Howard Rodman Collection

Title: Howard Rodman Collection

Dates: 1943-1986

Collection Number: WGF-MS-030

Creator/Collector: Rodman, Howard, 1920-1985

Extent: 9.6 linear feet

Repository: Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Abstract: The Howard Rodman Collection, 1943-1986, contains manuscripts, correspondence, personal papers, and awards belonging to the writer Howard Rodman. The collection primarily consists of produced and unproduced manuscripts written by Rodman.

Language of Material: English

The majority of the material is stored offsite. One week advance notice is required for retrieval. This collection contains unproduced material with access restrictions. Please contact the Writers Guild Foundation for more information.

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

Howard Rodman Collection. Writers Guild Foundation Archive

Gift of Adam Rodman, 2015

Howard Rodman was born in the Bronx on February 18, 1920. He obtained his B.A. from Brooklyn College and did graduate studies at Iowa University before serving in the army during WWII. From 1941-1953 he was married to Dorothy Rodman, nee Harrison. In 1954 he married actress Norma Connolly and they remained married until his death in 1985. Rodman began his writing career in the 1950’s, scripting episodes for anthology series such as Playhouse 90, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Studio One, and Alcoa Theater, among many others. He was equally prolific in episodic television during the 1960’s, writing many episodes for both Route 66 and Naked City and acting as story editor for both shows. Rodman worked extensively in the Movie of the Week format, most notably co-scripting the award-winning The Neon Ceiling with Carol Sobieski and writing the TV movies which became the series Six Million Dollar Man and Harry-O. During his lifetime he was awarded four Writers Guild Awards, including the Laurel Award for lifetime achievement. Apart from writing, Rodman served as a Board member for the Writers Guild of America, West, the Authors League, and the Radio Writers Guild and taught at Indiana University, USC, Cal State Northridge, and the Lee Strasberg Institute. Howard Rodman died on December 5, 1985 and was survived by his wife, three sons, and a daughter. His sons Howard A. Rodman and Adam Rodman are both screenwriters.

The Howard Rodman Collection is organized into five series. Series I: Television Scripts is comprised of produced television scripts dating from 1957-1982 and is divided into two subseries. Subseries A: Naked City, 1959-1963, contains numerous scripts from the show Naked City, for which Rodman served as story editor. Many of the drafts were written by or with other writers and are in various draft stages. In each series, credits are listed only when they include other writers. All other works are credited to Howard Rodman. Subseries B: Other Television Works, 1957-1982, contains Rodman’s scripts for the anthology television series Studio One and ALCOA/Goodyear Theater, documentary science series Conquest, as well as the show bible for The Devlin Connection. Series II: Movie of the Week Scripts, 1969-1983 spans Rodman’s extensive work with Movie of the Week productions. Highlights include a detailed “casebook” chronicling his contributions to Carol Sobieski’s script for The Neon Ceiling and his collaboration with Steven Bochco on what would become the tele-film pilot for The Six-Million Dollar Man. Series III: Plays, Film, and Radio, 1955-1972 is divided into three subseries: Subseries A: Plays, 1955-1968; Subseries B: Film, 1968-1972; and Subseries C: Radio, no date info. Series IV: Unproduced Scripts, 1958-1986, is the largest series in the collection and contains drafts for a variety of projects, some of which are handwritten. Series V: Correspondence and Other Materials, 1943-1983 is divided into three sub-series. Subseries A: Financial Papers, 1967-1980 contains Rodman’s financial records as he kept them for over a decade which includes correspondence with Sid Sheinberg, Alan J. Pakula, and Stephen Blauner, among others, Subseries B: Miscellaneous Papers, 1943-1983 contains outlines, research, sketches, and correspondence, many regarding unproduced work. Highlights of this series include a poem written by Rodman while he served in the army during WWII, an unproduced pitch for Star Trek, and Rodman’s heated correspondence regarding the Aaron Spelling production Two For the Money. Subseries C: Leonard Hanzer Papers, 1968-1976, contains papers belonging to Rodman’s longtime agent, Leonard Hanzer. The majority of these papers are financial. Subseries D: Awards, 1962-1974, contains a portion of Rodman’s numerous awards for his work, including the prestigious Writers Guild of America Laurel Award for lifetime achievement.