Samuel Leve design files

id
9808
origination
Leve, Sam
date statement
1930s-1994 [bulk 1930s-1950s]
key date
1930
identifier (local_mss)
22638
org unit
Billy Rose Theatre Division
call number
*T-Vim 2012-097
b-number
b20535489
total components
213
total series
0
max depth
3
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2015-04-03 19:05:44 UTC
updated
2017-05-24 19:34:08 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

unitid
{"value"=>"*T-Vim 2012-097", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"22638", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"b20535489", "type"=>"local_b"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1930s-1994", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1930/1994"}
{"value"=>"1930s-1950s", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1930/1959"}
date_inclusive_start
1930
date_inclusive_end
1994
keydate
1930
date_start
1930
date_end
1994
unittitle
{"value"=>"Samuel Leve design files"}
physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"6 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"11 boxes, 13 oversized folders, 5 tubes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
repository
{"id"=>"THE", "value"=>"Billy Rose Theatre Division"}
abstract
{"value"=>"Samuel Leve (1910-1999) was a New York-based scenic designer. The Samuel Leve design files date from the 1930s to 1994 and contain designs, photographs and slides, scenic and rigging plots, course materials, correspondence, clippings, programs, and newsletters."}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Samuel Leve design files, *T-Vim 2012-097. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.</p>"}
origination
{"value"=>"Leve, Sam", "type"=>"persname", "role"=>"creator"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Samuel Leve (1910-1999) was a New York-based scenic designer. Originally from Russia, the Leve family immigrated to the United States in 1920. In the 1930s, Leve worked at the Mercury Theatre in New York, creating scenic designs for the productions of Julius Caesar (1937) and The Shoemaker's Holiday (1938). He also taught \"Principles and Practice of Stage Design,\" a summer course held at the City College of New York.</p> <p>Throughout his career, Leve designed for countless productions on Broadway such as Beat the Band (1942), Dark Hammock (1944), and The Story of Mary Surratt (1947); international productions at the National Theatre such as It's a Gift (1945) and Dinosaur Wharf (1951); and Metropolitan Opera House productions such as The Warrior (1947). He created scenic designs for television productions including The Fred Waring Show (1949-1953), The Ford Theatre Hour, and The Nash Airflyte Theater series; and presidential events such as birthday parties for Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, and a 1971 speaking engagement for Richard M. Nixon.</p> <p>Leve also worked on productions such as Let's Be Candid (1937) and The Big Blow (1938) for the Federal Theatre Project, a New Deal project established in 1935 and sponsored by the Works Progress Administration. In 1990, he was honored at George Mason University's Federal Theater Tribute Luncheon in New York.</p> <p>Leve was a member of the United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829. He died in 1999 in New York City.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The Samuel Leve design files date from the 1930s to 1994 (bulk dates 1930s-1950s) and represent his career as a New York-based scenic designer. Files are composed of designs, photographs and slides, scenic and rigging plots, course materials, correspondence, clippings, programs, and newsletters.</p> <p>The bulk of the collection consists of photographs and scenic and rigging plots that demonstrate the execution of Leve's designs. Photos are from various theater and television productions such as Julius Caesar (1937), The Big Blow (1938), Dark Hammock (1944), Eleven Lives of Leo (1948), The Fred Waring Show (1949-1953), and Dinosaur Wharf (1951). There are also a series of slides from the 1958 NBC television special of Hansel and Gretel. The scenic and rigging plots are from numerous theatrical productions such as Beat the Band (1942), Clutterbuck (1949), Lace on Her Petticoat (1951); and the television series The Revlon Mirror Theater (1953). Some of the plots have multiple productions within one roll, especially episodes in The Ford Theatre Hour and The Nash Airflyte Theater series such as Little Women (1949), The School for Scandal (1950) A Double-Dyed Deceiver (1950), Portrait of Lydia (1950) and The Fiddling Fool (1951). A few of the plot rolls also contain designs.</p> <p>The majority of the designs included in this collection were either framed or mounted on poster board. There is an Uncle Sam design from a 1953 birthday party for Dwight D. Eisenhower; a presentation sketch from a 1971 Richard M. Nixon speaking engagement; presentation sketches for Beat the Band (1942); a design from the Federal Theatre Project's Let's Be Candid (1937); and designs for theatrical productions such as The Story of Mary Surratt (1947). Some of Leve's designs are very artistic, elaborate, and resemble collages. Some also have values listed on the back of the frames or mounting, such as the designs for Eleven Lives of Leo (1948) and Solomon's Daughter (1957).</p> <p>Materials related to Leve's 1938 summer course at City College, \"Principles and Practice of Stage Design,\" consist of a glossary of stage terms, bibliographies, and lecture notes.</p> <p>Additionally, the collection contains items concerning the Federal Theatre Project, such as a program and correspondence from the 1990 tribute luncheon at George Mason University where Leve was honored. There are also correspondence, clippings, and newsletters related to the 1992 presentation of the Federal Theatre Project archival materials, housed at George Mason University, which were adapted into new theatrical productions.</p> <p>Most of Leve's work includes a United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 stamp. Many of the photographs and designs are unidentified.</p>"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p>The collection is organized by production.</p>"}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Donated by Teri Leve, 2013.</p>"}
processinfo
{"type"=>"processing", "value"=>"<p>Compiled by <span class=\"name\">Joyce Joseph</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>"}
dsc_type
combined
extent_statement
6 linear feet (11 boxes, 13 oversized folders, 5 tubes)
date_bulk_start
1930
date_bulk_end
1959

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