Finding aid of the Rick Sandford Writings
Coll2009.001
Finding aid prepared by Michael C. Oliveira
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
© 2008
Title: Rick Sandford writings
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2009.001
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
13.6 linear feet.
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1970-1990
Date (inclusive): 1951-1995
Abstract: Journals, short stories, plays, screenplays, comparative literature, poetry, and annual compendia of literature read, motion
pictures seen, and theatrical performances attended by Rick Sandford, 1963-1995. Sandford documented his early life in Tahoe
1958-1969, as a "born again" Christian 1971-1972, and life in Los Angeles 1973-1980, and 1989-1994 in typescript journals.
Working in various positions from an usher to a television stand-in Sandford documents life in Los Angeles and his love of
reading, motion pictures, and theater.
General Physical Description note:
10 records boxes, 1 archive half-carton, and 1 oversize box
creator:
Sandford, Rick, 1951-1995
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Publication Rights
Researchers wishing to publish materials must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives as the
physical owner. Researchers must also obtain clearance from the holder(s) of any copyrights in the materials. Note that ONE
National Gay and Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold the copyright.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials directly from the copyright
holder(s).
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #, Rick Sandford writings, Coll2009-001, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California.
Acquisition Information
Method and date of acquisition unknown.
Processing Information
Formerly boxed in 103-044, 103-068, 103-093, 103-095, 103-104, 103-109, 103-129, 104-149, 104-150, 104-151, 104-152, and 104-159.Collection
processed by Greg Williams, Sócrates Silva, Richard French, and Michael C. Oliveira, 2005-January 2009.
Biography
Rick Sandford was born December 31, 1950, in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in the Lake Tahoe area. His early difficulties
learning to read led his parents to enroll him in a private school, Peter Pan. At the school he learned how to overcome his
difficulties and would later consider reading as a primary component of his happiness. Sandford at some point created typescripts
of original documents including his mother's correspondence in 1951. His early personal journal entries date to 1958 and were
short and sporadic, however his later entries were longer and more frequent. The journal entries include copies of his correspondence
and writings, and traditional journal entries concerning his life. His journals also document his appreciation of motion pictures,
another life-long passion. After his graduation in 1969, he came to Los Angeles to see the musical,
Hair and the Russian motion picture version of
War and Peace. After 1972, Sandford remained in Los Angeles employed in various positions, from an usher at Grauman's Chinese Theatre to
a television show stand-in. He received credit as a "research assistant" on
50 Golden Years of Oscar: the Official History of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and Ronald Haver's
David O. Selznick's Hollywood. Along the way Sandford appeared on television shows and in motion pictures as an extra and in a few bit parts. During the
late 1970s and early 1980s he worked as an editor on 3 gay erotic films and appeared as Benjamin Barker or Ben Barker in 13
gay erotic motion pictures including
Kip Noll and the Westside Boys,
Rear Deliveries,
Skin Deep,
The Class of '84 Part 2
Jocks,
Gold Rush Boys,
The Boys of San Francisco,
A Night at Halsted's, and
Games. In the mid 1980s, Don Bachardy sketched Sandford for his book,
Drawing of the Male Nude. He also served as an assistant on the 1990 documentary Hollywood Mavericks. In 1991, his short story "Forster & Rosenthal
Reevaluated: An Investigative Report" was published in the anthology,
Indivisible: New Short Fiction by Gay and Lesbian West Coast Writers. In 1994, another of his short stories, "Purim" was published in
Blood Whispers: L.A. Writers on AIDS, Volume 2. He died of AIDS during the evening of September 28, 1995. Two more of Sandford's short stories were published posthumously,
"The Gospel Of Bartholemew Legate: Three Fragments" in
His 2: Brilliant New Fiction by Gay Writers and"Manifest White" in
His 3: Brilliant New Fiction by Gay Writers. In 2000, his novel,
Boys Across the Street was published.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Rick Sandford collection includes typescripts of his journal; the journals document his correspondence to friends, important
documents such as medical records and tax returns, along with his writings and traditional journal entries. The collection
also includes drafts as well as final drafts of comparative literature works, short stories, a novel, plays, screenplays,
and poetry. A few of his works were published during his life most were published posthumously. The correspondence, not included
in his journals, and biographical information are located in the Personal Series. The final series, Cultural Compendia consists
of his lists of motion pictures screened, cultural events attended, and books read along with his selection of the best for
each year, 1980-1994. The series also contains lists and reference materials concerning theater, literature, and motion pictures..
Arrangement
The collection is divided into 4 series: Journals, Writings, Personal, and Cultural Compendia and the associated subseries.
Series 2: Writings is divided into four subseries: Comparative Literature, Novels and Short Stories, Plays and Screenplays,
and Poetry. Series 3: Personal is divided into two subseries: Correspondence and Biographical. Series 4: Cultural Compendia
is divided into 5 subseries: Cultural Compendia, Literature Lists, Theater Lists, Motion Picture Lists, and Reference Materials.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Academy Awards (Motion pictures)
Diaries
Gay men--Fiction
Gays' writings, American
Motion pictures--Evaluation
Short stories, American--Pacific Coast (U.S.)
Journals Series 1:
1951 1994
Physical Description:
58.0 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The 1951 journal entries are typescripts of correspondence to his mother. From 1958-1980 and 1989-1994, Sandford's journals
are primarily typescripts of traditional journal entries along with originals or copies of most everything that he received
or sent. The list documents include: California sample ballot booklets, clippings, copies of mailed and unmailed correspondence,
lists of expenses, personal and publicity photographs, plot outlines from his film appearances, photocopies of postcards sent,
promotional materials, photocopies of psychological surveys from the Los Angeles Men's Study (LAMS), photocopies of tax returns,
and copies of his writings. Most of the documents are annotated with pertinent information.
Box-folder 1 : 1
1951, 1958-1965
1951 1958-1965
Writings Series 2:
1959-1994
Physical Description:
60.0 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The writing series is divided into four subseries: Comparative Literature, Novel and Short Stories, Plays and Screenplays,
and Poetry. The works of each series are arranged alphabetically with the exception of multiple and untitled works which begin
the Novel and Short Stories, Plays and Screenplays, and Poetry subseries. Re-titled works were brought together and arranged
under what appears to the last title. The works are primarily by Sandford with a few collaborative stories and screenplays
with Josh Becker or Stacey Foiles.
Comparative Literature Subseries 2.1:
1959-1993
Physical Description:
4.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
Sandford made a goal of reading the original works adapted to become Oscar nominated motion pictures. For
Lawrence of Arabia, the collection contains Sandford's typescript notes and the research materials he used to compare works concerning and by
T. E. Lawrence to the motion picture adaptation. In the second comparative work, Sanford brings together verses from different
books of the Bible and quotations of Isaac Asimov for his
Bartholomew's Gospel. The folder also includes a list of comparative passages from the four Gospels, passages from other books of the Bible, and
other miscellaneous quotations, along with Sandford's
The First Part of the Last Supper (in the style of the 1611 King James version of the Bible).
Box-folder 3 : 6
Bartholomew's Gospel
1993
Box-folder 3 : 8-9
Research materials
1959-1989
Novels and Short Stories Subseries 2.2:
1962-1994
Physical Description:
29.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries contains only one novel,
Boys Across the Street, which was published posthumously in 2000. The writings in this subseries are arranged alphabetically with two exceptions,
folders of multiple short stories found together during processing and related stories. The related stories and research materials
are grouped under Sandford's published title. Several typescripts and related research information are group under the heading
of the published work,
Forster and Rosenthal Reevaluated: An Investigation. The folder of the posthumously published short story, Manifest: White also contains the revised original work,
Fucking White.
Box-folder 3 : 10-14
Multiple Short Stories
1962-1993
Physical Description:
5.0 folders.
Box-folder 3 : 10
Miscellaneous early writings
1962-1972
Box-folder 3 : 12
Isaac and Moshe,
Sightings,
Manifest: White, and Comparative Quotations
1990
Box-folder 3 : 13
Isaac and Moshe,
Rocks and Coconuts,
Yeshiva Boy,
Moshe and Me
circa 1993
Box-folder 3 : 14
The Place of Sunlight,
Sergeant Halley
1967-1982
Box-folder 3 : 15-33 ; 4 : 1-6
Short Stories and Novel
1967-1994
Physical Description:
25.0 folders.
Box-folder 3 : 15
The Beautiful Football Player
1970
Box-folder 3 : 16-18
Boys Across the Street (novel)
1993
Box-folder 3 : 19
December 1994: Intimations of Morality
1994
Box-folder 3 : 20
Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and Other Writings
undated
Box-folder 3 : 21
Emotion Through Fantasy
1971
Box-folder 3 : 22-31
Forster and Rosenthal Reevaluated: An Investigation
1979-1991
Physical Description:
10.0 folders.
Box-folder 3 : 22
Photocopy of published work
1991
Box-folder 3 : 26
Notes and corrections
1990
Box-folder 3 : 27
Mann and Thalberg Reevaluated: An Investigative Report
undated
Box-folder 3 : 31
Auschwitz: Personal Ethics
undated
Box-folder 3 : 33
Isaac and Moshe
circa 1993
Box-folder 4 : 2
Manifest: White /
Fucking White
1989
Box-folder 4 : 6
Twenty-Nine, Thirty ... (in journal form)
1980
Plays and Screenplays Subseries 2.3:
1968-1993
Physical Description:
25.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The writings of the Play and Screenplays subseries are arranged alphabetically by title, with the exceptions of folders of
miscellaneous and untitled works. The re-titled screenplays Brothers and Sisters and Yesterday are filed under the revised
title, Tahoe. Sandford and Foiles revised this screenplay several times changing the title and character names. The revised
title, Yesterday appears to be very similar to last revised screenplay titled Tahoe. The subseries also contains North Platte,
Nebraska tourist information that was found with the Teenagers Die Screaming screenplays.
Box-folder 4 : 29
Miscellaneous short plays and screenplays
1970-1976
Box-folder 4 : 30
Untitled screenplay (erotic)
Undated
Box-folder 4 : 7-8
Above the Line, screenplay by Josh Becker, story by Josh Becker and Rick Sandford
1988
Box-folder 4 : 10-13
Boys Across the Street, play drafts
1993
Box-folder 4 : 14
Growing Up in Tahoe, screenplay
1975
Box-folder 4 : 15
Orthodox and Otherwise, play
1993
Box-folder 4 : 16
Paulson, screenplay
Undated
Box-folder 4 : 17-22, 28
Tahoe by Stacey Foiles and Rick Sanford
1968-1980s
Physical Description:
7.0 folders.
Box-folder 4 : 21-22
Brothers and Sisters
Tahoe
undated
Box-folder 4 : 28
Yesterday by Stacey Foiles and Rick Sandford
undated
Teenagers Die Screaming
circa 1989
Physical Description:
5.0 folders.
Box-folder 4 : 23
Screenplay by Rick Sandford and Stacey Foiles
undated
Box-folder 4 : 25-27
Screenplay by Rick Sandford and Stacey Foiles
undated
Box-folder 4 : 24
North Platte, Nebraska tourism information
1989
Poetry Subseries 2.4:
1967-circa 1981
Physical Description:
2.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries consists of two early folders of Sandford's poetry including a handwritten anthology and a folder of miscellaneous
unsorted poetry, 1967-1981.
Box-folder 4 : 31
Miscellaneous poetry
1970-1976
Box-folder 4 : 32
The Poetry of Rick Sandford
Undated
Personal Series 3:
1967-1999
Physical Description:
47.0 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The Personal Series consists of two chronologically arranged subseries, Correspondence and Biographical Subseries. Sandford's
correspondence files contain published letters to editors, reference materials and clippings, 1967-1995. The biographical
files contain files related to his life and professional careers, including appointment/address books, photographs, friend's
remembrances, along with promotional materials and scripts for television and erotic motion pictures in which he appeared.
Correspondence Subseries 3.1:
1967-1995
Physical Description:
24.0 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The Correspondence Subseries consists of letters, clippings and other documents organized by correspondent or subject. The
folder, Sanford and Rabbi Chaim Chabad conflict, may be related to the Jewish laws, the California penal code folder which
follows the conflict folder. The undated Alan Howard screenplay,
September Song folder was placed according to the first year his Howard's name appeared in Sandford's address books, 1985.
Box-folder 4 : 33
Stephanie Wood and miscellaneous
1967-1968 , 1972 , 1993
Box-folder 12 : 5
Tony Richardson clippings, correspondence, and photograph
1967-1994
Box-folder 11 : 4
Alan Howard,
September Song screenplay
Undated
Box-folder 4 : 34
Phil Trevor, correspondence
1971-1975 , 1993
Box-folder 12 : 2
Dan Redding, correspondence
1972 , 1985
Box-folder 4 : 35
Our Town, flyer and correspondence
1975
Box-folder 12 : 6
William Tepper, correspondence
1976-1978
Box-folder 4 : 36
Mark Valen, correspondence
1977-1985
Box-folder 12 : 7
Mark Valen poster, monthly cinema calendar
1985
Box-folder 4 : 37
Miscellaneous clippings, correspondence, and book receipts
1978-1992
Box-folder 12 : 8
Clippings, poster, miscellaneous
1980-1995
Box-folder 11 : 3
James Prideaux, appointment book
1981
Box-folder 4 : 38
Skinflicks and
Advocate Classified clippings
1983 , 1994
Box-folder 4 : 39
Clippings, writings, medical records
1989
Box-folder 4 : 40
Charles Winecoff, correspondence
1989-1992
Box-folder 12 : 9
Letter to Editors and President Clinton
1991-1995
Box-folder 5 : 1
Sandford responds to essay
"Rights" or Ills
1993
Box-folder 5 : 2
David Bergman, correspondence
1993
Box-folder 5 : 3
Peter Casherali,
A Bouquet from a Field of Reading : A Reading List of 66 Books Read in 1992 with Awards for Excellence
1993
Box-folder 12 : 3
Distribution of wealth,
Jews as Victims, and drug decriminalization; clippings
1993
Box-folder 5 : 4
Sanford and Rabbi Chaim Chabad conflict, notes and correspondence
1994
Box-folder 5 : 5
Jewish law, the California penal code; book sections and clippings
1981-1993
Box-folder 5 : 6
Thelma R. Wallack, correspondence
1995
Biographical Subseries 3.2:
1975-1999
Physical Description:
23.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The Biographical Subseries includes documents such as a resume, photographs, obituary, and remembrances from a friend. Additional
materials include posters, flyers, and advertising for an erotic film,
Kip Noll and The Westside Boys in which Sandford performed. He attempted to create a book of days for his life and other significant historical events,
however most of the pages are blank. The bulk of the subseries contains Sandford's pocket appointment/address books, which
list his daily activities. The three remaining folder contain scripts of television episodes and erotic films, in which Sandford
appeared.
Box-folder 5 : 7
Resume, photographs, obituary, remembrances
circa 1976 1995-1999
Box-folder 12 : 10
Kip Noll and The Westside Boys promotional materials
1980
Box-folder 5 : 11-25
Appointment/address books
1975-1994
Box-folder 5 : 26-28
Scripts
1976-1989
Physical Description:
3.0 folders.
Box-folder 5 : 26
Police Woman, "
Task Force: Cop Killer" episode television script
1976
Box-folder 5 : 27
Pacific Coast Highway and
The Class of '84 (part 2) screenplays
1981
Box-folder 5 : 28
The Hogan Family, "
Private Lives" episode television script
1989
Cultural Compendia Series 4:
1963-1995
Physical Description:
113.0 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The series includes the source materials and copies of Sandford's annual Cultural Compendia, lists of books read, cultural
events attended, and his selection of the best of the year. The sources materials consist of his manuscript and typescript
lists of books, theater, and motion pictures. The source materials are divided into five subseries Cultural Compendia, Literary,
Theater, Motion Pictures, and Reference Materials. The Motion Picture subseries includes spiral bound notebooks primarily
consisting of motion picture lists, however a few notebooks contain book and theater lists. The last subseries contains reference
materials from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and motion picture studios.
Cultural Compendia Subseries 4.1:
1981-1995
Physical Description:
20.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
Sandford summarized the lists of book he read and cultural events he attended in an annual Cultural Compendium. Each compendium
also included his selection of the best books, theater performances, and motion pictures of the year. The subseries includes
a photocopy, typescript, and draft of the 1983
Cultural Compendium. Sandford used as a frontispiece a different publicity still from
Baby It's You in each of three photocopies of his 1983 compendium. All the publicity stills were retained while the multiple photocopies
of the 1983 compendium were removed from the collection.
Box-folder 5 : 29
A Cultural Compendium 1980
1981
Box-folder 5 : 30
A Cultural Compendium 1981
1982
Box-folder 5 : 31-32
A Cultural Compendium 1982
circa 1983
Box-folder 6 : 1-3
A Cultural Compendium 1983
1984
Box-folder 6 : 4
A Cultural Compendium 1984
circa 1985
Box-folder 6 : 5
A Cultural Compendium 1985
1986
Box-folder 6 : 6
A Cultural Compendium 1986
circa 1987
Box-folder 6 : 7
A Cultural Compendium 1987
circa 1988
Box-folder 6 : 8
A Cultural Compendium 1988
circa 1989
Box-folder 6 : 9
A Cultural Compendium 1989
circa 1990
Box-folder 6 : 10
A Cultural Compendium 1990 or The Emasculation of Acceptance
1991
Box-folder 6 : 11
A Cultural Compendium 1991 or Tentative Working Assumptions
circa 1992
Box-folder 6 : 12
A Cultural Compendium 1992
1994
Box-folder 6 : 13
A Cultural Compendium 1993 or What a Man Values ...
1994
Box-folder 6 : 14-16
A Cultural Compendium 1994 or Rough Mosaic
1995
Literature Lists Subseries 4.2:
1989-1994
Physical Description:
9.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries consists of typescripts of Sandford's
A Literary Checklist, a compilation of various recommended reading lists, lists of various award-winning books, and book excerpts. The series
also includes Sandford's handwritten list of books read, organized by the book's publication or copyright date.
Box-folder 6 : 17-20
A Literary Checklist
1989-1994
Box-folder 6 : 21-23
Book lists by book awards, 1973-1992
1992
Box-folder 6 : 24 ; 7 : 1
Book lists by publication/copyright date, 1973-1994
circa 1994
Theater Lists Subseries 4.3:
1977/1995
Physical Description:
4.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The bulk of the subseries consists of chronological lists of the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre (Tony Awards)
nominations through 1995. The subseries also contains unorganized manuscripts and typescript lists of theater performances
attended by Sandford, most likely transcribed in the 1970s.
Box-folder 7 : 2-4
Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre (Tony Awards), 1947-1995
1977-1995
Box-folder 7 : 5
Theater performances by year, 1968-1979
circa 1979
Motion Picture Lists Subseries 4.4:
1963-1995
Physical Description:
61.0 folders.
Series Scope and Content
The subseries includes typescript lists of Sandford's annual choices of the best and worst motion pictures compiled from his
handwritten lists. Sandford recorded chronological lists of motion pictures by date or year watched or year nominated for
an award. He assembled these lists from spiral bound notebooks that recorded all the cultural events he attended in a calendar
year. Sandford also transcribed lists of nominated and award winning films from various organizations such as the press, film
festivals, and foreign academies.
Box-folder 7 : 6-7
Sandford's motion picture awards, 1963-1993
1993
Box-folder 7 : 8-11
Sandford's motion pictures watched, 1963-1988
1988
Box-folder 7 : 12-14
An Adjunct to the Academy Awards
1979
Box-folder 7 : 15
Sandford's motion picture reviews, 1972-1978
1972-1978
Box-folder 7 : 16-18
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards (Oscar) eligible, nominations, and winners, 1927-1994
1994
Box-folder 7 : 19-20
Foreign academies awards nominations and winners, 1931-1985
1985
Box-folder 7 : 21-24
Other motion picture awards, 1920-1993
1993
Box-folder 8 : 1-7
Chronological lists of motion pictures, 1895-1994
1994
Box-folder 10 : 4-5
Chronological lists of Academy Award nominations and winners, 1928-1994
1993
Box-folder 8 : 8-11
Chronological lists of motion pictures watched, 1973-1995
1995
Box-folder 8 : 12-24
Spiral bound notebooks annual lists
1963-1979
Box-folder 9 : 1-13
Spiral bound notebooks annual lists
1980
Box-folder 10 : 1-3
Spiral bound notebooks annual lists
1993-1995
Reference Materials Subseries 4.5:
1922-1994
Physical Description:
19.0 folders.
Subseries Scope and Content
The subseries includes reference materials from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences such as lists of nominations
and award winners, nominations press releases, and reminder lists of eligible motion pictures. The Studio reference materials
include a few studio biographies and production notes for films released in 1981, along with a list of MGM films released
between 1962-1981.
Box-folder 10 : 6-20
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Reference Materials
1965-1994
Physical Description:
15.0 folders.
Box-folder 10 : 6-7
Academy Award nominations and winners, 1927-1982
1982
Box-folder 10 : 8-10
Nominations press releases
1993
Box-folder 10 : 11-14
Reminder List of Eligible Releases booklets
1965-1994
Box-folder 10 : 15-20
Reminder List of Eligible Releases photocopies
1922-1990
Box-folder 11 : 1-2
Studio reference materials
1981 , 1991
Physical Description:
2.0 folders.
Box-folder 11 : 1
Studio motion picture biographies and production notes
1991
Box-folder 11 : 2
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Film Company Feature Film Titles, 1962-Present
1981
