Research Catalog

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