Manuscripts

"The Toilet" (play)

Description: Approx. 95 items. Letters, memos, newspaper clippings. The material is related to the Los Angeles performances of a Leroi Jones play, "The Toilet," reviews and commentary about the play that appeared in LAT, and includes letters to the Editor and W.'s responses. The play was obscene, pornographic, racist--provocative in every way--and LAT would not run ads for it. Also in the file is a copy of the play
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1965
Call number: mssLAT
Creator: Los Angeles Times (Firm)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: The Los Angeles Times,
Restrictions: Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Metal toilet stalls and doors

Manuscripts

Approx. 15 items: letters, reports, legal documents related to installation of metal toilet stalls and doors by Albatross Steel Furniture Co.

mssLAT

Image not available

Pornography Advertising Responses

Manuscripts

In August 1977, the Los Angeles Times adopted a policy that prohibited advertising for hardcore pornographic movies. This decision generated much debate and incoming correspondence. Letters are arranged by opinion of the policy and chronologically. Date range is 1977-1978.

mssLAT

Image not available

Renick, Leonard

Manuscripts

Two letters of correspondence between Otis Chandler and Leonard Renick, of Phil Renick Cadillac. Attached to Renick's letter three pages of signatures from people that approved on Chandler's decision to ban pornographic advertising.

mssLAT

Image not available

S - Miscellaneous Correspondence

Manuscripts

Approx. 20 items. Letters, memos, handwritten notes. Subjects include: a suggestion that LAT publish at least some Spanish-language news; W. squashes a rumor that LAT would no longer run reviews of children's books; flack over a Joyce Haber column on filming of "Too Late the Hero"; Publicity Director for Bullock's San Fernando complains about coverage; W. soothes U.S. Sen. John Sparkman (of Alabama) after a Jack Smith wrote in his column that "to play football at Alabama is a certificate of not having a college education"; exchange of letters over a controversial graduation speech at South Pasadena H.S and LAT story about it; responsibilities of the press; etc.

mssLAT

Image not available

Williams, Nick B. - Tapes #1 & #2

Manuscripts

Approx. 20 items: 22-pp. transcript of "...initial taping with Nick B. Williams, former Editor of The Times," by James Bassett, 6/5/1973 - subjects include NBW's memories of his youth and early newspaper career in Tennessee and Texas and his coming to Los Angeles and getting into newspaper work in the 1930s ; 44-pp. transcript of "Tape 2...NBW & JB," an in-depth discussion of the Norman Chandler era moving into the Otis Chandler era at LAT, the changes in editorial policy, the move from the political right to the center (or at least representing various views along the political spectrum) in Editorial content and striving for unbiased news stories, union efforts to get a toehold at LAT - would it be good if LAT were the only paper in L.A.? Williams answers "no" (pp. 33) - gossip columnists, investigative reporting - Vietnam, the Red Chinese, the Soviets ; 57-pp. transcript of "Taping with Nick Williams (6/7/1973) 3rd Taping" - the Birch Society series, examples given of instances in which NC did not support Republican candidates that were right wing "kooks" (4 - 7) - Barry Goldwater, correspondence with Norman Chandler, Dorothy Chandler and Williams - Watts Riots (pp. 19- 22) - pornographic movies (pp. 29 - 31) - more related bio notes and materials on Williams.

mssLAT

Image not available

Chronological File - January

Manuscripts

Approx. 25 items. Letters and memos. (1/9) letter to Nora Kuttner providing her with information on past political endorsements by LAT--"the Times has never backed a Democratic candidate for President, [nor Governor]...but it has endorsed Democrats for every other elective job"--an offers his opinion that the paper had grown more liberal under Otis Chandler but that it was "centrist"; in the same letter he mentions that James Bassett had just begun the process of compiling a history of LAT; a number of letters from this month offer summations of NBW's political philosophy, i.e. to Lawson (1/18), to Kuttner (1/9), etc.; in 1/18 letter to "Colie," NBW writes that "Elizabeth [his wife] died January 11...I'm moving north, as we had planned to do...and will build on a bluff ...at Trinidad (CA); etc. It was at that time, with the move to Northern California, that NBW finally severed his direct ties to LAT.

mssLAT

"The Toilet" (play)

Opening Hours

Admission Info and Tickets

You might also be interested in

Metal toilet stalls and doors

Pornography Advertising Responses

Renick, Leonard

S - Miscellaneous Correspondence

Williams, Nick B. - Tapes #1 & #2

Chronological File - January