Research Catalog

Title

Richard Lewine papers, 1897-2004 (bulk 1925-1984)

Author

Lewine, Richard.

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Carroll, June.
• Drake, Alfred, 1914-1992.
• Eager, Edward.
• Fetter, Ted.
• Horwitt, Arnold, 1918-1977.
• Latouche, John, 1914-1956.
• Simon, Alfred, 1907-1991.
• Van Antwerp, John.
• Lewine, Richard.

Description

35.5 linear feet (42 boxes, 1 tube)

Subjects

• Composers
• Coward, Noël, 1899-1973 > Correspondence
• Scores
• Royalty statements
• Rodgers, Richard, 1902-1979 > Correspondence
• Revues > New York (State) > New York
• Musical theater > New York (State) > New York
• Television producers and directors > United States
• Television musicals > United States
• Clippings
• Lewine, Richard
• Musicals > United States
• Composers > United States > 20th century
• Porter, Cole, 1891-1964 > Correspondence
• Sondheim, Stephen > Correspondence
• Scripts (documents)
• Programs
• Photographs
• Caesar, Irving, 1895-1996 > Correspondence
• Posters

Genre/Form

• Clippings.
• Photographs.
• Posters.
• Programs.
• Royalty statements.
• Scores.
• Scripts (documents)

Access (note)

• Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Source (note)

• Lewine, Elizabeth Rivers

Biography (note)

• Richard Lewine (1910-2005) was a successful television producer, who got his start as a composer for musical theater, and, who later co-authored several works on musical theater.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Call Number

*T-Mss 2006-008

OCLC

• 156466492
• 156466492

Author

Lewine, Richard.

Title

Richard Lewine papers, 1897-2004 (bulk 1925-1984)

Summary

The Richard Lewine papers are mostly made up of scores for musicals written, produced, or conceived by Lewine, including such shows as The Fireman's Flame (1937), The Girl from Wyoming (1938), The Girls Against the Boys (1959), Make Mine Manhattan (1948), and Naughty Naught '00 (1937), as well as the unproduced The Liberty Tree (with lyrics by Edward Eager and libretto co-written by Eager and Alfred Drake). The collection also contains some scripts, programs, posters, and production files for stage musicals written or produced by Lewine. Although comprised mainly of professional materials, the collection does include some personal items such as army documents, biographies, correspondence, educational documents, passports, personal clippings, photographs and royalty statements. Notable correspondents include Irving Caesar, Noel Coward, Cole Porter (chiefly concerning Aladdin), Richard Rodgers, and Stephen Sondheim. The strengths of this collection lie in its extensive holdings of orchestral parts for Lewine's musicals, especially The Girls Against the Boys, as well as materials relating to Lewine's early shows. Generally less well-documented in the collection, Lewine's work in television is represented mainly in the production files. The Richard Lewine papers include materials from as early as 1897 and as late as 2004, but the bulk of the collection is from 1925-1984.

Restricted Access

Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photography and photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Biography

Richard Lewine (1910-2005) was a successful television producer, who got his start as a composer for musical theater, and, who later co-authored several works on musical theater. Lewine, who studied music at Columbia University, launched his composing career writing songs with lyricist June Sillman (later June Carroll) for the Broadway revue, Fools Rush In (1934, produced by Leonard Sillman) and with lyricist John Latouche for the Off-Broadway play, Murder in the Old Red Barn (1936). He then he wrote the music for three parodies of Victorian melodrama, presented at the American Music Hall and other venues, with lyricist Ted Fetter and librettist John Van Antwerp (possibly a pseudonym for playwright Owen Davis). A four year stint as an officer in the Army Signal Corps during World War II, interrupted Lewine's career in musical theater. Following the war, he collaborated with lyricist/librettist Arnold B. Horwitt on the hit revue, Make Mine Manhattan (1948). Though Lewine primarily focused on television work from the 1950s on, he occasionally returned to theater. For example, he reunited with Horwitt for the Broadway musical, The Girls Against the Boys (1959). He also produced a few shows, including the unsuccessful Look to the Lilies (1970), as well as the revue, Rodgers & Hart (1975). From 1953 through 1961, however, Lewine worked at CBS television in many capacities. At CBS, he was able to bring theater to a wider audience, producing television versions of many plays and musicals. Lewine also produced original television musicals, including Cole Porter's Aladdin (1957) and Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957). He also served as the executive producer for the first four seasons of the acclaimed series, The New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts with Leonard Bernstein (1957-1962). After Lewine left CBS in 1961, he worked as an independent producer, with shows such as Hootenanny (1963-1964) on ABC, and various specials, including My Name is Barbra (1965). Lewine also was an author of several scholarly works on musical theater. His books, written in collaboration with Alfred Simon, include Encyclopedia of Theatre Music (1962), Songs of the American Theatre (1973) and Songs of the Theatre (1984.) Lewine was involved in many professional organizations, including the Dramatists Guild and the Author's League Fund. After the death of Richard Rodgers in 1979, Lewine took over the running of The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization for two years. In later years, Lewine continued to compose orchestral pieces, such as A Little Theatre Music (1981) and A Walk in the City (1982) for clarinet and piano.

Indexes

Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

Finding Aid

Occupation

Composers.

Television producers and directors.

Added Author

Carroll, June.

Drake, Alfred, 1914-1992.

Eager, Edward.

Fetter, Ted.

Horwitt, Arnold, 1918-1977.

Latouche, John, 1914-1956.

Simon, Alfred, 1907-1991.

Van Antwerp, John.

Drake, Alfred, 1914-1992. Liberty tree.

Eager, Edward. Liberty tree.

Horwitt, Arnold, 1918-1977. Make mine Manhattan.

Lewine, Richard. Fireman's flame.

Lewine, Richard. Girl from Wyoming.

Lewine, Richard. Girls against the boys.

Lewine, Richard. Liberty tree.

Lewine, Richard. Little theatre music.

Lewine, Richard. Make mine Manhattan.

Lewine, Richard. Naughty-naught.

Research Call Number

*T-Mss 2006-008