- unitid
-
{"value"=>"185651", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 2013-101", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b22862953", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1930-1979", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1930/1979"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Garry Simpson papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"4 oversize folders, 6 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2.24 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Billy Rose Theatre Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Garry Simpson (1914-2011) was an American television producer, director, and screenwriter for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and the Vermont Educational Television Station. His papers date from 1930 to 1979 and chronicle his career through scripts, set design drawings, press clippings, and advertising brochures."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Simpson, Garry, 1914-2011", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Garry Simpson (1914-2011) was an American television producer, director, and screenwriter for more than thirty-five years.</p> <p>Simpson was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on February 16, 1914, and grew up in San Jose, California. He served in the National Guard for three years after graduating from high school in 1932. In 1938 Simpson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and drama from Stanford University. He acted in summer stock in San Francisco before accepting a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. Simpson declined an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in order to accept the scholarship and moved to New York City in 1938.</p> <p>Simpson worked as an actor and director's assistant with the Old Globe Theatre Company at the New York World's Fair in 1939. While there, he frequently attended television technology demonstrations hosted by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and their parent company, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). After the Fair ended, Simpson was hired by RCA as an announcer and director for closed-circuit experimental television programs. In this role, he toured the country in order to educate the public about new technologies in television. Simpson was then promoted to stage manager at NBC, the first person in the company to hold that position.</p> <p>As stage manager, Simpson worked on every show produced by the studio, including the Mobile Unit Programs. Some of his directing credits include <span class=\"title\">Mary Kay and Johnny</span> (1947-1950), <span class=\"title\">Eye Witness</span> (1953), and <span class=\"title\">Wide Wide World</span> (1955-1958). Throughout his career, Simpson also wrote and produced commercials for Lucky Strike, Bell Telephone, Jell-O, and others; directed anthology shows including <span class=\"title\">The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre</span> (1948-1950) and <span class=\"title\">Campbell's Soundstage</span> (1953-1954); and live broadcasts, including the first televised heavyweight boxing match, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the Heisman Trophy Awards.</p> <p>At the end of 1958, NBC fired most of their directing staff, including Simpson. He remained in New York City and and joined WPIX Education Television, where he produced shows in a variety of subject areas including science, math, music, and fine arts. He then joined N.W. Ayer & Son (1962-1966) and also produced television commercials and industrial films with the United States Army Signal Corps Pictorial Center.</p> <p>In 1968, Simpson moved to Vermont to spearhead the formation and development of the Vermont Educational Television Station (now Vermont Public). While serving as Director of Programming, he wrote, produced, and directed shows, including <span class=\"title\">Portrait of America: The Art of Currier and Ives</span> (1978); <span class=\"title\">Talisman Barra</span> (1970); and <span class=\"title\">The 14th Star</span> (1977). Simpson retired in 1980.</p> <p>Simpson was a three-time Emmy Award recipient from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and was a member of the Director's Guild of America and the Actor's Equity Association.</p> <p>Garry Simpson died in his Middlebury, Vermont, home on November 19, 2011.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Garry Simpson papers, dated from 1930 to 1979, provide a comprehensive portrait of Simpson's career as director and writer at the National Broadcast Company (NBC) and the Vermont Educational Television Station. The collection is arranged into two groups: National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and Vermont Educational Television Station.</p> <p>The NBC materials are arranged into Administrative Materials and Television Programs. Administrative Materials are arranged chronologically and contain internal company files, such as reports, authority codes, and rate manuals, that showcase the landscape of the television broadcasting business.</p> <p>NBC Television Programs, while not a complete catalog of every project Simpson worked on, include scripts, set design drawings, booking sheets, and reviews. Materials are arranged alphabetically by program title and include: <span class=\"title\">Eye-Witness</span> (1947-1948), <span class=\"title\">The World of Mr. Sweeney</span> (1954), and <span class=\"title\">Wide Wide World</span> (1955-1958).</p> <p>Vermont Educational Television Station materials are arranged alphabetically by title and contain scripts, set design drawings, correspondence, and articles. Some of the programs represented here include <span class=\"title\">Odyssey of a Tree</span> (1968), <span class=\"title\">The First Step</span> (1969), and <span class=\"title\">Portrait of America: The Art of Currier and Ives</span> (1978).</p>"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is arranged into two groupings: National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and Vermont Educational Television Station.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by John Simpson in 2013 and 2014.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by <span class=\"name\">Em Longan</span> in <span class=\"date\">2022</span>.</p>"}
- otherfindaid
-
{"value"=>"<p>Prior to donating the collection to New York Public Library, John Simpson wrote detailed notes that further contextualize Simpson's work. These notes include program synopses and dates; awards; notable actors; and an expanded timeline of Garry's time at NBC. Researchers are advised to consult these notes in Additional Resources for more information.</p>"}
- revisiondesc
-
{"value"=>"Revised biographical note.", "date"=>"10-2022"}
- date_start
-
1930
- keydate
-
1930
- date_end
-
1979
- date_inclusive_start
-
1930
- date_inclusive_end
-
1979
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Garry Simpson papers, *T-Mss 2013-101. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}