MsC 127

Manuscript Register

PAPERS OF ARTHUR A. ROSS

Collection Dates: 1942 -- 1965
(Bulk Dates: late 50s to early 60s)
12 in linear ft.

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

Posted to Internet: March 1999

Acquisition Note: This collection, along with three other private Hollywood memorabilia collections from the offices of Robert Blees, Albert J. Cohen and David Swift, was acquired largely through the efforts of University of Iowa associate professor Raymond Fielding in the mid 1960's. These papers were donated to the University of Iowa Libraries by Mr. Ross in 1966. Copyright remains with his heirs.

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Photographs: Slides, box 1; stills from movies boxes 10,11,12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

Audio Material: Phonograph recordings box box 24

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

Copyright: Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Very little biographical information was gleaned about Ross from standard biographical sources. All that is known is that he is an American motion picture and television script writer.

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

The Arthur A. Ross Productions Archive consists of approximately twelve linear feet of archival boxes, nine notebooks and one oversized file drawer. The papers date from 1943-1965. The material is divided into three sections: slides and water color paintings associated with Ross productions and centering mainly on the movies "The Great Race" and "Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy"; scripts written by Ross for motion pictures ("The Great Race", "A Fine Madness", "Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy"), television programs ("Kraft Mystery Theatre", "Peter Gunn", "Alfred Hitchcock Hour") and radio programs (Including three sound recordings of "Suspence" radio plays) as well as various produced and unproduced scripts and short stories and unpublished novels written by Ross; a large number of motion picture and miscellaneous photographs not associated with Ross Productions.

Kerry A. Shermer, February 1994

Box 1

Slides: Five trays showing paintings of The Great Race, following general screenplay outline.

Slides: Two trays of stills used in presentation of Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy and The Funny Side of Life

One tray (six slides only) of photographs of pre-Columbian sculpture

Box 2

74 Water color paintings showing scenes from The Great Race

Cecil, Henry. No Bail for the Judge. London: Michael Joseph. 1962.

Haycraft, Howard, ed. Fourteen Great Detective Stories (rev. ed.). New York: The Modern Library. 1949.

"Mr. Lucky." First draft teleplay by AAR, August 17, 1959. Typescript. With mimeographed script of revised teleplay. August 24, 1959-

"Life With Father." Script #5, "Father Writes a Letter to the Editor."

Box 3

Character Notes and Outlines and First Draft of unpublished novel, The Space Between, (1947).

Television scripts:

Alfred Hitchcock Hour

"Three Wives Too Many," teleplay by AAR, based on a story by Kenneth Fearing. October 24, 1963.

"Anyone for Murder," teleplay by AAR, based on a story by Jack Richie. January 21, 1964.

"Ten Minutes from Now," teleplay by AAR, based on the story by Jack Richie. February 14, 1964.

"Who Needs an Enemy?" teleplay by AAR, based on a story by Henry Slesar. February 17, 1964.

"Triumph," teleplay by AAR, based on a story by Robert Branson. June 10, 1964.

"Thanatos Palace Hotel, teleplay by AAR, based on the story by Andre Maurois. July 10, 1964.

"Walley The Beard," teleplay by AAR, based on the story by Stanley Abbott. October 26, 1964.

"Twixt the Cup and the Lip," teleplay by AAR from a story by Julian Symons. February 3, 1965.

Jack London's Tales From Afar

Episode 2: "The Marriage of Lit Lit," adaptation and screenplay by AAR.

Kraft Mystery Theater

"The Problem of Cell 13," teleplay by AAR.

Peter Gunn

"The Maitre D" teleplay by AAR, story by Blake Edwards. July 12, 1960.

"The Edge of Life," teleplay by AAR. August 9, 1960.

Original Scripts

"The Shrimp," adapted from a short story by Sy Gomberg.

"The Tractor: A Love Story," by AAR.

"A Very Important Fellow."

Box 4

"Circle of Wheels." Play. Two copies of production script. Radio adaptation script.

"A Fine Madness." Revised screenplay by AAR.

"Funny Side of Life." (Harold Lloyd).

"The Girl From The Sea." Treatment and notes.

"The Journey of the Jules Verne." Screenplay and annotated outline by AR. February 23, 1961.

Narration and shot sequence for Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy.

"No Bail for the Judge". First draft screenplay. April 1, 1964.

"Some of the People." A musical comedy book by AAR and I.A.L. Diamond.

"A Word or Two About Lions, Diversification, and Todd A.O."

"Alteration on a Theme by Grieg," a pantomime specialty by AAR.

"Deserted Barracks"

"You Too Can Be a Civilian"

"The Wreck of the Oedipus"

"Fugitive From a Chain Drug Store," excerpt (song)

"America, Where Are You Going?" (song)

"Win the Peace"

Box 5

"Belladonna." First draft screenplay by AAR, January 7, 1966.

Revision of certain sections and a copy of a letter from Geoffrey Shurlock, Director of the Production Code Administration, Motion Picture Association of America.

"Mighty Pretty Murchin Girls." (also called "No Place for a Lady"). Notes, production budget and two script versions.

"Rally Round the Girls." Musical revue, produced in Los Angeles, 1942.

"Taste of Love." Notes, two screenplay versions.

"Okinawa " Treatment, May 22, 1951.

Folder: Plays, novels, short stories: "Humorists: Straight and Punitive", "The Last Word"

"One Kind of Love"

"A Breath of Air"

"These Arms are Brittle"

Box 6

"But What Have You Done For Me Lately?" Notes, novel in manuscript., and dramatic form.

"Jean Harlow Story," four versions.

"Prince Bart," notes and screenplay.

Box 7

"The Great Race." 3 Drafts of screenplay, notes.

Box 8

"The Great Race." First draft.

"Battle Stations." First estimating draft, July 25, 1951

"City in Flames." Teleplay, July 7, 1956

"Hitchcock 1965 Adaptation." teleplay?

"Hurry, Hurry, Hurry." Pilot script, story and teleplay by AAR, created by Elliott Lewis.

"Israel Potter." A Motion Picture Treatment adapted by AAR and Herbert Kline, 1950, working copy with notes.

"Lap of Luxury." Treatment, in collaboration with J. Sher.

"A Matter of Choice." June Allyson Playhouse.

"Part Time." T.V. pilot, first draft, script by AAR and William Sackheim.

"R.U.R." A treatment of Karel Capek's play by AAR, November 5, 1942.

"Sweet Adeline." October 14, 1952.

"Theater of the Air." one half teleplay.

"Unbearably Happy Valley." A screen synopsis.

"Yes, By Midnight." In collaboration with P. Webster

"Zane Gray." Outline for N.B.C.

Box 9

"The Blandings," with television and radio scripts by AAR

"The Blandings"

"The Avalanche"

"A Rough Shot"

"Make Believe Town: Memo on Kathy O'Rourke" by Jack Sher, adapted by AAR.

"Edmund Burke"

"The Awakening"

"Suspense: The Face is Familiar"

"Night Beat"

"Suspense: A Watery Grave"

"Suspense: Another Man's Poison"

"Nightbeat: Modern Medea"

"Cathy and Elliott Lewis on Stage: Three Anniversaries"

"Cathy and Elliott Lewis on Stage: A Circle of Wheels"

"Cathy and Elliott Lewis on Stage: Loving"

"Nightbeat: Justice Has Clear Blue Eyes" (end of folder)

"Turn Left At Pompeii," adaptation by AAR, March 24, 1963

"West of East" (No Place For a Lady)

"Gulliver's Travels," revised treatment, October 31, 1957, by Jack Sher and AAR.

"Gulliver's Travels, adapted for television by AAR

"Gulliver's Travels," first draft screenplay, December 27, 1957.

Outlines, research and vocabulary, apparently for an adaptation of "Gargantua" by Rabelais.

Boxes 10 to 22: Photographs from movies, including:

Adventures of Mark Eden

Affair in Trinidad

Alexander's Ragtime Band

The Angry Hills

Anthony Adverse

Arabian Nights

Arizona

Arizona Trail

Attack By Night (D-184)

Baby Take A Bow

Back to Nature (275)

The Baroness and the Butler

Battle Taxi (T)

Bedtime for Bonzo

Bedtime Story

Behind the High Wall

Beware of Blondie

Beyond the Line of Duty

The Big Beat

The Big Cat

The Black Arrow (D-897)

The Black Widow

Blackhawk

Blondie Goes Latin

Blondie's Blessed Event

Blondie's Holiday

Blondie's Lucky Day

The Boogie Man Will Get You

Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood

Boston Blackie's Private Ghost

The Boy From Stalingrad (D-187)

The Brave One

Buffalo Bill

Buffalo Grass

Bullfighter and the Lady

Bullwhip

Box 11