AHJ_ah09887 Inventory of the Bobs Watson papers1936-1981 Watson (Bobs) papers Processed by Andrea Gietzen in May, 2008. 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 Andrea Gietzen May, 2008 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Watson, Bobs. Bobs Watson papers 1936-1981. 09887 6 cubic ft. (6 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English The Bobs Watson papers contain scripts, fan mail, photographs and film reels pertaining to his television and film career. Arrangement of the Collection

Biography of Bobs Watson

Bobs Watson was born in Los Angeles on November 16, 1930, youngest of nine children, many of whom were child actors. His first film appearance was as an infant, but his filmography begins in 1936 with "Pay As You Go". He was most famous for his role as Pee Wee in "Boys Town" (1938). In 1941 he had a role in "Men of Boystown" with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. He acted in films for Fox, Warner Brothers, and MGM until 1943 in "Hi Buddy". Then there was a hiatus in his film career until 1962 when he appeared in "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?" and "Grand Theft Auto" (1977). He did secondary roles for television in the 1960s and 1970s, including: "Beverly Hillbillies", "The Virginian", "Jim Backus", and "Lou Grant". In 1967 he was ordained a minister in the United Methodist Church. He died June 27, 1999.

Scope and Content

The Bobs Watson collection contains numerous scripts, some dating back to his early films: "Public Nuisance No.1" (1936), an unnamed 1936 script, and "Alexander Graham Bell". Many of the scripts he used as a television actor are included, such as "Jim Backus Show’, "The Virginian", "Beverly Hillbillies", "The FBI", and "The Fugitive", among others. Ephemera from his days as a child actor include: a 1938 Warner Brothers Pictures ID card made out to "Bobs Watson and his father", fan mail from 1941 to 1948, and a 1940 program for the "First Annual Gambol of Stars" at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and an outline for his speaking role in that event. There are 4.0 cubic feet of "work prints" for 10 shows including: "The Boy Friend", "Crime a la Carte", and the "Southampton Story". Included is a box of film test strips and of color shots by Don Carlos.

Access Restrictions

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.

 Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Bobs Watson at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

The collection was donated to the American Heritage Center by the Reverend Robert (Bobs) B. Watson on March 12, 1993.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed by Andrea Gietzen in May, 2008.

 Preferred Citation

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

 Access Terms Warner Bros. Child actors -- United States -- 20th century. Television actors and actresses. Motion picture actors and actresses. Children in motion pictures. Fan mail -- United States. Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Performing Arts. Scripts, film. Scripts, television. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Container List Series I. Scripts

1 The Alibi 1957 1 Alexander Graham Bell 1938 1 Beverly Hillbillies: DeLovely and Scruggs 1967 1 Beverly Hillbillies: Foggy Mountain Soap 1966 1 Beverly Hillbillies: Lafe Returns 1964 1 Beverly Hillbillies: Son of Lafe Returns 1964 1 Destination Normandy undated 1 Doc 1967 1 The Eye and I 1964 1 The FBI: The Defector - Part 1 1966 1 The FBI: The Defector - Part 2 1966 1 Flight: Master Sergeant October, 1958 1 Flight: Master Sergeant November, 1958 1 Flight: Operation Angel 1958 1 The Fugitive: Nightmare at Northoak 1963 1 Green Acres: His Honor 1966 1 Grindl: 'Twas the Week Before Christmas 1963 1 Hot Off the Wire: Arabian Night 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: Baby, Come Home 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Birthday Boy 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Boy Friend 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Crime A La Carte 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: Dear Minnie Morgan 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Desk 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: Dora's Vacation 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: Farewell to Dora 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Frame Up 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Fix, 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: Gift for Grandma, 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Hypnotist 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: In the Rough 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Marry-Go-Round 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: Mike Cheats A Cheater, 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: Mike O' Toole, Angler, 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Nephew, 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: No Help Wanted 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Old Army Game 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: O'Toole and Son 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Painting Caper 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Patriots, 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Plant 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: Pinkmalion 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Sad Sack Santa, 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Southampton Story 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: Sydney's Scoop 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Temporary Scoundrel 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Texas Tycoon, 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Three Sisters 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: Uncle Chester 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: War Bride 1961 1 Hot Off the Wire: When a Body Meets a Body 1960 1 Hot Off the Wire: The Woman's Touch 1960 1 It's A Most Unusual Day 1956 1 The Joey Bishop Show: Never Put It In Writing 1965 1 The Lawless Years: Ginny 1959 2 Lou Grant: Hometown 1981 2 Lou Grant: Libel 1980 2 Lou Grant: Prisoner 1978 2 The Lucy Show: Lucy Becomes a Reporter 1962 2 The Mothers In Law: The Not Cold Enough War 1967 2 The Newspaper Show: The Mad Bomber Story 1959 2 Not For Hire: Careless Love 1959 2 Pete& Gladys: Crossed Wires 1961 2 Please Don't Eat the Daisies: What a Difference a Play Makes 1966 2 Pony Express: Reclaim 1959 2 Pork Chops and Apple Sauce 1959 2 Public Nuisance No. 1 1936 2 Ruditsky Series: The Marie Walters Story 1958 2 Ruditsky Series: The Story of Cutie Jaffe 1959 2 Saintly Sinners 1961 2 Strength Out of Weakness 1962 2 Steve Canyon: The Search 1958 2 Take Her - She's Mine undated 2 The Virginian: A Distant Fury 1963 2 The Virginian: The Golden Door 1963 2 The Virginian: The Invaders 1963 2 The Virginian: It Takes a Big Man 1963 2 The Virginian: Vengeance Is The Spur 1963 2 What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? 2 Untitled undated Series II. Fan Mail

2 Fan mail 1939-1948 2 Gambol of Stars (commemorative program) March 14, 1940 Series III. Photographic Materials

2 Photographs of Bobs Watson 1939-1941 2 35mm film strips containing lighting test images 1960-1961 Series IV. Film Reels

3 The Boy Friend 1960 3 When a Body Meets a Body 1960 4 Pinkmalion 1960 4 The Desk 1960 4 Frame Up 1960 5 Crime a la Carte 1960 5 Uncle Chester 1960 5 Southampton Story 1960 6 Old Army Game 1960 6 Painting Caper 1960