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Finding Aid for the Robert Bellem Papers, 1931-1968
1008
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Title: Robert Bellem Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1931-1968
Collection number: 1008
Creator: Bellem, Robert Leslie, 1902-1968
Extent:
23 boxes (12.5 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Bellem (1902-1968)was born in Philadelphia. He worked as a journalist for 15 years in Philadelphia, Miami, Albuquerque and
California. Bellem sold his first detective story to
Argosy in 1925. He began writing for
Spicy Detective Stories in 1934. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Anthony Gordon, Franklin Charles, John Grange, and John A. Saxon. Bellem later
wrote television screenplays. The collection consists of short stories, novels, movie scenarios, radio scripts, and television
plays written by Bellem.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library,
Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of
the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC
Regents do not hold the copyright.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Bellem, 1968.
[Identification of item], Robert Bellem Papers (Collection 1008). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Bellem was born in Philadelphia in 1902; worked as a journalist for 15 years in Philadelphia, Miami, Albuquerque, and Pasadena,
California; sold first detective story to
Argosy in 1925; while in Pasadena, was a radio announcer for KPSN, a movie extra for Universal, and also worked on the advertising
staff of the
Pasadena Star-News; met publisher Frank Armer, 1933, and began writing for his
Spicy Detective Stories the following year; by 1936 Bellem was writing and selling over a million words annually; also wrote under the pseudonyms
Anthony Gordon, Franklin Charles, John Grange, and John A. Saxon; later wrote television screenplays; died in 1968.
Collection consists of short stories, novels, movie scenarios, radio scripts, and television plays written by Bellem. The
short stories (originally published in pulp magazines) were bound in volumes. Television series writing includes scripts for
77 Sunset Strip,
The F.B.I.,
Death Valley Days,
Perry Mason,
Iron Horse, and
Dick Tracy. Includes radio scripts for
Creeps by Night. Also contains newspapers, magazines, and a catalog of military goods.
Arranged in the following series:
- Hollywood detective third series (Boxes 1-2).
- Short stories (Boxes 3-4).
- Dan Turner: Hollywood detective (Boxes 5-6).
- Detective stories (Boxes 7-10).
- TV series and teleplays (Boxes 11-13, 15-21).
- Books (Box 14)
- Radio plays (Box 22)
- Adventure stories (Box 23).
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Bellem, Robert Leslie, 1902-1968--Archives.
Authors, American 20th century--Archival resources.
Television writers--United States--Archival resources.
Radio writers--United States--Archival resources.
Mystery and detective fiction.
Television plays.
Radio plays.