive to the arts, medicine, politics, food, business, and education. Each program was produced using personal interviews, photographs, and on-location taping.

Videotapes have not been viewed by staff to verify contents.

Arrangement

Each individual show is arranged in its own folder. Folders are arranged by original show number, primarily chronological in order, in each box.

Box 1

Shows: 102, 103, 105, 107, 108, 112, 113, 114, 117, 118, 119, 122, 123, 124, 127

Date Begin: 1992-03-26; Date End: 1992-12-18

Box 2

Shows: 129, 132, 133, 134, 137, 138, 145, 146, 147, 160, 161, 162, 165, 166, 167, 170, 171, 172, 175, 177, 181, 182

Date Begin: 1992-02-20; Date End: 1992-05-29

Box 3

Shows: 185, 187, 190, 192, 195, 198, 218, 220, 223, 225, 230, 233, 235, 260

Date Begin: 1992-06-03; Date End: 1992-11-16

Box 4

Shows: 236, 265, 268, 270, 273, 280, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408

Date Begin: 1992-12-18; Date End: 1993-10-27

Box 5

Shows: 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421

Date Begin: 1993-10-14; Date End: 1994-05-18

Box 6

Shows: 423, 424, 5401, 5402, 5403, 5405, 5407, 5408

Date Begin: 1994-06-29; Date End: 1994-10-26

Box 7

Shows: 5409, 5410, 5412, 5413, 5414, 5415, 5416, 5419, 5422, 6401, 6402, 6403

Date Begin: 1994-12-21; Date End: 1995-05-29

Box 8

Shows: 6404, 6405, 6406, 6407, 6409

Date Begin: 1995-10-25; Date End: 1996-04-19

Box 9

Shows: 6410, 6413, 6414, 6416, 6418, Edited master log for documentaries

Date Begin: 1996-06-14; Date End: 1996-12-20

Series 2: "Life and Times" Studio Programs 1992 January-2007 December

Physical Description: 105 boxes.

Scope and Content Note

Series 2 contains the bulk of the production files related to KCET-TV's production of its flagship news program "Life and Times." Studio programs aired Mondays through Fridays from 1992 to 2007, and this series is comprised of all the paper-based documentation related to productions. Materials include script revisions, correspondence, memos, contracts, press releases, reports, engineering work orders, and music cue sheets.

Arrangement

In this finding aid, the programs are arranged by original show number, primarily in chronological order.

Box 10

Shows: 101, 102, 103, 104, 105-112

Date Begin: 1992-01-10; Date End: 1992-02-06

Box 11

Shows: 113-129

Date Begin: 1992-01-29; Date End: 1992-02-20

Box 12

Shows: 130-145

Date Begin: 1992-02-21; Date End: 1992-03-12

Box 13

Shows: 146-165

Date Begin: 1992-03-05; Date End: 1992-05-11

Box 14

Shows: 166-179; 181-183

Date Begin: 1992-05-13; Date End: 1992-06-05

Box 15

Shows: 184-204

Date Begin: 1992-06-05; Date End: 1992-07-17

Box 16

Shows: 205-225

Date Begin: 1992-07-24; Date End: 1992-10-15

Box 17

Shows: 226-257

Date Begin: 1992-10-16; Date End: 1992-12-25

Box 18

Shows: 258-288

Date Begin: 1992-12-28; Date End: 1993-02-17

Box 19

Shows: 289-318

Date Begin: 1993-02-19; Date End: 1993-05-07

Box 20

Shows: 319-4003

Date Begin: 1993-05-10; Date End: 1993-06-07

Box 21

Shows: 4004-4040

Date Begin: 1993-07-09; Date End: 1993-11-02

Box 22

Shows: 4042-4078

Date Begin: 1993-11-04; Date End: 1994-01-17

Box 23

Shows: 4079-4117

Date Begin: 1994-01-18; Date End: 1994-04-05

Box 24

Shows: 4118-4152

Date Begin: 1994-04-07; Date End: 1994-06-06

Box 25

Shows: 4153-5024

Date Begin: 1994-06-07; Date End: 1994-09-15

Box 26

Shows: 5025-5063

Date Begin: 1994-09-16; Date End: 1994-11-24

Box 27

Shows: 5064-5105

Date Begin: 1994-11-25; Date End: 1995-02-20

Box 28

Shows: 5106-5144

Date Begin: 1995-02-21; Date End: 1995-05-11

Box 29

Shows: 5145-6014

Date Begin: 1995-05-15; Date End: 1995-09-04

Box 30

Shows: 6015-6045

Date Begin: 1995-09-04; Date End: 1995-10-26

Box 31

Shows: 6046-6079

Date Begin: 1995-10-27; Date End: 1996-01-09

Box 32

Shows: 6080-6113

Date Begin: 1996-01-11; Date End: 1995-03-15

Box 33

Shows: 6114-6145

Date Begin: 1996-03-18; Date End: 1996-05-13

Box 34

Shows: 6146-7009

Date Begin: 1996-05-14; Date End: 1996-07-29

Box 35

Shows: 7011-7042

Date Begin: 1996-08-02; Date End: 1996-10-15

Box 36

Shows: 7043-7075

Date Begin: 1996-10-17; Date End: 1996-12-09

Box 37

Shows: 7076-7113

Date Begin: 1996-12-13; Date End: 1997-01-13

Box 38

Shows: 7114-7143

Date Begin: 1997-02-14; Date End: 1997-04-08

Box 39

Shows: 7144-7170

Date Begin: 1997-04-09; Date End: 1997-05-20

Box 40

Shows: 7171-7P02

Date Begin: 1997-05-21; Date End: 1997-06-30

Box 41

Shows: 7P03-8017

Date Begin: 1997-03-06; Date End: 1997-09-12

Box 42

Shows: 8018-8043

Date Begin: 1997-09-18; Date End: 1997-10-20

Box 43

Shows: 8044-8076

Date Begin: 1997-10-21; Date End: 1999-12-17

Box 44

Shows: 8077-8097

Date Begin: 1997-12-18; Date End: 1998-01-20

Box 45

Shows: 8098-8114

Date Begin: 1998-01-21; Date End: 1998-02-11

Box 46

Shows: 8115-8136

Date Begin: 1998-02-13; Date End: 1998-03-16

Box 47

Shows: 8137-8156

Date Begin: 1998-03-17; Date End: 1998-04-13

Box 48

Shows: 8157-8173

Date Begin: 1998-04-14; Date End: 1998-05-06

Box 49

Shows: 8174-8190

Date Begin: 1998-05-07; Date End: 1998-05-29

Box 50

Shows: 8191-8204

Date Begin: 1998-06-01; Date End: 1998-06-18

Box 51

Shows: 8206-9007

Date Begin: 1998-06-22; Date End: 1998-07-06

Box 52

Shows: 9008-9022

Date Begin: 1998-07-10; Date End: 1998-07-30

Box 53

Shows: 9023-9041

Date Begin: 1998-07-31; Date End: 1998-08-28

Box 54

Shows: 9042-9059

Date Begin: 1998-08-29; Date End: 1998-09-21

Box 55

Shows: 9060-9077

Date Begin: 1998-09-22; Date End: 1998-10-15

Box 56

Shows: 9078-9096

Date Begin: 1998-10-16; Date End: 1998-11-06

Box 57

Shows: 9097-9113

Date Begin: 1998-11-09; Date End: 1998-12-02

Box 58

Shows: 9114-9133

Date Begin: 1998-12-03; Date End: 1999-01-01

Box 59

Shows: 9134-9157

Date Begin: 1999-01-04; Date End: 1999-02-04

Box 60

Shows: 9158-9179

Date Begin: 1999-02-05Date End: 1999-03-08

Box 61

Shows: 9180-9201

Date Begin: 1999-03-09; Date End: 1999-04-07

Box 62

Shows: 9202-9223

Date Begin: 1999-04-08; Date End: 1999-05-07

Box 63

Shows: 9224-9240

Date Begin: 1999-05-10; Date End: 1999-06-01

Box 64

Shows: 9241-9262

Date Begin: 1999-06-01; Date End: 1999-06-30

Box 65

Shows: 0001-0025

Date Begin: 199-07-01; Date End: 1999-08-04

Box 66

Shows: 0026-0049

Date Begin: 1999-08-05; Date End: 1999-09-07

Box 67

Shows: 0050-0070

Date Begin: 1999-09-08; Date End: 1999-10-06

Box 68

Shows: 0071-0097

Date Begin: 1999-10-07; Date End: 1999-11-12

Box 69

Shows: 0098-0121

Date Begin: 1999-11-15; Date End: 1999-12-16

Box 70

Shows: 0122-0148

Date Begin: 1999-12-17; Date End: 2000-01-24

Box 71

Shows: 0149-0172

Date Begin: 2000-01-25; Date End: 2000-02-25

Box 72

Shows: 0173-0195

Date Begin: 2000-02-28; Date End: 2000-03-29

Box 73

Shows: 0196-0217

Date Begin: 2000-03-30; Date End: 2000-04-28

Box 74

Shows: 0218-0238

Date Begin: 2000-05-01; Date End: 2000-05-29

Box 75

Shows: 0239-0262

Date Begin: 2000-05-30; Date End: 2000-06-30

Box 76

Shows: Best of Life and Times Wraps- Show 320

Date Begin: Various; Date End: 2000-07-31

Box 77

Shows: 321-343

Date Begin: 2000-08-01; Date End: 2000-08-30

Box 78

Shows: 344-364

Date Begin: 2000-08-31; Date End: 2000-09-28

Box 79

Shows: 365-388

Date Begin: 2000-09-29; Date End: 2000-11-01

Box 80

Shows: 389-422

Date Begin: 2000-11-02; Date End: 2000-12-19

Box 81

Shows: 423-446

Date Begin: 2000-12-20; Date End: 2001-01-22

Box 82

Shows: 447-465

Date Begin: 2001-01-23; Date End: 2001-02-16

Box 83

Shows: 466-494

Date Begin: 2001-02-19; Date End: 2001-03-29

Box 84

Shows: 495-515

Date Begin: 2001-03-30; Date End: 2001-04-27

Box 85

Shows: 516-539

Date Begin: 2001-04-30; Date End: 2001-05-31

Box 86

Shows: 540-560

Date Begin: 2001-06-01; Date End: 2001-06-29

Box 87

Shows: 20101-20120

Date Begin: 2001-07-02; Date End: 2001-07-27

Box 88

Shows: 20121-20143

Date Begin: 2001-07-30; Date End: 2001-08-29

Box 89

Shows: 20144-20164

Date Begin: 2001-08-30; Date End: 2001-09-27

Box 90

Shows: 20165-20186

Date Begin: 2001-09-28; Date End: 2001-10-29

Box 91

Shows: 20187-20213

Date Begin: 2001-10-30; Date End: 2001-12-05

Box 92

Shows: 20214-20237

Date Begin: 2001-12-06; Date End: 2002-01-08

Box 93

Shows: 20238-20259

Date Begin: 2002-01-09; Date End: 2002-02-07

Box 94

Shows: 20260-20280

Date Begin: 2002-02-08; Date End: 2002-03-08

Box 95

Shows: 20281-20303

Date Begin: 2002-03-11; Date End: 2002-04-10

Box 96

Shows: 20304-20324

Date Begin: 2002-04-11; Date End: 2002-05-09

Box 97

Shows: 20325-20350

Date Begin: 2002-05-10; Date End: 2002-06-14

Box 98

Shows: 20351-30122

Date Begin: 2002-06-17; Date End: 2002-07-31

Box 99

Shows: 30123-30154

Date Begin: 2002-08-01; Date End: 2002-09-13

Box 100

Shows: 30155-30180

Date Begin: 2002-09-16; Date End: 2002-10-21

Box 101

Shows: 30181-30202

Date Begin: 2002-10-22; Date End: 2002-11-20

Box 102

Shows: 30203-30238

Date Begin: 2002-11-21; Date End: 2003-01-09

Box 103

Shows: 30239-30263

Date Begin: 2003-01-03; Date End: 2003-02-13

Box 104

Shows: 30264-30284

Date Begin: 2003-02-14; Date End: 2003-03-14

Box 105

Shows: 30285-30306

Date Begin: 2003-03-17; Date End: 2003-04-15

Box 106

Shows: 30307-30329

Date Begin: 2003-04-16; Date End: 2003-05-16

Box 107

Shows: 30330-40112

Date Begin: 2003-05-19; Date End: 2003-07-16

Box 108

Shows: 40113-40152

Date Begin: 2003-07-17; Date End: 2003-09-10

Box 109

Shows: 40153-40198

Date Begin: 2003-09-11; Date End: 2003-11-13

Box 110

Shows: 40199-40264

Date Begin: 2003-11-14; Date End: 2004-02-13

Box 111

Shows: 40266-40325

Date Begin: 2004-02-17; Date End: 2004-05-10

Box 112

Shows: 40326-50160

Date Begin: 2004-05-11; Date End: 2004-09-27

Box 113

Shows: 50161-50206

Date Begin: 2004-09-28; Date End: 2004-11-30

Box 114

Shows: 50207-50267

Date Begin: 2004-12-01; Date End: 2005-02-23

Box 115

Shows: 50268-50319

Date Begin: 2005-02-24; Date End: 2005-05-06

Box 116

Shows: 50321-60117

Date Begin: 2005-05-10; Date End: 2005-07-27

Box 117

Shows: 60118-60173

Date Begin: 2005-07-28; Date End: 2005-10-13

Box 118

Shows: 60174-60236

Date Begin: 2005-10-14; Date End: 2006-01-10

Box 119

Shows: 60237-60290

Date Begin: 2006-01-11; Date End: 2006-03-27

Box 120

Shows: 60291-60343

Date Begin: 2006-03-28; Date End: 2006-06-08

Box 121

Shows: 60344-70132

Date Begin: 2006-06-09; Date End: 2006-08-16

Box 122

Shows: 70133-70188

Date Begin: 2006-08-17; Date End: 2006-11-02

Box 123

Shows: 70189-70251

Date Begin: 2006-11-03; Date End: 2007-01-30

Box 124

Shows: 70252-70316

Date Begin: 2007-01-31; Date End: 2007-05-01

Box 125

Shows: 70317-80112

Date Begin: 2007-05-02; Date End: 2007-07-18

Box 126

Shows: 80113-80175

Date Begin: 2007-07-19; Date End: 2007-10-15

Box 127

Shows: 80176-80224

Date Begin: 2007-10-16; Date End: 2007-12-21

Series 3: Miscelleanous Production Files 1991-2007

Physical Description: 2 Boxes.

Scope and Content Note

Series 3 contains 2 boxes of miscellenous production files, including many overarching documents of the show's run from 1992 to 2007. This documentation includes show schedules, timelines, and calendars. Series 3 also is comprised of 3 folders related to the television "By the Year 2000," which was produced by KCET in 1991 and became the precursor to "Life and Times."

Arrangement

In this finding aid, the programs are arranged by original show number, primarily chronological in order.

Box 128

Folders 1-18: Calendars for each season; series timeline; segment master subject list

Date Begin: 1992; Date End: 2007

Box 129

Folders 1-3: KCET's "By The Year 2000" [Precursor to "Life and Times"] promotional materials and program notes

Date Begin: 1989; Date End: 1991