[A Small Archive re:] THE RICHARD BOONE SHOW

Culver City; New York, etc.: M.G.M. Studios; Goodson-Todman Productions; NBC, Inc, January - July 1963.. Quarto and octavo. Original typescript and mimeo typescript. Some creasing, ink spill affecting a few leaves at conclusion of one item, otherwise very good. A small group of items attending the genesis of the award-winning anthology show, THE RICHARD BOONE SHOW (1963-64 - 25 episodes). The present material records the early involvement of playwright Clifford Odets, who is denoted "Editor in Chief" of the series. Unfortunately, Odets died of pneumonia on 14 August 1963, and the later script element of the show was overseen by others. Present here are: a) a substantial one-page t.l.s., New York, 25 January 1963, from Marcy Tinkle of NBC, to Odets, talking through points raised in an earlier phone conversation, wrestling with a general theme of the show, forwarding NBC's first "bulletin" on the show, and referring to Odets' role as editor, and occasionally author, of episodes in the series; b) a studio-generated copy of the script for "Stranger" by Dale Wasserman, ([2],53 leaves mimeo typescript, bradbound in stiff printed studio wrapper), with Odets identified as "Editor-in-Chief" on the front wrapper (two ink stains affect the rear wrapper and final six leaves, affecting only a few words on two leaves); c) a Goodson- Todman office memo from Carol Harriman to Odets, 17 July 1963, forwarding the above script, indicating that revises would be sent directly from the mimeo service, apologizing for their having earlier disturbed him and extending hopes that he feels better (he died four weeks later); and d) a lot of some 29 leaves of revises on blue stock. "The Stranger" was aired 22 October, and starred Robert Blake, Richard Boone, Lloyd Bochner, Harry Morgan, Guy Stockwell, et al. Odets was still credited as script supervisor, and two other episodes based on Odets's own original screenplays were eventually aired.