Robert Bellem papers, 1931-1968
Finding aid prepared by M. Nordman; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
©2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Robert Bellem papers
Collection number: 1008
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
12.5 linear ft.
(23 boxes)
Date: 1931-1968
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.
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.
Creator:
Bellem, Robert Leslie, 1902-1968
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
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.
Restrictions on Access
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.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Bellem, 1968.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Robert Bellem Papers (Collection 1008). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biography
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.
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.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Hollywood detective third series (Boxes 1-2).
- Short stories (Boxes 3-4).
- Dan Turner: Hollywood detective (Boxes 5-6).
- Detective stories (Boxes 7-10).
- TV series and teleplays (Boxes 11-13, 15-21).
- Books (Box 14)
- Radio plays (Box 22)
- Adventure stories (Box 23).
UCLA Catalog Record ID
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
462349
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bellem, Robert Leslie, 1902-1968--Archives.
Authors, American--20th century--Archives.
Detective and mystery stories.
Radio plays.
Radio writers--United States--Archives.
Television plays.
Television writers--United States--Archives.
Box 1
Hollywood Detective, Third Series
Scope and Content Note
Contains clipped stories by Bellem, specially bound in green cloth.
Box 2
Of Distant Valor and other adventure stories, by R.L.B.,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Adventure Stories and
Fantastic Adventure Stories.
Box 2
The Camera Guy and other adventure stories, by R.L.B.
undated
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Adventure Stories.
Box 2
Encores: Adventure Reprints, by R.L.B.
undated 1940[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Adventure Stories and
Spicy Western Stories.
Box 2
Fortune's Rogue and other adventure stories, by R.L.B.
1940[?].
Additional Note
Extracted from
Spicy Adventure Stories.
Box 2
Accent on Action: Adventure and Western Stories, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Adventure Stories and
Spicy Western Stories.
Box 3
Censorable: Short Stories, by R.L.B.
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Midnight Gayeties,
1937.
French Scandals,
Gay French Life,
1938.
Box 3
Yohimbin: Short Stories, by R.L.B.
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
French Night Life,
1936.
Screen Scandals,
1936.
Popular Detective, and
Thrilling Adventure Stories.
Box 3
Studies in Copper: Police and Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Popular Detective and
Thrilling Adventure Stories
1939.
Box 3
Rebel of the Turf: a Novel and other Sports Stories, by R.L.B.
undated, 1940[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from various pulp magazines.
Box 3
High Tide in Homicide: Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories and
Private Detective Stories.
Box 4
The Path to Glory and other Stories, by R.L.B.
1931
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Pep Stories and
Spicy Bedtime Stories.
Box 4
The Claws of the Dragon and other Adventure Stories, by R.L.B.
1938.
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Adventure Stories.
Box 4
Hot and Bothered: Short Stories, by R.L.B.
1935.
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from various pulp magazines.
Box 4
Many Killers: Detective Novels and Stories, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Detective Mystery Novel Magazine,
Private Detective Stories, and
Speed Detective.
Box 4
Dr. Zeng: Novels, by Walt Bruce (R.L.B.)
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Popular Detective.
Box 4
Here Come the Cops: Police Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
ca. 1946[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Popular Detective,
Private Detective and
Super Detective.
Box 4
Curtain Calls: Detective Reprints, by R.L.B.
1945[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Private Detective Stories,
Super Detective Stories, and
Speed Detective.
Box 5
Dan Turner: Hollywood Detective (Serial Detective Stories)
Box 6
Hollywood Detective (Bound magazine series with stories, by R.L.B)
Box 6
Short stories, by R.L.B.
1932[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from various pulp magazines.
Box 6
The Dan Turner Saga, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Serial of stories extracted from
Speed Detective Magazine.
Box 6
Dan Turner's Casebook and other Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Serial of stories extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories, and
Private Detective Stories.
Box 6
Reforming Dan Turner: from Spice to Speed, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Serial of stories extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories and
Speed Detective.
Box 7
Second Impressions: Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1943[?].
Scope and Content Note
Serial of stories extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories and other pulp magazines.
Box 7
Super Detective Novels, by John Grange (R.L.B.)
1944[?].
Box 7
More Dan Turner, as Well as Other Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1943[?].
Scope and Content Note
Serial of stories extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories.
Box 7
Dan Turner's Methods: Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1943[?].
Scope and Content Note
Serial of stories extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories,
Private Detective Stories, and
Romantic Detective Stories.
Box 7
Exclusively Dan Turner, by R.L.B.
1942[?].
Scope and Content Note
Serial of stories extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories and
Private Detective Stories.
Box 8
Nick Ransom, Stunt Man and other Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Serial of stories extracted from various pulp magazines.
Box 8
Shudders for Sale: Mystery Stories, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Speed Mystery and
Spicy Mystery Stories.
Box 8
Ransom Horner and Company,
Movie Detectives, by R.L.B.
1943[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Thrilling Detective,
Hollywood Detective and other pulp magazines.
Box 8
Dan Turner Again: Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
A serial of stories extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories.
Box 8
Fact and Fancy, by R.L.B.
1944[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from various pulp magazines.
Box 8
Below the Belt: Short Stories, by R.L.B.
1931.
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from various pulp magazines.
Box 9
Compliments of a Fiend by Frederic Brown; Too Fair to Die!, by Cleve F. Adams.
March 1951.
Scope and Content Note
In pulp magazine: Two Complete Detective Books.
Box 9
Midnight Mysteries, by R.L.B.
1949[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Mystery Stories.
Box 9
Fees for Dan Turner: Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1949[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories.
Box 9
Call Dan Turner! and other Detective Stories, by R.L.B.
1934[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from
Spicy Detective Stories.
Box 9
In Technicolor: Picture Stories by R.L.B. Comics.
1941.
Box 9
Curdle Your Blood: Mystery Chillers, by R.L.B.
1943[?].
Box 10
Not for Children: Short Stories, by R.L.B.
1932.
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from various pulp magazines.
Box 10
Slicks and Slickers: Short Stories, by R.L.B.
1934[?].
Scope and Content Note
Extracted from various pulp magazines.
Box 10
Folder of Clippings of Verse by R.L.B.
1919-1929.
Box 11
77 Sunset Strip (Television Series).
Box 11
Alimony League
November 26, 1963
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 11
Paper Chase
October 24, 1963
Physical Description: 3 copies.
Box 11
Deposit with Caution
October 7, 1963
Physical Description: 5 copies.
Box 11
Bonus Baby
September 16, 1963
Physical Description: 3 copies.
Box 11
Toll Bell Slowly
August 26, 1963
Physical Description: 1 copy.
Box 12
The F.B.I. (Television Series).
Box 12
Will the Real Traitor Please Stand Up?
August 2, 1965
Physical Description: 1 copy.
Box 12
The Exiles
September 7, 1965
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 12
An Elephant is Like a Rope
October 8, 1965
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 12
The Man Who Went Mad by Mistake
January 14, 1966
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 12
The Death Wind
July 8, 1966
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 12
The Hostage
December 9, 1966
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 12
Death Valley Days (Television Series).
Box 12
The Fighting Sky Pilot
November 24, 1964
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 12
A City is Born
May 27, 1965
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 12
Dry Water Sailors
September 8, 1965
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 12
Research materials and synopses of
Death Valley Days stories.
Box 13
Perry Mason (Television series).
Box 13
The Case of the Malicious Mariner
July 24, 1961.
Box 13
The Case of the Brazen Bequest
October 12, 1961.
Box 13
The Case of the Counterfeit Crank
March 7, 1962.
Box 13
The Case of the Promoter's Pillbox
March 29, 1962.
Box 13
The Case of the Stand-In Sister
September 13, 1962.
Box 13
The Case of the Nautical Knot
June 4, 1964
Physical Description: 5 copies.
Box 13
Iron Horse (Television Series).
Box 13
Four Guns to Scalplock
August 4, 1967
Physical Description: 4 copies (2 final draft and 2 final revised).
Box 13
Synopses for 2 shows: A Czar for Scalp-lock, and Five Skulls for Scalp-lock.
August 21, 1967.
Box 15
Dick Tracy (Television Series)
Box 15, Volume vol. 1, 2, 3.
Box 16
(Television Series and teleplays)
Box 16
Teleplays. Bellem.
Dick Tracy Series. vol.4
1951.
Box 16
Teleplays. Bellem.
Wester Marshall.
1955.
Box 16
Teleplays. Bellem.
Front Page Detective
1951.
Box 19
Mackenzie's Raiders
1958.
Box 20
Miscellaneous half hours
1959.
Box 20
Live and film pilots and documentary
1951.
Box 20
Screen Play:
Thing That Screamed
1957.
Box 21
Anthology Series
1953-1954.
Box 21
Perry Mason Series
1961-1962.
Box 14
The Sex Ladder, by Anthony Gordon (pseudonym)
1964.
Box 14
The Vice Czar Murders, by Franklin Charles
1941.
Physical Description: 3 copies.
Additional Note
Charles is a pseudonym of Cleve F. Adams
Box 14
The Saint's Choice of Hollywood Crime (with The Phantom Bullet, by R.L.B.)
1946.
Box 14
Blue Murder, by R.L.B.
1938.
Box 14
The Window With the Sleeping Nude, by R.L.B.
1950.
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 14
No Wings on a Cop
1950.
Additional Note
By Cleve F. Adams.
Box 14
Good-bye Dan Turner, by R.L.B.
1950.
Box 14
Half-Past Mortem, by John A. Saxon.
1947.
Physical Description: 2 copies.
Box 14
Doctor of Lesbos, by Anthony Gordon.
1963.
Box 14
Point Blank!, by Richard Stark.
1962.
Additional Note
Stark is pseudonym of Donald Westlake. Not by Bellem.
Box 22
Creeps by Night (Radio Plays).
Biography/History
Boris Karloff hosted the West coast version of Creeps by Night.
Box 22
no.7) The Unwelcome Visitor
April 4, 1944.
Box 22
no.8) Those Who Walk in Darkness
April 11, 1944.
Box 22
no.9) The Permanent Guests
April 18, 1944
Box 22
no.10) Appointment With Death
April 25, 1944.
Scope and Content
Folder also includes two scripts for an unnumbered episode titled The Witch's Curse (May 1944).
Box 22
no.11) The Final Reckoning
May 2, 1944.
Box 22
no.12) The Hunt
May 9, 1944.
Box 22
Catalogue of military goods
1922.
Box 22
Historical newspapers and magazines.
Physical Description: (approximately 10)
Box 23
Espionage: Adventure Stories, by R.L.B.
1945[?].
Box 23
Prop copies:
Yellow Sentinel (Television newspaper).
Box 23
The Cat and the Fiddle, fragments.
Box 23
High Explosive, by R.L.B.
undated
Physical Description: (Teleplay).
Box 23
Tarzan: Track of the Dinosaur.
November 16, 1966.
Box 23
Tarzan: Trumpets and Eagles.
December 16, 1966.
Box 23
On Stage, Sophie! 30 minute teleplay by R.L.B.
Box 23
Headquarters Anchorage. no author
undated
Box 23
Presentation and Pilot Television series:
The Many Faces of James B. Hume, by R.L.B.
undated
Box 23
Ride the Blind Stallion, by R.L.B.
undated
Physical Description: (screenplay)
Box 23
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea series: No Way Out.
October 14, 1964.
