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Lux Radio Theatre Scripts
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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The Lux Radio Theatre, later known as Lux Presents Hollywood, began broadcasting in New York on NBC in October 1934. The program first aired on Sunday afternoons on the NBC Blue Network but shortly moved to Monday evenings on CBS Radio where it stayed until 1954. Initially, the series adapted Broadway plays during its first two seasons before it began adapting films. These hour-long radio programs were performed live before studio audiences. The series became the most popular dramatic anthology series on radio and during the program's height of popularity was heard regularly by 30 million listeners. The Lever Brothers moved production of the show from New York to Hollywood in 1936. Cecil B. DeMille took over as the host on June 1, 1936, continuing until January 22, 1945. Celebrity guest hosts like Leslie Howard and Edward Arnold would fill in for DeMille in his absence. After DeMille left the show in January 1954, William Keighley and Irving Cummings served as host. The series went off the radio in June 1955, but continued on television as the Lux Video Theatre through most of the 1950s.
Collection of radio theater scripts in 138 bound volumes, spanning the 1930s to the 1950s. The scripts, with stage directions, cover a variety of genres ranging from comedy and drama to Westerns, mysteries and romance. The productions are adaptations of novels, plays, and Hollywood movies.
Donated by J. Walter Thompson Agency to RTF Department, date unknown.
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
- Finding Aid Date
- April 2024
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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The Lux Radio Theatre Scripts are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. The creator/donor has not assigned their rights to Temple University Libraries. Other creators' intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to them or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.