Collection
Guide
Administrative Information
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Scope and
Contents
Writer and producer Robert Metzler was hired by NBC Television to work
on the "Colombo" series starring Peter Falk on Mach 26, 1975. From that
day until November 23, 1977, he kept a diary with nearly daily entries, often extensive, through
1976; the entries become less frequent and briefer in 1977, and Metzler
had left the show before the end of the year.
Metzler provides extensive and intimate details of
deals, writers, actors, scripts, people hired and fired, Universal Productions,
NBC, and almost daily dealings with Peter Falk. In May 1975, the entire
company withdrew to Mexico to shoot an episode over a 20-day period that
Metzler records in considerable detail.
Acquisition and Processing
Information
These papers
were purchased from bookseller Charles Apfelbaum in March 2002.
Guide posted
to Internet: August 2004.
Box Contents List
1975 Standard Diary. 8x10 inches, bound in red cloth.
1976 Standard Diary.
1977 Standard Diary.
Folder 1:
Typed memorandum, 5 pages, dated May 1, 1975 regarding conversation
with Falk.
ALS from Bert Kopperl to Metzler, June 23, 1975.
Folder 2:
Press release April 7-8, 1973, Marilyn Beck's Hollywood, regarding
Falk and "Colombo".
Press release Summer 1974 regarding upcoming "Colombo" season.
Mimeograph sheets recording national audience shares for each
episode in 1974, 1975, and 1976 as against other shows in the 8:30 - 10:00
p.m slot.
