James Bridges Theater: A Hub for Performance and Film at UCLA
The James Bridges Theater at UCLA stands as a testament to the university's commitment to film and performing arts education. More than just a screening room, it represents a confluence of history, artistry, and dedication to fostering the next generation of storytellers. This article explores the theater's history, its namesake, and the various spaces within UCLA's theater and film facilities that contribute to a vibrant artistic community.
Ralph Freud Playhouse: The Genesis of a Performance Space
Before the James Bridges Theater, there was the Ralph Freud Playhouse, constructed in 1962. In 1969, the playhouse was dedicated to Ralph Freud, a pivotal figure in UCLA's theater history. Freud, initially a stage actor in Detroit, transitioned to directing at the Pasadena Community Playhouse, where he engaged in over 200 roles and directed over 40 productions within eight years. In 1938, he began lecturing on theater courses at UCLA's English Department and was instrumental in establishing a separate Theater Arts Department. He became a full professor and then an emeritus professor, solidifying his legacy. Today, the playhouse serves as a dynamic learning and performance space for students, faculty, staff, and even international theater companies. Its stage has welcomed renowned companies such as Disney, The Wooster Group, and The Royal Court Theatre, enriching the UCLA community with diverse theatrical experiences.
James Bridges: From Arkansas to Hollywood Icon
The theater's current name honors James Bridges, an Arkansan who left an indelible mark on Hollywood as a movie producer, director, and screenwriter. Born on February 3, 1936, in Paris, Arkansas, Bridges's journey began at Arkansas State Teachers College (now the University of Central Arkansas) in Conway. There, he was involved with the performing arts and served as drum major with the marching band. The death of James Dean in 1955 deeply affected him and later influenced his work.
In 1956, Bridges left Arkansas for Hollywood, securing minor acting roles in television shows like Dragnet and Matinee Theater. His career took a turn when he became stage manager for John Houseman’s Professional Theatre Group in Los Angeles. Recognizing his talent, producer/director Norman Lloyd recruited him to write television scripts for programs such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Bridges's breakthrough came in 1966 with his first movie screenplay, The Appaloosa, a western starring Marlon Brando, co-written with Roland Kibbee. He achieved further acclaim in 1973 with The Paper Chase, a film he both wrote and directed. The film, about law school students at Harvard, resonated with audiences and earned Bridges an Academy Award nomination for his adapted screenplay.
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His subsequent works included 9/30/55 (1977), exploring the impact of James Dean’s death on Arkansas teenagers, filmed on location in Conway. The China Syndrome (1979), starring Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, and Jack Lemmon, became a major hit, its theme of a nuclear power plant accident eerily coinciding with the Three Mile Island accident. He followed this with Urban Cowboy (1980), starring John Travolta and Scott Glenn, which sparked a brief craze for mechanical bull riding. Bridges continued to write and direct films such as Mike’s Murder (1984) and Perfect (1985).
Bridges's life partner, Jack Larson, known for his role as Jimmy Olsen in Adventures of Superman, co-produced several of Bridges's films. Diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 1990, Bridges passed away on June 6, 1993, in Los Angeles. His legacy lives on through his films, the James Bridges Performing Arts Scholarship Fund at the University of Central Arkansas, and the James Bridges Collection in the UCA Archives.
The James Bridges Theater: A State-of-the-Art Screening Room
In 1999, UCLA dedicated the James Bridges Theater, a space that regularly screens selections from the UCLA Film and Television Archive. This dedication was made possible in part by a generous donation from the Bridges/Larson Foundation. According to actor-playwright Jack Larson, who was Bridges’ personal and professional partner from the late 1950s until Bridges’ death from cancer in 1993, the Bridges/Larson Foundation donated $500,000 to transform UCLA’s Melnitz Theatre into a state-of-the-art screening room
Other Performance Spaces at UCLA
Besides the James Bridges Theater and the Ralph Freud Playhouse, UCLA offers several other venues:
Studio Theater 1340
Studio Theater 1340 is a flexible, black box theater space. It can be used as a rehearsal hall or for more intimate theatrical productions.
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The Darren Star Screening Room
Located in Melnitz Hall, the Darren Star Screening Room is a state-of-the-art 50-seat facility for film and television studies, screenings, and industry events. Opened in January 2015 through a donation from Darren Star, it features advanced projection and sound systems, including DCP/HD, Dolby 3D, Dolby Surround 7.1, and 35mm film projectors. The room also has high-definition video teleconferencing, linking it to the James Bridges Theater for various events.
Archival Resources for Theater History at UCLA
UCLA's commitment to preserving its theatrical history is evident in its extensive archives. The UCLA Library Special Collections houses numerous resources related to the Theater Department's history. These include:
- Eddie Hearn Collection: Eddie Hearn (1913-1987), a founding member of the UCLA Theater Arts Department, played a crucial role in developing the Macgowan Hall production facilities. His collection offers insights into theater design and consultation.
- James M. Record Series 671: This series contains photographs taken and/or collected by James M., providing a visual record of UCLA's theatrical activities.
- Kenneth Macgowan Papers: Kenneth Macgowan (1888-1963), the first department chair at the UCLA Theater Arts Department, was a drama critic, producer, and director. His papers offer a comprehensive view of the department's early years.
- Ralph Freud Collection: Reflecting his significant contributions to UCLA's theater program.
- William W. Melnitz Papers: This collection contains an oral history transcript detailing Melnitz's experiences and contributions to the university's theater program.
- Theater Arts Department Records: These records include correspondence files of Kenneth Macgowan and minutes of meetings, publications, and promotional materials for theatrical productions.
- University Archives Photograph Collection: This collection contains photographs of faculty, staff, buildings, events, and organizations affiliated with UCLA and its predecessor institutions.
Larson's Dedication to Preserving Bridges' Legacy
Since Bridges’ death, Larson has diligently worked to keep Bridges’ memory alive, including having the Bridges/Larson Foundation donate $500,000 to transform UCLA’s Melnitz Theatre into a state-of-the-art screening room; in 1999, it was renamed the James Bridges Theater. And the Bridges/Larson Foundation gives out the James Bridges Award in Film Directing yearly at UCLA, USC, Columbia and the American Film Institute.
On a recent afternoon, the remarkably boyish Larson was reminiscing about Bridges in the living room of the historical hill-top Frank Lloyd Wright-designed George Sturges House in Brentwood that the two had shared. The occasion was the publication of Peter Tonguette’s new book, “The Films of James Bridges” -- the first substantive book on the Oscar-nominated writer/director.
Larson is a fan of the book. “He [Tonguette] admires Jim’s films, and he admires the smaller films like ‘September 30, 1955’ and “Mike’s Murder’ even more than his well-known films.”
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Larson is still best known for playing energetic cub photojournalist Jimmy Olsen at the Daily Planet in the 1950s TV series “Adventures of Superman.” During that time he was cast in a supporting role in the 1957 drama “Johnny Trouble,” with Ethel Barrymore and Stuart Whitman. Making his feature debut in the film was Bridges, then a young actor from Arkansas.
Both their acting careers ended shortly after they became partners. Bridges turned to writing and directing, eventually making such acclaimed, character-driven films as 1973’s “The Paper Chase,” 1979’s “The China Syndrome” and 1980’s “Urban Cowboy.” Typecast as Olsen, Larson found success as a playwright and opera librettist. And when Bridges’ film career took off, they formed a production company, with Larson producing several of Bridges’ films.
As for being gay in Hollywood in the closeted 1950s and ‘60s, Larson said that they were both private and that it wasn’t a problem.“It was obvious to anyone that since we lived together we were partners,” Larson said. “We always went places together. We never pretended. I always did what I felt like doing. I never did publicity when I was very popular as Jimmy. The question [about being gay] never came up.”
Bridges turned from acting to writing and eventually caught the attention of actor Norman Lloyd, who was then a producer on “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” He offered Bridges a chance to work on a “Hitchcock” script that was in trouble. “He liked that script and then Jim wrote 15 more ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ episodes and won awards,” said Larson.
Larson became a writer as well, and Bridges began his career as a director working on his partner’s plays. Among them were “The Candied House,” which opened the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Leo S. Bing Theatre in 1966. Larson has also written librettos for various operas including Virgil Thomson’s “Lord Byron.”
Bridges’ first feature success was “The Paper Chase,” based on John Jay Osborn Jr.’s account of his first year at Harvard law school. Timothy Bottoms played the law student and John Houseman, then a well-respected film and theatrical producer who had been Bridges and Larson’s mentor, played gruff Professor Charles Kingsfield. Houseman won the supporting actor Oscar, and Bridges earned an adapted screenplay nomination.
Larson said, though, that Bridges had a lot of disagreements with 20th Century Fox over the film. The studio originally wanted to call it “Up the Ivy” and then changed it to “All the Bright Young Men.”
The filmmaker was always press-shy during his career. “He never did interviews,” said Larson. “He said the films speak for themselves.”
Larson pleaded with Bridges to talk to CBS’ legendary newscaster Walter Cronkite in 1979. Bridges’ nuclear disaster film, “The China Syndrome,” with Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas, had opened just 10 days before the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster.“He didn’t want to do it,” Larson said. “I said it is Walter Cronkite.
tags: #UCLA #James #Bridges #Theater #history
