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Radio/Television/Film Department Scripts and Production Reports

 Collection
Identifier: 20/32

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

This series consists primarily of scripts and production reports for radio and television programs prepared by the Radio/Television/Film Department for broadcast over station WNUR and other broadcast outlets. It fills 23 boxes and spans the period 1937-1964, with the great majority of records dating between 1942 and 1958. It is arranged in seven subseries, as follows: Radio Playshop and Radio Guild scripts and production reports; scripts from other dramatic and documentary series; scripts and production reports from local-interest shows broadcast over station WNUR; scripts and production reports from public service shows; student radio scripts; student television scripts; and non-student scripts.

The Radio Playshop and Radio Guild materials fill ten boxes and are arranged in a single chronological sequence by broadcast date, spanning the period 1942-53. They include marked copies of scripts used by actors and technical personnel; and production reports by student producers, including narrative descriptions of rehearsals and completed forms dealing with such matters as casting, music, and special effects. (NOTE: Unmarked, bound copies of Playshop and Guild scripts are in Record Series 20/33 and 20/34.)

The second subseries consists of scripts from 12 other documentary and dramatic radio series, including Aftermath, Chicago Address, Choral Drama, City Sketches, Edge of Infinity, Heritage, Illinois Heritage, Living Fiction, Playshop of the Air, Sound Picture, Uncle Ned's Squadron, and We Came This Way. These scripts fill 6 boxes, span the period 1947-58, and are arranged alphabetically by overall series title. Within each broadcast series, arrangement is either alphabetical by episode title or chronological by broadcast date.

The third subseries includes scripts and production reports for local-interest shows broadcast over station WNUR (such as interviews with Evanston city officials). These materials fill about two-thirds of a box, span the period 1948-51 and 1962-64, and are arranged alphabetically by series title.

Scripts and production reports for public service shows fill about one and two-thirds boxes. These materials date between 1948 and 1950 and are arranged alphabetically by the name of the sponsoring organization.

Student radio scripts fill about one and one-half boxes. Most are undated; those that are dated fall between 1945 and 1963, with the majority in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Most of these scripts are arranged alphabetically according to the author's surname; those which are anonymous are in two folders at the end of the subseries, arranged alphabetically by title.

Student television scripts occupy nearly two boxes. A few are dated 1951 and 1952; the great majority are undated, but probably from the early 1950s. Most are arranged alphabetically by author's surname; at the end of the subseries is one folder of anonymous student television scripts arranged alphabetically by title.

The last subseries consists of one box of non-student radio and television scripts, apparently acquired for purposes of class discussion and demonstration. These scripts are arranged alphabetically by title. A few are dated between 1937 and 1952, with the remainder undated but probably from the same period.

Dates

  • 1937-1964

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is stored off-site and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.

Extent

23.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This series consists primarily of scripts and production reports for radio and television programs prepared by the Radio/Television/Film Department for broadcast over station WNUR and other broadcast outlets. It fills 23 boxes and spans the period 1937-1964, with the great majority of records dating between 1942 and 1958.

Arrangement Note

Each series contains documents from a specific radio series or sponsoring organization. Within each series, folders are organized chronologically.

Method of Acquisition

Twelve boxes of this series (consisting primarily of Radio Playshop and Radio Guild scripts and production reports) were transferred to the Archives by Professor Martin Maloney of the Radio/Television/Film Department in November, 1977 (Accession # 77-28). Eleven additional boxes were separated from the Radio/Television/Film Departmental Administrative Records (Record Series 20/30), also received from Professor Maloney in November, 1977 (Accession # 77-27).

Related Materials

Radio Guild Scripts, 1946-1948 (Series 20/34)

Radio Playshop, 1939-1953 (Series 20/33)

Separated Materials

None.

Processing Information

James G. Carson; June 19, 1985.

Title
Guide to the Radio/Television/Film Department Scripts and Production Reports
Author
James G. Carson
Date
07/06/1986
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Library Details

Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository

Contact:
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635