AHJ_ah08732 Inventory of the Phil Regan papers1932-1969 Regan (Phil) papers Processed by Laura Uglean Jackson University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2008

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Laura Uglean Jackson September 2008 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Regan, Phil, 1906-1996 Phil Regan papers 1932-1969 08732 17.10 cubic ft. (22 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Contains records pertaining to Phil Regan's career as an actor, radio star, and singer.

This collection has been minimally processed and arranged into three series: audio records, professional material, and personal material.

 Biography of Phil Regan

Phil Regan was a singer, actor, and radio star, and was often referred as "the singing cop" and "the Irish Tenor". He was a New York City police officer prior to becoming a radio and motion picture star. A radio producer discovered him at a party in 1932 where he was playing the piano and singing. He was featured on many radio programs throughout the 1930s. As an actor, he began working for Warner Brothers and was often used as a substitute for Dick Powell. He was in several movies, and starred in musicals such as Manhattan Merry-Go-Round (1937) and She Married a Cop (1939). He recorded several songs throughout his career. In 1951, he hosted the Phil Regan Armed Forces Show on the radio, which interviewed military personnel stationed at different military posts each week. He later retired from show business and became a public relations executive, and was also involved in politics.

Scope and Content

The Phil Regan papers contain several original recordings of radio shows featuring Regan, including his Armed Forces Show. It also includes several original recordings of him singing, and three films in which Regan starred. There are several scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings about Regan's career, photographs of movies, actors, and headshots, and some material related to Regan's family and personal life after his show business career ended.

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

 Copyright Information

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

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There are no known other archival collections created by Phil Regan at the date of processing.

Mr. and Mrs. Phil Regan donated the Phil Regan papers to the American Heritage Center in 1984 and 1988. Additional material was donated by James Mack in Ocotber 2024.

The collection was processed by Laura Uglean Jackson in September, 2008 and updated by Brittany Heye in April 2026.

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

 Access Terms Actors and actresses. Radio actors and actresses. Jazz vocals. Radio programs. Tenors (Singers) Radio personalities. Music. Performing Arts. Phonograph records. Motion pictures. Scrapbooks. Photographs. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Container List Series I. Audio Records, 1933-1955

Contains records of radio shows featuring Phil Regan and albums of songs sung by Phil Regan.

 1-2 The Phil Regan Show 1951 and undated 3 Interview on W.A.A.F. 1936 3 Studebaker program on W.E.A.F 1936 3-4 Screen Guild Show 1939 3 Treasury Department and other shows undated 4-5 Untitled shows on W.A.B.C 1936 4-5 Lifebuoy on W.A.B.C 1936 4 Miscellaneous Shows 1951 and undated 5 Studebaker program on W.J.Z 1937 5 Paul Whiteman on W.J.Z. 1936 5 Interview on W.J.Z. 1936 5 Ed Wynn on W.J.Z. 1937 6 Unlabeled records undated 7-9 Songs by Phil Regan 1933-1955 22God Bless Mommie by Jo B. Regan sung by Phil Regan (7" record)undated Series II. Professional Material, 1932-1963

Contains scrapbooks with newspaper clippings and ephemera on Phil Regan, as well as movie posters, correspondence, radio scripts, photographs, and three films.

 10 Scrapbooks (publicity and newspaper clippings) 1936-1963 11 Scrapbooks (publicity and newspaper clippings) 1939-1942 12 Scrapbooks (publicity, newspaper clippings, and photographs) 1930-1951 13 Photographs undated 13 Awards 1951-1964 13 Scrapbooks (publicity and newspaper clippings) 1938-1950 14 Scrapbooks (publicity, newspaper clippings, photos and fan mail) 1932-1951 15 Scrapbook and plaque 1936-1937 16 Movie posters and publicity material 1939 and undated 17 Radio Scripts and award undated 17 Scrapbooks (publicity and newspaper clippings) 1947 and undated 18 Newspaper clippings 1932-1960 19 Sheet Music undated 20 Laughing Irish Eyes (16mm film) undated 20 Outside of Paradise (16mm film) undated 20 Sunbonnet Sue (16 mm film) undated 21 Photographs undated Series III. Personal Material, 1936-1969

Contains correspondence, photographs, and newspaper clippings documenting Regan's involvement with politicians and family members.

 21 Personal material 1936-1969