Unity Shoppe broadcast video collection, 1986-2012

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Summary

Abstract:
The collection contains video recordings of raw footage, airchecks, and promotional materials related to the annual Unity Shoppe Christmas (Holiday) Telethon as well as other recordings made by the organization.
Extent:
24.33 Linear Feet (105 DVDs, 230 videocassettes (U-Matic, Betacam, VHS), 2 one-inch video reels)
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Unity Shoppe broadcast video collection, SBHC Mss 136. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The yearly holiday broadcast includes a telethon, interviews of donors, testimonials, tours of and information about the Shoppe's services and musical performances from local and celebrity musicians. KEYT anchors and reporters conduct the interviews such as Paula Lopez, John Palminteri, and Lance Orozco. A long list of celebrities, including Jeff Bridges, Rob Lowe, Katy Perry and Brad Paisley, have contributed to the broadcast over the years along with long-time supporter Kenny Loggins. Broadcasts from 1995, 2007, and 2010 are missing and content from 2005 and 2012 is limited.

Biographical / historical:

Unity Shoppe History

Unity Shoppe is a Santa Barbara based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free essential services to residents impacted by temporary conditions of poverty, natural disaster, or health crisis. The volunteer organization was established by Dr. Pearl Chase and Dr. Hazel Severy in 1917 as three committees – The Christmas Basket Committee, Christmas Stocking Committee, and Community Christmas Committee. In 1936 the volunteers voted to merge the committees into a single organization, The Council of Christmas Cheer, to avoid duplicating work done by other charitable organizations. The CCC coordinated the donation and distribution of food, clothing, and toys to families in need during the holiday season. Barbara Tellefson (1936-2020) joined the board of directors in 1976 and was elected President in 1977. This began decades of service with the CCC. In the 1980s the Council opened a shopping area for donated items that allowed parents to "shop" for their children's Christmas presents as in a regular store as well as a toyshop where they could create their own gifts. During this time period, the Council became involved in year-round charitable activities alongside other local charitable groups. In 1987 the Council became the Unity Shoppe and collaborated with musician Kenny Loggins and KEYT-TV to host a fundraising telethon. The Council hosted their first telethon on December 13, 1987 along with other fundraising events. Under the leadership of Tellefson, the organization continued to host annual fundraising telethons with KEYT-TV as well as expand their year-round charitable offerings, including responding to local emergencies and natural disasters.

Telethon History

The idea of an annual telethon emerged in 1987 when singer and songwriter Kenny Loggins, already a partner and supporter of the Council, met with KETY-TV to propose a telethon that would benefit the collaborative efforts of local charitable organizations during the Christmas season. He wanted to support all these organizations, but this was not feasible given their number. He was intitally approached by Barbara Tellefson about working together and the two hatched the idea of the telethon. The underlying premise of this new fundraiser was to unite local charitable efforts to assure everyone received assistance through eliminating duplication of services. The funds generated by the telethon were to be distributed among all the agencies who participated. The telethon was described as a, "collective Holiday Gift to our community" and was initially named, "The Christmas Unity Telethon". In its first iteration, the telethon solicited funds for Catholic Charities, the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Afro-American Community Services, Toys for Tots, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Programs), the Salvation Army and the Council for Christmas Cheer. KETY-TV agreed to contribute on-air promotions of fundraising events and profiles of the charities involved, "KETY was introduced to Kenny Loggins when he approached us with the idea of Christmas Unity as an umbrella project for all of the charitable organizations in the community working toward a joint purpose to raise money, food, clothing and toys for the needy in Santa Barbara during the holiday season." (Sandra Benton, Vice President and General Manager of KEYT-TV). Once Unity Shoppe began providing services year around, the telethon served as a major source of Unity's operating budget. Over the years, an increasing number of local businesses have donated, volunteered and made referrals to Unity Shoppe, furthering their goal of a community approach to providing assistance to individuals in need.

SourcesUnity Shoppe: A 90-Year History of Community Giving! by Unity Shoppe, Inc. Unity Shoppe Brief History - https://unityshoppe.org/the-history-of-unity/(accessed on 8/1/2023) Barbara Tellefson Obituary - https://www.independent.com/2021/02/25/barbara-tellefson-1936-2020/(accessed on 8/2/23)

Acquisition information:
Gift of Angela Miller-Bevan, Unity Shoppe, 2023.
Arrangement:

The collection is divided into four series. Series I: Unity Shoppe Telethon videos, 1980s Series II: Unity Shoppe Telethon videos, 1990s Series III: Unity Shoppe Telethon videos, 2000-2012 Series IV: Other Unity Shoppe Videos, 1986 - 2008. The telethon series are in chronological order starting with the first 1987 broadcast of the telethon and ending with the telethon of December 2012.

Physical location:
Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research. Audiovisual materials must be reformatted for access. Please contact the Department of Special Research Collections in advance to request access.

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@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], Unity Shoppe broadcast video collection, SBHC Mss 136. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library.

Location of this collection:
UC Santa Barbara Library
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
Contact:
(805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
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