Sagor, Frederica: The Plastic Age (1925, with Eve Unsell), Dance Madness (1926), The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947, with George Seaton and Ernest Maas)
Salt, Waldo: Midnight Cowboy (1969, AA, WGAA), Serpico (1973, with Norman Wexler, AAn, WGAAn), Coming Home (1978, with Robert C. Jones and Nancy Dowd, AA, WGAA), Laurel Award (1986), blacklisted
Sargent, Alvin: Paper Moon (1973, AAn, WGAA), Julia (1977, AA, WGAA), Ordinary People (1980, AA, WGAA), Laurel Award (1991), What About Bob? (1991, with Tom
Schulman and Laura Ziskin), Spider-Man 2 (2004, with Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon)
Savel, Dava: Dream On (1990–1996), Ellen (1994–1998, EA, WGAAn), That’s So Raven (2003–2007)
Sayles, John: Return of the Secaucus Seven (1979, WGAAn), Matewan (1987), Passion Fish (1992, AAn, WGAAn), The Secret of Roan Inish (1994), Lone Star (1996, AAn, WGAAn), Hunter Award (2005)
Schamus, James: The Wedding Banquet (1993, with Ang Lee and Neil Peng), Eat Drink Man Woman (1994), The Ice Storm (1997, WGAAn), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000, with Wang-Hui Ling and Tsai Kuo Jung, AAn, WGAAn), Jablow Award (2003), Burkey Award (2014)
Schary, Dore: Boys Town (1938, with Eleanore Griffin and John Meehan, AA), Edison, the Man (1941, with Hugo Butler, AAn), chief of production at MGM (1951–1956), Davies Award (1969)
Scheft, Bill: The Late Show with David Letterman (1993–present, EAn, WGAAn), The Annual Academy Awards (2 shows, 1995, 2005)
Schiff, Robin: Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion (1997), Grosse Pointe (2000–2001), Are You There, Chelsea? (2012)
Schiller, Robert: I Love Lucy (1951–1957, EAn), The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978), All in the Family (1971–1979, EA, WGAAn), Maude (1972–1978, WGAA), Laurel Award (1988)
Schrader, Paul: Taxi Driver (1976, WGAAn), Raging Bull (1980, with Mardik Martin), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), Affliction (1997), Laurel Award (1999)
Schubert, Bernard: No Other Woman (1933, with Wanda Tuchock), Mark of the Vampire (1935, with Guy Endore), The Mummy’s Curse (1944)
Schulberg, Budd: Winter Carnival (1939, with Lester Cole and Maurice Rapf), On the Waterfront (1954, AA, WGAA), A Face in the Crowd (1957), Laurel Award (2008)
Schwartz, Sherwood: The Red Skelton Show (1951–1971, EA, WGAA), Gilligan’s Island (1964–1967, creator), The Brady Bunch (1969–1974, creator)
Scorsese, Martin: Mean Streets (1973, with Mardik Martin, WGAAn), Goodfellas (1990, with Nicholas Pileggi, AAn, WGAAn), The Age of Innocence (1993, with Jay Cocks, AAn), Casino (1995, with Nicholas Pileggi), Burkey Award (2003)
Scott, Adrian: Mr. Lucky (1943, with Milton Holmes), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1960, uncredited), Conspiracy of Hearts (1960, with Dale Pitt as front, with Robert Presnell Jr.), blacklisted
Scott, Joan LaCour: Lassie (1954–1974, pseudonym Joanne Court), Cairo (1963, pseudonym Joanne Court), The Waltons (1971–1981), blacklisted
Seaton, George: A Day at the Races (1937, with Robert Pirosh and George Oppenheimer), The Song of Bernadette (1943, AAn), Miracle on 34th Street (1947, with Valentine Davies, AA), SWG president (1948–1949), The Country Girl (1954, AA, WGAAn), AMPAS president (1955–1958), Laurel Award (1961), Davies Award (1968), Airport (1970, AAn, WGAAn), Cox Award (1979)
Serling, Rod: Playhouse 90 (1956–1961, EA, WGAA), The Twilight Zone (1959–1964, creator, EA, WGAAn), Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962, EA, WGAA), The Loner (1965–1966, creator), Planet of the Apes (1968, with Michael Wilson), Laurel Award (1976)
Shandling, Garry: Sanford & Son (1972–1977), It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (1986–1990, creator with Alan Zweibel, EAn), The Larry Sanders Show (1992–1998, creator with Dennis Klein, EA, WGAAn)
Shavelson, Melville: The Princess and the Pirate (1944, with Everett Freeman, and Don Hartman), Houseboat (1958, with Jack Rose, AAn, WGAAn), The Five Pennies (1959, with Jack Rose and Robert Smith, WGAA), WGAw president (1969–1971, 1979–1981, and 1985–1987), Davies Award (1979), Laurel Award (1984), Cox Award (1998)
Sheldon, Sidney: The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1948), Easter Parade (1949, with Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, WGAA), Annie Get Your Gun (1950, WGAA), Billy Rose’s Jumbo (1962, WGAAn), The Patty Duke Show (1963–1966), I Dream of Jeannie (1965–1970, creator, EAn), Hart to Hart (1979–1984)
Ship, Reuben: The Life of Riley (1949–1950, radio program, creator), The Investigator (1954, radio play), Albert and Victoria (1970–1971)
Silliphant, Stirling: Route 66 (1960–1964, creator with Herbert B. Leonard), In the Heat of the Night (1967, AA, WGAAn), The Poseidon Adventure (1972, with Wendell Mayes), The Towering Inferno (1974), The Killer Elite (1975, with Marc Norman)
Silverman, Treva: The Monkees (1966–1968), The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977, EA)
Simon, David: Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999, WGAA, Humanitas Prize, 1999, with T. J. English and Julie Martin), The Wire (2002–2008, creator, EAn, WGAA), Generation Kill (2008, creator, EAn, WGAAn), Treme (2010–2013, creator, EAn, WGAAn), Hunter Award (2014)
Simon, Neil: Your Show of Shows (1950–1954), Barefoot in the Park (1967, WGAAn), The Odd Couple (1968, AAn, WGAA), The Out-of-Towners (1970, WGAA), Murder by Death (1976, WGAAn), The Goodbye Girl (1977, AAn, WGAAn), Laurel Award (1979)
Singleton, John: Boyz n the Hood (1991, AAn, WGAAn), Higher Learning (1995)
Sklar, Jason, and Randy Sklar: Apt. 2F (1997, creators), Comedy Central Presents: The Sklar Brothers (2010–2011), United Stats of America (2012)
Smith, Kevin: Clerks (1994), Dogma (1999), Zach and Miri Make a Porno (2008)
Smith, Patricia Falken: Days of Our Lives (1965–present, head writer, 1982, EA, WGAAn), General Hospital (1963–present, head writer, 1983, WGAAn), Lone Star Bar & Grill (1983, co-creator)
Soderbergh, Steven: sex, lies and videotape (1989, EAn, WGAAn), Nightwatch (1997, with Ole Bornedal), Solaris (2002),
Solomon, Ed: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989, with Chris Matheson), Men in Black (1997), Now You See Me (2013, with Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt)
Solondz, Todd: Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), Happiness (1998), Palindromes (2004)
Sorkin, Aaron: A Few Good Men (1992), Sports Night (1998–2000, creator, EAn, WGAAn, Humanitas Prize), The West Wing (1999–2006, creator, EA, WGAA, Humanitas Prize), Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007, creator, WGAAn), The Social Network (2010, AA, WGAA), The Newsroom (2012–present, creator, WGAAn)
Southern, Terry: Dr. Strangelove (1964, with Stanley Kubrick and Peter George, AAn, WGAA), Easy Rider (1969, with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, AAn, WGAAn), Saturday Night Live (1975–present)
Spelling, Aaron: Johnny Ringo (1959–1960), The Smothers Brothers Show (1965–1966, creator with Richard Newton), The New People (1969–1970, creator with Larry Gordon)
Spielberg, Steven: The Sugarland Express (1974, WGAAn), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977, WGAAn), Poltergeist (1982, with Michael Grais and Mark Victor), Amazing Stories (1985–1987, series developer)
Spigelgass, Leonard: I Was a Male War Bride (1949, with Charles Lederer and Hagar Wilde, WGAAn), Mystery Street (1950, AAn), Silk Stockings (1957, with Leonard Gershe), Gypsy (1962, WGAAn), Davies Award (1966), Cox Award (1971)
Stallings, Laurence: The Big Parade (1925, with Harry Behn), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949, with Frank S. Nugent, WGAAn)
Stander, Arthur: I Married Joan (1952–1955), Make Room for Daddy (1953–1965), The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)
Steinberg, Norman: Blazing Saddles (1974, with Mel Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, and Alan Uger, WGAA), My Favorite Year (1982, with Dennis Palumbo, WGAAn), Doctor Doctor (1989–1991, creator)
Steinkellner, Bill, and Cheri Steinkellner: The Jeffersons (1975–1985), Cheers (1982–1993), Teacher’s Pet (2000–2002)
Stern, Leonard: The Honeymooners (1955–1956, WGAA), I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster (1962–1963, WGAAn), Get Smart (1965–1970, with Buck Henry, EA)
Stewart, Donald Ogden: Holiday (1938, with Sidney Buchma
n), The Philadelphia Story (1940, AA), Life with Father (1947), An Affair to Remember (1957, uncredited, with Delmer Daves and Leo McCarey, credit restored 1997), Laurel Award (1990), blacklisted
Stewart, Mike: Caesar’s Hour (1954–1957, EAn)
Stone, Noreen: Amy (1981), Dynasty (1981–1989), Brenda Starr (1989, with James D. Buchanan and Jenny Wolkind)
Stone, Oliver: Midnight Express (1978, AA, WGAA), Platoon (1986, AAn, WGAAn), Wall Street (1987, with Stanley Weiser), Born on the Fourth of July (1989, with Ron Kovic, AAn, WGAAn), JFK (1991, with Zachary Sklar, AAn, WGAAn)
Sturges, Preston: The Great McGinty (1940, AA), The Lady Eve (1941), Sullivan’s Travels (1941), Laurel Award (1975)
Sud, Veena: Cold Case (2003–2010), The Killing (2011–present, developed for US television, EAn, WGAAn)
Sutton, Phoef: Cheers (1982–1993), The Fan (1996), Boston Legal (2004–2008), Terriers (2010)
Swicord, Robin: Little Women (1994, WGAAn), Matilda (1996, with Nicholas Kazan), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008, with Eric Roth, AAn, WGAAn)
Taradash, Daniel: Rancho Notorious (1952, with Silvia Richards), From Here to Eternity (1953, AA, WGAA), Picnic (1955, WGAAn), AMPAS president (1970–1973), Davies Award (1971), WGAw president (1977–1979), Cox Award (1988), North Award (1991), Laurel Award (1996)
Tarantino, Quentin: Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994, with Roger Avary, AA), Django Unchained (2012, AA, Humanitas Prize)
Taraporevala, Sooni: Salaam Bombay! (1988, with Mira Nair), Mississippi Masala (1991), The Namesake (2006)
Tarloff, Frank: The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968, as David Adler), The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961–1962, as David Adler), Father Goose (1964, with S. H. Barnett and Peter Stone, AA, WGAAn), A Guide for the Married Man (1967, WGAAn)
Thuna, Leonora: Family (1976–1980), Lou Grant (1977–1982, WGAAn), I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979, and Maya Angelou, WGAAn)
Tolkin, Mel: Your Show of Shows (1950–1954), Caesar’s Hour (1954–1957, EAn), The Danny Kaye Show (1963–1967, EAn, WGAA), All in the Family (1971–1979, EAn, WGAA, Humanitas Prize)
Tombragel, Maurice: Zanzibar (1940, with Maurice Wright), Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951–1958), Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (1954–1992)
Towne, Robert: Chinatown (1974, AA), Shampoo (1975, with Warren Beatty, AAn, WGAA), The Firm (1993, with David Rabe and David Rayfiel), Mission: Impossible (1996, with David Koepp), Laurel Award (1997)
Townsend, Robert: Hollywood Shuffle (1987), The Parent ’Hood (1995–1999, creator)
Trotti, Lamar: Young Mr. Lincoln (1939, AAn), The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), Wilson (1944, AA), There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954, AAn, WGAAn), North Award (1971), Laurel Award (1983)
Trumbo, Dalton: Kitty Foyle (1940, AAn), Tender Comrade (1943), Roman Holiday (1953, with Ian McClellan Hunter as front, AA, WGAA, AA credit restored 1993), The Brave One (1956, pseudonym Robert Rich, with Harry S. Franklin and Merrill G. White, AA, credit restored 1975), Spartacus (1960, WGAAn), Laurel Award (1970), Johnny Got His Gun (1971, WGAAn), Papillon (1973, with Lorenzo Semple Jr.), blacklisted
Tugend, Harry: Poor Little Rich Girl (1936, with Sam Hellman and Gladys Lehman), Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949, with George Wells, Gene Kelly, and Stanley Donen, WGAAn), Road to Bali (1952, with Frank Butler, Hal Kanter, and William Morrow), Pocketful of Miracles (1961, with Hal Kanter)
Tunberg, Karl: Tall, Dark and Handsome (1941, with Darrell Ware), SWG president (1950–1951), Ben-Hur (1959, AAn, WGAAn), Mannix (1967–1975)
Tunick, Irve: Armstrong Circle Theater (1950–1963), Lady of Vengeance (1957), Murder, Inc. (1960, with Mel Barr)
Turteltaub, Saul: Candid Camera (1960–1967), The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1978, EAn, WGAAn), Sanford and Son (1972–1977), Cosby (1996–2000, Humanitas Prize, 2000)
Ulius, Betty: Lux Video Theatre (1950–1959), Matinee Theatre (1955–1958), Psych-Out (1969, with E. Hunter Willett, WGAAn)
Vajda, Ernest: The Love Parade (1929, with Guy Bolton), The Merry Widow (1934, with Samson Raphaelson), Marie Antoinette (1938, with Claudine West and David Ogden Stewart)
Van Sant, Gus: Drugstore Cowboy (1989, with Daniel Yost), My Own Private Idaho (1991), Elephant (2003)
Verrone, Patric M.: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992, EAn), Muppets Tonight (1996–1998), Futurama (1999–2013, WGAAn), Animation Award (2002), WGAw president (2005–2009), Cox Award (2012)
Victor, David: Gunsmoke (1955–1975, WGAAn), Dr. Kildare (1961–1966), Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969–1976, creator)
Webb, Jack: Dragnet (1951–1959, creator), Adam-12 (1968–1975, creator with Robert A. Cinader), O’Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971–1972, creator with James E. Moser)
Webb, James R.: Cape Fear (1962), How the West Was Won (1962, AA), WGAw president (1962–1963), Davies Award (1965), They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970, with Alan Trustman), Cox Award (1974), North Award (1975)
Webster, Tony: The Phil Silvers Show (1955–1959, EA), Car 54, Where Are You? (1961–1963), The Love Boat (1977–1987)
Weiner, Matthew: Becker (1998–2004), The Sopranos (1999–2007, EA, WGAA), Mad Men (2007–2015, creator, EA, WGAA)
Wells, John: ER (1994–2009, EAn, WGAAn), China Beach (1998–2001, EAn, WGAAn), WGAw president (1999–2001 and 2009–2011), The West Wing (1999–2006, WGAAn, Humanitas Prize), Laurel Award (2007), The Company Men (2010), Shameless (2011–present, developed for US television)
West, Nathanael: It Could Happen to You! (1937, with Samuel Ornitz), Five Came Back (1939, with Jerome Cady and Dalton Trumbo)
White, Phyllis, and Robert White: The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950–1958, Robert only), Death Valley Days (1952–1970), Guiding Light (1952–2009, EA, WGAA), My Favorite Martian (1963–1966)
White, Sydnye: Detroit S.W.A.T. (2000), Moneywise with Kevin Boston (2000)
Wilber, Carey: Armstrong Circle Theater (1950–1963), Bonanza (1959–1973), Star Trek (1966–1969)
Wilder, Billy: Ninotchka (1939, with Charles Brackett and Walter Reisch, AAn), Double Indemnity (1944, with Raymond Chandler, AAn), Sunset Blvd. (1950, with Charles Brackett and D. M. Marshman Jr., AA, WGAA), Sabrina (1954, with Ernest Lehman and Samuel Taylor, AAn, WGAA), The Seven Year Itch (1955, with George Axelrod, WGAA), Laurel Award (1957, with Charles Brackett, and 1980, with I.A.L. Diamond), Some Like It Hot (1959, with I.A.L. Diamond, AAn, WGAA), The Apartment (1960, with I.A.L. Diamond, AA, WGAA), National Medal of Arts (1993)
Willimon, Beau: The Ides of March (2011, with George Clooney and Grant Heslov, AAn), House of Cards (2013–present, creator for US television, EAn, WGAAn)
Wilmore, Larry: In Living Color (1990–1994, EAn), The PJs (1999–2001, co-creator), The Bernie Mac Show (2000–2006, creator, EA, WGAAn, Humanitas Prize, Peabody Award), The Office (2005–2013, EAn, WGAAn)
Wilson, Carey: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925, with Lew Wallace, June Mathis, and Bess Meredyth), Faithless (1932), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935, with Talbot Jennings and Jules Furthman, AAn), AMPAS co-founder
Wilson, Michael: A Place in the Sun (1951, with Harry Brown, AA, WGAA), Salt of the Earth (1954), Friendly Persuasion (1956, AAn, WGAA, credit restored 1996), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957, with Carl Foreman, AA, AA credit restored 1984), Lawrence of Arabia (1962, uncredited, with Robert Bolt, AAn, credit restored 1995), Planet of the Apes (1968, with Rod Serling), Laurel Award (1976), blacklisted
Winship, Michael: Bill Moyers Journal (1972–1976, 1979–1981, and 2007–2010, EA, WGAA), Jablow Award (1998), Nova (1974–present), WGA East president (2007–present), Moyers & Company (2012–present, WGAA)
Wodehouse, P. G.: The Magic Plus Fours (1924, short), The Man in Possession (1931, with Sarah Y. Mason), A Damsel in Distress (1937, with Ernest Pagano and S. K. Lauren)
Wolfson, Roger: The Closer (2005–2012), Saving Grace (2007–2010)
Woods, Frank E.: A Corner in Wheat (1909, with D. W. Griffith), Judith of Bethulia (1914, with D. W. Griff
ith and Grace Pierce), The Birth of a Nation (1915, with D. W. Griffith), AMPAS co-founder
Yglesias, Rafael: Fearless (1993), From Hell (2001, with Terry Hayes), Dark Water (2005)
Young, Nedrick: Passage West (1951, as front for Alvah Bessie, with Lewis R. Foster), Jailhouse Rock (1957, as Ned Young), The Defiant Ones (1958, pseudonym Nathan E. Douglas, with Harold Jacob Smith, AA, WGAA, credit restored 1997), Inherit the Wind (1960, pseudonym Nathan E. Douglas, with Harold Jacob Smith, AAn, credit restored 1997), blacklisted
Young, Waldemar: Island of Lost Souls (1932, with Philip Wylie), Cleopatra (1934, with Vincent Lawrence), The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935, with Achmed Abdullah, John L. Balderston, Grover Jones, and William Slavens McNutt, AAn)
Zweibel, Alan: Saturday Night Live (1975–present, EA, WGAA), It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (1986–1990, creator with Garry Shandling, EAn), North (1994, with Andrew Scheinman), The Story of Us (1999, with Jessie Nelson), Hunter Award (2010)
APPENDIX B
METHODOLOGY
Writing is an emotionally draining thing. It is a psychologically damaging occupation. It is to the soul what asbestos clearing is to the lungs. [To the waiter:] I’m fine, thank you.
—Craig Mazin, interview, 12 June 2011
In The Writers, I explore the history of the American film and television industry through the lens of a particular group of practitioners. I integrate these industries in ways that mirror not only their common structures but also the career paths of many screenwriters. My decision to examine film, television, and streaming media writers, echoes the work of scholars who have traced connections between the often balkanized areas of film studies and media studies. The practice of moving among media is neither a contemporary nor a rare phenomenon. Though writers have always crossed media boundaries, their labor has rarely been examined in a way that takes the specificity of these migrations or its effects into account.
Studies of distinct communities of American media practitioners afford significant insights into media production, and this scholarship grounds much of my work. This methodology breaks down notions of a monolithic industry, explaining the collaborative nature and complex networks of media production, distribution, and exhibition infrastructures, as well as those of local auxiliary support communities. Hortense Powdermaker’s and Leo Rosten’s studies of Hollywood in the 1940s and 1950s inform my reading of the classical Hollywood era.1 The statistical studies of the WGA by William T. Bielby and Denise D. Bielby, as well as scholarship by Todd Gitlin, John Caldwell, and Denise Mann provide guides on how to combine grounded industrial research with subject interviews and data.2 Collections of detailed interviews with screenwriters were invaluable, in particular Horace Newcomb and Robert Alley’s The Producer’s Medium and Patrick McGilligan’s Backstory series.3 Production studies scholarship would not be as rich without a parallel scholarly trend toward media industry studies. There the scholarship of Thomas Schatz, Jennifer Holt, and Alisa Perrin has been of particular use.4 Research on the Writers Guild by Nancy Lynn Schwartz, Ian Hamilton, Joan Moore and Burton Moore, Christopher Wheaton, Howard Suber, and Marc Norman was my grounding to understand this rich history.5
The Writers: A History of American Screenwriters and Their Guild Page 34