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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 [email protected] © January 2012

Finding Aid to the Bob Smith Coll2012.004 1 Stand-up Comedy and Writings Coll2012.004 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 , the MTV 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 , , 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.

Finding Aid to the Bob Smith Coll2012.004 2 Stand-up Comedy and Writings Coll2012.004 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 2 Awards 1995-1998 Box 1, Folder 3-5 Calendars 1986-1999 Box 1, Folder 6-16 Clippings Box 1, Folder 6 Funny Gay Males 1989-2006 Box 1, Folder 7 Openly Bob 1997-1998 Box 1, Folder 8 Out There 1993 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, Contracts Folder 17-22 Box 1, Folder 17 Amblin 1993-1994 Box 1, Folder 18 Funny Gay Males 1991-1992

Finding Aid to the Bob Smith Coll2012.004 3 Stand-up Comedy and Writings Coll2012.004 Professional files Series 1.Bulk, 1991-2005 1986-2006 Publicity and administration Subseries 1.1.1972-2006

Box 1, Folder 19 HBO Comedy Half-Hour 1994 Box 1, Folder 20 Openly Bob 1994-1996 Box 1, Folder 21 Other writing contracts 1996-1999 Box 1, Folder 22 Television, , 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 2-5 Publicity tours Box 2, Folder 4 Openly Bob 1996-1998 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 13 Addresses undated Box 3, Item 14 Back up HD3 undated Box 3, Item 15 Funny Gay Males book, movie section undated Box 3, Item 16 Jokes undated Box 3, Item 17 "My stuff" undated Box 3, Item 18 Out There, Bob Smith undated Box 3, Item 19 Print file undated Box 3, Item 20 Saturday Night Special undated Box 3, Item 21 Stand-up 1991 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, Mad TV Folder 10-12 Box 2, Folder 10 Research, notes, correspondence 1998-2000 Box 2, Folder 11 Sketches 2000 Box 2, Folder 12 Table draft 1999 Box 2, Openly Bob 1997 Folder 13-15 Box 2, Folder 16 Other writings undated Box 2, Folder 17 Out There 1993 Box 2, Folder 18 Published articles 1995-2002 Box 3, Folder 1-5 Selfish and Perverse Box 3, Folder 1-2 Manuscripts 2001, undated Physical Description: 2 folders

Box 3, Folder 3-5 Research and notes 1990-2001 Box 3, Folder 6 Snap Judgment circa 1981 Box 3, Folder 7-9 Way to Go Smith! 1999

Finding Aid to the Bob Smith Coll2012.004 4 Stand-up Comedy and Writings Coll2012.004 Personal files Series 2.Bulk, 1992-2004 1972-1995

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 10 Correspondence 1992-2004 Box 3, Folder 11 Domestic partner enrollment form 1995 Access RESTRICTED

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)

Finding Aid to the Bob Smith Coll2012.004 5 Stand-up Comedy and Writings Coll2012.004 Audiovisual material Series 3.Bulk, 1982-2004 1982-2004

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)

Finding Aid to the Bob Smith Coll2012.004 6 Stand-up Comedy and Writings Coll2012.004 Audiovisual material Series 3.Bulk, 1982-2004 1982-2004

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 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

Finding Aid to the Bob Smith Coll2012.004 7 Stand-up Comedy and Writings Coll2012.004