Isaacs (Charles) papers, 1941-1973

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Summary

Title:
Charles Isaacs papers,
Dates:
1941-1973
Creators:
Isaacs, Charles, 1914-2002
Abstract:
Charlie Isaacs's numerous radio and television writing credits include Kraft Music Hall, The Martin and Lewis Show, and The Johnny Carson Show among others. The collection consists primarily of television and radio series scripts and a small amount of photographs and correspondence.
Extent:
26 boxes (11.0 linear ft.)
Language:
Finding aid is written in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Charles Isaacs papers(Collection 80). Performing Arts Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists primarily of television and radio series scripts from the career of writer Charles Isaacs. The collection also includes photographs, correspondence, and ephemera. Television script materials include such titles as The Jimmy Durante television show (1950-54), The Johnny Carson show (1955-56), and The Dean Martin show (1971). Radio script materials include such titles as Kraft music hall (1947-49), The Bob Burns show (1946-47), The Rudy Vallee show (1941), and The Martin and Lewis show (1949-50). Includes some bound volumes. The correspondence comprises notes from creative talents such as Fred Allen, Johnny Carson, Betty Davis, Bob Hope, Jack Lemon and Frank Sinatra, among others.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Isaacs was born in Winnipeg, Canada on Sept. 17, 1914. After attending the University of Minnesota School of Journalism in the early 1930's, he became a correspondent for Radio Guide magazine. He moved to Hollywood, CA in 1937 and served in the Coast Guard Seventh Amphibious Force from 1942-1945 before being transferred to Armed Forces Radio. Isaacs wrote for numerous television and radio shows including Kraft Music Hall, The Martin & Lewis Radio Show, The Chase and Sanborn Hour, The Texaco Star Theater and The Milton Berle Show. He also worked as the head writer for multiple series including The Jimmy Durante Hours, The Johnny Carson Show ,The Colgate Comedy Hour,The Dinah Shore Hour,The Real McCoys, andThe Red Skelton Show. In addition to writing, Isaacs worked as a script consultant for the series The Thin Man and as the executive story editor for the series Alice . Throughout his career, he wrote for some of the most famous actors and comedians of the day including Jack Benny, John Barrymore, Edgar Bergan, Rudy Vallee, Al Jolson, Jimmy Durante, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, and Johnny Carson. Isaacs died of cancer December 13 2002 in Santa Monica, CA.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Charles Isaacs, 1972, 1985, 1989.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Correspondence
  2. Ephemera
  3. Photographs
  4. Radio script materials
  5. Television script materials

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Arts Special Collections Staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Elizabeth Graney and Julie Graham.
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from database containing container list structure and data, encoding added via MS Access and Notetab Pro; frontmatter gathered from MARC Record. Date of source: unknown.

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Charles Isaacs papers(Collection 80). Performing Arts Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
Website