Dan Bessie Papers, 1966-2006

Contents List

Container Title
Mss 1200
Series: Biographical
Box   1
Folder   1
Original box list, 2002
Box   4
Folder   1
Box list for the March 2006 acquisition, 2006
Box   4
Folder   2
Dan Bessie workshop publicity materials; includes flyers, catalogs, clippings, lecture and course notes, undated
Box   4
Folder   3
“Painted with a Red Brush,” high school paper on the blacklist by Leah Feutz based on an interview with Dan Bessie, undated
Box   4
Folder   4
Michael Larsen's and Elizabeth Pomada's agreement to act as literary agents for Dan Bessie, 1994
Box   4
Folder   5
Funeral speech for Klaus Wishnewski, 1998
Box   4
Folder   16
Correspondence between Jerry Zinamon, Dan Bessie, Alvah Bessie and Dalton Trumbo; includes an article Zinamon wrote on Trumbo and Trumbo's negative reaction to the article, 1970-1971, 1991
Box   4
Folder   6-10
Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Correspondence and Government Agency Files on Dan Bessie, 1998
Box   4
Folder   11-15
Personal correspondence regarding the Gulf War (March 9, 1991), the donation of Franklin Koenigsberger's materials to the Jerome Historical Society (1988), the possibility of purchasing the rights to create the Land of Oz Theme Park (1971-2), and the possibility of adapting authors Alan Wald's (1988-1995) and Bill Wasz's (2003-2004) books, 1971-2004
Box   15
Folder   3
Posters relating to Alvah Bessie, circa 1973-1983
1805A/5
Interview with Dan Bessie regarding Alvah Bessie's Spanish Civil War Notebooks, 2002 April 18
Physical Description: 18 minutes, cassette 
Note: Santa Cruz radio interview with Eric S. Recording has been digitized.
Mss 1200
Series: Films
Subseries: Produced
Beware the Jabberwock. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   12-13
Scripts, correspondence, and miscellaneous production files, 1982
DG 058
Beware of the Jabberwock, 1982
Physical Description: 35 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by Shire Films, 1982. Co-produced, directed and co-scripted by Dan Bessie, co-produced and co-scripted by Helen Garvy.
VHB 805
Ray Bolger's Story Time, 1982
Physical Description: 82 minutes, VHS 
Note: Includes Peter and the Wolf, Beware the Jabberwock, and The Ugly Duckling.
Mss 1200
Executive Action. Directed by David Miller. Wakeford/Orloff,
Box   3
Folder   42
Clippings and correspondence, 1973-1992
Note: Dan Bessie was one of the film's co-producers.
For Goodness Snakes.
Box   3
Folder   43
Laboratory notes, 1975
Note: For film reels AE 647-654, GA 843-844.
AE 647-AE 654, GA 843-GA 844
For Goodness Snakes, pre-print materials, picture and sound, 1975
Physical Description: 16/Super8, 35/32 
Note: Currently this is not a viewing copy. See Box 3, Folder 43 for lab notes and ask a reference archivist for more information.
Mss 1200
Hard Traveling. Shire Films, 1985
Box   2
Folder   17
Prospectus, circa 1980-1985
Box   2
Folder   31
Shooting script and storyboards, 1984 July
Box   2
Folder   34
Prop newspapers, circa 1985
Box   2
Folder   35
Music cue sheets, circa 1985
Box   2
Folder   45
Fan letters, 1986-1988
Box   2
Folder   7-16
Various drafts of script, includes some correspondence on script, circa 1980-1985
Note: Later scripts are dated 1983.
Box   2
Folder   18-19
Preproduction comments on script, casting ideas, correspondence, and publicity materials, circa 1980-1985
Box   2
Folder   20-22
Alvah Bessie story outline, correspondence with Dan Bessie, and Bread and a Stone reviews, 1960-1984
Box   2
Folder   23-27
Funding documents including grant applications, fundraising, potential investors list, correspondence, legal advice, and investor close-out, 1981-1990
Note: Includes grant applications for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Program Fund and National Television Theatre and correspondence with lawyer Richard Klein.
Box   2
Folder   28-30
Contracts and contact lists, 1982-1986
Note: Contracts between Shire Films and Alvah Bessie, Ernie Sheldon, and other crew members.
Box   2
Folder   32-33
Dialogue continuity, circa 1984-1985
Box   2
Folder   36-38
Distribution correspondence and agreements, 1985-1990
Box   2
Folder   39-44
Publicity materials generated by Shire Films, 1986
Box   3
Folder   1-6
Distribution, festival catalogs and new clippings, 1984-1986
Box   16
Folder   1
Photographs of scene and production stills, circa 1985
Physical Description: Twenty-one 3 x 4-inch black-and-white and twenty-seven 3 x 4-inch color photographs 
Box   16
Folder   2
Production stills for roof-mending scene, circa 1985
Physical Description: Four 35 mm black-and-white contact sheets 
Box   16
Folder   3
Polaroids taken as continuity records during the shooting, circa 1985
Physical Description: Forty-five 2.5 x 2.5-inch color photographs 
Box   16
Folder   4-5
Photographs, circa 1985
Physical Description: One hundred and six 35 mm black-and-white and color negatives 
Box   17-18
Slides, circa 1985
Physical Description: Two hundred and fifty-seven 35 mm color slides 
Junior High School Films. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   35
Scripts, outlines, and flyers for Not My Problem, No Easy Answers, The People Next Door, The Birth Control Movie, and Drugs, Don't Be Fooled, circa 1979-1983
Note: Includes collaborations with Ann Vracin and Helen Garvy.
CC 503
Child Abuse: The People Next Door, 1980
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films by Shire Films, 1980. Co-produced, directed and co-scripted by Dan Bessie, co-produced and co-scripted by Helen Garvy.
CC 475
Drugs Don't Be Fooled, 1983
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for American Educational Films, Nashville, Tennessee, by Shire Films, 1983. Directed by Dan Bessie, scripted by Tom Conrad.
CC 505
Not My Problem (Teenage Pregnancy: A Male Perspective), 1979
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by Shire Films, 1979. Directed and co-scripted by Dan Bessie, co-scripted by Ann Vracin.
CC 504
Teenage Pregnancy: No Easy Answers, 1980
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films by Shire Films, 1980. Co-produced, directed and co-scripted by Dan Bessie, co-produced and co-scripted by Helen Garvy.
DG 063
The Birth Control Movie, 1981
Physical Description: 35 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for ETR, an affiliate of Santa Cruz Planned Parenthood, by Shire Films, 1981. Co-produced, directed and co-scripted by Dan Bessie, co-produced and co-scripted by Helen Garvy.
Mss 1200
The Learning Garden
Box   1
Folder   47
Scripts for Vasectomy; Pre-Natal Care, The Later Months; Learning to Observe; Buyer Beware; Unicycle; Don the Magic Dentist; and Sunfire; 1971-1979
Note: Collaborations include Marilyn Katz, Helen Garvy, and Ann Vracin.
Box   2
Folder   1-1a
Scripts, synopses, study guides, and production records for Before You Take That Bite, A Tale of Til, Tierra Del Sol (by Alvah Bessie), divorce film (probably Feeling Left Out), Astronauts and Jelly Beans, The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Sport Billy Saves the Olympics, and A Crack in the Pavement, 1971-1979
Note: Collaborations include Marianne Meyerhoff, Alvah Bessie, Sharon Shohet, Ann Vracin, Judith Anne Perez, Ellen Geer, Bill Davis, Severo Perez, and Richard Parkes.
Box   14
Folder   4
The Wonderful Weather Machine, storyboards, circa 1983
Note: Taped photocopies. Produced for Barr Films, 1983.
Box   2
Folder   1-1a
Scripts, synopses, study guides, and production records for Before You Take That Bite, A Tale of Til, Tierra Del Sol (by Alvah Bessie), divorce film (probably Feeling Left Out), Astronauts and Jelly Beans, The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Sport Billy Saves the Olympics, and A Crack in the Pavement, 1971-1979
Note: Collaborations include Marianne Meyerhoff, Alvah Bessie, Sharon Shohet, Ann Vracin, Judith Anne Perez, Ellen Geer, Bill Davis, Severo Perez, and Richard Parkes.
Box   14
Folder   4
The Wonderful Weather Machine, storyboards, circa 1983
Note: Taped photocopies. Produced for Barr Films, 1983.
CC 467
Baby Dance-Prenatal Exercises, 1978
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Professional Research Inc. by the Learning Garden, 1978. Directed by Dan Bessie.
CC 469
Before You Take That Bite (Nutrition), 1977
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Filmfair Communications by the Learning Garden, 1977. Produced, scripted and directed by Dan Bessie, photographed by Fred Goodrich.
AE 231
Buyer Beware (Spanish version), 1971
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by the Learning Garden, 1971. Produced, co-directed and animated by Dan Bessie, script by Alvah Bessie, co-directed by Stan Frager, Spanish version.
CC 482
Diabetics Exchange Diet, 1971
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Professional Research, Inc. by the Learning Garden, 1971. Animated and directed by Dan Bessie, designed by Dave Williamson.
VHB 801
Feeling Left Out?, 1977
Physical Description: 15 minutes, VHS 
Note: Produced for AIMS Media by the Learning Garden, 1977. Directed and co-scripted by Dan Bessie, co-scripted by Ann Vracin. A film about divorce. Includes a teacher-study guide.
CC 470
Feeling Left Out?, 1977
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for AIMS Media by the Learning Garden, 1977. Directed and co-scripted by Dan Bessie, co-scripted by Ann Vracin.
AE 235
Learning to Observe, 1970
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Bailey Film Associates, 1970. Produced, directed and animated by Dan Bessie.
AE 234
Magical Disappearing Money, 1972
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Encyclopaedia Britannica Educational Corporation by the Learning Garden, distributed by Communications Group/West, 1972. Produced by Dan Bessie, directed by Buck Pennington, script by Judith Parker, edited by Ivan Dryer.
AE 233
Menopause, 1971
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Professional Research Inc. by the Learning Garden, 1971. Produced and animated by Dan Bessie, directed by Jimmy Rodin, photographed by Isadore Mankofsky.
CC 480
Nerve Deafness, 1971
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by the Learning Garden, 1971. Produced by Dan Bessie, directed by Jimmy Rodin, live action photographed by Allen Stevens, designed by Lee Story, animated by Mallory Pearce.
AE 237
Not You Too!?, 1972
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Encyclopaedia Britannica Educational Corporation by the Learning Garden, distributed by Communications Group/West, 1972. Produced by Dan Bessie, directed by Buck Pennington.
DG 060
The Notorious Jumping Front of Calaveras County, 1979-1980
Physical Description: 35 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by the Learning Garden, 1979-1980. Directed and co-animated by Dan Bessie; co-animated by Mal Pearce.
VHB 802
Outpatient Surgery, undated
Physical Description: 14 minutes, VHS 
Note: Video tape labeled as Outpatient Surgery but the title on the film is Same Day Surgery.
CC 507
Peptic Ulcer, 1974
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Wakeford/Orloff's Medical Films by the Learning Garden, 1974. Produced, directed and animated by Dan Bessie.
AE 236
Square Pegs-Round Holes, 1973
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by the Learning Garden, 1973. Produced, directed and co-animated by Dan Bessie, co-animated by Bill Davis.
AE 238
A Tale of Till, 1976
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by the Learning Garden, 1976. Produced and scripted by Dan Bessie, directed by Marianne Meyerhoff assisted by Isadore Mankofsky.
CC 479
Tierra del Sol: A New Beginning, 1972
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by the Learning Garden, 1972. Produced by Dan Bessie, script by Alvah Bessie, directed by Jim Stanfield.
CC 506
Unicycle: Looking Into My World, 1977
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films by the Learning Garden, 1977. Produced and directed by Dan Bessie.
CC 468
Vasectomy, 1975
Physical Description: 17 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Wakeford/Orloff's Medical Films by the Learning Garden, 1975. Produced, directed, co-scripted and animated by Dan Bessie, co-scripted by Marilyn Katz.
VHB 803
The Wonderful Weather Machine, 1983
Physical Description: 12 minutes, VHS 
Note: Directed by Severo Perez, animation by Dan Bessie. Barr Films, 1983.
VHB 944
Dan Bessie sample reel - animation, undated
Physical Description: 17 minutes, VHS 
Note: Sample reel includes full advertisement spots and film clips from Dayton Warehouse sale, KGO AM 81, Gulf States Utilities Co., Kid's World, Charter (drug and alcohol addiction services), The Learning Garden's The Notorious Jumping Front of Calaveras County, Shire Film's The Immune System: Your Magic Doctor, and The Learning Garden's Astronauts and Jelly Beans, Pennbank, and Culligan.
Mss 1200
Peter and the Wolf. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   10
Actor agreements, circa 1981
Box   3
Folder   11
Publicity, circa 1981
Box   3
Folder   7-9
Scripts and narration, circa 1981
Box   15
Folder   2
Awards for Peter and the Wolf (Cine 1982, The Golden Eagle; The Learning Awards 1981-1982; and Diploma di pimo premio ex aequo, 1983); Sunpower (Cine 1983, The Golden Eagle); Bandelier Film's “Public Service of Oklahoma” advertisement (First Place Addy, 1992 New Mexico); “Water Analysis” advertisement (International Broadcast Award, 1976), 1976-1992
VBC 414
Pedro Y El Lodo (Spanish Version), 1983
Physical Description: 29 minutes, 3/4-inch video tape 
Note: Produced by Shire Films, 1981. Produced, scripted and directed by Dan Bessie, with Ray Bolger as narrator.
DG 059
Peter and the Wolf, 1981
Physical Description: 35 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by Shire Films, 1981. Produced, scripted and directed by Dan Bessie, with Ray Bolger as narrator.
VHB 804
Peter and the Wolf, 1981
Physical Description: 28 minutes, VHS 
Note: CBS version. Aired on CBS on December 25, 1983 and August 18, 1984.
VHB 805
Ray Bolger's Story Time, 1982
Physical Description: 82 minutes, VHS 
Note: Includes Peter and the Wolf, Beware the Jabberwock, and The Ugly Duckling.
Mss 1200
Physical Fitness. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   38
Flyers and script, circa 1979-1980
CC 502
Physical Fitness, 1980
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Professional Research, Inc. by Shire Films, 1980. Directed and animated by Dan Bessie.
Mss 1200
Scenes from David Copperfield. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   16
General plan and shooting script, circa 1989
VHB 808
Scenes from David Copperfield, 1989
Physical Description: 50 minutes, VHS 
Note: Produced for the Dickens Project, adapted by Kate Rickman; directed by Dan Bessie; performed by the Dickens Players.
Mss 1200
Shire Films
Box   2
Folder   2-6
General publicity, exhibition and licensing files, circa 1985-1990
Six Films on Physiology. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   36-37
Scripts, treatments, and study guide for A Drop of Blood; Bones and Muscles: Working as a Team; Glands and Your Body; Digestion: You Are What You Eat; Senses and the World Around You; and Immunology and Healing: Your Magic Doctor, circa 1985-1989
Note: Includes collaborations with Paul Showers and Helen Garvy.
Box   14
Folder   3
Storyboards for the main title sequence of Senses and the World Around You, circa 1987
CC 478
Bones and Muscles: A Team, 1986
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films by Shire Films, 1986. Directed, scripted and animated by Dan Bessie, photographed by Emiko Omori, with Linda Dangcil as narrator.
CC 472
A Drop of Blood, 1985
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films by Shire Films, 1985. Directed, scripted and animated by Dan Bessie, photographed by Gene Evans, with Linda Dangcil as narrator.
CC 471
Glands and your Body, 1986
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films, 1986. Directed, scripted and animated by Dan Bessie, photographed by Emiko Omori, with Linda Dangcil as narrator.
CC 476
The Immune System: Your Magic Doctor, 1988
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films, 1988. Directed and animated by Dan Bessie, produced and scripted by Helen Garvy.
CC 477
Senses and the World Around You, 1987
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films, 1987. Directed, scripted and animated by Dan Bessie (who also wrote the songs), photographed by Emiko Omori, with Linda Dangcil as narrator.
VHB 944
Dan Bessie Sample Reel - animation, undated
Physical Description: 17 minutes, VHS 
Note: Sample reel includes full advertisement spots and film clips from Dayton Warehouse sale, KGO AM 81, Gulf States Utilities Co., Kid's World, Charter (drug and alcohol addition services), The Learning Garden's The Notorious Jumping Front of Calaveras County, Shire Film's The Immune System: Your Magic Doctor, and The Learning Garden's Astronauts and Jelly Beans, Pennbank, and Culligan.
Mss 1200
Sunpower. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   39
Correspondence, scripts, and storyboard, 1979-1982
Box   14
Folder   2
Storyboards, circa 1982
Box   15
Folder   2
Awards for Peter and the Wolf (Cine 1982, The Golden Eagle; The Learning Awards 1981-1982; and Diploma di pimo premio ex aequo, 1983); Sunpower (Cine 1983, The Golden Eagle); Bandelier Film's “Public Service of Oklahoma” advertisement (First Place Addy, 1992 New Mexico); “Water Analysis” advertisement (International Broadcast Award, 1976), 1976-1992
CC 473
Sunpower, 1982
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films by Shire Films, 1982. Produced, scripted, directed and animated by Dan Bessie.
Mss 1200
Time After Time. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   40
Script, circa 1983
Box   14
Folder   1
Storyboards, circa 1983
CC 474
Time After Time, 1983
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Barr Films by Shire Films, 1983. Directed, scripted and animated by Dan Bessie.
Mss 1200
Try It--You'll Like It. Shire Films,
Box   3
Folder   41
Flyers, scripts, narration, and study guide, circa 1981
Note: Includes collaborations with Alvah Bessie and Molly Gorelick.
VHB 806
Try It, You'll Like It, 1981
Physical Description: 12 minutes, VHS 
Note: Produced for California State College, Northridge, by Shire Films, 1981. Produced and directed by Dan Bessie.
AE 225
Try it-You'll Like It, 1981
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for California State College, Northridge, by Shire Films, 1981. Produced and directed by Dan Bessie.
Mss 1200
Turnabout. Shire Films, 1992
Box   3
Folder   24
Shooting script and production notes, circa 1992
Box   3
Folder   17-21
Scripts and narration, circa 1992
Box   3
Folder   22-23
Investors and grant documents, 1991-1997
Box   3
Folder   25-28
Distribution and exhibition, 1991-1998
Box   3
Folder   29-31
Publicity, news clippings, festival catalogs, owl award, and fan letters, 1993-1994
Box   3
Folder   32-34
Miscellaneous notes, records, and new clippings, 1987-1995
Note: Includes correspondence, proposals, budgets, edit logs, crew contact lists, and research on Forman Brown.
Box   15
Folder   4
Poster, handmade, circa 1992
Note: Photographs appear to have been removed from the poster.
VBC 413
Turnabout, 1992
Physical Description: 59 minutes, 3/4-inch video tape 
Note: Produced by Shire Films, 1992. Produced, directed and scripted by Dan Bessie, edited by Helen Garvy.
VFA 134
Turnabout master, 1992
Physical Description: 59 minutes, Betacam SP 
Note: Dub Master, discrete audio, channels 1 & 2 only, 1992 October 12. Produced by Shire Films, 1992. Produced, directed and scripted by Dan Bessie, edited by Helen Garvy.
AE 424
Turnabout opening segment, 1992
Physical Description: 5 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Clip from the opening of the film, complete with the opening credits. Cuts off abruptly without apparent motivation.
VFA 136-VFA 171, VBC 650-VBC 651
Turnabout raw footage, 1990-1992
Alternate Format: Digital access copies available for VFA 136-VFA 157 and VFA 166-VFA 168.

Physical Description: Betacam SP 
Note: Includes interviews, B-roll, slides, photographs, and narration. Produced by Shire Films, 1992. Produced, directed and scripted by Dan Bessie, edited by Helen Garvy.
VFA 135
Turnabout unmixed audio, 1992
Physical Description: Betacam SP 
Note: Not a viewing copy. Produced by Shire Films, 1992. Produced, directed and scripted by Dan Bessie, edited by Helen Garvy.
DG 221-DG 222
Turnabout: The Story of the Yale Puppeteers, 1992
Physical Description: 56 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by Shire Films, 1992. Produced, directed and scripted by Dan Bessie, edited by Helen Garvy. Film split into two reels.
1805A/6-1805A/8
Turnabout production reels, circa 1992
Physical Description: 1/4 Tape 
Note: Contains /6 Odetta's “Waterboy” song (4 minutes) and /7-8 Dan Bessie narration for the film (24 minutes and 27 minutes). All recordings have been digitized.
Mss 1200
The Ugly Duckling. Shire Films, circa 1982
Box   3
Folder   14-15
Scripts, shooting scripts, music cues, and rerecording cue sheets, circa 1982
VHB 805
Ray Bolger's Story Time, 1982
Physical Description: 82 minutes, VHS 
Note: Includes Peter and the Wolf, Beware the Jabberwock, and The Ugly Duckling.
DG 061
The Ugly Duckling, 1982
Physical Description: 35 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced by Shire Films, 1982. Co-produced, directed and co-scripted by Dan Bessie, co-produced and co-scripted by Helen Garvy, with Ray Bolger as narrator.
Miscellaneous
AE 226
I'm Ready Mom - Are You?, 1969
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Communications Group/West, 1969. Produced and animated by Dan Bessie to a script by Alvah Bessie.
AE 232
Meet Lisa, 1970
Physical Description: 12 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Wakeford Orloff, 1970. Produced by Dan Bessie, directed by Abbie Logan (really by Dan Bessie), script Rose Kuras-Bessie, work print.
CC 481
On Your Marks: Part 1 & 2, 1970
Physical Description: 14 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Producer Sidney Galants and Less Goldman; directed by Dan Bessie and Cliff Roberts; animated by Maureen Longergan, Carol Beers, and Dan Bessie; design by Cliff Roberts; narrated by Herschel Bernardi; written by Dr. Richard Armour; and music by Buddy Collette. Parts 1 & 2 refer to the fact that On Your Marks is two related short, educational films.
AE 239
Prayer of the Ages, circa late 1960s
Physical Description: 6 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Producer unknown, undated. Animated by Dan Bessie, uncredited. Also called The Lord is My Shepherd. Credits on films: narration by Raymond Burr, written by Eugene Poinc, photographed by James Crabe, music by Max Rubinchick, title music by David Raksin, designed by Armand Acosta, created by Maria Luca de Tena, and directed by Dick Colla.
Mss 1200
Subseries: Unproduced
Baby Face.
Box   8
Folder   5-10
Scripts, concept, and budget, circa 1979-1991
Note: Also called Working Girls and Off the Ropes.
Cinar Films, Montreal, Canada
Box   1
Folder   46
Correspondence, notes, outlines, concepts, and script drafts for Barnaby's Birthday Cake, 1990
Note: Written in collaboration with Todd Flinchbaugh for Cinar Films of Montreal, Canada. Most likely unproduced.
Box   1
Folder   46a
Correspondence with proposals for various films, 1993
Hokusai. Dann Films,
Box   8
Folder   11-13
Proposals, scripts, grant application, budget, and notes, circa 1977
Note: Written by Ann Vracin and Dan Bessie.
John Henry. Wakeford-Orloff,
Box   9
Folder   5-6
Scripts and contract, circa 1977
The Learning Garden
Box   9
Folder   2-4
Scripts, outlines, proposals, research and correspondence for Beyond the Birds and Bees, “The Story Story,” and Working, circa 1971-1977
Mr. Goodbody and His Magic Egg. Circus Films,
Box   9
Folder   1
Proposal and budget, undated
Note: Unproduced animated film.
Nobody's Boy. Shire Films,
Box   6
Folder   12-14
Outlines and synopsis, circa 1987-1997
Box   7
Folder   1-7
Scripts, circa 1987-1997
Box   7
Folder   8-9
Correspondence, circa 1987-1997
Box   8
Folder   1-4
Preproduction materials, circa 1987-1997
Note: Contact list, location scouting, casting ideas, budgets, and funding.
1805A/1-4
Recordings of songs by Ernie Sheldon, undated
Physical Description: Cassette 
Note: /1 contains all the songs from Nobody's Boy (19 minutes), /2 is a workshop of the songs (29 minutes), /3 contains the song “In This City” (7 minutes), and /4 contains “It's Time To Go” (2 minutes). All recordings have been digitized.
Mss 1200
Shire Films
Box   9
Folder   7-19
Scripts, outlines, proposals, correspondence, notes, research, and budgets for Alcoholism Film, A Child's Christmas in Wales, Hocus, The Microbe Hunters, The Musicians, physiology films, Punch and Judy, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Stress, Tom Sawyer's Whitewash Job, A Visit, and You Can Save a Life, circa 1982-1993
Note: Includes collaborations with Andrew Silver, Todd Flinchbaugh, Thom Smitham, Paul DeKruif, Barr Films, Mallory Pearce, the Ray Bolger series, and Helen Garvy.
Tony Plana
Box   6
Folder   6-11
Panchostein: A Love Story, scripts, concepts, notes, and correspondence, circa 1994-1995
Note: Written by Dan Bessie for Tony Plana. Sometimes called Pancho Stein.
Box   10
Folder   1-4
Outlines, scripts, notes, and correspondence for Fiorello, Kids and Cubs, King Tiger, and miscellaneous projects, circa 1994-1995
Note: Includes collaborations with Ann Vracin and Sarah Phelan.
Box   16
Folder   6
Kids and Cubs, photographs, one 3.5 x 5-inch black-and-white photo labeled on the back, circa 1994-1995
Note: Unproduced film for Tony Plana.
Very Special People. Bandelier Films,
Box   1
Folder   45
Concept and treatment for a film on customer relations, circa 1975-1998
Note: Prepared for the Celotex Corporation by Bandelier Films.
Miscellaneous films
Box   10
Folder   5-9
Scripts, correspondence, contracts, and research for Bijou, The Chickenbone Special, Colombino, and The Cougar Hunt, circa 1974-1990
Note: Mike Bizzarri, Larry Yust, Dwayne E. Walls, Alfonso Arua, and Tony Plana.
Box   11
Folder   1-19
Outlines, agreements, correspondence, storyboard, notes, budgets, scripts, and research for Danny Deever; Dragonwings; Extra Innings; First Violin; Harmoniuos Flight; The House with a Clock in its Walls; I Ain't Marching Anymore; Judy Montell projects; Knee-Knock Rise; Life… and Death/About Death (Original Alvah Bessie Script); Mankato; Mother Jones; Moving Day; Museum; Musical Saw; The Queen Against Defoe; Rapid Transit; and Rembrandt, Shakespeare, Beethoven, circa 1975-1995
Note: Richard Brand, Laurence Yep, Walt Disney Productions, Red Herring Pictures, Alvah Bessie, Christopher Palermo, Natalie Babbitt, David Nichols, Judy Montell, Ronnie Gilbert, Rose Kuras Bessie, Helen Garvy, Irving Lerner, Stefan Heym, Judith Perez, Ann Vracin, and Harry Robin.
Box   12
Folder   12
Correspondence, outlines, notes, research, and scripts for Almost a Famous Person; Films on auto safety (Ballad of the Roadside Derelicts, Precious Cargo, Tow-Truck Blues); The Bicycle Thief; Breaking the Mold; Burmese Days; The California Feeling; The Carp in the Bathtub; Castles; Chinatown My Chinatown; Complain; Deliver Us; film about elections; films about Elkhorn Slough and wetlands; Fishermen; Freeze Frame; Friendship is ...; God Give Me Utterance; The Golden Chain; and Golden Planet, circa 1970-1987
Note: Includes collaborations with Helen Garvy, Herb Michelson, Noel Osheroff, Lily Tomlin, Barbara Cohen, Jerry Minton, The Learning Garden, and Shire Films.
Box   12
Folder   13
Outlines, notes, scripts, and correspondence for Goldie in Wonderland, Greenhouse, Gulliver, Keep It Simple, The Learning Garden, Library, The Lost Cyclist, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Moonlight on the Ganges, an animated film about music, A Nice Korean Boy, and Oof Ba Ik, circa 1970-1987
Note: Includes collaboration with Goldie Hawn, Helen Garvy, and The Learning Garden.
Box   12
Folder   1-11
Notes, outlines, correspondence, research, and scripts for The Road to San Miguel, Robbing You Blind, Sasha Alyson projects, Sherlock's Home, Sirhan Sirhan, Sleepy Lagoon, Sylvia Beach, Wheels of Summer, and The Woman in the Case, circa 1974-1995
Note: Les Goldman, Sasha Alyson, Judith Perez, Donald Freed, Jack Kimbrough, Margaret Rose Schultz, and Maude Meehan.
Series: Television
Subseries: Produced
Box   13
Folder   1-5
Outlines, scripts, proposals, correspondence, budgets, and production materials for The Eco-Rangers Save the Redwoods, Mark Twain's America, and PuppARTry Place, circa 1978-2003
Note: Includes collaboration with Ellen Geer.
Subseries: Unproduced
Box   13
Folder   13
Proposals, outlines, scripts, budgets, and preproduction materials for Peter and the Wolf, 1990-1991
Note: This television show may have been produced, but it is unlikely.
Box   13
Folder   6-12
Outlines, proposals, scripts, research, correspondence, agreements and preproduction materials for New Horizons, New Frontiers; Rise Up Singing; Seventh Son; Sign with Ceejay; The Spanish Americas; A Traveler on the Amazon; The Agitators; America, Who Are You—Anyway?; Black Christmas; ideas for shows with Ray Bolger; How Come Christmas?; Lewis Carroll's Mad Tea Party; The Magic Guitar; Mission Belles; Popcorn Theater; special on Carl Sandburg; research for subjects on Southern labor; Teeth, Teeth, Teeth; and The Tie That Binds, circa 1974-2000
Note: Includes collaboration with Philip Slater, Ruth Krauss Johnson, Les Goldman, and Carl Sandburg.
Series: Books
Immune System: Your Magic Doctor. By Helen Garvy. Shire Films, 1992
Box   1
Folder   2
Published copy of children's book with illustrations by Dan Bessie, 1992
Box   15
Folder   1
Dan Bessie's original hand-colored artwork, proof sheets, and cell, circa 1992
Rare Birds. University Press of Kentucky, 2001
Box   1
Folder   12
Oral history interview with Simon Michael Bessie, 1977
Note: Oral history from Columbia University, titled “The Reminiscences of Simon Michael Bessie.” Simon Michael Bessie is Alvah Bessie's cousin.
Box   1
Folder   13-14
Laser master of manuscript, circa 2001
Box   1
Folder   3-11, 15
Manuscript drafts, book proposals, and comments, 1994-2000
Note: The only dates listed in the files are 1994 and 1995. It is likely that some of the drafts came later as the book was published in 2001.
Box   1
Folder   48-49
Correspondence with University Press of Kentucky and David Bessie, circa 1999-2001
Box   14
Folder   6
Posters, circa 2001
VHB 809-VHB 810
Rare Birds television interviews, 2000
Physical Description: 80 minutes, VHS 
Note: Central Valley Chronicles, Program 514 (27 minutes) and “Book TV,” Community Television of Santa Cruz County (53 minutes).
Mss 1200
Reeling Through Hollywood. Blue Lupin Press, 2006
Box   5
Folder   1-7
Manuscript drafts and comments, circa 2000-2005
Box   6
Folder   1-3
Initial thoughts, book proposal, and cover ideas, circa 2000-2005
Unpublished
Box   6
Folder   15
Early draft of proposal for Ring and Company, undated
Box   6
Folder   4-5
Correspondence on proposed book, titled The Search for Topsy and proposal, drafts, and research for Volunteer, a proposed memoir on Dina Babbitt-Gottlieb, circa 1979-1992
Series: Advertisements
Box   1
Folder   15A-44
Bandelier Films storyboards, scripts, and character sketches for television commercials, 1975-1998
Note: Television commercials, most produced, some unproduced, made for Bandelier Films of Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1975-1990. Some commercials are dated for 1998. Clients include Animal Planet, ARKLA, Bay to Breakers '89 (possibly Diet Pepsi), Buffalo Bison's, Carrs Tix ticket agency, Celotex, Charter, Coleman Heating & Air Conditioning, Diamond Express Lane, Family Times, Feliway, First Mississippi National Bank, Friendly Ford, Good Cents Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Heat Pump Association, Jack Rabbit One Hour Photo, Jerry Gleason's Golf Mill Ford, The Loan Depot, The Loan Zone, Massachusetts Electric, Pennbank, Petron Plus, Rogue Federal Credit Union, Shop 'n Save, Smith's Grocery, Sofa Express Outlet, TCI, Universal Rundle Corp., Valley Bank of Nevada, and some unidentified products.
Box   14
Folder   5
Storyboards for “Harold Washington Chicago Mayoral Campaign,” 1982
Note: This ad was never produced. Taped photocopies.
Box   15
Folder   2
Awards for Peter and the Wolf (Cine 1982, The Golden Eagle; The Learning Awards 1981-1982; and Diploma di pimo premio ex aequo, 1983); Sunpower (Cine 1983, The Golden Eagle); Bandelier Film's “Public Service of Oklahoma” advertisement (First Place Addy, 1992 New Mexico); “Water Analysis” advertisement (International Broadcast Award, 1976), 1976-1992
VHB 944
Dan Bessie Sample Reel - animation, undated
Physical Description: 17 minutes, VHS 
Note: Sample reel includes full advertisement spots and film clips from Dayton Warehouse sale, KGO AM 81, Gulf States Utilities Co., Kid's World, Charter (drug and alcohol addition services), The Learning Garden's The Notorious Jumping Front of Calaveras County, Shire Film's The Immune System: Your Magic Doctor, and The Learning Garden's Astronauts and Jelly Beans, Pennbank, and Culligan.
AE 224
Dan Bessie Sample Reel-Culligan Spots, 1966-1981
Physical Description: 6 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Culligan Softwater Service, 1966-1981. Eight commercials for Culligan directed and animated by Dan Bessie.
AE 240
Roy Rogers State Department of Health, Community Services Section, Spots, circa 1969
Physical Description: 2 minutes, 16 mm 
Note: Produced for Roy Rogers/Dale Evans Public Service Commercials. Directed by Dan Bessie. Three television advertisements regarding children with mental disabilities.
Mss 1200
Series: Theater
Box   13
Folder   14-18
Scripts, notes, correspondence, program, flyers, and clippings for All Alone on the Telephone, Ellen Geer's play, Nobody's Boy, and The World of Sholom Aleichem, circa 1980-1998
Box   14
Folder   7
Dan Bessie designed poster for the play Wally's Café, 2004