Archive on Writing for Television
early 1950s. Heath, Eric Archive on Writing for Television, Early 1950s
A small collection of works on writing for television authored by a self-described “teacher of writing for over thirty years,” Eric Heath of Hollywood, California.
All materials in very good or better condition, though the envelope is moderately worn, there is a paperclip indentation to the printed materials, and the manuscript has a bit of edge wear, some scattered light scuffing and thumb-soiling.
The collection includes:
48 pp. typed manuscript with handwritten amendments for “How To Write A Television Script,” 1952. In Heath’s foreword he conveyed “the endeavor in this miniature textbook to set forth briefly and in a simple, understandable manner, the basic principles of television writing, and to give an example of a television playscript which properly illustrates the form and technique found most acceptable by video film producers.”
Two TLS from Heath to “Mr. Crawford” at Fantasy Publishing Co. of Los Angeles, February and March 1952. Both on Heath-King Productions letterhead: “An Association of Television Writers,” “organized for the maintenance of a library of professionally written television scripts available to producers, broadcasting stations and advertising agencies.”
The first letter, “per our telephone conversation,” enclosing a copy of the above manuscript. Heath mentioned his other textbook, “Story Plotting Simplified” and assured Crawford that he had a “list of several thousand beginning writers whom I intend to circularize on this book” and that he was “known in publishing circles.”
The second made it clear that Crawford had taken the bait, and corrected a few omissions: “Do hope that you have been able to start on the typesetting and can assure you that it is a pleasure working with you on this little book.”
Original envelope, mailed by Heath to Crawford, 1952, with handwritten notes.
A published copy of Heath’s “How To Write A Television Script.”
A trifold promotional pamphlet for a different work, “Writing for Television,” which informed that Heath “started his writing career many years ago, writing for the legitimate stage, motion pictures, radio, and for publications. His textbook, STORY PLOTTING SIMPLIFIED, has been accorded national recognition and has been used and recommended by schools of journalism and teachers and critics of story writing…Heath has authored several best-selling books and over 200 published short stories.”
Original dust jacket (with $2.00 listed price) for “Story Plotting Simplified,” The Writer, Inc., Publishers, Boston, Mass.
OCLC shows two holdings of “How To Write A Television Script” published by Los Angeles’ American Book Institute, but there is no record of the Griffin Publishing Company, as seen in our copy. “Writing for Television” (which featured an introduction by Bob Hope) and “Story Plotting Simplified” are well-represented in institutions. We find no evidence of holdings of any archival materials pertaining to the author. Item #1610
Price: $135.00