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Creator
Paskman, Dailey
Call number
*T-Mss 1994-016
Physical description
2.1 lin. ft. (5 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Dailey Paskman Papers, *T-Mss 1994-016, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

The Dailey Paskman papers consist of correspondence, clippings, publicity materials, professional papers, scripts and ephemera related primarily to Paskman's years as director of radio station WGBS. Materials on Paskman's lyric writing, the development of the Radio Minstrels, the creation of Dailey Paskman and Associates, and his affiliation with the Edward B. Marks Music Corporation are also represented. The collection is notable for its information about the growth and creativity of radio broadcasting. The bulk of the collection spans the years 1924-1929.

Biographical/historical information

Lyricist, author, director, producer, and radio programming pioneer Dailey Raymond Paskman was born in Philadelphia on July 24, 1897. He began his career as an actor playing children's roles with the Forepaugh Stock Company. When the Shuberts opened their theaters in Philadelphia, Paskman worked in their publicity department. Eventually he became advance representative and then company manager of a troupe traveling across the country.

A few years later he was hired by producer Morris Gest of Comstock and Gest. Their association lasted for over ten years. During this time he assisted in producing and adapting many of Gest's shows including Chu Chin Chow, Mecca, and The Miracle. Paskman, who had previously tried his hand at writing music, now began writing lyrics for composers such as Rudolf Friml, Vincent Youmans and Victor Young, among others.

In 1924, at the age of 27, Paskman was appointed director of Gimbel's radio station WGBS. One of his many contributions to broadcasting was the development of radio drama: he was the first person to produce plays on the radio by broadcasting live dramas from the stage and then by adapting plays for radio presentation. While affiliated with WGBS he organized and directed The Dailey Paskman Radio Minstrels who, because of their enormous popularity on the radio, also performed on the vaudeville circuit.

In 1928 Gimbel's and Paskman created The General Broadcasting System retaining WGBS as its key station and Paskman as president. WGBS became the New York outlet of a chain of stations across the country. When the station was later sold to William Randolph Hearst, Paskman formed Dailey Paskman and Associates which provided independent stations with a New York office and representation. At some time during the 1930's Paskman joined forces with the Edward B. Marks Music Corporation where, among other projects, he represented musical comedy and operetta material for possible motion picture use.

Dailey Paskman was the author of two books on the subject of minstrelsy: Gentlemen, Be Seated! [with Sigmund Spaeth] and Blackface and Music [a folio of songs and minstrel material]. He was married to former actress Mai Poth. He died at the age of 82 in 1979.

Scope and arrangement

The Dailey Paskman Papers span the years 1904-1939 and consist of correspondence, professional papers, WGBS materials, publicity materials, ephemera, synopses, scripts, and one scrapbook. There is extensive information about the beginnings of WGBS and The Radio Minstrels including invitations, program notes, lists of guests and participants, drafts of scripts, applause cards, and proof of reception cards. There are royalty statements and correspondence documenting many of the songs Paskman co-wrote. Clippings and press releases impart information about WGBS, Paskman's personal life, and other career achievements. The ephemera series includes a wide scope of material from a Navy patch to vaudeville programs. The synopses represent Paskman's affiliation with the Edward B. Marks Music Corporation. The scrapbook is filled with clippings about the early 20th century actress Adelaide Keim.

The Dailey Paskman papers are arranged in eight series:

  • Series I. Correspondence,.
    1918-1939
    19 folders

    The bulk of the material in this series covers Paskman's directorship of WGBS including the station's inception [1924] and the creation of The General Broadcasting System [1928]. Other subjects include: special broadcasts; Dailey Paskman's Radio Minstrels; his book Gentlemen, Be Seated!; his lyric-writing; and a Federal Theatre Project of the musical Sumurun [correspondence with composer Victor Hollander and adapter Gene Lockhart plus a copy of the action of the condensed version 1937-1939]. A letter and a telegram [n.d.] from his wife are included.

  • Series II. Professional Papers,.
    1922-1927
    2 folders

    Includes royalty statements for many of his songs and income tax returns [1922-1926].

  • Series III. WGBS (Radio Station)
    1924-1925
    7 folders

    Includes first broadcast [October 26, 1924] lists of guests and participants, R.S.V.P. cards, related correspondence; the S.S. Leviathan broadcast [April 30, 1925] correspondence and rough draft of the program line-up; program routine and script pieces for The Dailey Paskman Radio Minstrels; a typescript of an interview with Gilda Gray regarding Aloma of the South Seas; and a copy of a speech by Herman Bernard, managing editor of Radio World, reflecting on radio's effect on modern life. Much of the WGBS correspondence is in the form of applause cards and proof of reception cards.

  • Series IV. Publicity Materials,.
    1918-1929
    9 folders 1 oversized folder

    Includes biographical and professional information in the form of clippings and press releases covering WGBS, The Radio Minstrels, and Paskman's life and career. Oversized materials include a tear sheet for the WGBS first broadcast, publicity copy for Gentlemen, Be Seated!, and broadsides for the Strand Theatre [Rockville Centre, N. Y.] performance of the Radio Minstrels.

  • Series V. Personal Ephemera
    1911-1929
    4 folders

    Includes a NY to Philadelphia railroad ticket [1911]; Paskman's (?) Navy patch; a Columbia University bursar's receipt [1922]; business cards; membership cards for ASCAP, The Friars Club, The Ramblers, and The Songwriters; Paskman's rough sketch for the Chu Chin Chow poster; a copy of Radigram [1925]; an issue of Music-World Almanak [n.d.]; and a selection of vaudeville programs featuring The Dailey Paskman Radio Minstrels.

  • Series VI. Scrapbooks
    1904-1905
    1 folder (1 scrapbook)

    One scrapbook of clippings about the career of turn-of-the-century actress Adelaide Keim. [This may have been picked up by Paskman during his early theater days however, there is no evidence in the collection as to when or why]

  • Series VII. Synopses
    ca. 1934-1936
    1 box

    Synopses of various musical comedies and operettas prepared by Paskman while associated with The Edward B. Marks Music Corp. for possible motion picture projects. A list of Weber and Fields properties and a receipt for properties sent to Hal Roach Studios are included.

  • Series VIII. Scripts
    1927-1936
    2 boxes

    Notes, drafts, and copies with variations of Paskman's scripts for radio dramatizations of the lives of Beethoven and Mozart, many handwritten by Paskman. The remainder of the scripts in this series are copies of some of the musical properties represented by Paskman. The folder containing The Student King includes several pages of handwritten lyrics.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The Dailey Paskman Papers were donated to the Billy Rose Theatre Division in 1978.

Source of acquisition

Dailey Paskman, 1978

Processing information

Processed by Susan McArthur.

Parts of the collection, which had been cataloged separately, were united into one collection in 1994. Many of the crumbling clippings and radio scripts were photocopied onto acid free paper for the purpose of preservation.

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.

Access restrictions

Photocopying prohibited.