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Grünwald, Alfred.
Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.
The bulk of the Alfred Grunwald papers consists of scriptsand librettos written by Grunwald. These items, which caninclude typescripts, prompt copies, and published editionsare primarily in either the original German or are Englishadaptations by other authors. Among the librettos includedwith the collection (sometimes in multiple versions) are: Amazona (1947), Arizona-Lady (1950), Die Bajadere, Ball atthe Savoy, The Circus Princess (undated), Countess Maritza(1926-1982), Die Herzogin von Chicago (undated), Mr. Strauss in Boston (1943), and Viktoria und Ihr Husar (1930and undated). Also included in the writings are pieces credited to Grunwald's colleagues and collaborators, including Gustave Beer, Fred Granville, and Armin Robinson. The collection also contains papers accumulated by by Grunwald's son, Henry Grunwald, who was dedicated topreserving his father's legacy. This series includes some of Henry Grunwald's own writings, as well as biographical materials, correspondence, financial, and legal documents relating to Alfred Grunwald. Other material of note is theextensive set of musical scores, as well scrapbooks, whichcontain mainly photocopies of original source material documenting Grunwald's professional life in Vienna, including his theater criticism for Neues Wiener Journal, as well as early programs.
Austrian-born librettist, writer, and theater critic, Alfred Grunwald (1884-1951) wrote the librettos for over forty operettas, collaborating with such prominent composers as Franz Lehár and Emmerich Kálmán. Born in Vienna, Austria, Grunwald also served as a theater critic for the Neues Wiener Journal (1930-1938). He worked for a theatrical agency before turning to writing for the Viennese stage; he also wrote non-musical plays and short stories. As a librettist, Grunwald successfully added a modern social slant to the traditional operetta formula. Among those shows authored (or co-authored) by Grunwald, which later were produced on Broadway, are: Kálmán's The Yankee Princess (1922), Countess Maritza (1926), and The Circus Princess (1927). He also wrote a number of comedies,including Dancing Partner (1930), which was co-written with Alexander Engel and produced on Broadway by David Belasco. Secular Jews, Grunwald and his family were forcedto flee Austria after the Nazi rise to power. He eventually arrived in the United States in 1940, settling in New York. During World War II he was employed for a time with the Office of War Information translating the lyrics of American songs into German for transmission by radio to Germany. Grunwald's son Henry would become a noted journalist, advancing to the position of managing editor of Time magazine.
Ceramium rubrum (1843-53). NYPL Photography Collection.
One of 700,000 pictures in the NYPL Digital Gallery
