2385 files (19 m.) textual records : including 2016 celebrity/personality files; approx. 319 files containing correspondence, ephemera and clippings removed from the books; 8 film scripts; 31 day books; and other

641 published materials : 631 books (many with dedications and inscriptions by author). — 10 magazines and other

973 videotape cassettes : 154 Umatic 3/4 in. cassettes, 489 VHS ½ in. cassettes, 330 Betacam/BetaSP cassettes

350 sound recordings

approx. 10,248 photographs : 8254 b+w prints, 285 colour prints, 1395 35mm slides, plus other negatives, transparencies, contact sheets

1 poster

27 graphic materials and art works : 5 caricature drawings. — 1animation cel. — 8 awards certificates. — 1 print. — 12 printed matter and related items including photomechanical reproductions, tearsheets, covers

6 artifacts

ACCESSION 2002-014

7 textual (23 cm.) textual records : clipping files

561 video tapes : 2 VHS ½ in. cassettes, 559 Betacam/BetaSP cassettes

47 photographs 1 graphic work : copy from printed matter

Archival records created, compiled and collected by Brian Linehan in the course of his professional career conducting television and radio interviews. In addition to film personalities, Brian Linehan interviewed figures in the performing arts, in publishing/writing and in other cultural areas — from Canada, the USA and around the world. While the largest percentage of the entertainment celebrities covered are Hollywood and USA personalities, there is also a significant amount of Canadian material that includes Canadians in Hollywood, Canadian artists, writers, dancers, theatre performers and directors, as well as Canadian filmmakers and television personalities.

The period represented in the fonds begins in 1972 with Linehan’s Paris day book. While the substantive part of the material acquired covers the period 1972 to 1999, there are occasional items from 2000-2002 that were found integrated in the files. Linehan’s system of compiling relevant clippings and research materials dates from 1973 when he began interviewing, and continues through to 2002.

The fonds contains the following major groupings:

personality files compiled in preparation for the interviews; containing research materials and clippings taken       from published sources; press kit materials including press photographs sent to Brian Linehan by publicists; manuscript script notes for interviews prepared by Brian Linehan; filmography and milestone information; Linehan’s copy/copies of photographs taken on set (Linehan with the interviewee); professional and personal correspondence; organized alphabetically under the broad headings of Male Actors, Female Actors, Directors and Producers; created in a cumulative process, so some of the more longstanding personalities represented in these files will be covered by material collected over the course of approximately 20-25 years

video tapes, including raw footage, open ended interviews, and as-broadcast shows and edited masters, plus dubs; interviews conducted by Brian Linehan; includes material from the Citytv (City Lights show) and more recent WTN periods; some earlier material from Dini Petty Show

audiotapes consisting of a few master recordings of interviews, some dubs of interviews, but primarily consisting of copies of as-broadcast programs; primarily Linehan’s interviews for CFRB; notable interviews with John Candy

photographs, largely taken by hired photographers, showing Linehan with guest, usually on set; prints made for the donor; some celebrity signed photos sent to the donor

books, some purchased by the donor and many received as inscribed gifts from authors, from the donor’s personal and research library; primarily film subjects, but also include some popular culture, literature and other related works

textual and other material including the donor’s own day books / appointment books, film scripts sent to the donor, awards and various presentation pieces received by the donor

graphic materials are comprised of several caricatures, an animation cel, and numerous awards and certificates.

Access: The collection is open for research access with the permission of the Director of The Film Reference Library, with the exception of a small volume of textual records. These are the Linehan day books / appointment books that contain contacts’ addresses, telephone numbers, and personal information relating to the donor.

Reproduction: Reproduction is subject to copyright.

Finding aid: The finding aid consists of a file-level listing of textual materials and printed matter; an item level listing of books; a sub-series level listing of photographs, and an item level listing of graphic and video and audio materials.

Biographical sketch:

Brian Linehan grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, and attended Delta Secondary School. His mother was Serbian, his father Irish, and Brian was one of seven children in the working class family. As a result of poor health due to accidents and recurring respiratory problems, he was not to follow in the local tradition of work in the steel mills. As a child, Linehan focused on reading, and considered becoming an English teacher. He wrote a student column for the Hamilton Spectator while in high school. At 17 (or 18?), he left Hamilton to work in Toronto for the J. Arthur Rank organization, Odeon Theatres (Canada) Ltd. The job as an executive trainee not only allowed him to continue his education at the Toronto French School, it also introduced him to the film industry. Over the years, the job entailed duties ranging from celebrity greeter and chauffeur, to advertising copy writer, to film screener and buyer. While in his early twenties, he became one of Canada’s youngest film industry executives when he was appointed general manager of Rank’s distribution company, Janus Films of Canada.

He moved to a movie programming job at CityTV in 1972, but soon began appearing in front of the camera. In 1973, he filled in to conduct an interview of Eric Till for Ron Haggart’s The City Show. From this first interview, he would continue on to conduct over 2000 (or 2500?) during his 17 years with CityTV which ended in 1989. During this period, he appeared on The Dini Petty Show, and ultimately on his own show, City Lights, as well as City Lights at the Movies. City Lights was sucessfully syndicated, and was a local, national and North American success. There are reports of over 5.5 million viewers in the mid 1980s. His last appearances with CITY were as co-host of the magazine show MT: MovieTelevision in 1989.

In addition to television, Linehan has also done radio work, appearing on CFRB in the 1980s both in an interview format show and as an entertainment/culture commentator. He has worked extensively for Hollywood film studios, interviewing stars and directors to create content for publicity and marketing materials. In 1995, Linehan launched a weekly interview show produced through Electric Entertainment. It aired on the WIC station group, and subsequently on WTN. This ended in 1998. Linehan has made numerous guest appearances, interview specials for CBC on major cultural figures such as Karen Kain, and hosted other specials such as the Genie Awards (beginning in 1981).

Brian Linehan’s archive illustrates his meticulous preparation for his interviews. Most of the research was conducted from published sources, and then compiled in an ongoing manner over the course of his career. His thorough pre-interview research resulted in the interviewees themselves being taken aback by the pertinence and factual knowledge behind his questions. Many expressed that they themselves had forgotten some of the details that he raised. Neither film critic nor TV personality, Linehan operated as a television journalist. He developed a probing style based on integrity and a courteous, respectful manner that would put his interviewee at ease and foster a generous exchange. Systematically avoiding the sound bite style, his questions tended to be long, and the interviews were in depth.

Linehan developed long standing relationships with many celebrities, and often had an exclusive interviewer privilege with some of the most noted actors and actresses. He maintained his autonomy and regularly refused to conduct interviews with sensationalist personalities. His integrity and style resulted in ongoing access to celebrity figures and constant new invitations. He even obtained exclusive interviews with some who avoided being interviewed. Some often specifically asked for Linehan.

In the 1980s Linehan became the best known celebrity interviewer in Canada, and has been recognized among the top few English-language interviewers in North America. Though firmly based in Toronto, Linehan’s career is international in scope. His interview programs were broadcast and syndicated in the USA and in other countries, and his press and celebrity connections are linked to the entertainment industry’s global promotional machines. Over the years, he developed strong personal connections with figures such as George Cukor, Joan Rivers, Roddy McDowell, Shirley MacLaine, Dominick Dunne, Clint Eastwood, Karen Kain and many others. Other interviewees included film personalities from France, United Kingdom and celebrities from other countries such as Nana Mouskouri. Although international in scope, Linehan is also a significant figure in Canadian culture and in Canadian media history. His interviews comprise some of the most significant oral history records of Canadian actors, film and theatre people, authors, and dancers. Beginning in the 1970s, he regularly conducted interviews with Stratford Festival actors and creative personnel.