Finding Aid to the Bob Smith Stand-up Comedy and Writings
Coll2012.004
Finding aid prepared by Kate Dundon
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California, 90007
(213) 741-0094
askone@ONEarchives.org
© January 2012
Title: Bob Smith Stand-up Comedy and Writings
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012.004
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
4.0 linear feet.
4 records boxes + 1 flat archive box.
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1991-2004
Date (inclusive): 1972-2006
Abstract: This collection primarily consists of material relating to Bob Smith’s professional career as a writer and comedian, and includes
scripts, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, writing and performance contracts, calendars, research files, correspondence, and
recordings of his performances. (1972-2006, bulk: 1991-2004).
creator:
Smith, Bob, 1958-
Arrangement
Arranged into three series: Professional files, Personal files, and Audiovisual material.
Biography
Bob Smith is an American writer and comedian based in New York City. Born in Buffalo, New York, in 1958, he began writing
and performing stand-up comedy in 1977, and in 1998, he formed the comedy troupe "Funny Gay Males" with comedians Jaffe Cohen
and Danny McWilliams. Smith was the first openly gay comedian to appear on the
Tonight Show and to have his own
HBO Comedy Half-Hour special. He has written comedy for Amblin Films, the
MTV Video Music Awards,
Dennis Miller,
Roseanne, and
MAD-TV. In addition to his autobiographies
Openly Bob (1997), which received a Lambda Literary Award, and
Way to Go, Smith! (1999), he has published two novels,
Selfish and Perverse (2007) and
Remembrance of Things I Forgot (2011), and numerous essays. Smith was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2007.
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Publication Rights
Researchers wishing to publish material must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives as the
physical owner of the material. Note that permission to publish does not constitute copyright clearance. ONE National Gay
& Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold copyright. It is the responsibility
of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials from the copyright holder(s).
Acquisition Information
Received from Bob Smith, February, 19, 2008.
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #, Bob Smith papers, Coll2012-004, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
Processing Information
Collection processed by Kate Dundon, January 2012.
Scope and Contents
The collection primarily consists of material relating to Smith’s career as a writer and comedian, including scripts of sketches,
manuscripts of his published works, newspaper clippings of reviews of his performances or books, writing and performance contracts,
calendars, research files, and correspondence. Also included are DVDs, videotapes, and audiocassettes that document his performances
throughout his career. A small amount of personal material includes correspondence from friends and relatives. Materials range
from 1972-2006, but the bulk of the collection dates from 1991-2004. The collection is separated into three series: (1) Professional
files, which consists of material relating to Smith’s professional life, (2) Personal files, which consists primarily of personal
correspondence, and (3) Audiovisual material, which includes recordings of Smith's performances.
Separated Materials
The following materials have been separated from the collection:
Cohen, Jaffe and McWilliams, Danny and Smith, Bob.
Growing Up Gay: From Left Out to Coming Out. Hyperion: New York, 1995.
Out magazine, March 1997.
Out magazine, April 1998.
Rosen, Michael J. (editor).
101 Damnations: The Humorists' Tour of Personal Hells. St. Martin's Press: New York, 2002.
Rosen, Michael J. (editor).
Mirth of a Nation: The Best of Contemporary Humor. Perennial: New York, 2000.
Smith, Bob.
Openly Bob. Rob Weisbach Books: New York, 1997.
Smith, Bob.
Way to Go, Smith! Rob Weisbach Books: New York, 1999.
"Out There" Comedy Central T-shirt, circa 1993.
Juneau, Alaska Pride Parade T-shirt, circa 1999.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiotapes
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Comedians
Correspondence
Gay men's writings, American
Scripts (documents)
Stand-up comedy
Video tapes
Professional files Series 1.
Bulk, 1991-2005
1986-2006
Physical Description:
3.0 linear feet.
Series Description
The Professional Files series consists of material relating to Smith’s career as a writer and comedian.
Arrangement note
Materials are grouped into two subseries: Publicity and administration, and Writings, and with each arranged alphabetically.
Publicity and administration Subseries 1.1.
1972-2006
Physical Description:
[33 folders]
Subseries Description
The Publicity and administration subseries contains materials relating to Smith's professional career, such as newspaper clippings
of reviews of Smith's performances and publications, writing and performance contracts, calendars, portfolios, correspondence,
and publicity tour schedules.
Box 1, Folder 1
Audition scripts
1993-2006
General Physical Description note: Includes 1 photograph: b&w.
Box 1, Folder 6
Funny Gay Males
1989-2006
Box 5
Oversize clippings and posters
1995-2004
Physical Description:
[1 oversized folder]
Box 1, Folder 9-15
Reviews and announcements
1988-2005
Box 1, Folder 16
Way to Go Smith!
1999-2000
Box 1, Folder 18
Funny Gay Males
1991-1992
Box 1, Folder 19
HBO Comedy Half-Hour
1994
Box 1, Folder 21
Other writing contracts
1996-1999
Box 1, Folder 22
Television, film, internet, radio contracts
1994-2003
Box 2, Folder 1
Eighth grade progress report
1972
Box 2, Folder 2
Portfolios
1994-2000
General Physical Description note: Includes 1 photograph: b&w.
Box 2, Folder 3
Professional correspondence
1994-2004
Box 2, Folder 5
Way to Go Smith!
1999-2000
Writings Subseries 1.2.
1981-2002
Physical Description:
[22 folders]
Subseries Description
The Writings subseries consists of material Smith wrote throughout the course of his career, including scripts, manuscripts
of his published works, clippings of published articles, and notes for his comedy routines. Some of this material is contained
in floppy disks. Also included are research materials he used in writing his novel
Selfish and Perverse, including two annotated books:
Eskimo Essays and
Boundaries and Passages.
Box 2, Folder 6-7
Comedy notes
1985-1997, undated
Box 3, Item 13-22
Floppy disks
1991, undated
General Physical Description note: [12 floppy disks (3 1/2 in.)]
Box 3, Item 15
Funny Gay Males book, movie section
undated
Box 3, Item 18
Out There, Bob Smith
undated
Box 3, Item 20
Saturday Night Special
undated
Box 3, Item 22
Unlabeled floppy disks
undated
Box 2, Folder 8
In Through the Out Door
1997
Box 2, Folder 9
It's a Fabulous Life
undated
Box 2, Folder 10
Research, notes, correspondence
1998-2000
Box 2, Folder 18
Published articles
1995-2002
Box 3, Folder 1-2
Manuscripts
2001, undated
Physical Description:
2 folders
Box 3, Folder 3-5
Research and notes
1990-2001
Personal files Series 2.
Bulk, 1992-2004
1972-1995
Physical Description:
[3 folders]
Series Description
The Personal Files series consists of correspondence from friends and relatives, and other personal materials.
Arrangement note
Materials are arranged alphabetically.
Box 3, Folder 11
Domestic partner enrollment form
1995
Box 3, Folder 12
The Seven Deadly Sins of Lobe (inscribed to Smith)
1994
Audiovisual material Series 3.
Bulk, 1982-2004
1982-2004
Physical Description:
1.0 linear foot.
Series Description
The Audiovisual Material series consists of recordings of Smith’s performances throughout his career on videocassettes, audiocassettes,
and DVDs.
Arrangement note
Materials are grouped by format, then arranged chronologically.
Box 4, Item 1-41
Videocassettes
1990-2004
Physical Description:
[41 videocassettes]
Box 4, Item 1-2
Bob Smith: The Duplex (Applause Video Productions)
June 22, 1990, undated
General Physical Description note: 2 videocassettes (VHS)
Box 4, Item 3
Comics Only Show, Funny Gay Males (Pacific Ocean POST)
December 23, 1991
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 4
Funny Gay Males, AM Philadelphia
February 7, 1992
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 5
Funny Gay Males clip reel, Joan Rivers Show, Broadcast Plaza (Like Magic Entertainment Inc.)
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 6
Funny Gay White Males
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 7
Bob Smith: The Improv, Washington DC
October 18-20, 1993
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 8
Bob Smith:
Laugh Out Loud: Totota Comedy Fest
1993
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 9
Bob Smith: First International Gay and Lesbian Comedy Festival and Parade, Sydney Australia
1994
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 10
Bob Smith
March 23, 1994
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 11
Dub for R&R with Roger Rose
November 29, 1994
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 12
Bob Smith:
Ricki Lake (Albrecht/Read Management)
July 7, 1995
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 13
Ricki Lake
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 14
The MTV Video Awards
1996
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 15
We're Funny That Way Gala: Bob Smith
April 23, 1997
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 16
Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, show 98-273
1998
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 17
Reno's Backstage Pass with Bruce Jackson, guest: Bob Smith
August 18-19, 2000
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 18
Bob Smith Comedy: Norwegian Dawn
July 13, 2004
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 19
Bob Smith: Bill Hicks Tape
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 20
New Screen Concepts, The One and Only Bob Smith, demo
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 21
Out in N.Y.
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 22
Bob Smith demo reel:
The Late Late Show
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 23
Bob Smith:
Entertainment Tonight
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 24
Bob Smith:
America's Talking
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 25
Bob Smith: HBO/New York Comedy Festival (Albrecht/Read Management)
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 26
Bob Smith: HBO/NBC Comedy Showcase (Albrecht/Read Management)
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 27
Bob Smith:
HBO Half-Hour promos
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 28
Bob Smith B-roll (HBO)
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 29
Bob Smith: Out on the Road, first rough edit
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 30
Giggles, episode 1
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 31
Unlabeled Fuji tape
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 32-36
Saturday Night Special, episodes 103-106, Ninnyhammer Panopoly Productions (Dubs Incorporated)
May 14, 1996
General Physical Description note: 5 videocassettes (VHS)
Box 4, Item 37
Bob Smith: HBO 20 Years of Comedy
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 38
Entertainment Tonight
October 20, 1997
General Physical Description note: 1 Betacam cassette
Box 4, Item 39
Funny Gay Males, Danny Twice (All three)
undated
General Physical Description note: 1 compact video cassette (CVC)
Box 4, Item 40
Out There, revised
November 15, 1993
December 7, 1993
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 41
Funny Gay Males, 9 Broadcast Plaza
November 13, 1990
General Physical Description note: 1 videocassette (VHS)
Box 4, Item 42-49
Audiocassettes
1982-1989
Physical Description:
[8 audiocassettes]
Box 4, Item 42
Bob Smith: Tom Snyder and
Tonight Show, Vortex Dance (Psycho Bitch)
undated
Box 4, Item 43
Comedy at Thurston's with Bob Smith
November 22, 1982
Box 4, Item 44
Comedy U., Forest Hills Jewish Center
January 24, 1987
Box 4, Item 45
Comedy U., Rob Weinstein
January 29-March 11, 1987
Box 4, Item 46
Comedy U., Rob Weinstein, Improv
November 19-December 8, 1986
Box 4, Item 47
Funny Gay Males meet Howard Stern
July 26, 1989
Box 4, Item 48
Funny Gay Males,
Howard Stern Show
November 1, 1989
Box 4, Item 49
Stand-up, Comedy U.
August 10, 1986
Box 1, Item 50-53
DVDs
2003, undated
Physical Description:
[4 DVDs]
Box 4, Item 50-51
Bob Smith: CBS
Late Late Show,
Entertainment Tonight, The Ice House Standup (Beach Front Booking)
undated
Box 4, Item 52-53
Coming Out Party
September 2, 2003
