Mason Adams papers, 1937-2006, bulk 1977-1993

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Summary

Creators:
Adams, Mason
Abstract:
Mason Adams was an actor whose career spanned film, radio, television, and theater. The collection consists of scripts related to Adams' acting career, video and audio tapes, and a small amount of personal material.
Extent:
7.8 Linear Feet (11.5 boxes, 3 cartons, and 1 LP box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Mason Adams Papers (Collection PASC 215). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists largely of film, television, and stage scripts related to the career of actor Mason Adams. However, most of the scripts are for projects that never reached fruition, or that Adams did not appear in. There is only a single script for Adams' Emmy-nominated role on Lou Grant (CBS, 1977-1982), but the entire run of the short-lived sitcom Knight & Daye (NBC, 1989) is present. There is a significant amount of audiovisual material, representing demo reels and appearances by Adams in different media. There is also a small amount of other material, such as clippings, contracts, photographs, and publicity material. Of particular interest might be the detailed notes Adams kept for an acting class he took in 1937.

Biographical / historical:

Mason Adams was born Mason Abrams in Brooklyn on February 26, 1919. He received his master's degree from the University of Wisconsin in the early 1940s before returning to New York, where he taught speech for several years at the Neighborhood Playhouse on East 54th Street. It was in the 1940s that he also started his acting career.

He appeared on many major radio programs including Inner Sanctum, Theatre Guild of the Air, and Superman, and he played the title role of Pepper Young in Pepper Young's Family. He has numerous stage credits spanning from his Broadway debut as Joe Rigga in Get Away Old Man (1943) to his last play, The Man Who Had All the Luck (2002). Among his film credits are 9 to 5 (1980), F/X (1986), and Son-In-Law (1993).

Adams made appearances in dozens of television programs, including Matlock (NBC, 1988), Family Matters (ABC, 1991), and The West Wing (NBC 1999). He had a starring role in the short-lived series Knight & Daye (NBC, 1989). Adams is best remembered for his Emmy-nominated role as Charlie Hume on the television series Lou Grant (1977-1982).

He also lent his voice to documentaries and commercials. His distinctive voice became synonymous with the J.M. Smucker Company, which featured him in its commercials for more than 30 years. Adams died on April 28, 2005, in New York City.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mason Adams, 2000.
Processing information:

Processed by UCLA Library Special Collections staff. Reprocessed by Doug Johnson in order to to describe the bulk of the non-script material, October 2016.

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Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  • Series 1. Motion Picture Projects
  • Series 2. Television and Radio Projects
  • Series 3. Theater Projects
  • Series 4. General Files
  • Series 5. Audiovisual Materials

Folders are in the order determined by the previous archivist.

Physical / technical requirements:

CONTAINS UNPROCESSED AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Materials are not currently available for access and will require further processing and assessment. If you have questions about this material please email spec-coll@library.ucla.edu.

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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], Mason Adams Papers (Collection PASC 215). 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
Website