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Creator
Levy, Jesse W.
Call number
*T-Mss 1991-001
Physical description
1.51 linear feet (4 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Jesse Levy collection of Tallulah Bankhead materials, *T-Mss 1991-001. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.

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

Jesse W. Levy (1918-1991) was a personal assistant to Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968) the film and stage actor. The collection, dated from the 1930s to 1980s, contains material amassed by Levy about Bankhead. (Some of the files focus on Levy's personal life.) The collection holds information about Bankhead's estate; photographs, correspondence, newspaper clippings, a script, artifacts, and audio-visual materials.

Biographical/historical information

Jesse W. Levy (1918-1991) worked as a personal assistant to Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968), the film and stage actor. In 1966, he met Bankhead at Truman Capote's Black and White Ball where she offered Levy a job. For the last two years of her life, he became a friend and confident. Following her death in New York City, Bankhead's last will and testament bequest Levy the sum of $10,000.00. This financial amount was more or equal to those given to her family. Levy died in San Francisco in 1991.

Scope and arrangement

The collection, dated from 1930s to 1980s, documents the professional career and personal life of Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968) the stage and film actor. Jesse W. Levy (1918-1991) created this collection during and after her lifetime, although some of the files relate to him. The collection holds correspondence, legal documents, photographs, newspaper clippings, a script, artifacts, and audio-visual materials.

The collection mostly centers on Tallulah Bankhead's estate and personal life. The estate papers hold letters from lawyers to Levy about his inheritance from Bankhead's will. These lawyers also respond to questions about profits from Bankhead's autobiography and about biographies written by others. A copy of Bankhead's last will and testament forms part of the estate papers.

Photographs offer the best documentation of Bankhead's personal life during the late stages of her career. These black and white photographs,dating from 1966 to 1968, show Bankhead enjoying leisure time with friends, including Truman Capote.

Levy also kept photographs of Bankhead's professional career. Most of the images are stock commercial photographs of close-ups, and movie and television scenes. The last group of photographs focuses on Levy.

The remaining material includes a script from the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; a fan letter; one letter from the actor Roddy McDowall; a linen towel from the 1935 play Something Gay; and two audio-visual recordings relating to Bankhead's career.

Arrangement

The collection arrangement follows: Tallulah Bankhead Estate Papers; Photographs; Printed Matter; Assorted Materials.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Donated by Estate of Jesse Levy, 1991, with later additions in 1992 and 1993.

Processing information

Compiled by Valerie Wingfield, 2014.

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

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. for information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org

Access restrictions

Library policy of photography and photocopying will apply. Inquiries regarding audio/visual materials in the collection may be directed to the Billy Rose Theatre Division (theatre@nypl.org). Audio/visual materials will be subject to preservation evaluation and migration prior to access.