Biography: Melvyn Douglas, 1972-1980
A Guide to the Collection of Oral History Interviews at Indiana University
Bloomington
Finding aid prepared by the staff of the Center for
the Study of History and Memory with a grant from the National Endowment for the
Humanities Division of Preservation and Access, 2000-2002
Overview of the Collection
Repository
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
Indiana University
Franklin Hall 0030B
601 E. Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
Phone: 812/855-2856
Fax: 812/855-0002
E-mail: ohrc@indiana.edu
https://cdrp.mediaschool.indiana.edu
Creator
Indiana University Center for Documentary Research and Practice
TitleBiography: Melvyn Douglas, 1972-1980
Project No.
ohrc021
Interviews
35 interviews. Audiotapes, transcripts, and collateral
materials.
Physical Location
Interviews are housed in Franklin Hall, Room 0030B. Copies of interview transcripts are also held by the IU Libraries University
Archives.
Contact archives@indiana.edu for more information. For other locations housing the interviews
from this project, please contact the Center for Documentary Research and Practice office.
Language
Materials are in English
Abstract
The interviews contained in this project revolve around the life of Melvyn Douglas
and include information about his biographical history, his family, his theatrical,
motion picture, and television acting career, and his efforts during World War II.
The interviewees include fellow actors and actresses, the man himself, former
employees, and others who came into contact with Melvyn Douglas throughout his
life.
Scope and Content Note
This collection contains thirty-five interviews conducted over the course of 8 years. A majority of the interviews range
from 30 minutes to 3 hours, with one exception being 86 hours, 15 minutes. Most interviews contain reels and typed transcriptions.
Consult individual interview descriptions for additional information.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Oral history interviews conducted by the Indiana University Center for the
Study of History and Memory from 1968 to the present, with particular focus on the
history of twentieth-century America and the Midwest.
Usage Restrictions
The archive of the Center for Documentary Research and Practice at Indiana University is open
to the use of researchers. Copies of transcript pages are available only when such copies
are permitted by the deed of gift. Scholars must honor any
restrictions the interviewee placed on the use of the interview. Since some of our earlier
(pre-computer) transcripts do not exist in final form, any editing marks in a transcript
(deletions, additions, corrections) are to be quoted as marked. Audio files may not be copied for
patrons unless the deed of gift permits it, and a transcript is unavailable for that
interview. The same rules of use that apply to a transcript apply to the audio interview.
Interviews may not be reproduced in full for any public use, but excerpted quotes may be
used as long as researchers fully cite the data in their research, including accession
number, interview date, interviewee's and interviewer's name, and page(s).
Preferred Citation
[interviewee first name last name] interview, by [interviewer first name last
name], [interview date(s)], [call number], [project name], Center for Documentary Research and Practice, Indiana University,
Bloomington, [page number(s) or tape
number and side if no transcript; if digital audio and no transcript, cite time when quote occurs].
Interview List
Interviewee
Arthur, Josephine H.
December 30,
1974
Call Number
75-017
Physical Description
30 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour 10 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Josephine Arthur, a family friend of Melvyn Douglas, knew the
actor for the majority of his life. They met in Chicago and Douglas spent a lot
of time with her family during the earlier days of his career. She discusses
some of her childhood memories with Melvyn and his family, some of the plays
that he acted in in Chicago, his visits to her college, and Douglas's feelings
about Judaism.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Playmongers
-
-
Family Names
- Hahns
- Hesselberg
-
-
Geographic Names
- Chicago, Illinois
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, George
- Hightower, Rosalind
-
-
Subjects
- acting
-
Inherit the Wind
- Judaism
- theater
- theatrical plays
-
Time Out for
Ginger
Interviewee
Arthur, Thomas H.
May, 1974;
June, 1974;
January, 1975;
February, 1975;
March, 1975
Call Number
75-004
Physical Description
72 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 3 hours; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Thomas H. Arthur shares his personal impressions of many of the
people he interviewed for his biography of Melvyn Douglas. He shares some
off-the-record comments given and stories shared by these interviewees, which
lend further insight into the personalities and personal lives of Melvyn
Douglas and Douglas' wife, Helen Gahagan Douglas. In addition, Mr. Arthur
comments on the growing friendship between himself and Melvyn Douglas.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Barrett, Edith
- Bellamy, Ralph
- Bloomgarden, Kermit
- Clifton, Florence G. "Susie"
- Cohen, Meyer
- Douglas, George
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Douglas, Marvin
- Douglas, Peter
- Dunne, Philip
- Hogan, Charles A. "Hogie"
- Leighter, Jackson
- Loy, Myrna
- Schary, Dore
- Seymour, Anne
- Shumlin, Herman
- Stevens, Nan
- Trivas, Irene
-
-
Subjects
- health problems
- infidelity
- marriage
Interviewee
Arthur, Thomas H. October 12, 1979
Call Number
80-037
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 60 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Thomas H. Arthur records his impressions of the filming of
Tell Me a Riddle, starring Melvyn
Douglas, in the context of the biography and life of Melvyn Douglas.
-
Keywords
-
-
Subjects
-
Tell Me a Riddle
Interviewee
Barrett, Edith January 1975
Interviewee
75-021
Physical Description
16 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 40 minutes; index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Edith Barrett, veteran Broadway actress, recalls acting
under the direction of Melvyn Douglas in the Broadway play,
Moor Born. Barrett recalls Douglas' talent and
sensitivity as a director and Helen Gahagan Douglas' strength as an actress
in the same play.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Bonstelle Company
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Finley, Tom
- Totheroh, Dan
-
-
Subjects
- acting
-
Moor Born
- theater directing
Interviewee
Bellamy, Ralph
January 4,
1975
Call Number
75-019
Physical Description
33 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour 20 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Ralph Bellamy, born in 1904, was one of Melvyn Douglas's oldest
friends. Bellamy discusses their early days together as actors in stock
companies. He also talks about his own acting career as well and shares his
thoughts on the state of the entertainment industry in first half of the
twentieth century.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Screen Actors Guild
-
-
Geographic Names
- Evansville, Indiana
- Hollywood, California
- Madison, Wisconsin
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Bonstelle, Jessie
- Hesselberg, Edouard
- Hesselberg, Lena Shackleford
- Owen, William
-
-
Subjects
- motion picture sound
- salaries
- stock companies
- theater
- theatrical plays
Interviewee
Bloomgarden, Kermit
March 13,
1975
Call Number
75-033
Physical Description
5 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Kermit Bloomgarden worked with Melvyn Douglas on two plays. He
briefly discusses these two works and his and others' impressions of Mr.
Douglas.
-
Keywords
-
-
Subjects
- Broadway
-
The Gang's All
Here
-
Maiden Voyage
- studio actors
- theatrical plays
Interviewee
Chavoor, Evelyn
December 7,
1974
Call Number
75-016
Physical Description
44 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour 45 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Evelyn Chavoor worked in the Douglas household, as household
help, a stenographer, and secretary, for a major portion of her adult life. She
discusses Douglas's acting career, his relationship with his wife and other
family members, his interest in politics, and how the Douglas household
functioned.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Columbia Pictures
- Hollywood Democratic Committee
- MGM
- United States Army
- United States Congress
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Douglas, Mary Helen
- Douglas, Peter
- Hesselberg, Lena Shackleford
-
-
Subjects
- awards
- communism
- Culbert Olson campaign
- depression
- health problems
- Judaism
- migrant camps
- politics
- privacy
- tolerance
- World War II
Interviewee
Clifton, Florence G. "Susie"
January 6,
1975
Call Number
75-023
Physical Description
76 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 180 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Florence G. "Susie" Clifton, a Democrat, volunteer, and active
participant in California politics for over thirty years, beginning in the
early nineteen thirties, discusses her association with Melvyn Douglas in this
interview. Clifton speaks of many of Douglas' admirable personal
characteristics, political activities, and general character, especially as
they were revealed in the contexts of California politics, national politics,
his family life, and his service in World War II. Clifton worked with Douglas,
and later, his wife, Helen Gahagan Douglas, on several political campaigns in
California in the nineteen forties.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Democratic Party
- Peace Corps
- Motion Picture Democratic Committee
- United States Office of Civilian Defense
-
-
-
Geographic Names
- California
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Ford, Leland
- Gibson, Phil
- Olson, Culbert Levy
- Malone, Bill
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
- Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
- Roosevelt, Jimmy
-
-
Subjects
- anti-Semitism
- California politics
- civil rights
- family problems
- Hollywood
- migrant camps
- national politics
- political leadership
- religion
- World War II
Interviewee
Cohen, Myer March 12, 1975
Call Number
75-031
Physical Description
45 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour 45 minutes; photocopy of
photograph, black and white photograph, personal data sheet, biographical
sketch
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Myer Cohen, born in 1907, describes Melvyn and Helen Gahagan Douglas's
involvement in politics from the nineteen thirties through the mid-nineteen
seventies, as well as Melvyn Douglas's interest in the United Nations.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Jewish Committee
- B'nai Brith
- Democratic Party
- United Nations
- United Nations Development Program
- United States Farm Security Administration
- International Refugee Organization
- United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
-
-
-
Geographic Names
- Israel
- Yugoslavia
-
-
Occupations
- actor
- army private
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Crawford, Joan
- Eagleton, Thomas F.
- Hogan, Charles A. "Hogie"
- Honn, Carolyn
- Hutchins, Robert M.
- Johnson, Lyndon Baines
- LaGuardia, Fiorella
- Mann, James Robert
- Micheljohn, Alexander
- Nixon, Richard Milhous
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
- Steffens, Lincoln
- Wolf, Simon
-
-
Subjects
- anti-Semitism
- John F. Kennedy assassination
- migrant camps
- military disarmament
- politics
- Watergate
Interviewee
DeSalle, Peggy April 18, 1980
Call Number
80-035
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 30 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Peggy DeSalle discusses her relationship with Hollywood, television, and
theater actor and political activist, Melvyn Douglas.
-
Keywords
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Melvyn
-
Interviewee
Douglas, George January 3, 1975
Call Number
75-018
Physical Description
37 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour, 30 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
George Douglas reflects on the career of his brother, Melvyn Douglas, their
parents, the places they lived, and their relationship as adults.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Bonstelle Company
- Chicago Conservatory of Music
- University of Toronto
-
-
Family Names
- Douglas
- Hesselberg
-
-
Geographic Names
- Chicago, Illinois
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Macon, Georgia
- New York, New York
- Nyack, New Jersey
- Toronto, Canada
- Wiesbaden, Germany
-
-
Occupations
- actor
- musician
- pianist
-
-
Personal Names
- Bellamy, Ralph
- Bradley, Preston
- Douglas, Marvin
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Owen, William
-
-
Subjects
- theater
- Ziegfeld Follies
Interviewee
Douglas, Helen Gahagan January 2, 1973
Call Number
73-002
Physical Description
15 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 30 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Helen Gahagan Douglas, born in 1900, interviewed for a biography of her
husband, Melvyn Douglas, describes her work with migrant farm workers in
California, her relationship with Franklin Delano and Eleanor Roosevelt, and
her involvement in California and national Democratic Party politics. The
transcript was changed substantially and significantly by the interviewee
and thus no longer corresponds closely with the recorded interview.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Anti-Nazi League
- Civilian Defense Committee
- Democratic National Committee
- Fight for Freedom Committee
- John Steinbeck Committee
- Resettlement Program
- United States Farm Security Administration
-
-
Geographic Names
- California
- Vienna, Austria
-
-
Occupations
- opera singer
- actress
- Democratic National Committee member
- California Democratic co-chairman
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Malone, William
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
- Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
-
-
Subjects
- 1940 Democratic National Convention
- aluminum
- Dust Bowl
- Farm Security camps
- migrant camps
- political elections
- women in politics
Interviewee
Douglas, Melvyn
December 22, 1973-December 26, 1973;
July 2, 1974-July 24, 1974;
May 13, 1974
Call Number
72-005
Physical Description
2155 pages; 65 reels, 3 3/4 ips (except side 2, reel 15, 1
7/8 ips.), 86 hours, 15 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Melvyn Douglas, actor, director, and political activist,
discusses his life. Douglas begins with his early childhood and touches on many
of his life experiences, including his early acting days, his life in the
United States Army, his travels, his involvement in politics, and the many
interesting people he met along the way. Extensive attention is given to
Douglas's acting career and he discusses the majority of films and plays with
which he was involved.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Anti-Nazi League
- authors War Board
- California National Guard
- China-Burma-India Campaign
- Columbia Pictures
- Communist Party
- Cosmopolitan School Association
- Entertainment Production Unit
- Fight for Freedom Committee
- Greek War Relief Fund
- MGM
- Motion Picture Democratic Committee
- Playmongers
- RKO Pictures
- Screen Actors Guild
- Theatre Guild
- United Service Organization
- United States Army
- United States Office of Civilian Defense
- United States Office of War Information
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- William Allen White Committee
- William Morris Agency
-
-
Family Names
- Barrymore
- Habbibullah
- Jellifs
-
-
Geographic Names
- Australia
- California
- Chicago, Illinois
- China
- Evansville, Indiana
- India
- Ireland
- Japan
- London, England
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Mexico
- Palestine
- Paris, France
- Russia
- Toronto, Canada
-
-
Occupations
- actor
- movie director
- newspaper reporter
- teacher
-
-
Personal Names
- Aikens, Zooey
- Allen, Lee
- Anthony, Joe
- Bayner, Faye
- Begley, Ed
- Belasco, David
- Bellamy, Ralph
- Bercovici, Conrad
- Boleslawski, Richard
- Bonstelle, Jessie
- Booth, Shirley
- Brady, William
- Bullis, Gardner
- Chaplin, Charlie
- Claire, Ina
- Clurman, Harold
- Cohn, Harry
- Cooper, Duff
- Cowell, Jane
- Crawford, Joan
- Crown, Henry
- Cronyn, Hume
- Cruz, Laura Hope
- Cukor, George
- Darvas, Lilly
- de Wilde, Brandon
- Dietrich, Marlene
- Dixon, Jeanne
- Douglas, Paul
- Dunn, Irene
- Ferrar, Joe
- Gardner, Ava
- Graham, Gloria
- Hall, Alexander
- Hope, Bob
- Hopper, Hedda
- Hornblow, Arthur
- Hussey, Ruth
- Huxley, Aldous
- Ickes, Harold
- Jaffe, Sam
- Karloff, Boris
- Kellard, John
- Kurnitz, Harry
- Landis, James
- Leonard, William Elroy
- Lovejoy, Frank
- Loy, Myrna
- Lubitsch, Ernst
- Malone, Nancy
- Marshall, E.G.
- Mastfogel, Steven
- McQueen, Steve
- Mitchum, Robert
- Moise, Nina
- Monar, Clarence
- Muni, Paul
- Nathan, George
- Neal, Patricia
- Newman, Paul
- Niven, David
- Oberon, Merle
- O'Hara, Maureen
- Owen, William
- Pierpont, Laura
- Pravda, George
- Ratoff, Gregory
- Reiner, Louise
- Rich, Marty
- Ring, Blanche
- Schaeffer, George
- Schary, Dore
- Segall, Gabriel
- Shearer, Norma
- Shumlin, Herman
- Smith, Lois
- Sondergaard, Gale
- Spacewak, Bella
- Spacewak, Sam
- Stevens, Nan
- Stokowski, Leopold
- Stuart, Don
- Sullivan, Margaret
- Tandy, Jessica
- Tracy, Spencer
- Ustinov, Peter
- Viertel, Berthold
- Walheim, Louie
- Wilder, Billy
- Wilder, Thornton
- Wolcott, Alexander
- Wright, Frank Lloyd
- Young, Robert
-
-
Subjects
- 1930 Motion Picture Production Code (Hays Code)
- Academy Awards
- alcoholism
-
All in the
Family
-
Angel
- anti-Semitism
- army hospitals
-
The Autumn Garden
- basic training
-
Ben Casey, M.D.
-
The Best Man
-
The Bird Cage
- Bonds for Israel
-
Call Me Mister
-
Captains
Courageous
- chautauqua tour
-
Deluxe
- Dill Pickle Club
- Dorothy Laverne Company
- free agency
- French film
-
The Gang's All Here
-
Glad Tidings
-
The Gorgeous
Hussy
- Great Depression
-
The Great Sinner
-
The Guilt of Janet Ames
- health problems
- Holocaust
-
Hud
-
I'll Take Romance
- influenza
-
Inherit the Wind
- Judaism
- labor
-
The Little Blue Light
-
The Lone Wolf
- love scenes
- McCarthyism
- migrant camps
-
Moor Born
- morphine
-
Mother Lode
- movie studios
-
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
-
My Forbidden Past
-
My Own True Love
-
Nagana
- New Deal
-
Ninotchka
-
No More Ladies
- nosebleeds
-
On the Loose
-
Our Town
-
Playhouse 90
- politics
-
Pollyanna
- poverty
- prostitution
- racial prejudice
-
Rapture
- reading
- religion
- retakes
-
Sea of Grass
- Shakespearean actors
-
She Married Her
Boss
- silent films
-
And So They Were
Married
- social life
- Spanish Civil War
- stardom
- stock companies
- studio contracts
-
Sweet and Sour
- television
- theater
- theatrical notices
- theatrical previews
-
Theodora Goes
Wild
-
Time Out for Ginger
-
Tonight or Never
-
Too Many Husbands
-
Two Blind Mice
-
Two-Faced Woman
- United States government
-
Waltz of the
Toreadors
-
A Woman's Face
-
A Woman's Secret
- World War II
Interviewee
Dunne, Philip 1975
Call Number
75-022
Physical Description
47 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour, 50 minutes; black and white
photograph
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Philip Dunne, born in 1908, describes the activities of the Motional Picture
Democratic Committee in the late nineteen thirties and at the outset of
World War II.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- authors War Board
- Democratic Party
- Hollywood for Roosevelt
- Motion Picture Democratic Committee
-
-
Geographic Names
- Finland
- Los Angeles, California
-
-
Occupations
- author
- movie director
-
-
Personal Names
- Boas, Franz
- Cobb, Humphrey
- Hammett, Dashiell
- Hopkins, Miriam
- Ickes, Harold
- Nixon, Richard Milhous
- Olson, Culbert Levy
- Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
- Voorhis, Jerry
-
-
Subjects
- 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Non-Aggression Pact
- Boas Resolution
- communists
- New Deal
- political campaigns
- politics
- World War II
Interviewee
Engel, Lehman
March 12,
1975
Call Number
75-032
Physical Description
35 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 80 minutes; no index; photo
of interviewee
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Lehman Engel, renowned composer and conductor, discusses his
friendship and collaboration with Melvyn Douglas and Douglas' wife, Helen
Gahagan Douglas. Engel enumerates Melvyn Douglas' positive characteristics,
including creativity, personal warmth, and lack of pretension. He speaks of
their enduring friendship, Douglas' political activities and the ways in which
these activities related to the arts.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Office of Civilian Defense
-
-
Occupations
- music conductor
- musician
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Lusk, Milton
- Reynolds, Jimmy
- Rome, Harold
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
-
-
Subjects
- Broadway
-
Call Me Mister
- Hollywood
- national politics
-
Within the Gates
- World War II
Interviewee
Gruber, Lester
April 17,
1980
Call Number
80-036
Physical Description
Not transcribed; 1 reel, 1 7/8 ips, 30 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Lester Gruber briefly describes his knowledge
of and relations with the actor and political activist, Melvyn Douglas.
Interviewee
Hausman, Howard
November 29,
1974
Call Number
75-014
Physical Description
58 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 140 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Howard Hausman, Melvyn Douglas' acting agent beginning in the
early Sixties, discusses Douglas' work in movies, television, and radio in the
latter part of Douglas' career. Hausman speaks of Douglas' character, family,
work ethic, and the effects of the health problems Douglas was beset with
beginning in the early Sixties. In addition, Hausman comments on Douglas'
talents as an actor, his incisive understanding of scripts and roles, and his
strong political beliefs.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- William Morris Agency
-
-
Occupations
- theatrical agent
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
- Roosevelt, Franklin Delano
-
-
Subjects
- acting
-
Death Squad
- health problems
- marriage
-
Spofford
- theatrical plays
Interviewee
Hirsh, Selma G.
January 2,
1973
Call Number
73-001
Physical Description
22 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 50 minutes; no index; photo of
interviewee
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Selma G. Hirsh discusses her experiences
working as an administrative assistant under Melvyn Douglas in the Office of
Civilian Defense during World War II. She speaks of Douglas' character, his
actions as an administrator, and the goals of the Office of Civilian Defense.
In addition, Hirsh recalls the press's hostility and anti-Semitic remarks
directed towards Melvyn Douglas. She also comments on Douglas' political
activism and beliefs.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- authors War Board
- United States Office of Civilian Defense
-
-
Occupations
- administrative assistant
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Landis, James
- Gable, Clark
- Mellett, Lowell
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
-
-
Subjects
- anti-Semitism
- army service
- Hollywood
- press hostility
Interviewee
Hogan, Charles A.
January 10,
1975
Call Number
75-028
Physical Description
15 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 40 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Charles A. Hogan, a friend of both Melvyn Douglas and his wife,
Helen Gahagan Douglas, discusses his relationship with the couple. Hogan lived,
at times, with the Douglases, writing speeches for Helen; Hogan and Melvyn
Douglas engaged in long conversations, which revealed Douglas' intellectual
nature and abilities. In addition, Hogan speaks of Gahagan Douglas' political
career, and the political activities and beliefs of both the Douglases.
-
Keywords
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Olson, Culbert Levy
-
-
Subjects
- communism
- Hollywood
Interviewee
Hogan, Charles; Totheroh, Dan
January 10,
1975
Call Number
75-029
Physical Description
20 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 50 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Charles Hogan and Dan Totheroh, both authors,
discuss their knowledge of and relationships with Melvyn Douglas and his wife,
Helen Gahagan Douglas. They discuss Douglas as both an actor and a director,
and speak of how Melvyn and Helen Douglas were each politically active in
different ways. In addition, Douglas' experience serving in World War II is
discussed, as is the Hollywood blacklisting that occurred in the wake of the
Red Scare.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Mayer, Louis B.
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
-
-
Subjects
- acting
- blacklisting
- Hollywood
-
Moor Born
- politics
- theater directing
Interviewee
Jennings, Rosa Lee Patrick; Morehead, Elizabeth Jennings
April 18,
1974
Call Number
74-010
Physical Description
34 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 80 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Rosa Lee Patrick Jennings, assisted by her
daughter, Elizabeth Jennings Morehead, recalls the tutelage she recieved under
Melvyn Douglas' father, Edouard Hesselberg, around the turn of the century (ca.
1901). Jennings recalls the day that Hesselberg, an accomplished and acclaimed
pianist who had performed throughout the world, announced the birth of his son,
Melvyn, in class.
-
Keywords
-
-
Personal Names
- Hesselberg, Edouard
Interviewee
Leighter, Jackson
January 8,
1975
Call Number
75-027
Physical Description
27 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 65 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Jackson Leighter speaks of his long-standing
friendship with Melvyn Douglas, and his wife, Helen Gahagan Douglas. Leighter
emphasizes Melvyn Douglas' intellectual nature and liberal political activism
in such venues as Bundles for Britain and the Anti-Fascist League. In addition,
Leighter describes Douglas' character, personality, sense of humor, and great
acting ability.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Motion Picture Democratic Committee
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Fairbanks, Douglas, Jr.
- Garbo, Greta
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
- Welles, Orson
-
-
Subjects
-
Call Me Mister
- liberalism
- Hollywood
- political activism
- politics
- World War II
Interviewee
Loy, Myrna
March 13,
1975
Call Number
75-034
Physical Description
28 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 65 minutes; no index; photo of
interviewee
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Myrna Loy, famed Hollywood actress of the silver screen, recalls
working with Melvyn Douglas on a few films in the Thirties. She discusses his
acting techniques, style, and ability, as well as the political activities of
he and his wife, Helen Gahagan Douglas. Many of these activities took place in
the context of blacklisting and McCarthyism, both of which Loy recalls and
describes.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Committee for the First Amendment
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Nixon, Richard Milhous
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
-
-
Subjects
- acting
- blacklisting
- Judaism
- McCarthyism
- national politics
-
Third Finger, Left
Hand
Interviewee
Malone, Nancy; Nuell, Fay January 7, 1975
Call Number
75-025
Physical Description
29 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour, 10 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Nancy Malone describes her relationship with Melvyn Douglas, which began in
the early nineteen fifties when they were both in the Boradway show
Time Out for Ginger. Malone talks about
Douglas's influence on her acting and production career and their longtime
friendship.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- American Legion
- CBS
-
Red Channels
- Screen Actors Guild
-
-
Occupations
- actress
- television producer
-
-
Personal Names
- Alexander, Ronnie
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Garbo, Greta
- Hartzig, Mary
- Loeb, Philip
- McQueen, Steve
-
-
Subjects
-
Time Out for Ginger
- communism
- McCarthyism
Interviewee
Pick, Walter R. January 7, 1975
Call Number
75-024
Physical Description
36 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour, 25 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Walter R. Pick, born in 1914, was a first cousin of Helen Gahagan Douglas
and, for a short time, a secretary to her and her husband, Melvyn Douglas,
during the late nineteen thirties. He describes his relationship to the
Douglases as a family member and employee.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Anti-Nazi League
- Democratic Party
- John Steinbeck Committee
- MGM
- Motion Picture Democratic Committee
-
-
Geographic Names
- California
-
-
Occupations
- actor
- secretary
-
-
Personal Names
- Baker, Diane
- Baruch, Joan
- Chavoor, Evie
- Debs, Eugene V.
- Disney, Walt
- Douglas, Donald
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Garbo, Greta
- Garland, Judy
- Grimball, Elizabeth
- Hesselberg, George
- Olson, Culbert Levy
- Parsons, Louella
- Perkins, Frances
- Robinson, Edward G.
- Roosevelt, Eleanor
-
-
Subjects
- anti-Semitism
- politics
-
Tonight or Never
Interviewee
Randall, Tony
July 24,
1974
Call Number
75-001
Physical Description
42 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 100 minutes; no index; photo
of interviewee
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open (not for commercial use)
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, renowned actor Tony Randall recalls his
collaboration with Melvyn Douglas in the acclaimed play,
Inherit the Wind. Randall comments on Douglas'
acting ability and techniques, his interpretation of the role in the play, and
his political activism. In addition to discussing the play, Randall speaks of
Douglas' character and personality, and of acting techniques in general.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Bryan, William Jennings
- Hitler, Adolf
- Mayer, Louis B.
- Muni, Paul
- Nixon, Richard Milhous
- Shumlin, Herman
-
-
Subjects
- acting
- blacklisting
-
Inherit the Wind
- McCarthyism
- political activism
Interviewee
Schaefer, George
January 8,
1975
Call Number
75-026
Physical Description
15 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 35 minutes; no index; photo of
interviewee
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
George Schaefer, a successful Hollywood, television, and theater
producer, speaks of his collaborations with Melvyn Douglas. The two worked
together on three productions, one of which led to Douglas' winning of an Emmy
award. Schaefer discusses Douglas' comedic and dramatic acting talent, his
intellectual nature, his character and personality, and the health problems
that later efffected his ability to work.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Harris, Julie
- March, Fredric
- Rigg, Diana
-
-
Subjects
- acting
-
Do Not Go Gentle into that Good
Night
- health problems
-
Inherit the Wind
Interviewee
Schary, Dore
March 10,
1975
Call Number
75-030
Physical Description
20 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 50 minutes; no
index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open (tapes not for commercial use)
Scope and Content Note
Dore Schary, former screen author and head of MGM Studios,
recalls his past associations with Melvyn Douglas. Schary comments on the
genuineness of Douglas' character, which came across in his performances. He
cites some of Douglas' finest acting moments and describes his sense of comedic
timing and the sensual aura that surrounded him. In addition, Schary discusses
Douglas' political activism in the context of the Red Scare.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Bellamy, Ralph
- Mayer, Louis B.
- Tracy, Spencer
-
-
Subjects
- acting
- McCarthyism
- politics
- sexuality
Interviewee
Seymour, Anne
January 4,
1975
Call Number
75-020
Physical Description
45 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 110 minutes; no index; photo
of interviewee
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
In this interview, Anne Seymour discusses her admiration for and
longstanding friendship with her fellow actor, Melvyn Douglas. Seymour relates
examples of Douglas' kindness and character, and praises his acting abilities.
She recalls her first play,
The Husband Habit
as the place where she made her first acquaintance with Melvyn Douglas.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Bellamy, Ralph
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- George, Grace
-
-
Subjects
- acting
- health problems
-
The Husband
Habit
Interviewee
Shumlin, Herman November 30, 1974
Call Number
75-002
Physical Description
41 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 1 hour, 35 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Herman Shumlin was a Broadway producer who worked with Melvyn Douglas in the
show
Inherit the Wind. He describes
Douglas's work as an actor and provides insight into his personal life.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Office of Civilian Defense
-
-
-
Occupations
- actor
- producer
-
-
Personal Names
- Cassidy, Claudia
- Conreid, Hans
- deVries, Peter
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Muni, Paul
- Randall, Tony
-
-
Subjects
-
Grand Hotel
-
Inherit the Wind
-
Reuben, Reuben
Interviewee
Sondergaard, Gale June 11, 1979
Call Number
79-046
Physical Description
56 pages; 1 cassette, 1 7/8 ips, 1 hour, 30 minutes
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Gale Sondergaard describes her career as an actress, with emphasis on the
influence of politics on the profession, and the profession's influence on
politics in the United States in the mid-twentieth century. She notes events
of the World War II era and the Cold War era and talks about other actors
and actresses of her day.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Non-Aggression Pact
- Anti-Nazi League
-
Dramatics
- Keller Shakespeare Company
- Playmongers
- University of Minnesota
-
-
Geographic Names
- Madison, Wisconsin
-
-
Occupations
- actor
- actress
-
-
Personal Names
- Albee, Edward
- Anders, Glen
- Brando, Marlon
- Dennis, Sandy
- Douglas, Melvyn
- O'Malley, Neil
- Randall, Tony
- Redford, Robert
-
-
Subjects
- acting
-
Anna and the King of Siam
- blacklisting
- progressivism
- socialism
-
Woman: Her Emergence Into Fuller Status as a Human
Being in Relation to Her Mate
- women's movement
Interviewee
Stevens, Nan June 3, 1974
Call Number
75-012
Physical Description
68 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 2 hours 45 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Nan Stevens, secretary and business manager to both Melvyn Douglas and his
wife, Helen Gahagan Douglas, handled the correspondence and fan mail of the
Douglases beginning in 1950. Over the years, Stevens came to know Melvyn,
Helen, and their children quite well. In this interview, she relates her
impressions of Melvyn Douglas' personality, character, connection to
Judaism, and his marriage to Helen Gahagan Douglas. In addition, Stevens
comments on the problems of the Douglas children as well as the individual
strengths of both Melvyn and Helen Douglas.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Occupations
- business manager
- secretary
-
-
Personal Names
- Bruce, Carol
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Garland, Judy
-
-
Subjects
- Hollywood
-
I Never Sang for My Father
- Judaism
- marriage
Interviewee
Trivas, Irene November 30, 1974
Call Number
75-015
Physical Description
41 pages; 2 reels, 3 3/4 ips, 95 minutes; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Irene Trivas, whose acquaintance with Melvyn Douglas, his wife, Helen Gahagan
Douglas, and their children, began in her Hollywood youth, discusses her
perceptions of the Douglases and the difference they made in her life.
Trivas also speaks of their marriage, the role of politics in their lives,
the blacklisting that resulted from the Red Scare, and family problems the
Douglases experienced. In addition, she recalls the dirty campaign of 1950,
in which Richard Nixon utilized the fear of communism that characterized the
Red Scare to diminish Douglas' reputation.
-
Keywords
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Hesselberg, Lena Shackleford
- Nixon, Richard Milhous
-
-
Subjects
- 1950 Nixon-Douglas campaign
- blacklisting
- California politics
- family problems
- Hollywood
- marriage
- Red Scare
Interviewee
Voorhis, Jerry; Voorhis, Louise August 22, 1972
Call Number
72-006
Physical Description
21 pages; 1 reel, 3 3/4 ips, 45 minutes; index; hardcover bound copy
of interview
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Jerry and Louise Voorhis, longstanding political acquaintances of Melvyn
Douglas and his wife, Helen Gahagan Douglas, discuss the political
activities of the Douglases in the context of California, national, and
international politics. In addition, the Douglases' political activism is
discussed with regard to anti-Semitism, anti-communism, and Nazism, which
characterized portions of politics for much of the middle of the twentieth
century.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- United States Congress
-
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Ford, Leland
-
-
Subjects
- anti-communism
- anti-Semitism
- California politics
- Hollywood
- Nazism
- World War II
Interviewee
Williams, Hosea June 14, 1974
Call Number
79-004
Physical Description
57 pages; no tape; no index
Interviewer
Arthur, Thomas H.
Access Status
Open
Scope and Content Note
Reverend Hosea Williams, a close friend of Dr. King's, reflects on the Civil
Rights Movement and offers many insights into the great leader's character.
Reverend Williams discusses Dr. King's commitment to non-violence and his
desire to serve the masses. He also shares many anecdotes and reflects on
the remnants of the movement after Dr. King's death.
-
Keywords
-
-
Corporation Names
- Barnard College
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
-
-
Geographic Names
- California
- Hollywood, California
-
-
Occupations
- actor
- author
- editor
- playwright
-
-
Personal Names
- Douglas, Gregory
- Douglas, Helen Gahagan
- Douglas, Melvyn
- Douglas, Peter
- Nixon, Richard Milhous
-
-
Subjects
- Academy Awards
- ethics
- politics
- psychoanalysis
- theater
