The Don McGuire papers span the years 1940-1998 and encompass 7.5 linear feet. The collection consists of production files (produced and unproduced), television files (produced and unproduced), stage files, subject files, writings, and additions.

The production files (produced) include McGuire’s own screenplay for BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK (1955) before Millard Kaufman was hired as screenwriter. Also included are scripts and production material for THE DELICATE DELINQUENT (1957) and JOHNNY CONCHO (1956), both written and directed by McGuire. Of particular interest is the correspondence regarding TOOTSIE (1982), detailing the early development of the project and the credit arbitration that occurred with the Writers Guild of America upon the film’s release, as well as McGuire’s drafts for the project in its earliest incarnation. Apart from a handful of clippings, there is no material related to McGuire’s acting credits.

The production files (unproduced) include correspondence, treatments, and scripts for sequels to BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK (1955), THE DAY OF THE JACKAL (1973), THE DIRTY DOZEN (1967), and TORA! TORA! TORA! (1970) as well as script material for projects intended for Milton Berle, Raymond Burr, John Candy, Chevy Chase, and Sidney Poitier, among others.
The television files (produced) contain scripts and production material for HENNESEY (1959-1962), a comedy series created by McGuire, who also wrote and directed many of the episodes, and FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1979), the three part mini-series adaptation of the James Jones novel.

The subject files include material documenting McGuire’s prescient comedy album “Ronnie in the White House” (1967), about Ronald Reagan becoming President of the United States. Also included are speeches written for Milton Berle and Janet Leigh. Of particular interest is the material regarding McGuire’s work staging musical satires to benefit the Thalians, including a parody of “The King and I” with lyrics written by Johnny Mercer.

The writings contain correspondence and clippings regarding McGuire’s two novels, “1600 Floogle Street” (1967) and “The Day Television Died” (1966), as well as an incomplete manuscript of McGuire’s memoirs of his early years in Hollywood, “Diary of a Big Mouth.”

The additions series contains a treatment for CALLING DR. DIANA, an early incarnation of TOOTSIE, and a file of correspondence, with letters from Jerry Lewis, Debbie Reynolds, Groucho Marks, and Dore Schary.

Don McGuire (1919-1999) was born Mordecai Rose in Chicago, Illinois. After studying at the University of Iowa he worked as a copy boy for the Chicago Herald-American and as a press agent for various Chicago nightclubs, including the Congress Hotel. At the age of 21, he enlisted in the army and served in the Aleutian Islands Campaign.

After McGuire was discharged in 1944, he moved to Hollywood to become a press agent, where one of his clients was Smiley Burnett. He was spotted by Warner Bros. talent scout Solly Biano, who suggested he try acting and cast him in a small role in PILLOW TO POST (1945). Before signing his first film contract he changed his name to Don McGuire. Over the next five years, McGuire appeared in numerous films, including HUMORESQUE (1946), POSSESSED (1947), and THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (1948).

Though he continued to act in small roles, McGuire’s focus shifted to writing and directing in the 1950s. His first screenplay credit came with the musical MEET DANNY WILSON (1951), starring his friend, Frank Sinatra. Later, McGuire would make his directorial debut for another Sinatra vehicle, JOHNNY CONCHO (1956), for which he also wrote the screenplay. In 1954, he wrote the screenplay for the Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin film 3 RING CIRCUS (1954). He again worked with Martin and Lewis on ARTISTS AND MODELS (1955), assisting in the adaptation, and he later wrote and directed Lewis’ first film without Martin, THE DELICATE DELINQUENT (1957). Other notable credits include the adaptation of BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK (1955) and the creation of the television series HENNESEY (1959-1962), starring Jackie Cooper, for which McGuire wrote and directed many of the episodes.

In later years, McGuire worked primarily in television, including writing the three part mini-series adaptation of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1979). His last produced film was TOOTSIE (1982), based on his original screenplay WOULD I LIE TO YOU? The film earned McGuire, along with Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal, an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.