Sid Caesar
A Register of His Papers in the Library of Congress
Prepared by Laura J. Kells
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
1996
Contact information: http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/mss/address.html
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress
Manuscript Division, 2001
2004-09-16 converted from EAD 1.0 to EAD 2002
Title: Papers of Sid Caesar
Span Dates: 1950-1963
ID No.: MSS55260
Creator: Caesar, Sid, 1922-
Extent: 2000 items; 46 containers plus 1 oversize; 18.4 linear feet
Language: Collection material in English
Repository: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Abstract: Actor and comedian. Chiefly annotated working scripts for "Your Show of Shows" (1950-1954), the television series in which
Caesar appeared with Imogene Coca, Howard Morris, and Carl Reiner; and scripts and production files for "Caesar's Hour" (1955-1957),
the series in which he appeared with Janet Blair, Nanette Fabray, and Morris and Reiner.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped
by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.
Names:
Caesar, Sid, 1922-
Blair, Janet
Brooks, Mel, 1926-
Coca, Imogene
Diamond, Selma
Fabray, Nanette
Gelbart, Larry
Kallen, Lucille
Keller, Sheldon
Morris, Howard, 1919-
Reiner, Carl, 1922-
Simon, Neil
Stewart, Michael, 1929-
Tolkin, Mel
Subjects:
Caesar's hour (Television program)
Your show of shows (Television program)
Television--Production and direction
Television scripts
Occupations:
Actors
Comedians
Provenance:The papers of Sid Caesar, actor and comedian, were donated to the Library of Congress by Caesar per Larry Spellman in 1987. Copyright Status:The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Sid Caesar is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title
17, U.S.C.).
Preferred Citation:Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Sid Caesar Papers,
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
| Date |
Event |
| 1922, Sept. 8 |
Born, Yonkers, N.Y. |
| 1939-1942 |
Played saxophone in small bands and orchestras in New York City and at resorts in the Catskills, N.Y. |
| 1942-1945 |
Served in Coast Guard, stationed at Brooklyn Barracks, N.Y.; toured in Coast Guard show, "Tars and Spars" |
| 1943 |
Married Florence Levy |
| 1946 |
Appeared in motion picture Tars and Spars |
| 1947 |
Toured nightclubs and theaters as a comedian |
| 1948 |
Appeared in Broadway review Make Mine Manhattan |
| 1949 |
Television series "Admiral Broadway Revue" |
| 1950-1954 |
Television series "Your Show of Shows," originally part of NBC's "Saturday Night Revue" |
| 1954-1957 |
Television series "Caesar's Hour" |
| 1958 |
Television series "Sid Caesar Invites You" |
| 1962-1963 |
Star of Neil Simon's Broadway musical, Little Me
Appeared in motion picture, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World
Television series "As Caesar Sees It"
|
| 1966 |
Filmed motion picture The Busy Body |
| 1967 |
Television special "The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca,Carl Reiner,Howard Morris Special" |
| 1973 |
Motion picture Ten From Your Show of Shows released
|
| 1975 |
Filmed motion picture Barnaby and Me |
| 1976 |
Appeared in motion picture Silent Movie |
| 1978 |
Appeared in motion picture Grease |
| 1979 |
Filmed motion picture The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu |
| 1981 |
Appeared in motion picture History of the World, Part I |
| 1982 |
Published, with Bill Davidson, autobiography, Where Have I Been? (New York: Crown Publishers. 280 pp.)
|
| 1987 |
Appeared in opera Die Fledermaus |
The papers of Sidney (Sid) Caesar (1922- ) span the period 1950-1963 and focus primarily on his two most popular television series, "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour." The papers consist mainly of annotated scripts for the live programs which aired on NBC. Both shows were acclaimed for the comedic talents of Caesar and his fellow performers as well as for the writing staff which
went on to have successful careers in the theater, motion pictures, and television.
The "Your Show of Shows" series contains scripts for this ninety-minute weekly variety show, produced by Max Liebman, which ran from 1950 to 1954 and consisted of original comedy as well as music and dance. The stars of the program were Sid
Caesar and Imogene Coca, with a supporting cast of Carl Reiner and Howard Morris and a weekly guest star who served as host or hostess. Writers for the series included Mel Brooks, Lucille Kallen, Neil Simon, and Mel Tolkin. Among the memorable routines were the husband and wife skit, "The Hickenloopers," satiric versions of silent films and contemporary
motion pictures, and pantomimes such as the "The Clock." Scripts contain annotations for air times and cameras, as well as
texts of commercials. Many files also contain playbills for the live performances. These files are incomplete as indicated
by gaps in the program numbers on the container list.
The "Caesar's Hour" series contains program files for Caesar's hour-long series, similar in format to "Your Show of Shows," which ran from 1954
to 1957. The supporting cast for this program included Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, Nanette Fabray, and Janet Blair. Writers included Mel Brooks, Selma Diamond, Larry Gelbart, Shelly Keller, Mike Stewart, and Neil Simon and featured sketches were "The Commuters" and "The Professor." The files include the director's air scripts annotated with
camera shots and set diagrams, "as performed" scripts on which improvisations and other changes are noted, and production
files which contain annotated scripts, timings, schedules, costume and prop lists, and playbills.
A small Miscellany series contains skits from scripts from "Your Show of Shows," "Caesar's Hour," and the 1958 series "Sid Caesar Invites You"
which appear to have been brought together for use on other television shows or appearances.
The collection is arranged in four series:
| Container |
Series |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BOX 1-20
|
|
|
Scripts, playbills, and related production material. |
|
Arranged chronologically within television seasons and numbered according to episode. |
|
| BOX 20-46
|
|
|
Scripts, playbills, and related production material. |
|
Arranged chronologically within television seasons and numbered according to episode. |
|
| BOX 46
|
|
|
Selected sketches from several television series and miscellaneous correspondence. |
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically therein. |
|
| BOX OV 1
|
|
|
A set design described according to the series, folder, and box from which the item was removed. |
| Container |
Contents |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BOX 1-20
|
"Your Show of Shows," 1950-1954
|
|
Scripts, playbills, and related production material. |
|
Arranged chronologically within television seasons and numbered according to episode. |
|
| BOX 1
|
1949-1950 season |
|
|
25 Feb. 1950 (1) |
|
|
4 Mar. 1950 (2) |
|
|
11 Mar. 1950 (3) |
|
|
18 Mar. 1950 (4) |
|
|
25 Mar. 1950 (5) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
1 Apr. 1950 (6) |
|
|
8 Apr. 1950 (7) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 2
|
15 Apr. 1950 (8) |
|
|
22 Apr. 1950 (9) |
|
|
29 Apr. 1950 (10) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
6 May 1950 (11) |
|
|
13 May 1950 (12) |
|
|
1950-1951 season |
|
|
9 Sept. 1950 (14) |
|
| BOX 3
|
4 Nov. 1950 (22) |
|
|
11 Nov. 1950 (23) |
|
|
18 Nov. 1950 (24) |
|
|
25 Nov. 1950 (25) |
|
|
9 Dec. 1950 (27) |
|
|
23 Dec. 1950 (29) |
|
|
30 Dec. 1950 (30) |
|
|
6 Jan. 1951 (31) |
|
| BOX 4
|
13 Jan. 1951 (32) |
|
|
20 Jan. 1951 (33) |
|
|
27 Jan. 1951 (34) |
|
|
3 Feb. 1951 (35) |
|
|
10 Feb. 1951 (36) |
|
|
17 Feb. 1951 (37) |
|
|
24 Feb. 1951 (38) |
|
|
3 Mar. 1951 (39) |
|
| BOX 5
|
10 Mar. 1951 (40) |
|
|
17 Mar. 1951 (41) |
|
|
24 Mar. 1951 (42) |
|
|
31 Mar. 1951 (43) |
|
|
7 Apr. 1951 (44) |
|
|
21 Apr. 1951 (46) |
|
|
28 Apr. 1951 (47) |
|
|
5 May 1951 (48) |
|
| BOX 6
|
12 May 1951 (49) |
|
|
19 May 1951 (50) |
|
|
26 May 1951 (51) |
|
|
2 June 1951 (52) |
|
|
1951-1952 season |
|
|
8 Sept. 1951 (53) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
15 Sept. 1951 (54) |
|
|
22 Sept. 1951 (55) |
|
| BOX 7
|
29 Sept. 1951 (56) |
|
|
6 Oct. 1951 (57) |
|
|
13 Oct. 1951 (58) |
|
|
20 Oct. 1951 (59) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
3 Nov. 1951 (61) |
|
|
10 Nov. 1951 (62) |
|
|
17 Nov. 1951 (63) |
|
| BOX 8
|
24 Nov. 1951 (64) |
|
|
1 Dec. 1951 (65) |
|
|
22 Dec. 1951 (68) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
29 Dec. 1951 (69) |
|
|
5 Jan. 1952 (70) |
|
|
12 Jan. 1952 (71) |
|
|
19 Jan. 1952 (72) |
|
|
26 Jan. 1952 (73) |
|
| BOX 9
|
2 Feb. 1952 (74) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
9 Feb. 1952 (75) |
|
|
16 Feb. 1952 (76) |
|
|
23 Feb. 1952 (77) |
|
|
1 Mar. 1952 (78) |
|
|
8 Mar. 1952 (79) |
|
|
15 Mar. 1952 (80) |
|
|
22 Mar. 1952 (81) |
|
| BOX 10
|
29 Mar. 1952 (82) |
|
|
5 Apr. 1952 (83) |
|
|
12 Apr. 1952 (84) |
|
|
19 Apr. 1952 (85) |
|
|
26 Apr. 1952 (86) |
|
|
3 May 1952 (87) |
|
|
10 May 1952 (88) |
|
|
17 May 1952 (89) |
|
|
24 May 1952 (90) |
|
| BOX 11
|
31 May 1952 (91) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
1952-1953 season |
|
|
6 Sept. 1952 (92) |
|
|
13 Sept. 1952 (93) |
|
|
20 Sept. 1952 (94) |
|
|
27 Sept. 1952 (95) |
|
|
4 Oct. 1952 (96) |
|
|
11 Oct. 1952 (97) |
|
| BOX 12
|
18 Oct. 1952 (98) |
|
|
25 Oct. 1952 (99) |
|
|
1 Nov. 1952 (100) |
|
|
8 Nov. 1952 (101) |
|
|
15 Nov. 1952 (102) |
|
|
22 Nov. 1952 (103) |
|
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29 Nov. 1952 (104) |
|
| BOX 13
|
6 Dec. 1952 (105) |
|
|
13 Dec. 1952 (106) |
|
|
20 Dec. 1952 (107) |
|
|
27 Dec. 1952 (108) |
|
|
3 Jan. 1953 (109) |
|
|
10 Jan. 1953 (110) |
|
|
17 Jan. 1953 (111) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 14
|
24 Jan. 1953 (112) |
|
|
31 Jan. 1953 (113) |
|
|
7 Feb. 1953 (114) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
14 Feb. 1953 (115) |
|
|
21 Feb. 1953 (116) |
|
|
28 Feb. 1953 (117) |
|
|
7 Mar. 1953 (118) |
|
| BOX 15
|
14 Mar. 1953 (119) |
|
|
21 Mar. 1953 (120) |
|
|
28 Mar. 1953 (121) |
|
|
4 Apr. 1953 (122) |
|
|
11 Apr. 1953 (123) |
|
|
18 Apr. 1953 (124) |
|
|
25 Apr. 1953 (125) |
|
|
2 May 1953 (126) |
|
| BOX 16
|
May 1953 (127) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
16 May 1953 (128) |
|
|
23 May 1953 (129) |
|
|
30 May 1953 (130) |
|
|
1953-1954 season |
|
|
26 Sept. 1953 (133) |
|
|
10 Oct. 1953 (134) |
|
| BOX 17
|
24 Oct. 1953 (136) |
|
|
7 Nov. 1953 (137) |
|
|
5 Dec. 1953 (140) |
|
|
12 Dec. 1953 (141) |
|
|
19 Dec. 1953 (142) |
|
|
2 Jan. 1954 (143) |
|
|
9 Jan. 1954 (144) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
16 Jan. 1954 (145) |
|
| BOX 18
|
30 Jan. 1954 (146) |
|
|
6 Feb. 1954 (147) |
|
|
13 Feb. 1954 (148) |
|
|
27 Feb. 1954 (149) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
6 Mar. 1954 (150) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 19
|
13 Mar. 1954 (151) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
27 Mar. 1954 (152) |
|
|
3 Apr. 1954 (153) |
|
|
10 Apr. 1954 (154) |
|
|
24 Apr. 1954 (155) |
|
|
1 May 1954 (156) |
|
|
8 May 1954 (157) |
|
| BOX 20
|
22 May 1954 (158) |
|
|
29 May 1954 (159) |
|
|
5 June 1954 (160) |
|
| BOX 20-46
|
"Caesar's Hour," 1954-1957
|
|
Scripts, playbills, and related production material. |
|
Arranged chronologically within television seasons and numbered according to episode. |
|
| BOX 20
|
1954-1955 season |
|
|
27 Sept. 1954 (1) |
|
|
4 Oct. 1954 (2) |
|
|
11 Oct. 1954 (3) |
|
|
25 Oct. 1954 (4) |
|
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22 Nov. 1954 (7) |
|
| BOX 21
|
29 Nov. 1954 (8) |
|
|
6 Dec. 1954 (9) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
20 Dec. 1954 (10) |
|
(4 folders) |
|
| BOX 22
|
27 Dec. 1954 (11) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
3 Jan. 1955 (12) |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
17 Jan. 1955 (13) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 23
|
24 Jan. 1955 (14) |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
31 Jan. 1955 (15) |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
14 Feb. 1955 (16) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 24
|
21 Feb. 1955 (17) |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
28 Feb. 1955 (18) |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
14 Mar. 1955 (19) |
|
| BOX 25
|
21 Mar. 1955 (20) |
|
|
25 Apr. 1955 (24) |
|
|
9 May 1955 (25) See also Oversize |
|
|
16 May 1955 (26) |
|
|
23 May 1955 (27) |
|
|
6 June 1955 (28) |
|
|
13 June 1955 (29) |
|
|
20 June 1955 (30) |
|
| BOX 26
|
1955-1956 season |
|
|
26 Sept. 1955 (31) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
3 Oct. 1955 (32) |
|
(4 folders) |
|
|
10 Oct. 1955 (33) |
|
(2 folders) |
| BOX 27
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
24 Oct. 1955 (34) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
31 Oct. 1955 (35) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 28
|
7 Nov. 1955 (36) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
21 Nov. 1955 (37) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
28 Nov. 1955 (38) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 29
|
5 Dec. 1955 (39) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
19 Dec. 1955 (40) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
26 Dec. 1955 (41) |
|
|
2 Jan. 1956 (42) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 30
|
16 Jan. 1956 (43) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
23 Jan. 1956 (44) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
6 Feb. 1956 (45) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 31
|
13 Feb. 1956 (46) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
20 Feb. 1956 (47) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
27 Feb. 1956 (48) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 32
|
12 Mar. 1956 (49) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
19 Mar. 1956 (50) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
26 Mar. 1956 (51) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 33
|
9 Apr. 1956 (52) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
16 Apr. 1956 (53) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
23 Apr. 1956 (54) |
|
(2 folders) |
| BOX 34
|
(1 folder) |
|
|
7 May 1956 (55) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
14 May 1956 (56) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
21 May 1956 (57) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 35
|
4 June 1956 (58) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
11 June 1956 (59) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
18 June 1956 (60) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
1956-1957 season |
|
|
15 Sept. 1956 (61) |
|
(1 folder) |
| BOX 36
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
22 Sept. 1956 (62) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
6 Oct. 1956 (63) |
|
(2 folders) |
| BOX 37
|
(1 folder) |
|
|
13 Oct. 1956 (64) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
20 Oct. 1956 (65) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 38
|
3 Nov. 1956 (66) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
10 Nov. 1956 (67) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
17 Nov. 1956 (68) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 39
|
1 Dec. 1956 (69) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
8 Dec. 1956 (70) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
15 Dec. 1956 (71) |
|
(1 folder) |
| BOX 40
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
29 Dec. 1956 (72) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
5 Jan. 1957 (73) |
|
(2 folders) |
| BOX 41
|
(1 folder) |
|
|
12 Jan. 1957 (74) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
26 Jan. 1957 (75) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 42
|
2 Feb. 1957 (76) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
|
9 Feb. 1957 (77) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
23 Feb. 1957 (78) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 43
|
2 Mar. 1957 (79) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
9 Mar. 1957 (80) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 44
|
23 Mar. 1957 (81) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
30 Mar. 1957 (82) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
6 Apr. 1957 (83) |
|
(2 folders) |
|
| BOX 45
|
20 Apr. 1957 (84) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
27 Apr. 1957 (85) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
4 May 1957 (86) |
|
(2 folders) |
| BOX 46
|
(1 folder) |
|
|
18 May 1957 (87) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
|
25 May 1957 (88) |
|
(3 folders) |
|
| BOX 46
|
Miscellany, 1950-1963, n.d.
|
|
Selected sketches from several television series and miscellaneous correspondence. |
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and chronologically therein. |
|
| BOX 46
|
Letters and lists, 1961-1963, n.d. |
|
|
Sketches |
|
|
"Caesar's Hour," 1955-1956 |
|
|
"Sid Caesar Invites You," 1958 |
|
|
"Your Show of Shows," 1950-1953 |
|
| BOX OV 1
|
Oversize, 1955
|
|
A set design described according to the series, folder, and box from which the item was removed. |
|
| BOX OV 1
|
"Caesar's Hour" |
|
|
1954-1955 season |
|
|
9 May 1955 (25) (Container 25) |
|
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