Skip to main content

Summary

Abstract

A Penn State graduate, Don Taylor was a film actor of the 1940s-1950s and director of film and television dramas. This collection includes television and film scripts and photographs.

Dates

  • Creation: 1967-1988

Extent

2 Linear Feet

Background

Biographical / Historical

Don Taylor was a film actor of the 1940s-1950s and director of film and television dramas. After graduating from Penn State in 1942, he hitchhiked to Hollywood and began acting in films for MGM. During his U.S. Army service, he acted in a Moss Hart play, Winged Victory, and reprised his role in the film version. He appeared in the crime drama Naked City, as Elizabeth Taylor's bridegroom in Father of the Bride, and in numerous war movies. In later years, 1957-1988, Taylor became a film and TV director, and was nominated for an Emmy for his script for an episode of Night Gallery (1970). Taylor directed fifteen films including Escape from Planet of the Apes, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and Damien: The Omen II, as well as more than 400 television dramas.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains scripts for films and television movies that Don Taylor produced and/or directed in his later years, 1967-1988, and publicity and candid photographs from some of the films. Some of the films include Damien: Omen II (and photos), Escape From the Planet of the Apes, Island of Dr. Moreau (and photos); and television dramas including two episodes of Night Gallery: They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's, and The Messiah on Mott Street. Photographs consist of black-and-white publicity stills and black-and-white and color candid on-set shots of Don Taylor and the cast during production, plus a few title screen and credit shots. Credited photographers are Roberto Biciocchi ( The Five Man Army ) and Piroska Mihalka ( Elena).

Arrangement

The collection is organized into two series: I. Movie Scripts; and II. Movie Photos. Each series is arranged chronologically by date of the film's release.

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.

Processing Information

Processed by Paul Dzyak and Susan Hamburger, 2007.

Subjects

Using These Materials

Repository Details

Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository

https://libraries.psu.edu/specialcollections
Contact:
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793

Conditions Governing Access

This collection contains Personal Identifiable Information which is restricted for 75 years from the date of creation or until the death of the individual.

Conditions Governing Use

Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies.

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Don Taylor movie scripts and photographs, 02549, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Don Taylor movie scripts and photographs
Status
Published
Author
Prepared by Special Collections Library faculty/staff
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2021: Lexy deGraffenreid merged the two abstracts, updated the Conditions Governing Access note, updated standardized notes to current standard, and updated the finding aid status, December 2021