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Richard R. Schilling III soap opera collection

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives [Contact Us]3620 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives. 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

Call Number:
Ms. Coll. 4
Repository:
University of Pennsylvania: Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives
Extent:
18.72 linear feet (16 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Richard R. Schilling III soap opera collection, 1988-2008, Ms. Coll. 4, Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives, University of Pennsylvania.
Date:
1988-2008 (inclusive) and 1999-2008 (bulk)
Form:
Television scripts, Memorabilia, and props (object genres)
Abstract:
Richard R. Schilling III was an American television producer who worked on soap operas and anthology series. He is best known for his work with the soap opera Passions. The Schilling soap opera collection is primarily composed of props, memorabilia, episodes, audio/visual material, and records pertaining to his production work on Passions as well as General Hospital: Night Shift.

Richard R. Schilling III was an American television producer who worked on soap operas and anthology series. Born on March 19, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York, Schilling graduated from Xavier High School in 1981 and earned his Bachelor's in English at College of the Holy Cross in 1986. In 1987, he landed several jobs with Capital Cities/ABC Inc. where he worked as Assistant to the Producer and Associate Producer for the soap operas One Life to Live and Loving, respectively. Schilling then moved to PBS in 1993 as Coordinating Producer for the Great Performances series, where, among other projects, he produced the live broadcast of The Three Tenors in Paris and a documentary on American composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb. He returned to soap operas in 1999 when he joined the production team for the NBC/Universal Television show Passions, working as Supervising Producer for the entire nine-year run of the series. After Passions, Schilling worked briefly with ABC's General Hospital: Night Shift before finally returning to Great Performances in 2011. In addition to his production work, Schilling was interested in the history of television and amassed a collection of television memorabilia, including many of the artifacts from his work on Passions. Schilling passed away on August 18, 2020.

The Richard R. Schilling III soap opera collection spans from 1988 through 2008 and primarily reflects his production work with the TV series Passions and General Hospital: Night Shift. The collection is composed of artifacts and memorabilia from the production of Passions, including props and merchandise, as well as episode scripts, the original series' plot by James Riley, awards, and production documents. Nearly two thousand DVDs of Passions and General Hospital: Night Shift episodes form a significant part of the collection, alongside compact discs and miniDVs of fan-made compilations, tributes, screen tests, and production recordings. The collection also has several VHS copies of Schilling's early work with Great Performances. The Schilling collection is of value to historians of television and television production. In particular, the production records found therein provide insight into how television shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s were marketed and developed, from pre- to post-production. Where possible, the collection has been arranged according to its original order.

The collection is divided into five series: I. Costumes and Props, circa 2000; II. Merchandise, circa 2005; III. Posters, Pictures, and Autographed Items, circa 2002; IV. Production Materials, 1988-2008, bulk 1999-2008; V. Personal, 2001-2004.

Gift of Mia Schilling Grogan and Andrew Schilling, 2024.

Accessioned as 2024.005. Andrew Williams processed, wrote, and encoded the finding aid, 2024.

Subject

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives
Finding Aid Author
Andrew Williams
Finding Aid Date
2024.04.24
Access Restrictions

The bulk of this collection is open for research use; however, certain materials in box 2 are restricted from access until 2096 because they contain personally identifiable or other sensitive information. Researchers interested in the content of these boxes should contact the Annenberg School for Communicaiton Library Archives for further information.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Annenberg School for Communication Library Archives.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of costumes and props for the show Passions and includes costumes, mock magazines and books, busts, and a miniature piano. Most of the items relate to the characters Timmy and Tabatha, and date to the early 2000s.

Physical Description

3 Box(es)+1 oversize item.

Bust of Timmy, with three Timmy hands, Undated.
Box 1 Item 1
Hatchet, Undated.
Box 1 Item 2
Scope and Contents

Used by Norma Bates' character.

Miniature piano and stool, Undated.
Oversize Unknown
Mockup popular magazines, circa 2000.
Box 2 Folder 1-2
Model head of Tabitha, Undated.
Box 1 Item 3
Scope and Contents

Includes plexiglass stand, sunglasses, Happy New Year tiara, and jewelry.

Patched jacket and gloves, Undated.
Box 1 Item 4
Police jacket, Undated.
Box 3 Item 1
Scope and Contents

Includes Harmony police patches and badge.

Sweater vest, Undated.
Box 3 Item 2
Scope and Contents

With Crane Industries logo.

What to Expect When a Witch is Expecting, prop book, Undated.
Box 3 Item 3
Scope and Contents

Includes Certificate of Authenticity.

Scope and Contents

Schilling collected an array of memorabilia produced to promote Passions throughout its run. This series includes a variety of Passions-themed novelties both sold as merchandise and given out as gifts to staff. These artifacts, all emblazoned with the Passions logo, range from apparel (some embroidered with Schilling's name), decorations, travel accessories, bowling gear, and other knickknacks.

Physical Description

7 Box(es)

Acrylic heart-shaped bud vase, 2000.
Box 4 Item 1
Baseball cap, Undated.
Box 4 Item 2
Beach towel, Undated.
Box 4 Item 3-5
Bowling ball, Undated.
Box 5 Item 1
Bowling ball case, Undated.
Box 5 Item 2
Bowling shirt, Undated.
Box 5 Item 3
Canvas cover, Undated.
Box 4 Item 6
Coffee mug, Undated.
Box 4 Item 7-8
Cooler, Undated.
Box 6 Item 1-2
Denim jacket, Undated.
Box 7 Item 1
Digital timer, Undated.
Box 7 Item 2
Duffle bag, Undated.
Box 4 Item 9
Gift set of three bars of soap and guest towel, Undated.
Box 7 Item 3
Hidden Passions: Secrets from the Diaries of Tabitha Lenox, by Alice Alfonsi and James E. Reilly, 2001.
Box 2 Item 1
Fleece vest, Undated.
Box 7 Item 4
Key chain, Undated.
Box 7 Item 5
License plate frame, Undated.
Box 7 Item 6
Margarita "Martimmy" glass, Undated.
Box 8 Item 1-10
Scope and Contents

Complete with Recipe for "Martimmy's" and the "'Passions' Recipe of Success."

Picture frame, Undated.
Box 7 Item 7-8
Photo album, Undated.
Box 7 Item 9
Satin pillowcase, Undated.
Box 7 Item 10
Tee shirt, Undated.
Box 7 Item 11
Tee shirt, Undated.
Box 8 Item 11
Scope and Contents

With "It's Martimmy Time!" printed on the front.

Terry cloth robe, Undated.
Box 9 Item 1

Scope and Contents

Series III includes posters and other printed images for both Passions and General Hospital: Night Shift and spans from 1999 to the late 2000s. Several items are oversized and feature autographs of their respective cast members.

Physical Description

1 Box(es)+6 oversize items.

Passions original cast poster, circa 1999.
Oversize Unknown
Scope and Contents

35 1/4 x 23 1/8 inches.

Passions original cast photograph, circa 1999.
Oversize Unknown
Scope and Contents

13 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches.

TV Guide Collector Cover, mounted poster, 2001.
Oversize Unknown
Scope and Contents

2 items, 36 x 24 inches.

TV Guide Collector Cover, 2001.
Box 2 Folder 3
Soap Opera Weekly magazine cover, 2002.
Box 2 Folder 4
Passions fifth anniversary poster, 2004.
Oversize Unknown
Scope and Contents

2 items, 19 x 35 inches.

Passions cast, autographed photograph, Undated.
Oversize Unknown
Scope and Contents

10 3/4 x 14 inches.

Passions credits montage, printed stills, Undated.
Box 2 Folder 5
General Hospital: Nightshift autographed poster, circa 2007.
Oversize Unknown
Scope and Contents

40 x 26 inches.

Scope and Contents

Schilling's production materials, spanning from 1988 to 2008, constitute the bulk of the collection and primarily reflect his production work with Passions, though his work with other shows is also represented. The series is divided into ten sub-series and can generally be broken down into records and audio/visual material. The records, all pertaining to Passions, include staff and cast lists, licensing agreements, scripts, and the series plot. Also included are clippings from several magazines and newspapers relating to Schilling and Passions.

The audio/visual material is mainly composed of DVD copies of Passions episodes, with nearly all 2231 episodes accounted for. Fan club videos, episode edits and clips, cast tributes, and screen tests are present in primarily DVD and compact disk formats, though several VHS and Mini-DVs are also extant. Also included are roughly fifteen episodes of General Hospital: Night Shift, several VHS copies of Great Performances episodes, and a 1988 VHS relating to Schilling's work with One Life to Live.

Physical Description

7 Box(es)+1 oversize item.

Plaque, 1999.
Box 9 Item 2
Scope and Contents

Autographed first page of first episode script, aired 1999 July 5.

Plaque, 1999.
Box 9 Item 3
Scope and Contents

First page of one-hundredth episode script, aired 1999 November 19.

Crystal-handled cake knife and server, circa 2003.
Box 9 Item 4
Scope and Contents

Commemorating 1000th episode, aired 2003 June 10.

Concrete paver, Undated.
Box 10 Item 1
Scope and Contents

12 x 12 x 2 inches.

Vinyl banner, Undated.
Oversize Unknown
Scope and Contents

30 x 153 1/2 inches.

NBC, Passions,episodes 1-2075, DVD, 1999-2007.
Box 11 Box 12 Box 13 Box 14
Scope and Contents

Scope and contents: missing episodes 129-130, 458-544, 546-920, 928, 930, 933, 1030, and 2035.

DirecTV, Passions, episodes 1-156, DVD, 2007-2008.
Box 15
ABC, General Hospital: Night Shift, episodes 201-214, DVD, 2008.
Box 15
Scope and Contents

Includes full-screen and 16x9 letterbox copies.

Passions #0504, Tabitha's Severed Head, VHS, 2001.
Box 15
Passions #630, VHS, 2001.
Box 15
I Ain't Sorry: A Musical Extravaganza, DVD, 2003.
Box 15
#1013 "Chicago" scene, Air Date: 6/27/03, DVD, 2003.
Box 15
Animation Scenes, 1611, 1612, 1613, DVD, 2005.
Box 15
#1664, Bollywood Scenes, Air Date 1/27/06, DVD, 2 items, 2006.
Box 15
The Cove Revised 5/09/06, DVD, 2006.
Box 15
Scissor Sisters, #1928 – 2/8/07, #1929 – 2/9/07, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
#2028 "Wicked" Clips, DVD, 3 items, 2007.
Box 15
Perfectly Frightful / Spellbinding, #2028, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Category# 42, Drama Series, Episodes: 2028 - 1960, Air Date: 06/29/07 - 03/29/07, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Category# 42, Drama Series, Episodes: DTV065 DTV156, Air Date: 01/09/08 08/11/08, DVD, 2008.
Box 15
D156 Alternate ending, DVD, 2008.
Box 15
Final Episode, DVD, 2008.
Box 15
0630Ɛ, VHS, Undated.
Box 15
Scope and Contents

Production recording of a Passions episode.

Comp Fan 2000, 2001, 2002, DVD, 2003.
Box 15
Fan Club 2003, AirDate: 10.18.03, DVD, 2003.
Box 15
Fanclub Presentation 10/01/05, DVD, 4 items, 2005.
Box 15
Fan Club Presentation 2005, DVD, 2005.
Box 15
Episode 1, fan reels, pt. 1/2, 1999-2001, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Fan reels, pt. 2/2, 2002-2005, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Passions Fan Club 1999, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Fanclub 2000, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Fanclub 2001, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Fanclub 2002, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Fanclub 2003, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Fanclub 2004, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Passions Main Title Theme, compact disc, 1999.
Box 15
Miguel/Charity Theme, "Cross My Heart," Words & Music by John Henry & Jane French, compact disc, 1999.
Box 15
Jane French, "Breathe," Master Mix 8.1.00, compact disc, 2000.
Box 15
#27 Original Song "Love Is Ecstasy" Episode #1664, Air Date: 01/27/06, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Publicity, 1999-2007.
Box 2 Folder 6
Staff and cast lists [RESTRICTED], 2004-2007.
Box 2 Folder 7
Licensing agreements [RESTRICTED], 2007.
Box 2 Folder 8
Josh Ryan Evans Tribute, DVD, 2 items, 2002.
Box 15
Passions Disaster, DVD, 2007.
Box 15
Passions, 30 Rock/Seinfeld, DVD, 2 items, Undated.
Box 15
Promos, Timmy SNL + Original Trailer, DVD, Undated.
Box 15
Sales Presentation, VHS, Undated.
Box 15
Edited Screen Tests, DVD, Undated.
Box 15
Original Cast Screen Tests, DVD, Undated.
Box 15
Screen tests, DVD, Undated.
Box 15
Screen Test #1, DVD, Undated.
Box 15
Screen Test #2, DVD, Undated.
Box 15
Screen Test #3, DVD, Undated.
Box 15
Screen Test #4, DVD, Undated.
Box 15
Screen Tests (1 of 3), MiniDV, Undated.
Box 15
Screen Tests (2 of 3), MiniDV, Undated.
Box 15
Screen Tests (3 of 3), MiniDV, Undated.
Box 15
Passions, A Daytime Serial (Revised with Network Notes) by James Riley, typescript series plot, 1998.
Box 2 Folder 9-10
Passions , Show #0001, script, 1999.
Box 2 Folder 11
OLL TUCSON REMOTE REEL 2, 1/29/88, VHS, 1988 January 29.
Box 15
Scope and Contents

Consists of footage of One Life to Live shot at Old Tucson studios.

WNET/Thirteen, Great Performances, "The Richard Tucker Opera Gala," 1991, VHS, 1991.
Box 15
Julie Andrews: Back on Broadway Live Event, VHS, 1995.
Box 15

Scope and Contents

Series V is mainly composed of the trophies awarded to Schilling for his work on Passions, such as the Media Access Award for Outstanding Television Daytime Drama. Also present are Schilling's business cards in two distinct formats. The series spans from the early 2000s to 2007.

Physical Description

2 Box(es)

Business cards, Undated.
Box 2 Folder 12
Diversity Awards, 2007 Favorite Daytime TV Drama, trophy, 2007.
Box 16 Item 1
The Imagen Foundation, 2002 daytime programing award, Passions, trophy, 2002.
Box 16 Item 2
Media Access Awards, 2001 Television Daytime Drama, Passions, trophy, 2001.
Box 16 Item 3
Media Access Awards, 2002 Outstanding Television Daytime Drama, Passions, trophy, 2002.
Box 16 Item 4
Teen.com First Annual Daytime Television Awards, Outstanding Soap Opera, Passions, trophy, Undated.
Box 16 Item 5
United States Marine Corps, outstanding support of the United States Marine Corps 2004 Toys for Tots campaign, presented to Cast of "Passions ," award plaque, 2004.
Box 16 Item 6

Print, Suggest