Danny Thomas Papers PASC.0356
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8jq133p No online items Danny Thomas papers PASC.0356 Processed by Allison Park with assistance from Julie Graham; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé. UCLA Library Special Collections Online finding aid last updated on 2019 September 10. Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library Box 951575 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575 [email protected] URL: https://www.library.ucla.edu/special-collections Danny Thomas papers PASC.0356 PASC.0356 1 Language of Material: English Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections Title: Danny Thomas papers Creator: Thomas, Danny Identifier/Call Number: PASC.0356 Physical Description: 10.2 Linear Feet(20 boxes and 1 shoe box) Date (inclusive): 1953-1964, 1979 Abstract: Entertainer Danny Thomas is best remembered for his role in the television series Make Room for Daddy later known as the Danny Thomas Show. The collection consists primarily of script files documenting the popular television series Make Room for Daddy (1953-1956) and The Danny Thomas Show (1956-1964). Language of Material: Materials are in English. Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page. Conditions Governing Access Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page. Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use 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], Danny Thomas papers (Collection PASC 356). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA. Provenance/Source of Acquisition Gift of Ronald Jacobs, 2010. UCLA Catalog Record ID UCLA Catalog Record ID: 6770298 Biography Muzyad Yakhoob, later changed to Danny Thomas, was born on 6 January 1914 in Deerfield, MI. Thomas first worked in local radio and nightclubs, under his Americanized name, Amos Jacobs, before becoming a hit as Danny Thomas at the 5100 Club in Chicago. It was at the 5100 Club that Abe Lastfogel, head of the William Morris Agency, saw and signed Thomas. Thomas went on to host his own radio program, The Danny Thomas Show, on CBS-Radio from 1944 to 1949. During this same time, Thomas made his motion picture debut in The Unfinished Dance (1946). He started his television career in the early 1950s on All Star Revue, and not long after, he was given the opportunity for his own television show. Loosely based on Thomas' own life, the television series Make Room for Daddy (1953-1956) later known as the Danny Thomas Show (1956-1964) was a sitcom about Danny Williams, a nightclub singer and comedian, and his family. It included cast members Jean Hagen, Sherry Jackson and Rusty Hamer. When Jean Hagen left the show at the end of the 1955/56 season, the series was renamed The Danny Thomas Show. Thomas spent the 1956/57 season playing a widower, but in the spring of 1957 Marjorie Lord and Angela Cartwright were added to the cast. The Emmy winning series was on air for eleven seasons and remained one of the top ten rated shows until it voluntarily left the air in 1964. Thomas met Sheldon Leonard during production on Make Room for Daddy. In the early 1960s the two formed Thomas-Leonard Productions, a company responsible for many successful series, including The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968) and The Dick van Dyke Show (1961-1966). Thomas went on to develop shows independently and also partnered with Aaron Spelling to produce shows such as The Mod Squad (1968-1973). In 1967 negotiations to purchase Desilu from Lucille Ball were unsuccessful, but he continued to produce projects as part of Danny Thomas Productions. He was the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career, including an Emmy, and was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. Thomas was also well-known for his charitable work and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor for his work establishing St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Thomas died February 6, 1991 of a heart attack in Los Angeles, CA. Scope and Content The collection consists primarily of script files related to the career of actor, comedian, and producer, Danny Thomas. Included are revised and annotated scripts for Make Room for Daddy (1953-1956) and The Danny Thomas Show Danny Thomas papers PASC.0356 PASC.0356 2 (1956-1964). The scripts are a combination of loose files and bound volumes. Among the episodes is the pilot script for Make Room for Daddy. The scripts document the evolution of the two shows as well as the careers of television writers David Adler, Mac Benoff, Jack Elinson, Charles Stewart, Bob Fisher, Alan Lipscott, Arthur Stander, Henry Garson, and Garry Marshall, among others. Additionally, there is a reference card file representing eleven seasons of the show, in its different iterations, that document each episode with episode title, writer, cast list, film and release date, sponsor, and music. Also included are a small number of publicity stills and news releases (press releases) for the Danny Thomas Show and the pilot script for a Thomas show, Starting Fresh (1979). Arrangement The files are arranged by series name and episode titles. Subjects and Indexing Terms Actors -- Archives. Comedians -- Archives. Thomas, Danny. box 14, folder 4 St Jude Children's Research Hospital press kit about Danny Thomas no date box 17, folder 2 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1962 Feb 14 General note A-Hunting We Will Go - script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1962-1963, nos. 285-289. Formerly titled The Poacher. General note Writer(s): Bullock, Harvey; Saffian, Ray Allen box 20, folder 1 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1963 Dec 17 General note Antique Dealers - annotated script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1963-1964, nos. 329-333. General note Writer(s): James, Ed; Jacobs, Seaman box 5, folder 20 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1959 Dec 21 General note Apple Polishers (The) - annotated revised script General note Writer(s): Elinson, Jack; Stewart, Chuck box 17, folder 2 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1962 Feb 26 General note Auld Sod (The) - script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1962-1963, nos. 285-289. General note Writer(s): Adler, David Danny Thomas papers PASC.0356 PASC.0356 3 box 16, folder 3 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1962 Mar 28 General note Baby (The) - revised script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1961-1962, nos. 276-281. General note Writer(s): Elinson, Jack; Stewart, Charles box 8, folder 13 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1961 Oct 25 General note Baby for Charley (A) - revised script General note Writer(s): Adler, David box 17, folder 3 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1962 Aug 7 General note Baby Hates Charley - revised script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1962-1963, nos. 290-295. General note Writer(s): Elinson, Jack; Stewart, Charles box 6, folder 5 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1960 Feb 2 General note Bachelor Party - annotated revised script General note Writer(s): Fox, Fred S.; Elinson, Izzy box 6, folder 2 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1960 Jan 12 General note Battle of the In-Laws - annotated revised script General note Writer(s): Stander, Arthur box 14, folder 1 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1956 Sep 13 General note Be A Pal to Your Son - revised script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1956-1957, nos. 96-100. General note Writer(s): Manhoff, Bill box 20, folder 3 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1964 Feb 25 General note Beautiful Lady - annotated script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1963-1964, nos. 339-343. General note Writer(s): Elinson, Jack; Stewart, Charles Danny Thomas papers PASC.0356 PASC.0356 4 box 8, folder 17 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1961 Nov 20 General note Big Fight (The) - script General note Writer(s): Simon, Danny; Tolkin, Mel box 13, folder 3 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1956 Jul 19 General note Boarding School (The) - revised script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1956-1957, nos. 91-95. General note Writer(s): Manhoff, Bill box 16, folder 3 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1962 Feb 21 General note Bob Hope and Danny Get Away From It All - revised script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1961-1962, nos. 276-281. General note Writer(s): Stewart, Chuck; Elinson, Jack box 2, folder 17 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1957 Dec 3 General note Bob Hope Show (The) - annotated revised script General note Writer(s): Elinson, Jack; Stewart, Chuck box 19, folder 3 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1963 Oct 23 General note Bowling Partners - [final draft] script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1963-1964, nos. 324-328. General note Writer(s): Belson, Jerry; Marshall, Garry box 17, folder 2 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1962 Mar 12 General note British Sense of Humor - annotated script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1962-1963, nos. 285-289. General note Writer(s): Stander, Arthur Danny Thomas papers PASC.0356 PASC.0356 5 box 17, folder 2 Danny Thomas Show (The) 1962 Mar 12 General note British Sense of Humor - script General note In bound volume labeled: The Danny Thomas Show 1962-1963, nos.