- unitid
-
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 1981-008", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"21250", "type"=>"local_mss"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1926-1963", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1926/1963"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Clifford Odets papers"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"17.6 linear feet; 52 boxes"}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center</span> <span class=\"addressline\">40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498</span></div>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Clifford Odets, a leading playwright of the 1930s, was born in Philadelphia on July 18, 1906. He began his performing career as \"The Rover Reciter\" in local talent shows, on radio, and in local stock theatre companies. In 1929, he acted in small roles with the Theatre Guild, from whose auspices emerged the Group Theatre in 1931. Odets' first successful play was the one-act play <span class=\"title\">Waiting for Lefty</span>, which received its first theatrical production by the Group Theatre in March 1935. In 1936, Odets began working in Hollywood as a screenwriter on <span class=\"title\">The Silent Partner</span>for the Group. His 1937 play <span class=\"title\">Golden Boy</span>, also written for the Group, became his biggest commercial success. His last Broadway hit was <span class=\"title\">The Country Girl</span> in 1950. His last finished play, <span class=\"title\">The Flowering Peach</span>, was a finalist for the 1954 Pulitzer Prize. Odets died in Los Angeles on August 14, 1963. The Clifford Odets papers contain diaries, scripts, screenplays, personal and professional notes, research materials, clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks. In addition, the collection contains other writings by Odets such as poetry, short stories, articles, and paintings. Lastly, the collection holds Margaret Brenman-Gibson's biographical notes on Clifford Odets and his father, Louis J. Odets, for her book <span class=\"title\">Clifford Odets - American Playwright: The Years from 1906-1940</span>."}
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"<p>Clifford Odets papers, *T-Mss 1981-008, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts</p>"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Odets, Clifford, 1906-1963", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Clifford Odets--playwright, director, actor, and poet--was born in Philadelphia on July 18, 1906, the son of Russian and Romanian Jewish immigrants. When he was four, the family moved to the Bronx, where his father, Louis J. Odets, became a successful printer. In 1923, Odets dropped out of high school after two years and began to write poetry, short stories, and radio plays. He worked briefly in his father's printing and advertising company, but was determined to become an actor, despite his father's vehement disapproval.</p> <p>In his early career, Odets played romantic leads with a Bronx acting company called The Drawing Room Players. At the same time, he was working for various radio stations in the Bronx and Manhattan as an announcer and radio playwright and was also working with various local stock companies. In 1926, the Odets family returned to Philadelphia for unclear reasons and Clifford joined Mae Desmond's Stock Company, based in West Philadelphia. In 1928 Odets was cast in several bit parts on Broadway and went on tour with the Theatre Guild, gradually garnering a few small speaking roles. In 1931 he became a founding member of the Group Theatre, comprised largely of people from the Guild. Odets was not highly regarded as an actor and the Group Theatre's directors once again assigned him minor roles. Out of frustration and boredon, he began writing plays.</p> <p>Odets' plays of the 1930s vividly portray the urban working class during the Depression and he is considered the leading proletarian playwright of that period. He entered <span class=\"title\">Waiting for Lefty</span>, a one-act play about a taxi drivers' strike, in a contest sponsored by the New York Theatre League and won first prize. First produced at the Fourteenth Street Theatre in January of 1935 as part of a benefit for the magazine, <span class=\"title\">Lefty</span> became an overnight senstation and Odets an international celebrity. The Group produced it in on Broadway in February, alongside his anti-Nazi play <span class=\"title\">Till the Day I Die</span>. A month later, they produced <span class=\"title\">Awake and Sing!</span>, generally considered his masterpiece. A fourth play, <span class=\"title\">Paradise Lost</span>, was also produced at this end of this momentous year. That work features the Gordons, a middle-class family, battling against economic, social, and health problems.</p> <p>Despite the critical success of his early plays, the Depression deeply affected the Group Theatre's finances. In February 1936, Odets made his first trip to Hollywood to work as a writer and, eventually, as a director. Odets shuttled between Hollywood and New York for a year and a half, earning $2,500 a week as a screenwriter, a substantial salary for the time.</p> <p>Odets returned to New York in 1937 with a new play, <span class=\"title\">Golden Boy</span>, considered by some to be his best work. <span class=\"title\">Golden Boy</span> catapulted his career and made him famous. The play tragically illustrates the conflict between the pursuit of material success and artistic fulfillment by way of a young violinist who is torn between the spoils of professional boxing and the concert stage. <span class=\"title\">Golden Boy</span> was followed by <span class=\"title\">Rocket to the Moon</span> (1938) and <span class=\"title\">Night Music</span> (1940), which both moved away from overtly political themes. Other Odets plays are <span class=\"title\">Clash by Night</span> (1941, <span class=\"title\">The Russian People</span> (1942, adaptation), <span class=\"title\">The Big Knife</span> (1949), <span class=\"title\">The Flowering Peach</span> (1954), and two unproduced plays, <span class=\"title\">The Silent Partner</span> (1939) and <span class=\"title\">The Law of Flight</span> (circa 1935). His major Broadway success, <span class=\"title\">The Country Girl</span>, was produced in 1950.</p> <p>In 1952, Odets was questioned by the House Committee on Un-American Activities because of his leftist orientation, which included a brief membership in the Communist party circa 1935. Clifford Odets was married twice, first to the British actress Louise Rainer and then to actress Betty Grayson. Both marriages ended in divorce. Odets had two children, Nora and Walt, from his marriage to Betty Grayson.</p> <p>At his death, Odets was living in Hollywood and working on a television series and drafts of several plays. He was also working on the book for the musical version of <span class=\"title\">Golden Boy</span>, which was completed by his friend, playwright William Gibson. Odets died on August 14, 1963 in Los Angeles.</p>"}
- custodhist
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Clifford Odets papers were donated to the Billy Rose Theatre Division in 1981. Nine additional installments arrived between 1981 and 1989. In 1986 the original deposit agreement was amended to an agreement of gift. At this time certain papers were removed from the collection and returned to Walt Odets.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The papers of Clifford Odets consist of scripts, notes, correspondence, journals, photographs, research materials, scrapbooks, and clippings that document his career as a playwright. The papers are divided into different aspects of his work in order for the researcher to appreciate the development of his plays and other writings. The papers provide an overview of Odets' artistic and technical writing process.</p> <p>The strength of this collection is in the abundant amount of his writings and notes, which exhibit Odets' creative writing techniques. These notes and written annotations in the scripts illuminate Odets' work habits and show his artistic progression. The papers illustrate Odets' change in writing style during the course of his career. Overall, the collection provides ample material for the researcher to gain an insight into Odets as a playwright and a person.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Clifford Odets papers are arranged in fourteen series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291012'>Series I: Diaries and Journals</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1926-1963</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains diaries and journals written by Clifford Odets in the years 1926, 1932, 1940, 1953, 1955, 1958, 1961, and 1963. The 1940 journal has been published under the title <span class=\"title\">The Journal of Clifford Odets</span> in 1940.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291024'>Series II: Appointment Books</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1951-1963</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains Clifford Odets appointment years for the years, 1951, 1953, 1955, and 1963.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291029'>Series III: Correspondence</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1935-1961</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains correspondence written to and by Odets. It includes correspondence from <span class=\"persname\">Harold Clurman</span>, <span class=\"persname\">Dave Chasen</span>, and <span class=\"corpname\">Group Theatre</span>. Most of the correspondence written by Odets is to ballerina <span class=\"persname\">Melissa Hayden</span>.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291033'>Series IV: Produced Works</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This includes plays and screenplays that were written by Clifford Odets and were produced during his career. It consists of scripts, research materials, and notes.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291151'>Series V: Unproduced Works</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes plays and screenplays written by Clifford Odets, but never produced. This series also includes notes and research materials. The unproduced plays are <span class=\"title\">Law of Flight</span>, <span class=\"title\">Mother's Day</span>, <span class=\"title\">910 Eden Street</span>, <span class=\"title\">Three Sisters</span>, and <span class=\"title\">Victory</span>. The unproduced screenplays are <span class=\"title\">April Showers</span>, <span class=\"title\">Gettysburg</span>, <span class=\"title\">Rhapsody in Blue</span>, <span class=\"title\">Sister Carrie</span>, and <span class=\"title\">The Three Sisters</span>.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291209'>Series VI: Synopses</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1943-1962</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This includes synopses written by Clifford Odets for potential plays or screenplays. However, the papers reveal no evidence that Odets continued the development of these stories. The titles that are included are: <span class=\"title\">The Actor</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Children's Title</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Piano Store</span>, and <span class=\"title\">Private Treaty</span>.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291214'>Series VII: Short Stories and Poetry</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes typescripts of short stories and poems written by Clifford Odets. Many are untitled and without publication information. The titles that are included are: <span class=\"title\">By the Sea</span>, <span class=\"title\">A Faint Smile</span>, <span class=\"title\">My Friend the Greek</span>, <span class=\"title\">Olive Wetson</span>, <span class=\"title\">One Hot Night</span>, <span class=\"title\">School Incident</span>, <span class=\"title\">Small Birds</span>, <span class=\"title\">Small Birds Fly Against the Wind</span>, <span class=\"title\">The Story of Pat Lawrence</span>, and <span class=\"title\">The Violinist</span>.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291230'>Series VIII: Notes</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains extensive notes written by Odets. This series reveals Clifford Odets' artistic development in the writing of his plays and other works. Also included are some of Odets' personal and domestic notes.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291334'>Series IX: Articles and Speeches</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1936-1961</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series includes articles written by Clifford Odets that were published in magazines and other serials. Also included are typed speeches made at special events. Of note is a copy of a eulogy he wrote in honor of Jerry Wald.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291363'>Series X: Biographical Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This includes biographical notes on Clifford Odets and his family collected by Margaret Brenman-Gibson for a book on Clifford Odets entitled <span class=\"title\">Clifford Odets, the American Playwright</span>.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291380'>Series XI: Photographs</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains personal photographs of Clifford Odets. Also included in the series are research photographs used by Odets to obtain a perspective on the characters and setting that he would use in his plays.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291385'>Series XII: Art Work</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains Clifford Odets paintings done in watercolor. The titles of the paintings are written on the back of the painting. The titles are in the sequence found in the box.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291387'>Series XIII: Scrapbooks</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1934-1955</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contains Clifford Odets' scrapbooks dating from 1934-1939 and 1941- 1962. The scrapbooks consist of clippings, programs, photographs, letters, cards, and newsletters.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21250#c291399'>Series XIV: Oversized Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series consists of items removed from other parts of the collection due to their size. Included are notes for <span class=\"title\">Law of Flight</span>, <span class=\"title\">Clash By Night</span> and <span class=\"title\">The Big Knife</span>.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- arrangement
-
{"value"=>"<ul class=\"list\"> <li> I. Diaries and Journals</li> <li>II. Appointment Books</li> <li>III. Correspondence</li> <li>IV. Produced Works <ul class=\"list\"> <li> Sub-series 1 - <span class=\"title\">Awake and Sing</span></li> <li>Sub-series 2 - <span class=\"title\">The Big Knife</span></li> <li>Sub-series 3 - <span class=\"title\">Clash By Night</span></li> <li>Sub-series 4 - <span class=\"title\">The Country Girl</span></li> <li>Sub-series 5 - <span class=\"title\">The Flowering Peach</span></li> <li>Sub-series 6 - <span class=\"title\">Golden Boy</span></li> <li>Sub-series 7 - <span class=\"title\">I Can't Sleep</span></li> <li>Sub-series 8 - <span class=\"title\">Night Music</span></li> <li>Sub-series 9 - <span class=\"title\">Paradise Lost</span></li> <li>Sub-series 10- <span class=\"title\">Rocket to the Moon</span></li> <li>Sub-series 11- <span class=\"title\">The Silent Partner</span></li> <li>Sub-series 12- <span class=\"title\">Waiting for Lefty</span></li> <li>Sub-series 13-<span class=\"title\"> None But the Lonely Heart</span> (Motion picture)</li> <li>Sub-series 14- <span class=\"title\">Notorious</span> (Motion picture)</li> <li>Sub-series 15- <span class=\"title\">The Story on Page One</span> (Motion picture)</li> <li>Sub-series 16- <span class=\"title\">Wild in the Country</span> (Motion picture)</li></ul></li> <li>V. Unproduced Works <ul class=\"list\"> <li>Sub-series 1 - <span class=\"title\">Law of Flight</span></li> <li>Sub-series 2 - <span class=\"title\">Mother's Day</span></li> <li>Sub-series 3 - <span class=\"title\">Nine Ten Eden Street</span></li> <li>Sub-series 4 - <span class=\"title\">Three Sisters</span></li> <li>Sub-series 5 - <span class=\"title\">Victory</span></li> <li>Sub-series 6 - <span class=\"title\">April Showers</span> (Screenplay)</li> <li>Sub-series 7 - <span class=\"title\">Gettysburg</span> (Screenplay)</li> <li>Sub-series 8 - <span class=\"title\">Rhapsody in Blue</span> (Screenplay)</li> <li>Sub-series 9 - <span class=\"title\">Sister Carrie</span> (Screenplay)</li></ul></li> <li>VI. Synopses</li> <li>VII. Short Stories and Poetry</li> <li>VIII. Notes <ul class=\"list\"> <li>Sub-series 1 - Notes - Professional and Personal by Title</li> <li>Sub-series 2 - Notes - Professional and Personal by Subject & Date</li> <li>Sub-series 3 - Notes - X-Notes (Character Notes)</li> <li>Sub-series 4 - Notes - Subject Notes (Miscellaneous)</li> <li>Sub-series 5 - Notes - Subject Notes (Blacks)</li></ul></li> <li>IX. Articles and Speeches</li> <li>X. Biographical Materials <ul class=\"list\"> <li>Sub-series 1 - Notes on Clifford Odets</li> <li>Sub-series 2 - Notes on Louis J. Odets (father)</li></ul></li> <li>XI. Photographs</li> <li>XII. Art Work</li> <li>XIII. Scrapbooks</li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift, Walt Odets, 10/05/1981</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Deposit, Walt Odets, 1984</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Ramon Cabrera and Mary Ellen Rogan.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>The collection was conserved, rehoused, and reprocessed in 1994. The clippings and the scrapbook were photocopied for conservation purposes.</p> <p>Copies of <span class=\"title\">April Showers</span>, <span class=\"title\">Awake and Sing</span>, <span class=\"title\">Silent Partner</span> and <span class=\"title\">Rocket to the Moon</span> are also available on microfilm. The call numbers for these are: <span class=\"title\">April Showers</span>, *ZC-495; <span class=\"title\">Awake and Sing</span>, ZC-501; <span class=\"title\">Silent Partner</span>, *ZC-557 no.1; <span class=\"title\">Rocket to the Moon</span>, *ZC-557 no. 2.</p>"}
- accessrestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>Some collections held by the Dance, Music, Recorded Sound, and Theatre Divisions at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts are held off-site and must be requested in advance. Please check the collection records in the NYPL's online catalog for detailed location information. For general guidance about requesting offsite materials, please consult: https://www.nypl.org/about/locations/lpa/requesting-archival-materials Photocopying prohibited.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For information about publication, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.</p> <p>For copyright permission contact: <ul class=\"list\"> <li>George Lane</li> <li>Creative Artist's Agency</li> <li>162 5th Avenue, 6th Floor</li> <li>New York, NY 10010</li> <li>212-277-9000</li></ul></p>"}
- date_start
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1926
- keydate
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1926
- date_end
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1963
- date_inclusive_start
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1926
- date_inclusive_end
-
1963