Finding Aid for the Barbara Hale Collection, 1957-1994, 1957-1994,, bulk (bulk 1957-1966), (bulk 1985-1994)

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Summary

Creators:
Hale, Barbara, 1922-
Abstract:
Barbara Hale began her acting career in 1943 and although she has appeared in numerous screen and television productions, she is most recognized as her character Della Street, in the television drama Perry Mason. The collection consists of television scripts, call sheets, and production information from the original Perry Mason series (1957-1966) and Perry Mason two hour movies (1985-1994).
Extent:
25 boxes (12.5 linear ft.)

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of television scripts related to the career of actress, Barbara Hale. It includes assorted scripts for episodes of the original Perry Mason television series (1957-1966) and the later Perry Mason two hour made-for-television movies (1985-1994). Additionally, there are occasional call sheets and production information found with the scripts, and two publicity stills. A very small number of scripts may be known by alternate titles which are listed in the notes field. The original series scripts were written by a variety of authors including: Jackson Gillis, Jonathan Latimer, Samuel Newman, and Robert Dennis. None of the scripts are identified as being written by Erle Stanley Gardner. The made-for-television scripts were written by a variety of writers including Anne Collins and George Eckstein.

Biographical / historical:

Barbara Hale was born in DeKalb, IL on April 18, 1922. She attended Chicago Academy for the Arts in Chicago before starting her acting career with a role in Higher and Higher (1943). She married actor Bill Williams in 1946. Hale has appeared in numerous screen and television productions but is most recognized as her character Della Street, legal secretary in the television drama Perry Mason (1957-66). Perry Mason was created by mystery writer Erle Stanley Gardner and was one of longest running lawyer programs on American television (1957-1966, CBS). Perry Mason (Raymond Burr) was ably assisted by Della Street and Paul Drake (William Hopper). Each episode centered around court cases fought against district attorney Hamilton Berger (William Talman). In 1985 Hale and Burr reprised their roles for a series of television movies based on the original Perry Mason television series (1985-95).

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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