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Buddy Ebsen papers, 1901-2019

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ebsen, Buddy, 1908-2003
Title
Buddy Ebsen papers
Dates
1901-2019 (inclusive)
Quantity
187.01 cubic ft. (217 containers) + 24.20 GB
Collection Number
12733
Summary
Buddy Ebsen was an American actor and dancer. Collection contains materials, including scripts, from films, TV shows, and stage productions in which Ebsen appeared. It also includes stage productions that Ebsen wrote or co-wrote, including "Angel Town," "Cabaret Dada," "The Champagne General," "Mary, Queen of Hearts," "Nine Bells," and "Turn to the Right." Also included are songs and music that Ebsen performed and wrote or co-wrote, and Ebsen's artwork, as well as correspondence, photographs, and clippings.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Buddy Ebsen (1908-2003) was born Christian Ludolf Ebsen, Jr., in Belleville, IL. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Florida. In 1928, he moved to New York, where he appeared in Broadway musicals, including “Whoopee!” with Eddie Cantor. Throughout his career, Ebsen continued to appear on stage. Later appearances included “The American Dancemachine” (1985) and revivals of Gore Vidal’s “The Best Man” (1987) and Rodgers’s and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” (1989).

Ebsen’s first film was “Broadway Melody of 1936” (1935). Subsequent films included “Captain January” (1936), in which he co-starred with Shirley Temple, “Broadway Melody of 1938” (1937), in which he co-starred with Judy Garland, “Night People” (1954), “Attack” (1956), and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961). He was originally cast in “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), first as the Scarecrow, and then as the Tin Man. Because he had an allergic reaction to the aluminum dust in his make-up for the Tin Man, he was forced to leave the production. (Jack Haley subsequently played the Tin Man.) Ebsen also appeared regularly on television, where he was best known for his roles as George Russel in the “Disneyland” series “Davy Crockett” (1954-1955), Jed Clampett in “The Beverly Hillbillies” (1962-1971), and private detective Barnaby Jones in “Barnaby Jones” (1973-1980).

Ebsen wrote or co-wrote songs and music, including “We’re All Riding on the Same Spaceship,” and stage shows, including "Angel Town," "Cabaret Dada," "The Champagne General," "Mary, Queen of Hearts," "Nine Bells," and "Turn to the Right" (a musical version of a 1916 Broadway play). He also wrote for television – scripts include “The Paradise Connection” (1979), a TV-movie in which he starred and that he co-wrote with daughter Bonnie under the pseudonyms “Brigitt and Jon Christiansen,” and an episode of “Barnaby Jones” titled “The Picture Pirates” (1978), also written with daughter Bonnie under the pseudonyms “Brigitt and Jon Christiansen.” Ebsen was also a painter, a sailor, and the author of several books, including an autobiography titled “The Other Side of Oz,” “Polynesian Concept,” a book about sailing, "Kelly's Quest," and "Sizzling Cold Case," a novel featuring Barnaby Jones that Ebsen began and that was completed by author Darlene Quinn after his death.

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Content Description

The collection contains materials related to Ebsen’s career and personal life. Included are scripts, contracts, and promotional materials from films, TV shows, and advertisements in which Ebsen appeared or was otherwise involved, as well as songs and music that Ebsen performed and wrote or co-wrote. Also included are materials from stage shows that Ebsen wrote or co-wrote, as well as stage shows in which he appeared. There are also materials related to Ebsen's artwork and to books that he wrote or co-wrote, as well as correspondence, photographs, clippings, and documents and artifacts related to his sailing interests and activities.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Restrictions on Use

Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.

Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into ten series:

  • Advertisements
  • Artwork
  • Books
  • Events in which Ebsen participated
  • Film
  • Radio
  • Songs and Music
  • Stage
  • Television
  • Personal

The eighth series, Stage, is comprised of two subseries: (1) Comedies, Dramas, and Musicals Written or Co-Written by Ebsen; and (2) Stage Shows in Which Ebsen Appeared.

The tenth series, Personal, includes the following major subseries:

  • Awards and Certificates
  • Clippings
  • Correspondence
  • Photographic Slides
  • Photographs, Photographic Negatives, and Color Transparencies
  • Publications
  • Sailing
  • Unproduced and Uncompleted Projects

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Buddy Ebsen as of the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Dorothy Ebsen from 2019-2023.

Processing Note

The collection was processed by Roger Simon from 2020-2021 and updated by Jamie J. Greene in May 2024.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Form or Genre Terms

Titles within the Collection

  • Barnaby Jones (Television program)
  • Beverly hillbillies (Television program)
  • Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Motion picture)
  • Broadway melody of 1936 (Motion picture)
  • Broadway melody of 1938 (Motion picture)
  • Davy Crockett (Television program)

Processed by Roger Simon
2021

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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