Robert Bellem papers, 1931-1968

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Summary

Creators:
Bellem, Robert Leslie, 1902-1968
Abstract:
Bellem (1902-1968) was born in Philadelphia. He worked as a journalist for 15 years in Philadelphia, Miami, Albuquerque and California. Bellem sold his first detective story to Argosy in 1925. He began writing for Spicy Detective Stories in 1934. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Anthony Gordon, Franklin Charles, John Grange, and John A. Saxon. Bellem later wrote television screenplays. The collection consists of short stories, novels, movie scenarios, radio scripts, and television plays written by Bellem.
Extent:
12.5 linear ft. (23 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Robert Bellem Papers (Collection 1008). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of short stories, novels, movie scenarios, radio scripts, and television plays written by Bellem. The short stories (originally published in pulp magazines) were bound in volumes. Television series writing includes scripts for 77 Sunset Strip, The F.B.I., Death Valley Days, Perry Mason, Iron Horse, and Dick Tracy. Includes radio scripts for Creeps by Night. Also contains newspapers, magazines, and a catalog of military goods.

Biographical / historical:

Bellem was born in Philadelphia in 1902; worked as a journalist for 15 years in Philadelphia, Miami, Albuquerque, and Pasadena, California; sold first detective story to Argosy in 1925; while in Pasadena, was a radio announcer for KPSN, a movie extra for Universal, and also worked on the advertising staff of the Pasadena Star-News; met publisher Frank Armer, 1933, and began writing for his Spicy Detective Stories the following year; by 1936 Bellem was writing and selling over a million words annually; also wrote under the pseudonyms Anthony Gordon, Franklin Charles, John Grange, and John A. Saxon; later wrote television screenplays; died in 1968.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Bellem, 1968.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Hollywood detective third series (Boxes 1-2).
  2. Short stories (Boxes 3-4).
  3. Dan Turner: Hollywood detective (Boxes 5-6).
  4. Detective stories (Boxes 7-10).
  5. TV series and teleplays (Boxes 11-13, 15-21).
  6. Books (Box 14)
  7. Radio plays (Box 22)
  8. Adventure stories (Box 23).

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

Access and use

Restrictions:

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

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library 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], Robert Bellem Papers (Collection 1008). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

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
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