Finding Aid for Arte Johnson Papers, 1953-2022 | University of Illinois Archives

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Collection Overview

Title: Arte Johnson Papers, 1953-2022

ID: 26/20/251

Primary Creator: Johnson, Arte

Other Creators: Johnson, Gisela

Extent: 6.35 cubic feet

Arrangement: Arranged into 2 series: VHS Tapes and Personal Papers. Within VHS Tapes, there are 6 subseries—Television, Movies, Commercials, Reels, Personal Materials, and Unidentified Materials. Within Personal Papers, there are 3 subseries—TV Show Scripts, Personal Papers, and Scrapbooks. The collection is organized by material type, then chronologically, then by the title of the material apart from the TV episodes; these will be alphabetical, then chronological. For instances where there are no dates, they will be organized by alphabetically and placed at the end of the subseries.

Subjects: Alumni, Comedy, Photographs, Television, Television personalities

Formats/Genres: Scrapbooks

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Arte Johnson Papers [1953-2022] includes a collection of VHS tapes, ranging from Arte Johnson’s Laugh-Ins to his appearances in several commercials; signed television scripts; photographs from throughout Arte’s career; autographs from various well-known individuals; and scrapbooks with newspaper clippings, photographs and correspondence from throughout Arte’s career.

Significant correspondents include: Nancy Reagan, Alan Thicke, Tom Bradley, Aaron Spelling, Jamie Farr, Ray Bradbury, Frank Sinatra’s children, and Charles M. Schulz.

Limted access to Scrapbooks #1 & #3 due to conservation needs.

Collection Historical Note

Arte Johnson (1929-2019) was a comedian who was best known for his appearances on the TV show, “Laugh-In,” a popular comedy show in the 60s and 70s. Arte was born in 1929 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Following graduation from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, with a B.A. in radio journalism in 1949, Arte entered the world of performing. In his words, “[he] actually entered show biz on a dare. [His] first audition was on [his] lunch hour. [He] couldn’t see because [he] took [his] glasses off and had no chance of getting nervous because [he] was afraid [he] might fall off the stage” (Alumni and Faculty Biographical File, 1882-1995; Record Series 26/4/1; Arte Johnson’s autobiographical sketch). His big break was Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, where he played several characters in a variety of skits. Arte’s career mainly spanned from the 60s through the 90s and into the early 2000s. He partook in a lot of celebrity social events, as well as philanthropic, many times with Gisela Johnson, his wife, who he married in 1968. Arte passed away in 2019, at the age of 90.

Subject/Index Terms

Alumni
Comedy
Photographs
Television
Television personalities

Administrative Information

Repository: University of Illinois Archives

Acquisition Source: These papers and VHS tapes were donated by Gisela Johnson, Arte Johnson’s wife.

PDF Box/Folder List

URL: https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/2620251.pdf

PDF finding aid for Arte Johnson Papers (26/20/251)

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