Betty Rollin Papers, 1958-2007

Container Title
Mss 784
Part 1 (Mss 784, Micro 2022): Original Collection, 1955-1980
Physical Description: 3.6 c.f. (11 archives boxes) and 120 reels of microfilm (16 mm) 
Scope and Content Note

The scripts for The Guiding Light and As the World Turns were microfilmed in 1992 and 1993 with funding provided by Procter & Gamble, after which the originals were destroyed. The other material relating to these programs and the scripts for Make Room for Daddy and The Rifleman were not filmed; they are available only on paper.

The soap opera scripts generally consist of mimeographed air scripts, together with scripts for commercials prepared by the advertising agencies, all of which are arranged alphabetically by program title and then chronologically by broadcast date. Many of the scripts are annotated to indicate timing and dialogue changes during rehearsal. For some periods (especially the early As the World Turns materials) the documentation present includes typed drafts with extensive annotations. Some later scripts are preceded by summaries. A few photographs found with the soap opera files have been separated to the WCFTR Television Title File.

Among the most useful of the supplementary materials are the files, 1955-1957, of Charles Fisher, the account executive at Benton and Bowles who served as producer for As the World Turns. His files include considerable routine information concerning detailed management of the program and its commercials, but there is also some policy-level correspondence with Irna Phillips, other advertising and production personnel, and CBS. Also present is some correspondence of Ralph S. Butler Jr., apparently Fisher's predecessor, and some files concerning other advertising accounts.

The Guiding Light is similarly represented by the files, 1956-1975, of Lucy Ferri Rittenberg, who was executive producer at Compton Advertising. Although few files provide documentation covering the full period of her oversight of the program, they do contain some useful insights into soap opera management. Among her records are narrative production reports from the 1970s, detailed contract information, lists indicating the appearance of minorities on the program during the 1970s, and the impact of several strikes on the production.

The scripts for The Rifleman and Make Room for Daddy consist of variant mimeographed scripts, and they document only a few of the seasons that those programs were aired. Notable among The Rifleman scripts are several written by Sam Peckinpah and Bruce Geller.

Series: As the World Turns
Box   1
Breakdowns, 1980
Charles Fisher file, 1955-1957
Box   2
Folder   1-2
Advertising Council, 1956-1957
As the World Turns
Box   2
Folder   3
Billboards, 1956-1957
Box   2
Folder   4-5
Correspondence, 1956-1957
Box   2
Folder   6
Commercial schedules, 1956-1957
Box   2
Folder   7
Cut-ins, 1956-1957
Box   2
Folder   8
Production, 1956-1957
Box   2
Folder   9
Public service (sustaining), 1956-1957
Box   2
Folder   10
Publicity, 1956-1957
Box   2
Folder   11
Ratings, 1957
Box   2
Folder   12
Storylines, 1956-1957
Box   3
Folder   1
Butler personal correspondence, 1955
Box   3
Folder   2
CBS facilities, 1956-1957
Box   3
Folder   3-5
Correspondence, 1955-1957
Box   3
Folder   6
Station correspondence, 1957
Box   3
Folder   7
TWXS messages
Box   3
Folder   8
Expense reports, 1955-1957
Box   3
Folder   9
General Foods, 1956
Box   3
Folder   10
Johnson's Wax, 1955-1956
Box   3
Folder   11-12
On Your Account, 1955-1956
Box   3
Folder   13
Pantomime Quiz, 1955
Box   3
Folder   14
Presidential Parade promotion, 1956
Box   3
Folder   15
Roy Rogers, 1955-1956
Box   3
Folder   16
Studebaker, 1956
Box   3
Folder   17
This Is Your Life, 1955
Box   3
Folder   18
Three for Tonight, 1955
Box   3
Folder   19
Welcome Travelers, 1955
Box   3
Folder   20
Zuckerman film inventory, 1956
Publicity
Box   4
Folder   1
Background
Box   4
Folder   2-4
Cast information
Box   4
Folder   5
Clippings
Box   4
Folder   6
Daytime Dial releases
Box   4
Folder   7
Miscellaneous releases
Micro 2022
Scripts
1957
Reel   1
1957 January 22-April 10
Reel   2
1957 April 11-June 21
Reel   3
1957 June 24-September 4
Reel   4
1957 September 5-November 8
Reel   5
1957 November 11-December 30
1958
Reel   5
Frame   2079
1958 January 2-24
Reel   6
1958 January 27-April 16
Reel   7
1958 April 17-July 10
Reel   8
1958 July 11-September 29
Reel   9
1958 September 30-December 18
Note: Reshoot of October 13 at beginning
Reel   10
1958 December 19-31
1959
Reel   10
Frame   490
1959 January-March 12
Note: Reshoot of December 26, February 20
Reel   11
1959 March 13-June 2
Reel   12
1959 June 3-August 21
Reel   13
1959 August 24-October 23
Reel   14
1959 October 26-December 31
1960
Reel   15
1960 January 1-March 11
Reel   16
1960 March 14-April 15
1971
Reel   16
Frame   1262
1971 April 17-April 22
Reel   17
1971 April 23-June 18
Reel   18
1971 June 21
1973
Reel   18
Frame   56
1973 January 2-May 10
Reel   19
1973 May 11-August 1
Reel   20
1973 August 2-October 16
Reel   21
1973 October 17-December 26
Reel   22
1973 December 27
1974
Reel   22
Frame   155
1974 January 2-May 2
Reel   23
1974 May 3-June 28
Reel   23
Frame   2096
1974 August 2-9
Reel   24
1974 August 12-September 2
Reel   24
Frame   804
1974 December 2-31
1975
Reel   24
Frame   1936
1975 January 2-16
Reel   25
1975 January 17-March 21
Reel   26
1975 March 24-April 30
Reel   26
Frame   1528
1975 August 1-August 25
Reel   27
1975 August 26-October 28
Reel   28
1975 October 29-31
1976
Reel   28
Frame   187
1976 March 1-April 2
Reel   29
1976 April 5-May 17
Reel   30
1976 May 18-June 29
Reel   31
1976 June 30
1977
Reel   31
Frame   88
1977 September 1-October 12
Reel   32
1977 October 13-November 3
1979
Reel   32
Frame   1136
1979 March 1-26
Reel   33
1979 March 27-May 9
Reel   34
1979 May 10-June 22
Reel   35
1979 June 25-August 2
Reel   36
1979 August 3-September 13
Reel   37
1979 September 14-October 23
Reel   38
1979 October 24-December 3
Reel   39
1979 December 4-31
Series: The Guiding Light
Mss 784
Rittenberg production files
Box   7
Folder   1
Annual programming and media evaluations, 1969-1975
Box   7
Folder   2
Cast commercials, 1965-1973
Box   7
Folder   3
Cenedella, Robert, 1965-1973
Box   7
Folder   4
Character descriptions, 1973
Box   7
Folder   5
Compton bulletins, 1974
Box   7
Folder   6-9
Contract information, 1965-1974
Box   7
Folder   10
Director's information, 1974
Box   7
Folder   11
Emmy Awards, 1966
Fan mail
Box   7
Folder   12
Reports, 1971-1975
Box   7
Folder   13
Special letters, 1957-1963
Box   8
Folder   1
Format, 1956-1973
Box   8
Folder   2
Goetz, Theodore, 1972-1973
Box   8
Folder   3
Guaranteed casting calls, 1971-1974
Box   8
Folder   4
Jury duty, 1964-1973
Box   8
Folder   5
Literary clearance, 1959-1970
Box   8
Folder   6
Location filming, 1965-1975
Box   8
Folder   7
Medical advisors, 1968-1975
Box   8
Folder   8
Music, 1960-1973
Box   8
Folder   9
Network policies, 1959-1962
Box   8
Folder   10
Preemptions, 1968-1973
Box   8
Folder   11
Procedures, 1974
Box   8
Folder   12
Production personnel
Box   8
Folder   13
Production proposals, 1960-1970
Box   8
Folder   14
Promotion and publicity, 1958-1974
Box   8
Folder   15
Public service, 1962-1973
Box   8
Folder   16
Ratings, 1968-1973
Box   8
Folder   17
Research, 1972
Box   8
Folder   18
SPCC regulations, 1960-1968
Box   8
Folder   19
Scenic design, 1960-1972
Box   8
Folder   20
Special productions, 1968-1969
Box   8
Folder   21
Special talent reports, 1972-1975
Box   8
Folder   22
Story comments, 1961-1962
Box   9
Folder   1-3
Strikes
Box   9
Folder   4
Technical production, 1960-1970
Box   9
Folder   5
Videotapes, 1966-1968
Box   9
Folder   6
Wardrobe, 1964-1968, undated
Box   9
Folder   7
Workmen's compensation information, 1963-1970
Box   9
Folder   8
Zimmerman, Ed, 1972
Micro 2022
Scripts
1958
Reel   40
1958 January 2-April 21
Reel   41
1958 April 22-July 31
1959
Reel   41
Frame   2221
1959 January 2-15
Reel   42
1959 January 16-May 13
Reel   43
1959 May 14-September 14
Reel   44
1959 September 15-December 4, 21-31
1960
Reel   44
Frame   2035
1960 January 4-26
Reel   45
1960 January 27-May 31
Reel   46
1960 June 1-October 5
Reel   47
1960 October 6-December 30
1961
Reel   47
Frame   1645
1961 January 3-6; 1961 February 1-March 10
Reel   48
1961 March 13-July 20
Reel   49
1961 July 21-November 28
Reel   50
1961 November 29-December 29
1962
Reel   50
1962 January 2-April 10
Reel   51
1962 April 11-August 16
Reel   52
1962 August 17-December 25
Reel   53
1962 December 26-31
1963
Reel   53
1963 January 2-April 30
Reel   54
1963 May 1-August 28
Reel   55
1963 August 29-December 31
1964
Reel   56
1964 January 2-May 1
Reel   57
1964 May 4-September 3
Reel   58
1964 September 4-December 23, 28-31
1965
Reel   58
Frame   2283
1965 January 4-13
Reel   59
1965 January 14-May 20
Reel   60
1965 May 21-September 23
Reel   61
1965 September 24-December 31
1966
Reel   61
Frame   2023
1966 January 3-24
Reel   62
1966 January 25-May 19
Reel   63
1966 May 20-September 9
Reel   64
1966 September 12-December 30
1967
Reel   64
Frame   2322
1967 January 3-12
Reel   65
1967 January 13-May 25
Reel   66
1967 May 26-September 26
Reel   67
1967 September 27-December 29
1968
Reel   67
Frame   1881
1968 January 2-February 5
Reel   68
1968 February 6-June 17
Reel   69
1968 June 18-October 2
Reel   70
1968 October 3-December 13
Reel   71
1968 December 16-31
1969
Reel   71
Frame   566
1969 January 2-February 27
Reel   72
1969 February 28-May 7
Reel   73
1969 May 8-July 10
Reel   74
1969 July 11-September 12
Reel   75
1969 September 15-November 13
Reel   76
1969 November 14-December 31
1970
Reel   76
Frame   1786
1970 January 2-21
Reel   77
1970 January 22-April 1
Reel   78
1970 April 2-June 12
Reel   79
1970 June 15-August 28
Reel   80
1970 August 31-November 13
Reel   81
1970 November 16-December 31
1971
Reel   81
Frame   565
1971 January 2-February 4
Reel   82
1971 February 5-April 23
Reel   83
1971 April 26-July 15
Reel   84
1971 July 16-October 8
Reel   85
1971 October 11-December 31
Note: Retakes of November 11 and December 8 on Reel 86
1972
Reel   85
Frame   2341
1972 January 3-6
Reel   86
1972 January 7-April 4
Reel   87
1972 April 5-July 4
Reel   88
1972 July 5-October 4
Reel   89
1972 October 5-December 29
1973
Reel   89
Frame   2283
1973 January 2-10
Reel   90
1973 January 11-April 13
Reel   91
1973 April 16-August 13
Reel   92
1973 August 14-November 14
Reel   93
1973 November 15-December 31
1974
Reel   93
Frame   1019
1974 January 2-February 28
Reel   94
1974 March 1-June 13
Reel   95
1974 June 14-September 18
Reel   96
1974 September 19-December 20
Reel   97
1974 December 21-31
1975
Reel   97
Frame   272
1975 January 2-March 24
Reel   98
1975 March 25-June 26
Reel   99
1975 June 27-October 1
Reel   100
1975 October 1-December 31
1976
Reel   100
Frame   1870
1976 January 16, 27; 1976 February 3-April 5
Reel   101
1976 April 6-September 17
Reel   102
1976 September 20-December 24
Reel   103
1976 December 28-31
1977
Reel   103
Frame   148
1977 January 3-April 1
Reel   104
1977 April 5-July 6
Reel   105
1977 July 7-October 17
Reel   106
1977 October 18-December 7
Reel   107
1977 December 13-30
1978
Reel   107
Frame   955
1978 January 3-27
Reel   108
1978 January 30-March 20
Reel   109
1978 March 21-May 3
Reel   110
1978 May 4-June 19
Reel   111
1978 June 20-August 4
Reel   112
1978 August 7-September 26
Reel   113
1978 September 27-November 30
Reel   114
1978 December 1-29
1979
Reel   114
Frame   1536
1979 January 2-31
Reel   115
1979 February 1-March 30
Reel   116
1979 April 2-May 29
Reel   117
1979 May 30-July 24
Reel   118
1979 July 25-September 18
Reel   119
1979 September 19-November 9
Reel   120
1979 November 12-December 28
Mss 784
Series: The Danny Thomas Show
Box   5
Folder   1
“How to Be the Head of the House” mimeo script by David Adler, 1959 September 1
Box   5
Folder   1
“Nightclub Owners” mimeo script by Chuck Stewart and Jack Elinson, 1959 October 6
Box   5
Folder   1
“Apple Polishers” mimeo script by Jack Elinson and Chuck Stewart, 1959 October 27
Box   5
Folder   1
“Danny the Handyman” mimeo script by Jack Elinson and Chuck Stewart, 1960 January 22
Box   5
Folder   1
“Rusty the Fixer” mimeo script by Phil Leslie, 1960 March 30
Box   5
Folder   2
5F “Terry Meets Him” mimeo script by Jack Elinson and Chuck Stewart, 1959 August 21
Box   5
Folder   2
6F “Terry Goes Bohemian” mimeo script by Arthur Stander, 1959 August 21
Box   5
Folder   2
7F “Danny and Milton Berle Quit Show Business” mimeo script, 1959 August 28
Box   5
Folder   2
8F “Tonoose the Matchmaker” mimeo script by Arthur Stander, 1959 September 3
Box   6
Folder   1
9F “Rusty, the Weight-Lifter” mimeo script by Chuck Stewart and Jack Elinson, 1959 September 11
Box   6
Folder   1
10F “Jealousy” mimeo script by Chuck Stewart and Jack Elinson, 1959 September 18
Box   6
Folder   1
11F “A Dog's Life” mimeo script by Phil Davis, 1959 September 24
Box   6
Folder   1
12F “Kathy Crashes TV” mimeo script by Jack Elinson, and Chuck Stewart, 1959 October 23
Box   6
Folder   2
13F “Danny and the Little Men” by Jack Elinson and Chuck Stewart, 1959 October 29
Box   6
Folder   2
15F “How to be the Head of the House” mimeo script by Phil Adler, 1959 November 13
Box   6
Folder   2
16F “That Old Devil, Jack Benny” mimeo script by Arthur Stander, 1959 November 19
Box   6
Folder   2
17F “Tonoose Makes the Wedding Plans” mimeo script by David Adler, 1959 December 4
Box   6
Folder   3
18F “Danny the Housewife” mimeo script by Jack Elinson and Chuck Stewart, 1959 December 11
Box   6
Folder   3
19F “Apple Polishers” mimeo script by Jack Elinson and Chuck Stewart, 1959 December 17
Box   6
Folder   3
20F “Danny Meets Andy Griffith” mimeo script by Arthur Stander, 1959 December 29
Box   6
Folder   3
21F “Battle of the In-Laws” mimeo script by Arthur Stander, 1960 January 9
Box   6
Folder   4
22F “Eulogy for Uncle Tonoose” mimeo script by David Adler, 1960 January 15
Box   6
Folder   4
23F “Linda Wants to be a Boy” mimeo script by Chuck Stewart and Jack Elinson, 1960 January 22
Box   6
Folder   4
24F “Bachelor Party” mimeo script by Fred S. Fox and Izzy Elinson, 1960 January 28
Box   6
Folder   5
26F “The Wedding” mimeo script Arthur Stander, 1960 February 12
Box   6
Folder   5
27F “Three on a Honeymoon” mimeo script by Irving Elinson and Fred S. Fox, 1960 February 19
Box   6
Folder   5
28F “The Deerfield Story” mimeo script by Charles Stewart and Jack Elinson, 1960 March 4
Box   6
Folder   5
29F “The Singing Delinquent” mimeo script by Jack Elinson and Chuck Stewart, 1960 March 11
Box   6
Folder   6
30F “Rusty and the Tomboy” mimeo script by Chuck Stewart and Jack Elinson, 1960 March 18
Box   6
Folder   6
31F “Family Portrait” mimeo script by Jack Elinson and Chuck Stewart, 1960 March 25
Box   6
Folder   6
32F “Rusty Meets Little Lord Fauntleroy” mimeo script by Norman Paul and Bob White, 1960 March 31
Box   6
Folder   6
33F “Rusty's Advice to Linda” mimeo script, 1960 April 11
Series: The Rifleman (1958-1959 Season)
Box   10
Folder   1
“Home Ranch,” broadcast 1958 October 7, mimeo script by Sam Peckinpah, undated
Box   10
Folder   1
“End of a Young Gun,” broadcast 1958 October 14, mimeo script by Frank D. Gilroy, 1958 June 25
Box   10
Folder   1
“The Marshall,” broadcast 1958 October 21, mimeo script by Sam Peckinpah, 1958 August 13
“Eight Hours to Die,” broadcast 1958 November 4
Box   10
Folder   2
Mimeo script by Palmer Thompson, 1958 July 10
Box   10
Folder   2
Revised mimeo script, 1958 August 20
Box   10
Folder   3
“Duel of Honor,” broadcast 1958 November 11, revised mimeo script by Ken Kolb, 1958 August 22
“The Safe Guard,” broadcast 1958 November 18
Box   10
Folder   4
Mimeo script by David Swift, 1958 June 5
Box   10
Folder   4
Revised mimeo, undated
Box   10
Folder   4
Revised mimeo, 1958 October 1
Box   10
Folder   5
“The Sister,” broadcast 1958 November 25, mimeo script by Montgomery Pittman, 1958 August 19
“New Orleans Menace,” broadcast 1958 December 2
Box   10
Folder   6
Mimeo script by Cyril Hume, 1958 June 6
Box   10
Folder   6
Revised mimeo script, 1958 September 22
Box   10
Folder   7
“The Apprentice Sheriff,” broadcast 1958 December 9, mimeo script by Barney Slater, 1958 June 5
“The Gaucho,” broadcast 1958 December 30
Box   10
Folder   7
Mimeo script by Bruce Geller, 1958 October 7
Box   10
Folder   7
Revised pages, 1958 November 13
Box   10
Folder   8
“The Pet,” broadcast 1959 January 6, revised mimeo script by Ken Kolb, 1958 September 10
Box   10
Folder   9
“The Sheridan Story,” broadcast 1959 January 13, revised mimeo script by Cyril Hume, 1958 August 26
“The Retired Gun,” broadcast 1959 January 20
Box   10
Folder   10
Mimeo script by Barney Slater, 1958 October 7
Box   10
Folder   10
Revised mimeo script, 1958 October 16
Box   10
Folder   11
“The Photographer,” broadcast 1959 January 27, revised mimeo script by Ken Kolb, 1958 December 5
“Shivaree,” broadcast 1959 February 3
Box   12
Folder   1
Mimeo script by David Victor and Herbert Little Jr., 1958 November 3
Box   12
Folder   1
Revised mimeo script, 1958 November 18
Box   12
Folder   1
Revised mimeo script, 1958 December 4
Box   12
Folder   1
Revised pages, 1958 December 15
Box   12
Folder   2
“The Deadeye Kid,” broadcast 1959 February 10, mimeo script by Palmer Thompson, 1958 December 9
“The Boarding House,” broadcast 1959 February 24
Box   12
Folder   3
Mimeo script by Sam Peckinpah, 1958 October 28
Box   12
Folder   3
Revised mimeo script, 1958 November 18
Box   12
Folder   3
Revised mimeo script, 1958 December 2
Box   12
Folder   4
“The Monkey Gun,” broadcast 1958 May 12, mimeo script by Bruce Geller, 1958 November 25
“The Young Englishman,” unknown air date
Box   12
Folder   5
Revised pages, 1958 July 24
Box   12
Folder   5
Revised mimeo script, 1958 November 3