Research Catalog

Title

Radio City Music Hall collection of the papers of James Stewart Morcom and John William Keck, 1926-1994.

Author

Radio City Music Hall (New York, N.Y.)

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Morcom, James Stewart, 1906-1988.
• Keck, John William, 1929-2001.
• Roxy Theatre (New York, N.Y.)

Description

2 linear feet (6 boxes)

Subjects

• Performing arts > New York (State) > New York
• Brochures
• Clippings
• Papers
• Morcom, James Stewart, 1906-1988
• Scrapbooks
• Articles
• Roxy Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
• Keck, John William, 1929-2001
• Radio City Music Hall (New York, N.Y.)
• Designs
• Oral histories
• Programs
• Theater > New York (State) > New York
• Photographs
• Set designers > United States
• Playbills

Genre/Form

• Clippings.
• Photographs.
• Playbills.
• Programs.
• Papers.
• Designs.
• Brochures.
• Articles.
• Oral histories.
• Scrapbooks.

Access (note)

• Collection is open to the public. Materials in Box 1 may not be copied. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Source (note)

• Marshall, Jerry

Biography (note)

• James Stewart Morcom (1906-1988) was a stage designer who served as the fifth Art Director for Radio City Music Hall.
• John William Keck (1929-2001) was a stage designer who served as the sixth Art Director for Radio City Music Hall, succeeding James Stewart Morcom in 1973, and holding the position until 1980.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Finding aid available in repository and on the Internet.

Processing Action (note)

• Processed

Call Number

*T-Mss 2002-005

OCLC

NYPW02-A172

Author

Radio City Music Hall (New York, N.Y.)

Title

Radio City Music Hall collection of the papers of James Stewart Morcom and John William Keck, 1926-1994.

Summary

The manuscript collection of James Stewart Morcom and John William Keck includes papers and photographs that chart the professional careers of the two designers. Both Morcom and Keck held the post of Art Director for Radio City Music Hall in New York, and the majority of the collection relates to their respective tenures. Also included are papers and photographs documenting work by each man for other institutions, such as Morcom's designs for the Roxy Theatre, Morcom's and Keck's designs for Jones Beach Theatre productions, and Keck's designs for the Nolan Scenery Studios and the Metropolitan Opera House. The papers of the Morcom and Keck collection includes newspaper and magazine clippings, souvenir brochures and programs, playbills, journal articles, a transcript of Morcom's oral history of his work with the Federal Theatre Project, and Morcom's personal scrapbook. The subject content of the Morcom and Keck photograph collection inclues costume and production scenes at various venues, publicity photographs, images of scenery being constructed, and Keck's career in summer stock. The dates for the papers and photographs of Morcom are 1926 to 1982, and the dates for Keck are 1948 to 1994. This collection also contains a sizeable set of color and black & white photographs of Radio City Music Hall productions that date from 1933 to 1978. Most photographs include descriptive information on production, performers, date, etc.

Restricted Access

Collection is open to the public. Materials in Box 1 may not be copied. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Biography

James Stewart Morcom (1906-1988) was a stage designer who served as the fifth Art Director for Radio City Music Hall. James Morcom came to New York in 1926 and, from the following year until 1931, worked at the newly built Roxy Theatre as assistant to scenic designer Clark Robinson. When Robinson became the second Art Director for the new Radio City Music Hall in 1933, Morcom again assisted him before moving on to other projects. During the Depression Morcom designed display windows, created backdrops for the Columbia Burlesque theater chain, contributed designs to various plays, night club revues, and films, and also found work with the Federal Theatre Project. In 1936 Morcom worked in London on COCHRAN'S CORONATION REVUE. After returning to the United States and seeing Orson Welles in the title role of Doctor Faustus in his Mercury Theatre stage production of the Marlowe play, Morcom contributed designs to several Mercury productions, including FIVE KINGS, TOO MUCH JOHNSON, and NATIVE SON. During World War II he served in the Special Service Arts Department, designing sets and costumes for productions in Paris and London. After post-war study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, Morcom returned to New York where, after contributing designs to Billy Rose's DIAMOND HORSESHOE and the New York City Ballet, Morcom became Art Director of Radio City Music Hall in 1950. He was succeeded in the position in 1973 by John William Keck.

John William Keck (1929-2001) was a stage designer who served as the sixth Art Director for Radio City Music Hall, succeeding James Stewart Morcom in 1973, and holding the position until 1980. John William Keck was born in Greenwich Village, New York City, on December 4, 1929. He attended the High School of Music and Art and attended Pratt Institute. Keck got his start as a summer stock scene painter in the 1950s, and eventually became a respected scenic designer. Keck was a designer for several years at Radio City Music Hall before he succeeded James Stewart Morcom as Art Director in 1973. He resigned from the position in the spring of 1980, and later designed sets for the Metropolitan Opera House.

Indexes

Finding aid available in repository and on the Internet.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Added Author

Morcom, James Stewart, 1906-1988.

Keck, John William, 1929-2001.

Roxy Theatre (New York, N.Y.)

Research Call Number

*T-Mss 2002-005