- unitid
-
{"value"=>"188252", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"b19025701", "type"=>"local_b"}
{"value"=>"JPB 25-13", "type"=>"local_call"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1943-1945", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1943/1945"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Irving Berlin correspondence concerning <span class=\"title\">This Is the Army</span>"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"1 box", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"0.21 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Music Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Irving Berlin (1888-1989) was an American composer and songwriter. The Irving Berlin correspondence concerning <span class=\"title\">This Is the Army</span> mainly consists of letters and telegrams between Irving Berlin and his wife from 1943 to 1945, chronicling Berlin's experiences with the <span class=\"title\">This Is the Army</span> show during World War II."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989", "type"=>"persname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin), was born in Russia on May 11, 1888. His family immigrated to the United States when he was around five years old, arriving in New York on September 13, 1893. As a teenager, he became a singing waiter and gained a reputation for parodying popular songs. Although he could not read or write music at the time, he had a keen ear and collaborated on his first published song, \"Marie from Sunny Italy\" (1907), where his name was printed as \"I. Berlin,\" which he adopted and later changed his first name to Irving. Later in 1909, he became a staff lyricist for the Ted Snyder Company and gained recognition on vaudeville and Broadway. In 1911, his international reputation soared with \"Alexander's Ragtime Band,\" earning him the title \"Ragtime King\".</p> <p>The history of the play <span class=\"title\">This Is the Army</span> is a significant part of Irving Berlin's career and played a vital role in American morale during World War II. The military was initially slow to embrace camp entertainment, but the War Department's interest grew and it culminated in an invitation to Irving Berlin, in March 1942, under General George Marshall's auspices, to revive Yip Yip Yaphank. The play premiered on July 4, 1942, in wartime New York City which was a major event. Berlin himself considered it his \"most important work\" and \"the best thing I've ever been connected with.\" The show toured extensively and raised over $6 million for Army Emergency Relief. After a short run of 113 performances on Broadway, the show embarked on an extensive tour throughout the United States, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and the South Pacific, lasting almost the entire duration of U.S. involvement in World War II. It played 1,264 performances for over 2.5 million military and civilian spectators before its final show in Hawai'i in late October 1945. Despite its immense popularity and contribution to wartime morale, <span class=\"title\">This Is the Army</span> tends to be less remembered in historical accounts of musical theater. This is due to its short Broadway run, the lack of a surviving Broadway script (as Berlin constantly adapted the show), and its nature as a revue designed for a contemporary audience living through the war. Additionally, the 1943 film adaptation, while a major success, overlaid a fictional plot onto the revue format and often overshadows the original stage show in historical memory.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>This collection, spanning 1943 to 1945, primarily contains photocopied letters written by Irving Berlin to his wife while he was involved with the show <span class=\"title\">This Is the Army</span> during World War II. The correspondence chronicles his experiences with the production, including logistical challenges, audience reception in various locations like Italy, and difficulties with communication. Interspersed are telegrams between Berlin and his wife, as well as some letters and notes involving Abel Green, and a few items addressed to Berlin. Additionally, the collection holds newspaper clippings related to the show's success and a song dedicated to MacArthur.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by <span class=\"name\">Bob Kosovsky</span> and <span class=\"name\">Xena Morales</span> in <span class=\"date\">2025</span>.</p>"}
- userestrict
-
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Music Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
- date_start
-
1943
- keydate
-
1943
- date_end
-
1945
- date_inclusive_start
-
1943
- date_inclusive_end
-
1945
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Irving Berlin correspondence concerning <span class=\"title\">This Is the Army</span>, JPB 25-13. Music Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}