Skip to main content

Jim and Henny Backus collection

 Collection
Identifier: 2026

  • Staff Only
  • Select an item to initiate a request

Scope and Contents

This collection is currently unavailable for access.



This collection contains the papers of American entertainers Jim Backus (1913-1989) and Henny Backus (1911-2004). Materials include scripts of nineteen movies, scripts of fourteen segments of The Jim Backus Show ("Hot Off the Line") radio program; script of the 1967 television version of Damn Yankees; approximately 15 phonograph records of the early 1940s War Department "Jubilee" radio programs; three phonograph records of the Allan young radio show (1947); and phonograph records of approximately twenty-five miscellaneous radio programs in which Jim or Henny Backus participated. Miscellaneous items include original drawings of Mr. Magoo, a bust of Jim Backus, a program from "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," a program from the 28th Academy Awards, and scrapbook and pictorial illustrations relating to Jim Backus' book What Are You Doing After the Orgy? Included among the nineteen screenplays are Androcles and the Lion (1952), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), and Hurry Sundown (1967).

Dates

  • Creation: 1940 - 1967

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is currently unavailable for access because of its size and current level of processing. Contact the Cinematic Arts Library ctlibarc@usc.edu for details.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

Henny Backus (1911-2004) was a Broadway actress. Jim Backus (1913-1989) was an American actor. They married in 1943. Together they co-starred in the 1960s television series "Blondie" and co-wrote several books.

Extent

94.38 Linear Feet (71 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains the papers of American entertainers Jim Backus (1913-1989) and Henny Backus (1911-2004). Materials include scripts of nineteen movies, scripts of fourteen segments of The Jim Backus Show ("Hot Off the Line") radio program; script of the 1967 television version of Damn Yankees; approximately 15 phonograph records of the early 1940s War Department "Jubilee" radio programs; three phonograph records of the Allan young radio show (1947); and phonograph records of approximately twenty-five miscellaneous radio programs in which Jim or Henny Backus participated.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Jim and Henny Backus Trust, December 23, 2004.

Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed.

Title
Finding aid for the Jim and Henny Backus collection
Status
Unprocessed
Author
Marissa Chavez for History Associates Incorporated
Date
2022 February
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library Repository

Contact:
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0185 United States