Paulist Productions Records LSC.2300
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8qn6cf7 No online items Paulist Productions records LSC.2300 Finding aid prepared by Doug Johnson, April, 2016; 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 [email protected] Finding aid last updated 11 October 2016. Paulist Productions records LSC.2300 1 LSC.2300 Title: Paulist Productions records Identifier/Call Number: LSC.2300 Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections Language of Material: English Physical Description: 36.0 linear feet(82 boxes, 3 flat boxes, 2 shoe boxes) Date (bulk): Bulk, 1960-1987 Date (inclusive): ca. 1937-2000 Abstract: Paulist Productions was founded in Los Angeles in 1960 by Ellwood "Bud" Kieser (b. March 27, 1929-d. September 16, 2000), a Catholic priest and member of the Paulist Fathers. Its initial television series, Insight, originally consisted of little more than Father Kieser delivering a lecture about Christian values on an empty stage. Though production values remained modest, the syndicated program's non-dogmatic, ecumenical approach was soon able to attract top-flight Hollywood talent who would often donate their fees back to the company. In its quarter-century of activity, Insight addressed issues such as poverty, racism, and war from a liberal perspective, while still maintaining a resolutely anti-communist stance, and winning nine Daytime Emmy Awards. In addition to Insight, Paulist Productions was responsible for the feature film Romero, and for a number of television movies and specials. It also produced several short films for classroom use. The collection consists mostly of scripts, photographs, and publicity material for Insight, as well as for various other productions. Many scripts are annotated, and appear in multiple drafts. Photographs tend to consist of scene stills and off-camera photographs, in the form of prints, negatives, contact sheets, and color transparencies. Publicity material consists primarily of press releases. There is a small amount of information about distribution, but virtually no production records or correspondence apart from cast and staff lists and notes written in scripts. There is also a significant amount of material about Ellwood Kieser. Most of this material consists of photographs documenting his travels and on-set activities. There are also many examples of Father Kieser's writing, though his autobiography, Hollywood Priest, is not present in draft or published form. 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: Paulist Productions. 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. Restrictions on Use and Reproduction Property rights to the physical object belong to the 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. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Paulist Productions Records (Collection 2300). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA Catalog Record ID UCLA Catalog Record ID: 7815799 Provenance/Source of Acquisition Donated by Joseph Kim on behalf of Paulist Productions, May 5, 2015. Biography/History Paulist Productions was founded in Los Angeles in 1960 by Ellwood "Bud" Kieser (b. March 27, 1929-d. September 16, 2000), a Catholic priest and member of the Paulist Fathers. Its initial television series, Insight, originally consisted of little more than Father Kieser delivering a lecture about Christian values on an empty stage. Though production values remained modest, the syndicated program's non-dogmatic, ecumenical approach was soon able to attract top-flight Hollywood talent who would often donate their fees back to the company. Actors such as Martin Sheen, Edward Asner, and Patty Duke starred in several episodes each, and dozens of other luminaries (for example, Irene Dunne, Carol Burnett, Walter Matthau, and Louis Gossett, Jr.) appeared in just one or two shows. Rod Serling, Michael Crichton, and William Peter Blatty were among the writers who offered scripts for the program, and Arthur Hiller and Ted Post directed several episodes each. In its quarter-century of activity, Insight addressed issues such as poverty, racism, and war from a liberal perspective, while still maintaining a resolutely anti-communist stance, and winning nine Daytime Emmy Awards. Paulist Productions records LSC.2300 2 LSC.2300 In addition to Insight, Paulist Productions was responsible for the feature film Romero, and for a number of television movies and specials. It also produced several short films for classroom use. In 1974 Father Kieser established the Humanitas Prize, which honors film and television writing that reflects on the human condition and inspires compassion in viewers. Though no longer producing an ongoing television series, Paulist Productions remains an active company. Scope and Content The collection consists mostly of scripts, photographs, and publicity material for the syndicated television program Insight, as well as for various other productions. Many scripts are annotated, and appear in multiple drafts. Photographs tend to consist of scene stills and off-camera photographs, in the form of prints, negatives, contact sheets, and color transparencies. Publicity material consists primarily of press releases. There is a small amount of information about distribution, but virtually no production records or correspondence apart from cast and staff lists and notes written in scripts. There is also a significant amount of material about Paulist Productions founder Ellwood Kieser. Most of this material consists of photographs documenting his travels and on-set activities. There are also many examples of Father Kieser's writing, though his autobiography, Hollywood Priest, is not present in draft or published form. Organization and Arrangement This collection is arranged into the following series, most of which correspond to a production banner: Series 1. Insight Series 2. Capital Cities specials Series 3. Reflections Series 4. Bloomin' Human Films Series 5. Values: Educating for Responsibility Series 6. Buchanan High Series 7. Miscellaneous productions Series 8. Unrealized productions Series 9. Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser Subjects and Indexing Terms Kieser, Ellwood E. Paulist Productions. -- Archives Christian television programs Motion pictures in church work Motion pictures in education Motion pictures--Religious aspects--Catholic Church Series 1. Insight 1960-1984 Scope and Content This series contains material on the syndicated television series that ran from 1960-1984. Photographs generally consist of black and white prints, negatives, and contact sheets. Color transparencies are not uncommon. More unusual are color prints and negatives. Organization and Arrangement This arrangement reflects the original arrangement of the donor. Individual episodes are first listed in alphabetical order. The first subseries consists of scripts that had been in springback and three-ring binders in numerical order. The second subseries consists of clippings that had been arranged chronologically in three-ring binders. The third subseries consists of files that concern Insight generally, rather than specific episodes. Box 1, Folder 1 The Agitator [#138] 1963 Scope and Contents note Script [no writer credited]; photographs [including off-camera shots of Ruth Hussey and Brian Keith]. Paulist Productions records LSC.2300 3 LSC.2300 Series 1. Insight 1960-1984 Subseries 1. Scripts 1962-1982 Box 1, Folder 2 All Out [#388] 1975-1976 Scope and Contents note Three scripts by John Zodrow [one heavily annotated]; reviews. Box 1, Folder 3 All Out [#388] - photographs 1975 Box 1, Folder 4 All the Little Plumes in Pain [#193] undated Scope and Contents note Script by Donald Munson; photographs. Box 1, Folder 5 All the Things I've Never Liked [#205] 1968 Scope and Contents note Script by James E. Miller [lightly annotated]; photographs. Box 1, Folder 6 The Alleluia Kid [#406] undated Scope and Contents note Script by Richard Fielder; photographs. Box 1, Folder 7 And the Walls Came Tumblin' Down [#369] 1974 Scope and Content Two scripts by Lan O'Kun [one heavily annotated]. Box 1, Folder 8 And the Walls Came Tumblin' Down [#369]- photographs 1974 Scope and Contents note Includes off-camera shots of Jack Albertson and Martin Sheen. Box 1, Folder 9 And Who Has Ever Seen Xanadu? [#180] undated Scope and Contents note Script by James Moser; photographs. Box 2, Folder 1 Arnstein's Miracle [#410] 1977 Scope and Contents note Script by Lan O'Kun; publicity material; photographs. Box 2, Folder 2 Attention Must Be Paid [#360] 1973 Scope and Contents note Three scripts by Lan O'Kun [one heavily annotated]; cast and staff list. Box 2, Folder 3 Attention Must Be Paid [#360] - photographs 1973 Box 2, Folder 4 The Ballad of Alma Gerlayne [#202] 1968 Scope and Contents note Two scripts by Ed Waters [one annotated]; photographs. Box