Brice P. Disque, Jr. papers

Overview of the Collection

Title: Brice P. Disque, Jr. papers
Dates: 1923-1954 (inclusive)
19231954
Quantity: 13.5 linear feet, (9 containers)
Collection Number: Ax 291
Summary: Brice P. Disque, Jr. was a writer and editor who had a prolific and successful career as a radio script writer. The collection includes personal and professional correspondence and over 300 radio scripts.
Repository: University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Additional Reference Guides: See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
Languages: English
Sponsor: Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical Note

Brice P. Disque, Jr. (1904-1960) was the son of General Brice P. Disque. He was born in Montana and raised throughout the U.S. and the Philippines. He attended Dartmouth College beginning in 1921, discovering a passion for theater while there. Upon graduating in 1925, he lived in New York City, pursuing a career in literary works, journalism, and theater. He was a reporter for the New York Evening Post, a member of the Actor's Equity Association, and performed in plays including Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice. In 1927, he began working in accounting at various banks and trust comapnies while writing plays on the side. By the 1936, he'd turned his focus to radio, and was regularly writing and editing radio drama scripts.

Disque, Jr. is best known for his work on "Gang Busters." The show featured dramatizations of crime cases throughout the country and was a spin-off of the radio show, "G-Men," which focused on the career of Hoover and cases managed by the FBI. Whereas "G-Men" featured only closed cases, Gang Busters material was more broad. The show partnered with police chiefs from New Jersey and New York in order to lend an air of authenticity to its programming. At its height, the show had close to 10,000,000 listeners.

Disque, Jr. also contributed to programs such as "March of Time," Radio News Week," and "King Features Presents."

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