Title: Ernest Pendrell Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1939-1976

Creator:

• Pendrell, Ernest, 1913-1992

Call Number: U.S. Mss 149AN; CC 034-CC 039; CC 958-CC 959; CD 085; DC 638-639; DC 726-DC 742; DF 675-DF 678; FH 166-FH 171; FH 209-FH 210; FH 356-FH 357; FH 363-FH 365

Quantity: 4.8 cubic feet (12 archives boxes) and 45 films (16 mm)

Repository:

Housed at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives and Museum Collections; owned by the Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater Research

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of Ernest Pendrell, a journalist and maker of television documentaries. The bulk of the collection consists of shooting scripts, research, transcripts of interviews, films, financial records, and reviews relating to ABC News' Scope and Directions series and to a number of individual news specials aired by that network. Among the subjects treated are marijuana and drug abuse, abortion, race relations, the welfare system, violence in Northern Ireland, nuclear power, and the Vietnam conflict and the problems of the veterans of that era. Also present are script materials for Guns of August (Universal, 1964), a full-length documentary film about World War I; Feeling Good, a PBS series on health; and files on several unproduced titles. Dramatic writings are less well represented, but include four plays and a script for DuPont Show of the Week (NBC).

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0149an

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Ernest Pendrell, noted documentary filmmaker, was born in London, England on December 27, 1913, and immigrated to the United States when he was a child. He attended New York University, Columbia, and the Sorbonne, but never completed a degree.

In the late 1930s, he started free-lancing for newspapers such as the Camden-Courier, the New York Herald Tribune, and the Philadelphia Ledger; for the Federated Press and the United Press; and for the New Masses and other periodicals. During World War II Pendrell worked in a war plant as a machinist; he had been rejected for military service because of deafness in his left ear. Following the war, he continued his writing while holding a variety of jobs as an executive in a textile factory, a rubber-foam plant, and in a couturier-dress establishment.

In 1951 Pendrell began to write for television and his scripts appeared on the Theatre Guild Steel Hour, Naked City, East Side-West Side, the Dupont Show of the Week, The Play of the Week, and on television abroad. Later in the decade he also began writing for the theater; produced in Europe were Seven Times Monday (1957) and The Tailor (1962).

In 1961 Pendrell turned to broadcast journalism and began working on documentaries for ABC. In the next two decades, he produced, wrote, and directed thirty documentaries for various networks. Many have been nominated for an Emmy, and many have won major awards including the Overseas Press Club Award for Terror in Northern Ireland; the Headliner Award for the program on medical evacuation from Vietnam, To Save a Soldier; the Cine award for The Pursuit of Excellence; the George Washington Medal of the Freedom Foundation for The American Adventure; and several Christopher Awards. His documentaries have explored a wide range of controversial topics, including the condition of rural medicine, abortion, the punishment of Nazi war criminals, welfare, the treatment of Black soldiers in the American armed forces, amnesty for those who refused to fight in the Vietnam War, the treatment of the aged and the very young, the energy crisis, and the continuing civil war in Northern Ireland.

He also wrote the screenplay for The Guns of August (Universal, 1964), a film about the outbreak of World War I.

Ernest Pendrell died of throat cancer on January 21, 1992 in The Bronx, New York City. From his New York Times obiturary (Jan. 22, 1992), “From 1965 to 1978, Mr. Pendrell wrote and produced more than 30 documentaries for ABC News, examining welfare, drug addiction, abortion and the energy crisis.”

The Ernest Pendrell Papers, 1959-1976, consist primarily of material on his production of documentaries for television and motion pictures, but there is also a small amount on his plays and a ballad he wrote.

Included in the Theater section are scripts of four plays, 1959-1962, that were produced in Europe (mainly England) and on Broadway. Arrangement is by copyright date.

The Motion Picture section contains material on two films: scripts for The Guns of August, a documentary about the outbreak of World War I, and a script of Even For One produced for the AMA and released by Dynamic Films in 1954, which was awarded the Golden Reel for the best film of its type for that year.

There is a draft of a ballad he wrote in 1973, “The Ballad of George Williams (The Tale of a Very Old War).”

Television material, 1962-1973, is arranged in two parts--produced and unproduced. Contained in this produced section are a script for the Dupont Show the Week, “The Betrayal” (1962), and a script for a production on British television called The Day the Madonna Sang (1962). There are also transcripts of some of the extensive interviews Pendrell did as part of his research for a production, correspondence, scripts, and production materials for documentaries he prepared for ABC's Scope series, ABC's Directions, and PBS's Feeling Good, as well as half-hour and hour documentaries for ABC and NBC. These include such outstanding documentaries as the award-winning Terror in Northern Ireland, and Energy Crisis: The Nuclear Alternative. Arrangement is chronological by air-date and thereunder by production order. Several of his ABC productions are also represented by films. The films are listed as a seventh series.

The television - unproduced section consists of shooting scripts and scant correspondence about some of his not yet completed documentaries, 1965-1968.

There is also a Correspondence section containing four folders of correspondence re his personal affairs, business matters such as network policies and production problems inherent in producing series of documentaries, a 1972 seminar on American documentary film making sponsored by the Colombian government, and the establishment of this collection in the Wisconsin Center for Theater Research.

Acquisition Information

Placed on deposit by Ernest Pendrell, New York, New York, July 16 and August 7, 1973, and September 5, 1974. Accession Number: MCHC73-90, 73-99, 74-86

Processing Information

Processed by Eleanor McKay and J. Clairmont, October 8, 1974.

U.S. Mss 149AN	Series: Theater
Box   1 Folder   1	The Other Image (Optioned for Broadway), Script, 1959
	Seven Times Monday (Westport County Playhouse, July 22, 1957)
Box   1 Folder   2	Printed Scripts, 1961
	The Tailor (produced in Europe as The Eighth Day)
Box   1 Folder   3	Script, 1962
	“The Thief” (produced on CBS Breakthrough)
Box   1 Folder   4	First draft script, 1962 July 19
	Series: Motion Pictures	⇧
	Even for One (Dynamic Films, produced for the AMA, 1954)
Box   1 Folder   5	Shooting script
	The Guns of August (Universal, 1964)
Box   1 Folder   6	Synopsis
Box   1 Folder   7-8	Continuity Outline
	Series: Ballad	⇧
Box   1 Folder   9	“Ballad of George Williams,” 1973
	Series: Television-Produced	⇧
	“The Betrayal,” DuPont Show of the Week
Box   1 Folder   10	Script, first revision, 1962 September 5
	“The Day the Madonna Sang” (British television)
Box   1 Folder   11	Script, 1962-1968
	Scope (ABC series)
	“Pain Is My Enemy” (1964 December 5)
Box   1 Folder   12	Research and production materials, 1956-1961, 1964-1965
Box   1 Folder   13	“The Gift” (1964 December 23), 1964 December 5-23
Box   1 Folder   14	“Out with the Old,” treatment, 1965 January 11
Box   1 Folder   15-16	“Children of Death” (1965 March 17), 1965 January 1-1969 December 16
Box   1 Folder   17	Shooting script, 1965
Box   2 Folder   1	“Westerns-European Style” (1965 July 28), 1965 May-1966 August 3 Note: See also Films.
Box   2 Folder   2	“Men Around LBJ,” shooting script, 1965 September 29
Box   2 Folder   3-4	“Orphans of the Living” (1966 January 29), 1965 November 17-1968 May 29
Box   2 Folder   5-6	“Music at the Prado” (1966 November 28), 1966 November 28; 1967 March 3
	Directions (ABC)
	“A Comforting Hand: Disciples of Christ” Scope and Content Note: The story of the ministry of Rev. Howard McKinley Fawbush.
Box   11 Folder   1	Production notes, 1974 February and April
Box   11 Folder   2	Script, 1974 May
	“The House that Christ Built” Scope and Content Note: An in-depth look at the Greek Orthodox Church.
	Research notes
Box   11 Folder   3	Greek Orthodox Church, 1964, 1966, 1973, 1974, undated
Box   11 Folder   4	Byzantine Art, undated
Box   11 Folder   5	Address and transcript of Archbishop Iakonos, 1974 October 20, undated
Box   11 Folder   6	Biographies, miscellany, undated
Box   11 Folder   7	Outline, 1973
Box   11 Folder   8	Shot list, 1974 October 19
Box   11 Folder   9	Budget, 1974 October 30
Box   11 Folder   10	Outline of cuts, 1974 November 24
Box   11 Folder   11	Production notes, schedules, memoranda, 1974 October-December
Box   11 Folder   12	Drafts of script, undated
Box   11 Folder   13	Air script, circa 1974
Box   11 Folder   14	Fan mail, 1974-1975
	“They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” Scope and Content Note: A study of a new development in theological education in which seminarians and other professionals are taught about physical and emotional love as a tool for counseling their parishioners on sexual problems.
Box   11 Folder   15	Research notes, 1974-1975, undated
Box   11 Folder   16	Budget, 1974 December 13 and 18
Box   11 Folder   17	Outline, 1974 December 30
Box   11 Folder   18	Production notes, schedules, memoranda, 1974
Box   11 Folder   19	Vitae of possible narrators, undated
Box   11 Folder   20	Shot list, 1975 January 3
Box   11 Folder   21	Scripts, 1975
Box   11 Folder   22	Audience comments, 1975 May
	“The Age of the Warrior” Scope and Content Note: A program focusing on the United States military and nuclear power from 1945 to 1975.
	Research notes
Box   11 Folder   23	Appendices #1-#11, 1961, 1975, undated
Box   11 Folder   24	Appendices #12-#16, 1975, undated
Box   12 Folder   1	Outline, 1975 September 8
	Feeling Good (PBS) Scope and Content Note: Hosted by Dick Cavett.
	“Is Eating Necessary?” Scope and Content Note: Regarding the problem of being overweight.
Box   12 Folder   2	Research notes, undated
	Transcripts of interviews
Box   12 Folder   3	1975 May 19
Box   12 Folder   4	1975 May 23
Box   12 Folder   5	Production notes, 1975 May
Box   12 Folder   6	Telecast script, 1975 May 28
	Half-Hour Documentaries (Produced for ABC)
	The Kid Next Door Smokes Pot (1970 June 8)
Box   2 Folder   7	Correspondence, 1969 January 16-1970 July 28
Box   2 Folder   8	Research and Production Materials, 1969 November 14-1970 July 28
Box   2 Folder   9-10	Film Transcripts
Box   2 Folder   11	Scripts and Clippings, 1970 February 19-June 8
Box   2 Folder   12-13	The Precious Years (1970 June 15), 1970 April 22-1971 February 10
	Help! (1970 August 3) Note: See also Films.
Box   2 Folder   14	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1970 May 5-August 25
Box   2 Folder   15-16	Transcripts
Box   2 Folder   17	Clippings and Reviews, 1970 June 12-August
	Terror in Northern Ireland (1971 December 20)
Box   3 Folder   1	Correspondence and Budget Materials, 1971 October 6-1972 April 19
Box   3 Folder   2	Research and Production Materials, 1971 October 5-December 17
Box   3 Folder   4-5	Transcripts
Box   3 Folder   6	Film Script, 1971 December 20
Box   3 Folder   7	Clippings and Reviews, 1971 December
	Can You Co Home Again?: The Story of Amnesty (1972 April 24) Note: See also Films.
Box   3 Folder   8	Correspondence and Budget Materials, 1972 January 1-March 14
Box   3 Folder   9-10	Research Materials, 1972 January 25-February 1
Box   3 Folder   11	Production Materials, 1972 January 3-April 4
Box   3 Folder   12	Transcripts
Box   4 Folder   1	Transcripts (continued)
Box   4 Folder   2	Clippings and Reviews, 1972 March 27-August 17
	Black Servicemen: Don't Call Me Boy! (1972 August 16) Note: See also Films.
Box   4 Folder   3	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1972 April 4-August 21
Box   4 Folder   4-6	Transcripts
Box   4 Folder   7	Clippings and Reviews, 1972 July 24-September 13
	Hour Documentaries (Produced for ABC unless otherwise credited)
	Smalltown, U.S.A. (NBC, 1964 September 18)
Box   4 Folder   8	Transcript
	To Save a Soldier (1966 October 24)
Box   4 Folder   9	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1966 April 27-November 14
Box   5 Folder   1	Shooting script
Box   5 Folder   2	Clippings and Reviews, 1966 August 15-1967 April
	Marathon: The Story of Young Drug Users (1967 June 8) Note: See also Films.
Box   5 Folder   3	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1967 January 27-1968 February 28
Box   5 Folder   4-8	Transcripts
Box   6 Folder   1-3	Transcripts (continued)
Box   6 Folder   4	Clippings and Reviews, 1967 May 17-1971 April 8
	The Pursuit of Excellence: The Vienna Boys Choir (1968 February 24) Note: See also Films.
Box   6 Folder   5	Correspondence, 1967 June 16-1968 December 26
Box   6 Folder   6	Budget Materials and Production Materials, 1967 June 15-November 15
Box   6 Folder   7	Clippings and Reviews, 1967 July 24-1968 June 27
	Newark: The Anatomy of a Riot (1968 July 14)
Box   6 Folder   8	Correspondence, Clippings, and Reviews, 1968 June 27-1972 March 17
	The Scientist (1968 November 29) Note: See also Films.
Box   6 Folder   9	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1968 January 4-1970 February 16
Box   7 Folder   1	Scripts, Transcript, Clippings, and Reviews, 1968 February 3-1969 January 3
	Abortion (1969 June 5) Note: See also Films.
Box   7 Folder   2	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1969 January 27-November 26
Box   7 Folder   3	Clippings and Reviews, 1969 May 22-August 9
	A Matter of Conscience: Ethics in Government (1969 September 19)
Box   7 Folder   4	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1969 June 18-October 13
Box   7 Folder   5-6	Transcripts
Box   7 Folder   7	Scripts, 1969 July 12; 1969 September 19
	The American Adventure (1970 December 28)
Box   7 Folder   8	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1970 July 27-December 23
Box   7 Folder   9	Clippings and Reviews, 1970 September 1-1971 January 21
	The Anatomy of Welfare (1971 April 24) Note: See also Films.
Box   7 Folder   10	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1971 January 18-April 21
Box   8 Folder   1-3	Transcripts
Box   8 Folder   4	Clippings and Reviews, 1971 April 10-May 14
	When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1971 September 1)
Box   8 Folder   5	Correspondence and Production Materials, 1971 May 8-October 5
Box   8 Folder   6-7	Transcripts
Box   8 Folder   8	Shooting script
Box   9 Folder   1	Clippings and Reviews, 1971 June 15-1972 January 29
	Energy Crisis: The Nuclear Alternative (1973 May 31)
Box   9 Folder   2	Correspondence and Budget Materials, 1972 December 12-1973 June 14
Box   9 Folder   3-6	Research Materials
Box   9 Folder   7	Production Materials, 1972 October 27-1973 May 2
Box   9 Folder   8-9	Transcripts
Box   10 Folder   1-3	Transcripts (continued)
Box   10 Folder   4	Clippings and Reviews, 1973 May 10-June
	Series: Television - Unproduced	⇧
	“The Pope”
Box   10 Folder   5	Correspondence and Shooting Script, 1965 February 30-December 19
	“East Germany”
Box   10 Folder   6	Correspondence, 1965 March 3-1966 May 4
	“African Promotion”
Box   10 Folder   7	Shooting script, 1968 April 1
	“The Heart Attack”
Box   10 Folder   8	Correspondence, 1968 July 19-September 10
	Series: Correspondence	⇧
Box   10 Folder   9	Office, 1965 March 10-1973 June 15
Box   10 Folder   10	Personal, 1965 April-1973 April 19
Box   10 Folder   11	Colombian, 1972 October 12-November 14
Box   10 Folder   12	Wisconsin Center for Theater Research, 1972 November 29-1973 June 12
	Series: Films	⇧
DC 638-DC 639	ABC Directions: Conscience of America, The Years After Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1976 June 27. Produced, written, and directed by Ernest Pendrell.
CC 035	ABC Scope: Children of Death Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1965 March 17.
CC 039	ABC Scope: Out with the Old Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1965 February 17.
DF 676	ABC Scope: Pain is My Enemy Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1964 November 11.
CC 958; DC 726	ABC Scope: Westerns European Style Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1965 July 28. Produced, written and directed by Ernest Pendrell.
DC 727-DC 728; FH 728	ABC Summer Focus: Abortion Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1969 June 5. Produced and written by Ernest Pendrell. Directed by Walker Stuart.
DC 729-DC 730; FH 209	ABC Summer Focus: Marathon--The Story of Young Drug Users Alternate Format: Digital access copy available. Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1967 July 20. Produced and written by Ernest Pendrell. Directed by Walker Stuart.
DC 731-DC 734; FH 210	The Anatomy of Welfare Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1971 April 14. Produced, written, and directed by Ernest Pendrell.
DC 735-DC 736	Black Serviceman: Don't Call Me Boy Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1972 August 16. Produced, written, and directed by Ernest Pendrell.
CC 659; DC 737	Can You Go Home Again?: The Story of Amnesty Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1972 April 24. Produced, written, and directed by Ernest Pendrell.
DF 677	A Comforting Hand: Disciples of Christ
FH 167	Directions: The World of Jesus Christ, A Christmas Celebration
FH 169	Energy Crisis: The Nuclear Alternative
CC 038	The House That Christ Built
DC 738-DC 739; FH 364-FH 365	Man and His Universe: The Scientist Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1968. Produced and written by Ernest Pendrell. Directed by Paul Galan.
CD 085; DC 740	Now: Help! Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1970 August 3. Produced, written, and directed by Ernest Pendrell.
CC 036	Now: Kid Next Door Smokes Pot
CC 034	Now: The Presious Years
DC 741-742; FH 170-FH 171; FH 356-FH 357	The Pursuit of Excellence: The Vienna Boys Choir Scope and Content Note: ABC News. 1968 February 24. Produced and written by Ernest. Pendrell. Directed by Walker Stuart.
CC 037	Terror in Northern Ireland
DF 675; DF 678	They'll Know We Are Chistian By Our Love Scope and Content Note: Part 1 (DF 675): The Church and Human Sexuality. Part 2 (DF 678): The Church and Homosexuality To Save a Soldier.
FH 168	To Save a Soldier
FH 166	When Johnny Comes Marching Home