Series VI contains written works without graphic components by Howard Cruse, primarily essays and theatrical scripts, dating from the 1960s through the 2010s. Though they are about characters from comic books, Cruse's 1990 essay "Andy, We Hardly Knew You," about the death from AIDS of a character in the Doonesbury comic strip, is located in this series. A 1989 essay about the implied romantic relationship between Batman and Robin, "Batboys in the Band," is also in Series VI. Some of Cruse's original plays were produced: The Sixth Story at Birmingham-Southern College in 1968, Three Clowns on a Journey on Birmingham, Alabama's WBIQ-TV television station in 1970, and About Scott in 1990. Materials related to those productions are located in this series. Cruse also adapted his plays The King's Plot and Stage Kiss (both circa 1960s) into comics. While the theatrical scripts for these works are located in Series VI, the comics are located in Series III.
Box 21 Folder 8
"Creeping Doom", circa 1950s
Childhood short story by Howard Cruse
Box 21 Folder 9
Camp Shining Trails, Ely, Minnesota, 1961-1962
Correspondence between Howard Cruse and his parents and a journal from summer camp
Box 21 Folder 10
"Tenderfoot in the Wilderness", 1962
Transcription of Howard Cruse's summer camp journal
Box 21 Folder 11
The King's Plot, a Christmas television play by Howard Cruse, circa 1960s
Box 21 Folder 12
The Little Prince: A musical fantasy in three acts by Howard Cruse, circa 1960s
Box 21 Folder 13
Stage Kiss
, circa 1960s
Short play script by Howard Cruse
Box 21 Folder 14
The Truth Syrup, a one act play by Howard Cruse, circa 1960s
Box 21 Folder 15
Boy and Shovel, an original musical play by Howard Cruse and Jay Birdsong, 1964
Box 88 Item 6
Boy and Shovel demo tape, circa 1964, 2 open reel audiotapes (1/4")
Reel 1, Side 1: "I Dug a Hole" - "Bring Your Friends." Reel 1, Side 2: "The Piper Has Come" - "Through." Reel 2, Side 1: ""The Toy Song" - Finale." All sung by Howard Cruse and Jay Birdsong.
Box 21 Folder 16
Son of the Pill
, 1966
Creative writing project for a college assignment
Box 21 Folder 17
A Pageant for Dermuche, a Christmas play in one act by Howard Cruse, 1966
Based on the short story "Dermuche" by Marcel Aymé.
Box 21 Folder 18-20
The Sixth Story, a Gothic play in two acts by Howard Cruse, 1967, 3 folders
Multiple drafts, including heavily annotated Director's copy.
Box 88 Item 7
Music from The Sixth Story, 1968 April 26-28, 1 open reel audiotapes (1/4")
Themes by Bill Roberts; Performed by John Propst. Performed at Birmingham-Southern College 1968 April 26-28.
Box 21 Folder 21
Three Clowns on a Journey, a short play by Howard Cruse, circa 1968
Box 27 Folder 7
Poster for Three Clowns on a Journey, a short play by Howard Cruse, circa 1970, 1 folders
Aired on WBIQ Channel 10, Birmingham Area ETV, and starred Don Higdon.
Box 88 Item 4-5
Three Clowns on a Journey complete soundtrack from ETV Production, 1970 July 21, 2 open reel audiotapes (1/4")
Also contains "Dragula Nag"
Aired on WBIQ-TV, Birmingham
Box 21 Folder 22
Birdies: A scenario for a short film by Howard Cruse, circa 1970s
Box 21 Folder 23
CinderAgnes
, circa 1970s
Illustrated story by Howard Cruse
Box 21 Folder 24
Viewing the Body
, circa 1970s
Short story by Howard Cruse
Box 21 Folder 25
Visitation in B#, a one act play by Howard Cruse, 1968-1972
Box 21 Folder 26
Potplay, a one act play by Howard Cruse, 1972
Box 21 Folder 27
Potplay staged reading, 1972, 1985
Box 21 Folder 28
Lyrics and verse, 1977-2004
Box 22 Folder 1
Cruse/Sedarbaum screenplay idea, 1988, 1990
Box 22 Folder 2-5
About Scott
, 1989-1990, 4 folders
Performance piece by Howard Cruse about AIDS epidemic, performed in Birmingham, Alabama in 1990.
Box 22 Folder 6
"Batboys in the Band", 1989, 2013, 2016
Box 22 Folder 7
Out/Look
, 1990
Essay on Doonesbury AIDS comic by Howard Cruse
Box 22 Folder 8
"Andy, We Hardly Knew You", 1991
Essay by Howard Cruse published in Out/Look
Box 22 Folder 9
Writing by Howie, 1996-1998
Box 22 Folder 10
"The Real Thespians of Main Street Stage", circa 2000s
Play fragment by Howard Cruse
Box 22 Folder 11
Writing fragments: "Cheeky's Blog", circa 2000s
Box 22 Folder 12
Writing fragments: "Cranky's First Orgasm", circa 2000s
Box 22 Folder 13
Writing fragments: "Man in the Book Room", circa 2000s
Box 22 Folder 14
Writing fragments: "My TV Detour", circa 2000s
Box 22 Folder 15
Authors Guild, 2003
Box 25 Folder 14
Beeber, Steven Lee, ed. Awake! A Reader for the Sleepless (Berkeley, CA: Soft Skull Press), 2008
Box 22 Folder 16
Writing fragments: "Under the Well Slab", 2009
Box 22 Folder 17
Journal, 2010 December 26-2016 June 19
Howard Cruse's personal journal.
Box 25 Folder 18
The Letter Q : Queer Writers' Notes to Their Younger Selves uncorrected proof, 2012
Box 22 Folder 18
"Fifth Beatle" essay, 2013