Finding Aid for the Collection of Scripts and Production Material for Hallmark Hall of Fame Radio and Television Programs, 1951-1984
Processed by Performing Arts Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Cheryl E. Clayton and Caroline
Cubé
University of California, Los Angeles, Library
Performing Arts Special Collections, Room A1713
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The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid for the Collection of Scripts and Production Material for Hallmark Hall of Fame Radio and Television Programs, 1951-1984
Collection number: 71
Note
This online finding aid is not edited and the container list is not yet available online. (Check this website for updates.)
The complete, edited paper copy of the finding aid, with container list, is available at the UCLA Department of Performing
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UCLA Arts Library-Special Collections
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- Processed by:
- UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections staff
- Encoded by:
- Cheryl E. Clayton and Caroline Cubé
© 2003 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Collection of Scripts and Production Material for Hallmark Hall of Fame Radio and Television Programs,
Date (inclusive): 1951-1984
Collection number: 71
Extent:
38 boxes
(16.0 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Sponsored by Hallmark Cards, Inc. to help market greeting cards, Hallmark Hall of Fame started as a CBS radio program, the
Hallmark Playhouse (1948). The program presented well-known contemporary and classical literature often portrayed by well known Hollywood stars.
The program made the transition to television in December 1951 and evolved into the
Hallmark Hall of Fame. The collection consists of scripts and production material related to both radio and television programs created for Hallmark.
Language:
English.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Copyright has not been assigned to the Performing Arts Special Collections, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Arts Special Collections Librarian. Permission for publication
is given on behalf of the Performing Arts Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include
or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift, 1982.
[Identification of item], Collection of Scripts and Production Material for Hallmark Hall of Fame Radio and Television Programs
(Collection 71). Performing Arts Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles.
Sponsored by Hallmark Cards, Inc. to help market greeting cards,
Hallmark Playhouse started on CBS radio (1948). The program presented well-known contemporary and classical literature often portrayed by well
known Hollywood stars. The program was reorganized as the
Hallmark Hall of Fame (1953) with Lionel Barrymore as host and featured true stories of American and world history.
The television version debuted on NBC, December 24 1951, and was called
Hallmark Television Playhouse, with host Sarah Churchill. The series began with Amahl and the Night Visitors, the first original opera created especially
for television. NBC approached Hallmark about sponsoring the opera in early December. J.C. Hall decided to sponsor the program
to thank all the people who bought Hallmark cards. The opera moved viewers to send thousands of letters, cards, and telegrams
thanking Hallmark for presenting it.
In 1955,
Hallmark Hall of Fame became a series of less frequently aired specials through the 1960s. The show was on NBC (1951 to 1979) and moved to CBS
(1979 to 1980). Hallmark Hall of Fame productions have won 78 Emmy Awards. In 1961, the National Academy of Television Arts
and Sciences presented its first (and to date only) Emmy Award ever given to a sponsor when it said, "Thank you, Mr. Hall,
for caring enough to send the very best in television."
Hallmark Hall of Fame's notable productions include,
Hamlet (1953),
Inherit The Wind (1966),
Return Engagement (1978), and
The Marva Collins Story (1982).
Collection consists of scripts and production material related to the
Hallmark Hall of Fame radio and television programs. Includes
Hallmark Hall of Fame television scripts (as aired 1955 to 1982) and
Hallmark Playhouse radio scripts (as aired 1952 to 1955). Also includes property procurement and releases (1948 to 1952) for
Hallmark Playhouse. Titles for the radio productions may be known as
Hallmark Radio Hall of Fame.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Hallmark hall of fame.
Radio writers--United States --Archival resources.
Television writers--United States--Archival resources.
Hallmark playhouse (Radio program).
Radio scripts.
Television scripts.
- Sidney Carroll Collection of Television and Motion Picture Scripts (Collection 94). Available at Performing Arts Special Collections, UCLA.
- Albert McCleery Collection of Television Series Scripts (Collection 98). Available at Performing Arts Special Collections, UCLA.