Research Catalog

FINDING AID AVAILABLE

Comden and Green papers

Title
  1. Comden and Green papers, 1933-2003.
Author
  1. Comden, Betty

Collection information

Finding aid

The finding aid is a document containing details about the organization and contents of this archival collection. Archival collections require an appointment to view and use on-site.

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Available by appointment at Performing Arts Research Collections - Theatre.

ContainerBox 1FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 18FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 29FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 28FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 27FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 26FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 25FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 22FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 20FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
Status
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Not available - - In use until 2025-10-08 - Please contact a librarian for assistance.

ContainerBox 19FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 17FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 12FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
Status

Not available - - In use until 2025-10-08 - Please contact a librarian for assistance.

ContainerBox 11FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 10FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 9FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 6FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 5FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 2FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
StatusContainerBox 23FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
Status

Not available - - In use until 2025-10-08 - Please contact a librarian for assistance.

ContainerBox 15FormatArchival MixAccessSupervised useCall number*T-Mss 1986-004Item locationPerforming Arts Research Collections - Theatre
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Details

Additional authors
  1. Green, Adolph
  2. Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990
  3. Brice, Fanny
  4. Wilder, Thornton, 1897-1975
  5. Revuers
Description
  1. 12 linear feet (29 boxes)
Summary
  1. The Comden and Green papers consist of scripts, production files, office files, financial records, awards, photographs, and programs from 1933 to 2003. The scripts series is one of the main strengths of the collection. It includes scripts for the team's work in radio, theater, film, and television. Particularly well-documented are some of Comden and Green's later Broadway productions, including Applause (1970), Bells are Ringing (1956), and On the Twentieth Century (1978). Of special interst are various drafts and sheet music for songs from their collaboration with Leonard Bernstein on a musical adapatation of Thorton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth, which was never finished (the project had an alternate title of Help! Help! Hooray!). Also of note are scripts for episodes of a proposed television adaptation of Bells are Ringing, the transcript of an oral history interview with Fanny Brice, and parody lyrics written for various political campaigns and tributes. This collection primarily documents the professional career of Comden and Green; its scope does not extend to personal materials, which are only minimally represented.
Subject
  1. Comden, Betty
  2. Green, Adolph
  3. Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990
  4. Brice, Fanny -- Interviews
  5. Revuers
  6. Dramatists
  7. Musical films -- United States
  8. Musicals
  9. Musical theater -- United States
  10. Television musicals -- United States
Genre/Form
  1. Awards.
  2. Financial records.
  3. Photographs.
  4. Programs.
  5. Radio scripts.
  6. Scripts (documents)
  7. Sheet music.
  8. Television scripts.
Call number
  1. *T-Mss 1986-004
Note
  1. The Comden and Green papers were reprocessed in 2005.
Access (note)
  1. Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.
Location of other archival materials (note)
  1. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts for
Biography (note)
  1. The writing team of Adolph Green (1915-2002) and Betty Comden (b. 1919) co-authored the books and lyrics to some of the most important works of musical theater and film. Working together, the pair was successful and versatile as lyricists, librettists, and screenwriters. As performers, Comden and Green first worked together in 1938 as part of the cabaret act, The Revuers, and would continue to appear together frequently in their own shows. Separately, each took on an occasional acting assignment in film and television.
Indexes/finding aids (note)
  1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.
Author
  1. Comden, Betty.
Title
  1. Comden and Green papers, 1933-2003.
Restricted access
  1. Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.
Biography
  1. The writing team of Adolph Green (1915-2002) and Betty Comden (b. 1919) co-authored the books and lyrics to some of the most important works of musical theater and film. Working together, the pair was successful and versatile as lyricists, librettists, and screenwriters. As performers, Comden and Green first worked together in 1938 as part of the cabaret act, The Revuers, and would continue to appear together frequently in their own shows. Separately, each took on an occasional acting assignment in film and television.
Location of other archival materials
  1. See also the Adolph Green papers (*T-Mss 2004-023) in the Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts for scripts and programs pertaining to Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Indexes
  1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.
Connect to:
  1. Request Access to Theatre Division Special Collections material
  2. Finding Aid
Occupation
  1. Lyricists.
  2. Screenwriters.
  3. Television writers.
Added author
  1. Comden, Betty.
  2. Green, Adolph.
  3. Bernstein, Leonard, 1918-1990.
  4. Brice, Fanny.
  5. Comden, Betty. Applause.
  6. Green, Adolph. Applause.
  7. Comden, Betty. Bells are ringing.
  8. Green, Adolph. Bells are ringing.
  9. Comden, Betty. On the Twentieth Century.
  10. Green, Adolph. On the Twentieth Century.
  11. Wilder, Thornton, 1897-1975. Skin of our teeth.
  12. Revuers.
Research call number
  1. *T-Mss 1986-004
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