Diana Barrymore papers

id
9794
origination
Barrymore, Diana, 1921-1960
date statement
1865-1959 [bulk 1937-1957]
key date
1865
identifier (local_mss)
22435
org unit
Billy Rose Theatre Division
call number
*T-Mss 1960-002
b-number
b20532616
total components
46
total series
0
max depth
4
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2015-03-19 21:46:45 UTC
updated
2017-05-24 19:32:48 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"*T-Mss 1960-002", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"22435", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"b20532616", "type"=>"local_b"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1865-1959", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1865/1959"}
{"value"=>"1937-1957", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1937/1957"}
date_inclusive_start
1865
date_inclusive_end
1959
keydate
1865
unittitle
{"value"=>"Diana Barrymore papers"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"7.3 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"4 boxes, 7 volumes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
repository
{"id"=>"THE", "value"=>"Billy Rose Theatre Division"}
abstract
{"value"=>"Diana Barrymore (1921-1960) was an an American actress. The Diana Barrymore papers hold correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, programs, and other material documenting Barrymore's acting career and the publication of her memoir, <span class=\"title\">Too Much, Too Soon</span>."}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Diana Barrymore papers, *T-Mss 1960-002. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library</p>"}
origination
{"value"=>"Barrymore, Diana, 1921-1960", "type"=>"persname", "role"=>"creator"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Diana Barrymore (1921-1960) was an an American actress. She was the daughter of John Barrymore and his second wife, poet and actress Blanche Oelrichs. Oelrichs performed and wrote under the pseudonym Michael Strange. Barrymore studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made her Broadway debut at age 19 in <span class=\"title\">Romantic Mr. Dickens</span>. In November 1938, David Selznick had her screen tested for Scarlett O'Hara in <span class=\"title\">Gone With the Wind,</span> though she didn’t get the part. In 1942, she signed a contract with Universal Studios, appearing in several films including <span class=\"title\">Nightmare</span> (1942) and <span class=\"title\">Ladies Courageous</span> (1944). Alcohol and drug problems ended her film career in 1944. Barrymore married three times and was never able to restart her career, though she worked intermittently in summer stock theatre. In 1950 CBS offered her a live talk show, <span class=\"title\">The Diana Barrymore Show</span>, but Barrymore showed up the first night too drunk to work; and the show was canceled before it aired. In 1957 she completed her memoir, <span class=\"title\">Too Much, Too Soon</span> with the help of ghostwriter Gerold Frank. She died in New York of a drug and alcohol overdose at the age of 38.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The Diana Barrymore papers hold correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, programs, and other material documenting Barrymore's acting career and the publication of her memoir, <span class=\"title\">Too Much, Too Soon</span>.</p> <p>Correspondence is both personal and professional and includes letters from her mother Michael Strange, congratulatory telegrams from opening nights, invitations to dinner from friends, and statements from her lawyer in later years concerning her financial situation. Barrymore's letters to close friend Francis Kellogg are here. There is also fan mail, the bulk of which resulted from television appearances she made promoting <span class=\"title\">Too Much, Too Soon</span> in 1957.</p> <p>Photographs include portraits of various family members such as Michael Strange, John Barrymore, and her half-brothers Leonard and Robin Thomas. There are also head shots and promotional shots of Barrymore in various productions, as well as snapshots and childhood portraits. There is a set of photographs from her 1942 wedding to actor Bramwell Fletcher, whom she met while they were both starring in <span class=\"title\">Rebecca</span>.</p> <p>Barrymore's scrapbooks document her outings and parties as a New York debutante in the 1937-1938 season, as well as the first few years of her acting career. The scrapbooks consist of photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and the occasional sketch by Barrymore. A programs and clippings file holds further promotional material from Barrymore's stage shows and films, as well as copies of advertisements in which she appeared.</p> <p>Contracts are primarily from her book deal in 1957 and relate to serialization rights and publication. There are also address books and a script for <span class=\"title\">Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines</span> from a 1941 production starring Barrymore at the Ridgeway Theatre in White Plains, New York.</p> <p>Some files have internal call numbers with which they are associated. These call numbers are indicated in the container list with the letters \"MWEZ.\"</p>"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>Alphabetical by file title.</p>"}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by the Estate of Diana Barrymore, 1960</p>"}
processinfo
{"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"<p>Compiled by <span class=\"name\">Lea Jordan</span>, <span class=\"date\">2015</span></p>"}
userestrict
{"value"=>"<p>The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.</p>"}
relatedmaterial
{"value"=>"<span class=\"archref\">Gerold Frank papers, MssCol 1067. Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.</span>"}
dsc_type
combined
extent_statement
7.3 linear feet (4 boxes, 7 volumes)
date_start
1865
date_end
1959
date_bulk_start
1937
date_bulk_end
1957

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