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Series III: Scripts, 1919-1996

 Series
Call Number: YCAL MSS 436, Series III

Scope and Contents

The stage scripts represent Theatre Guild productions dating from the company’s first presentations in 1919, through the 1996 production of State Fair. Scripts include annotated and unannotated typescripts, and bound and unbound promptbooks which may contain the script as well as costume, properties, scenic and lighting lists, and groundplans and diagrams. Scripts annotated by actors, directors, or other Theatre Guild personnel indicate dialogue changes, blocking, and sound, lighting, and scenic cues. In some cases the development of the script is documented by successive drafts. Unproduced scripts are also included in this subseries.

The radio scripts, for the most part, were written for Theatre Guild on the Air, which was broadcast from 1945 until 1953, and sponsored by the United States Steel Corporation. Scripts for a particular broadcast may include those marked as drafts, for rehearsals, and “as broadcast.” Many of the scripts were adapted from stage plays by the original playwright or by an adapter. Additional scripts within this subseries include those written for the BBC Saturday Night Theatre, the Philco Radio Hall of Fame, and the World War II-era Writer’s War Board Scripts for Soldiers and Sailors.

The majority of television scripts represent programs created for the Theatre Guild’s television series, The United States Steel Hour (1953-1963). Many of the scripts were developed specifically for television, although a number of adapted stage plays were produced. Scripts for each title may include typescript, rehearsal, and/or “as telecast” versions. The subseries also includes a small number of scripts produced for broadcasts other than The United States Steel Hour.

Dates

  • 1919-1996

Conditions Governing Access

From the Collection: The materials are open for research.

Boxes 1267-1269, 1289-1292, 1303, 1319, and 1328-1333 are restricted pending preservation treatment.

Boxes 1483-1490 (audiovisual materials): Restricted fragile. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.

Art 1570-1572, 1599: Restricted fragile. For further information consult the appropriate curator.

Box 1597: Restricted fragile. Reference surrogates have been substituted in the main files. For further information consult the appropriate curator.

Broadside 1598: Restricted fragile. For further information consult the appropriate curator.

Arrangement

Series III is organized into three subseries: Stage Scripts, Radio Scripts, and Television Scripts.

Extent

124.49 Linear Feet (299 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Related Names

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository

http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/
Contact:
P. O. Box 208330
New Haven CT 06520-8330 US
(203) 432-2977

Location

121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours

Access Information

The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.

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