AHJ_ah05541 Inventory of the Melvin Levy papers, 1917-1979 Levy (Melvin) papers Processed by Roger Simon 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/
2024

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Roger Simon June 2024 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Levy, Melvin, 1902-1980 Melvin Levy papers 1917-1979 05541 14.00 cubic ft. (28 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English Melvin Levy was a writer of novels, plays, and scripts for film and television. This collection includes some of his published books and his scripts for the stage and for film and television (a number of which went unproduced), as well as correspondence and clippings. Biography of Melvin Levy

Melvin Levy (1902-1980) was born in Trinidad, CO, and died in Los Angeles, CA. He published several novels, and he wrote for stage, screen, and television. In 1952, he testified before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. He was interviewed for and is mentioned throughout "Naming Names," Victor Navasky's book about the Hollywood blacklist.

 Scope and Content

The collection consists of books published by Levy, scripts that he wrote for the stage, and scripts, outlines, and synopses that he wrote for film and television (a number of which went unproduced). Produced TV scripts include those for "Daniel Boone," "The Roaring 20’s," “Have Gun, Will Travel,” “The Lone Ranger,” and “General Hospital.” The collection also includes stories and poems by Levy, clippings about Levy and by him (the latter are mostly book reviews that he wrote for “The New Republic”), and correspondence.

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.

 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.

There are no known other archival collections created by Melvin Levy as of the date of processing.

This material was received from Melvin Levy from 1974-1979.

The collection was processed by Roger Simon in June 2024.

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

 Access Terms Motion picture plays. Television scripts. Scripts. Screenplays. Screenwriters. <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Daniel Boone (Television program) The Roaring 20's (Television program) General Hospital (Television program) Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Performing Arts Series I. Published Books 1 “Gold Eagle Guy” (Random House, NY, NY) (three copies) 1935 1 “Lafayette Carter” (J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, PA) (three copies) 1955

Two copies are inscribed by Levy.

 25 “Lafayette Carter” – “McCall’s” – February 1956 (three copies) 1956

Included in the magazine as a “book-length novel.”

 1 “The Last Pioneers” (Alfred H. King, Inc., NY, NY) (three copies) 1934

Two copies are inscribed by Levy.

 2 “Matrix” (Thomas Seltzer, Inc., NY, NY) 1925 2 “Wedding” (The Unicorn Press, NY, NY) 1927 Series II. Clippings About Levy 2 “Gold Eagle Guy” 1934, undated 2 “A House in the Country” 1936-1937, undated 2 1934-1935

In a softbound scrapbook with a plaid cover. Includes loose inserts.

 2 1944-1949

In a softbound scrapbook with a plaid cover. Includes loose inserts.

 2 1967-1973 2 By Levy 1928-1931

In a hardbound scrapbook with a black cover. Book reviews by Levy, mostly from “The New Republic.”

 Series III. Correspondence 3 1954-1958 3 1961-1967 3 1969-1979 3 1990

A copy of a letter to the American Heritage Center from Mrs. Harold Levy.

 3 Undated Series IV. Film 3 “…And Throw Away the Key” undated

Apparently unproduced.

 4 “The Army Wife” (two copies) undated

Apparently unproduced.

 4 “The Bandit of Sherwood Forest” 1945

The script is credited to Wilfred Pettitt.

 4 “Cheyenne Run” undated

Apparently unproduced.

 “Convoy to Murmansk”

Apparently unproduced.

 4 first draft continuity 1943 4 revised first draft 1943

The script is credited to Harold Shumate.

 “The Damned Don’t Cry”

Apparently unproduced. The scripts are credited to Levy and Heinz Herald and are based on the novel by Harry Hervey.

 4 script – July 17, 1941 1941 4 script – August 1941 1941 5 “Dan Donegan” undated

Apparently unproduced.

 “The Defy”

Apparently unproduced. Suggested by the collection of short stories “Who Fears the Devil?” by Manly Wade Wellman.

 5 script undated

Includes four loose script pages.

 5 script undated 5 script “Who Fears the Devil” undated 5 “Dragger Captain” 1949

Apparently unproduced.

 5 “Emergency Ward” undated

Apparently unproduced. The script is credited to “Margaret Westgate (Melvin Levy).”

 5 “First Woman Doctor” 1946

Apparently unproduced.

 5 “The Great Sioux Uprising” 1952

The script is titled “Sioux Uprising.”

 5 “The Gun and the Cross”/“Long Rifle” 1951

Apparently unproduced.

 6 “Hitler’s Madman” undated

The script is titled “The Hangman.”

 6 “Honey in the Horn” undated

Apparently unproduced. Based on the novel by H.L. Davis.

 6 “I Am Joaquin” 1934

Apparently unproduced.

 6 “In the Terrain” undated

Apparently unproduced.

 6 “Lafayette Carter” undated

Unproduced. Based on Levy’s novel.

 6 “The Life of Riley” 1944

Apparently unproduced.

 6 “Laqualla” by Melvin and Thomas P. Levy 1974

Apparently unproduced. A story to be screened.”

 6 “The Last Pioneers” undated

Unproduced. “Suggested screen treatment” of Levy’s novel.

 6 “Male Body Beautiful” undated

Apparently unproduced.

 6 “Montes the Matador” 1950

Apparently unproduced.

 6 -“A Nuptial Tie” 1975

Apparently unproduced. “A story to be screened.”

 7 “Renegades” undated 7 “Rickshaw Boy” undated

Apparently unproduced.

 7 “Santa Claus – Stool Pigeon” 1957

Unproduced. “For Lee Marvin Project.”

 7 “She’s a Soldier Too” 1944

The script is titled “Soldiers in Slacks.”

 7 “Sons of the Musketeers” 1947

Apparently unproduced.

 7 Story Idea 1949

Apparently unproduced.

 7 “Sunday Dinner for a Soldier” undated 7 “Swashbuckler” 1957

Apparently unproduced.

 7 “Touch of Velvet” undated

Apparently unproduced.

 7 “Ulysses” undated

Apparently unproduced. “The Odyssey of Homer.”

 “The Will to Live”

Apparently unproduced.

 8 first draft undated 8 script (two copies) undated “The Wizard’s Kyr”

Apparently unproduced.

 8 first draft undated 8 script (two copies) undated 8 script with revised pages 1972 Series V. Newspapers 26 “Boston Evening Transcript” – May 1917 (oversize bound volume) 1917 27 “The Los Angeles Times” – November 1917 (oversize bound volume) 1917 28 “The New York Sun” – November 1944 (oversize bound volume) 1944 Series VI. Plays “Altgeld of Illinois”/“Governor Altgeld” 9 script “Altgeld of Illinois” undated 9 script “Governor Altgeld” undated “An American Incident” 9 “An American Incident” (page proofs) (Samuel French, NY, NY) 1941 9 “An American Incident” (Samuel French, NY, NY) (three copies) 1942 9 “And All the King’s Men” undated 9 “The Democrats” undated 9 “Fish” 1936 9 “General Sutter” undated

Includes loose inserts.

 “Gold Eagle Guy” 9 script undated

Includes handwritten annotations.

 9 script – scene I undated

Five drafts – four include handwritten annotations.

10 script – scene II undated

Includes handwritten annotations.

 10 script – scene III undated

Two drafts – each includes handwritten annotations.

 10 script – scene IV undated

Two drafts – each includes handwritten annotations.

 10 script – scene V undated

Includes handwritten annotations.

 10 “Happy Ending” undated 10 “A House in the Country” undated 10 “Our Sacred Honor” 1936 10 “Story of a Soldier” undated 10 “There Were Giants” undated

Four different drafts.

 10 Series VII. Poems 1950, 1971-1979, undated

One poem, titled “Memory is Green, Dear Heart,” includes the following note: “About 1950 – during the Blacklist.”

 Series VIII. Radio 10 “Everyone’s America” 1940, undated

Four different drafts. Also included are “proposed additional broadcasts” and “suggestions for other programs.”

 10 “The Small Town by the River” undated

“A proposed radio serial.”

 Series IX. Stories 11 A undated

“The Ancient Road” “The Acorns of My Great-Grandfather’s Hat” “Aspects of Love”/“Acts of Love” (novel)

11 B undated

“Basenji and the Feral Bird” by Levy and Thomas P. Levy “The Beautiful Hour” “Benjie” - “Based on an idea by Gene Fowler” “Bitter Water” – story outline “The Bride of the Broken Jaw” - includes a document discussing the sources for the story “The Bright Corner” “Bum Rap” “The Burnt Knife”

11 C undated

“Cain is a Lady” “Capitol Hostess” – episode no. 1 – “Washington Lady” “Czar Alexander and the Duwamish Valley Japanese”

11 D 1965, undated

“David and the Red-Tail Hawk” - “By Melvin Levy, in collaboration with Tom Levy” “The Dream” “Duck – Here Comes Your Wish” (two copies) “The Duel” by Levy and Sidney Harmon

11 E 1965, undated

“Eleazer Koch” “Elizabeth of Austria” (two copies) “The End of the Rainbow” “The End of the World” “The Escape”

11 F 1945, undated

“First Woman Doctor” “Fish Pirates” – “Notes for a story” “Fish Pirates: The Story of an Innocent Man” “The Foundation” – “Story Idea” “Freddy Fowler and the Ace” – “Published in ‘Collier’s’”

11 G – “George Whittlesey and the Fellow’s ‘Ker’” undated 12 H undated

“The Hangman” – “Note for a story” “Heels Click Along Broadway” “A Higher Authority” “The Honeymoon”

12 I undated

“The Iron Flower” “It’s Really Only Alchemy”

12 L - “Life in His Hands” 1959 12 M 1964, undated

“Martha and the Monster” “The Money Man”

12 N – “Noon of the Spring Tide” undated 12 P undated

“Parrish” “The People Went to the Cities” “Peter Vroom and the Food of the Land”

12 Q – “The Quiet Inevitability of Law” undated 12 R 1958-1960, undated

“Rayners Island” “Reasonable Doubt” “The Road” “The Road Home” “Run-of-the-Mill Murder”

12 S undated

“Sam Houston” “Sasquatch?” by Levy and Thomas P. Levy “The Secret” “Señor” (two copies) by Levy and Susan Rice Levy – “An outline for a book” “Six Letters”

12 T 1943, 1958-1962, undated

“A Tank Named John” “That Old Grey Magic” “That Was a Long Spring” “Theodore Thomas” – “Story Outline” “Thicker Than Water” “The Thin Edge” “Thunderbolt” “The Tick-Off” “Tidal Wave” “The Treasure” – “Story Idea” “The Trial” “Turnpike” – “A Projected One Hour Television Series”

12 U – “The Unborn Seal” – “Story Outline” 1958 12 V undated

“The Viking Story” – “Step Outline – developing material in letter previously submitted” “The Voice of the Drummer”

12 W undated

“Whispering Smith – The Sickness at Cherry Creek” “The Wine of the Country”

Series X. Television “The Alaskans” – Episode “A Barrel of Gold” 12 Revised 1960 12 Final Draft 1960 13 “Buccaneers, U.S.A.” undated

Apparently unproduced. “A Television Series Based on a Motion Picture.”

 “Buckskin” 13 Episode 14 – “A Picture of Pa” 1958 Episode 15 – “The Money Man” 13 October 20, 1958 1958 13 Revised 1958 13 Episode 22 – “Mr. Rush’s Secretary” 1958 Episode 23 – “Coup Stick” 13 December 10, 1958 1958 13 Revised 1958 13 Episode 27 – “The Knight Who Owned Buckskin” 1959 13 Episode 29 – “A Well of Gold” 1959 13 Episode 31 – “The Venus Adjourner” 1959 13 “Daktari” – Episode “The King is Dying” 1968 “Daniel Boone” Season 2, Episode 10 – “The Thanksgiving Story” 13 First Draft 1965 13 Revised 1965 13 Final 1965 Season 4 Episode 1 – “The Ballad of Sidewinder and Cherokee” 13 First Draft 1967 13 Final 1967 13 Episode 3 – “The Renegade” 1967

“Rewrite of a script by Merwin Gerard and Rick Husky.”

 13 Episode 15 – “The Scrimshaw Ivory Chart” (two copies + revised pages) 1967 Episode 22 – “Orlando, the Prophet” 14 Teleplay 1967 14 Revised 1967 14 Writer’s Working Copy 1967 14 Final (two copies) 1967 14 Revised Pages (two sets) 1967 Season 5 14 Episode 10 – “The Patriot” 1968 Episode 11 – “The Return of Sidewinder” 14 Writer’s Working Copy 1968 14 Revised – July 10, 1968, 1968 1968 14 Revised – July 22, 1968, 1968 1968 Episode 14 – “A Tall Tale of Prater Beasely” 14 First Draft 1968 14 Revised 1968 14 Final (includes revised color pages) 1968 14 Final 1968 15 Episode 21 – “Love and Equity” 1968 Season 6 Episode 1 – “A Very Small Rifle” 15 Revised Teleplay 1969 15 Writers’ Working Copy 1969 15 Final (includes revised color pages) 1969 15 Final 1969 Episode 20 – “The Landlords” 15 Final 1969 15 Revised Script Pages 1969 Episode 23 – “The Homecoming” 15 Revised Teleplay 1969 15 Writers Working Copy 1969 15 Final (includes revised color pages) 1969 15 Final (includes handwritten notes) 1969 15 Episode 25 – “How to Become a Goddess” 1969 Episode 26 – “Israel and Love” 16 New Teleplay 1969 16 Writer’s Working Copy 1969 16 Final 1969 16 “Front Street, North America” – proposed TV series – synopsis undated 16 “The Frontiersman” – proposed TV series – synopsis undated

Includes the script for a proposed episode titled “The Lifegivers.”

 “General Hospital” – Season 1 16 Episode # 171 1963 16 Episode # 172 1963 16 Episode # 173 1963 16 Episode # 174 1963 16 Episode # 175 1963 16 Episode # 181 1963 16 Episode # 182 1963 16 Episode # 183 1963 16 Episode # 184 1963 16 “Golden Gate” – proposed TV series – synopsis undated

Includes the script for a proposed episode titled “Acres of Diamonds.”

 16 “The Halls of Ivy” – episode “Gangster’s Son” by Levy and Louella McFarlane 1955 16 “Have Gun – Will Travel” – episode “The Moor’s Revenge” undated 16 “I’m a Wizard” – proposed TV series – synopsis undated

“A love of a new television series.”

 16 “The Lone Ranger” - episode “Ghost Canyon” 1956 17 “The Loretta Young Show” - episode “One Beautiful Moment” by Richard Morris undated

Story by Levy.

 17 “Maggie Whitney” – proposed TV series – synopsis (three copies) undated 17 “Our Town” – proposed TV series – pilot script “All You Have Belongs to Them” undated “Passage Northwest”/“Northwest Trader”/“Hudson’s Bay”/“Hudson’s Bay Company” – proposed TV series 17 “Hudson’s Bay” – synopsis undated

Includes the script for the proposed episode “Potlatch,” as well as synopses of two other proposed episodes, “China Pirates” and “The Grandees of the Fallerone.”

17 “Hudson’s Bay Company” – synopsis undated

Includes synopses for two proposed episodes – “Potlatch” and “China Pirates.”

 17 “Northwest Trader” – synopsis undated

Includes the scripts for two proposed episodes, “Potlatch” and “Samson and the Servants,” as well as synopses of two proposed episodes – “China Pirates” and “The Grandees of the Fallerone.”

 17 “Northwest Trader” – script undated

The script for the proposed episode “Samson and the Servants,” as well as synopses of two proposed episodes – “China Pirates” and “The Grandees of the Fallerone.”

 17 “Passage Northwest” – synopsis undated

Includes the scripts for two proposed episodes, “Potlatch” and “Samson and the Servants,” as well as synopses of two proposed episodes – “China Pirates” and “The Grandees of the Fallerone.”

 17 “Revenue Cutter” – proposed TV series – synopsis undated

Includes the “Behring Sea Song,” the script for the proposed episode “Mikko, The Fox,” “some additional story ideas,” and “story areas for ‘Revenue Cutter’ series.”

 17 “The Right Bank” – proposed TV series – synopsis undated

Includes the script for the proposed episode “Pay to the Sun Goddess.”

 17 “The Road” – proposed TV series – synopsis undated

By Levy and Thomas P. Levy.

 “The Roaring 20s” – season 1 18 Episode 10 – “Layoff Charlie” 1960 18 Episode 11 – “The Maestro” 1960

The script is titled “The Great Scarpi.”

 18 “The Snows” – proposed TV series – synopsis undated

By Levy and Thomas Levy.

 18 “So This is Hollywood” – episode “America’s Sweetheart” 1955 18 “Studio 57” – episode “Robin” 1957 18 “Tales of Wells Fargo” – episode “The Lifegivers” 1957

Apparently unproduced.

 18 “Tessie” – teleplay undated

Apparently unproduced.

 18 “The Time Tunnel” – episode “Swords of Betrayal” 1966

Apparently unproduced.

 Series XI. Assorted Manuscripts 18 A – “Art and Anarchy 1924

“A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts” at the University of Washington.

 18 B – “Bars for Richard” (three copies) undated 18 C – “Count Jones” 1965 19 F – “The Fathers”/“To My Father with Love” undated

Two drafts – one, in a box labeled “xerox of original draft,” runs 264 pages, and the other, in a bound notebook with a black cover, runs 167 pages.

 G “Gamblers and Preachers” 19 “Gambler” undated

Incomplete manuscript – begins at pg. 214.

 20 “Gambler” undated 20 “Gamblers & Preachers” – final revision – 2/19/77 1977 21 “The Man from Ethel Kamilche” undated

“Early versions of ‘Gamblers & Preachers’ – incomplete – some fragments.”

 21 “The Man from Ethel Kamilche” undated 21 “Something about ‘Gamblers and Preachers’” undated

Levy’s explanation of how he came to write the story.

 22 untitled manuscript (bound notebook, black cover) undated

Incomplete – begins at pg. 261.

22 “Work in progress material – ‘Gamblers and Preachers’” undated 22 Assorted manuscript pages undated 23 “Gold Eagle Guy” (page proofs) 1935 23 H – “The Hangman” 1964

“To bring Riker into the story.”

 L 23 “Lafayette Carter” (page proofs) undated 23 “Life” 1973 23 M – “A Man Who Loved Two Women” undated N – “The Narrow Lane of Light” undated 23 O - “Older Witches Should Have Their Own Interests, Too” undated P 23 “Peg – A Love Story” undated 23 Peg 1978-1979, undated 23 R – “Raven: The American Indian” – outline 1978 S 23 “San Francisco Adventure: 1932” undated 24 “The Savages” (two copies) undated

“From a conception by David Lewis.”

 24 “Son of All” (page proofs) undated T 25 “Together We Were Whole – A Biography of Love” undated 25 “Together We Were Whole” by Levy and Peg Levy undated 25 U – “Untitled Story” (two copies) undated 25 Unidentified pages undated 25 Series X. Assorted 1964-1978, undated

(1) Accident Report; (2) Bookmark – Pickwick Book Shops; (3) Handwritten Notes (one page); (4) Holographic Will and typed copy (photocopy); (5) “A House in the Country” – blueprint – three acts – one set – designed by P. Dodd Ackerman; (6) Tables of Contents for materials in this collection; and (7) Western Writers of America – Certificate of Merit to Levy – “For high achievement in writing of the American West”