Playwrights' Producing Company records

id
4983
origination
Playwrights' Producing Company
date statement
1930s-1960
key date
1930
identifier (local_mss)
2437
org unit
Manuscripts and Archives Division
call number
MssCol 2437
b-number
b12414482
total components
31
total series
3
max depth
2
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 15:05:11 UTC
updated
2025-08-04 19:53:37 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"2437", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"b12414482", "type"=>"local_b"}
{"value"=>"MssCol 2437", "type"=>"local_call"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1930s-1960", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1930/1960"}
unittitle
{"value"=>"Playwrights' Producing Company records"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"6 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"2.29 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Manuscripts and Archives</span>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"Press Department files (1930s-1960) of the Playwrights' Producing Company (also known as the Playwrights' Company), a theatrical producing company founded in 1938 by playwrights Maxwell Anderson, S.N. Behrman, Elmer Rice, Robert Sherwood, and Sidney Howard."}
langmaterial
{"value"=>"English"}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Playwrights' Producing Company. Press Department Records, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations.</p>"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>The Playwrights' Producing Company, a theatrical production company also know as the Playwrights' Company, was founded in New York in 1938. The original group of partners were playwrights Maxwell Anderson, S.N. Behrman (withdrew in 1946), Elmer Rice, Robert Sherwood, and Sidney Howard (d. 1939). John R. Wharton supplied legal and management advice. Kurt Weill joined the Company in 1946 and Robert Anderson joined in 1953. The group produced plays written by its members and other playwrights. The Company ceased operations in 1960.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The Playwrights' Producing Company Press Department Records consist of correspondence of William Fields and Walter Alford, 1940-1960, and Show Files, 1930s-1950s, along with biographical files and clippings.</p> <p> Fields' and Alford's correspondence is with performers, magazines, newspapers, radio stations, photographers, charities, and others concerning arrangements for publicity appearances by such stars as Joan Fontaine, Deborah Kerr, Audrey Hepburn. There is not much correspondence with the Playwrights' Company partners. A typescript of a short biographical note about Lotte Lenya with accompanying letters by Kurt Weill, 1944, and Lenya, n.d., is included.</p> <p> Show Files consist largely of press releases for each show. They also contain drafts of programs, cast lists, printed notices and programs, biographical questionnaires completed by performers, correspondence, memoranda, telegrams, and clippings. Shows represented include <span class=\"title\">Abe Lincoln In Illinois</span>, 1938; <span class=\"title\">Candle in the Wind</span>, 1941; <span class=\"title\">Cat on a Hot Tin Roof</span>, 1956-1957; <span class=\"title\">The Country Wife</span>, 1957; <span class=\"title\">Jezebel's Husband</span>, 1952; <span class=\"title\">Journey to Jerusalem</span>; <span class=\"title\">Juno,</span> (a musical adapted by Joseph Stein and Marc Blitzstein from Sean O'Casey's <span class=\"title\">Juno and the Paycock</span>), 1959; <span class=\"title\">Miss Liberty</span>, 1949; <span class=\"title\">Look After Lulu</span>, 1959; <span class=\"title\">Ondine</span>, 1954; <span class=\"title\">The Rugged Path</span>, 1946; and <span class=\"title\">Small War on Murray Hill</span>, 1956. Some additional biographical questionnaires and biographical information solicited by the Press Department, and clippings are also included.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Playwrights' Producing Company records are arranged in three series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2437#c182795'>Series I. Correspondence, 1940-1960; n.d.</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1940-1960</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2437#c182798'>Series II. Show Files, 1930s-1950s</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1930s-1950s</div>\n</li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mss/2437#c182824'>Series III. Questionnaires/Biographical Information, Clippings</a></div>\n</li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is arranged in three series:</p> <ol class=\"list\"> <li>I. Correspondence</li> <li>II. Show Files</li> <li>III. Questionnaires/Biographical Information, Clippings</li></ol>", "supress_display"=>true}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Transferred from the Billy Rose Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, 1961. However, additional records of the Company remain in the Billy Rose Theatre Collection.</p>"}
separatedmaterial
{"value"=>"<p>Additional records of the Playwrights' Producing Company can be consulted in the Billy Rose Theatre Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</p>"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Julie Miller; machine-readable finding aid created by Melanie A. Yolles.</p>"}
relatedmaterial
{"value"=>"<p>Additional records of the Playwrights' Producing Company, known as the Playwrights' Company Records, 1938-1960 can be consulted at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Archives Division, 816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706.</p>"}
date_start
1930
keydate
1930
date_end
1960
date_inclusive_start
1930
date_inclusive_end
1960
extent_statement
2.29 linear feet (6 boxes)

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