Research Catalog

Title

Arthur and Ruth Knorr papers and designs, 1908-1986.

Author

Knorr, Arthur, 1898-1966.

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Knorr, Ruth Gray.
• Capitol Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
• Roxy Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
• Miss USA Pageant.
• Miss Universe Pageant.

Description

60 linear feet (125 boxes )

Summary

The Arthur and Ruth Knorr papers and designs are primarily comprised of set designs and production materials relating to the numerous shows on which Knorr worked.

Uniform Title

Milton Berle show (Television program)

Subjects

• Theatrical producers and directors
• Diazotypes
• Knorr, Ruth Gray
• Sketchbooks
• Capitol Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
• Schematic drawings
• Beauty contests
• Theaters > Lighting
• Theaters > Stage-setting and scenery
• Theatrical producers and directors > United States > 20th century
• Milton Berle show (Television program)
• Photographs
• Elevations
• Roxy Theatre (New York, N.Y.)
• Set designers
• Set design drawings
• Miss USA Pageant
• Sketches
• Knorr, Arthur, 1898-1966
• Motion picture theaters > New York (State) > New York
• Blueprints (reprographic copies)
• Miss Universe Pageant
• Stage lighting designers

Genre/Form

• Blueprints (reprographic copies)
• Diazotypes.
• Elevations.
• Photographs.
• Set design drawings.
• Sketchbooks.
• Schematic drawings.
• Sketches.

Access (note)

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

Source (note)

• Knorr, Ruth

Biography (note)

• Producer and director Arthur James Knorr (1898-1966), who specialized in staging spectacles, was responsible for a wide variety of productions over the course of a long and prolific career.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Call Number

*T-Mss 2001-001

OCLC

184904375

Author

Knorr, Arthur, 1898-1966.

Title

Arthur and Ruth Knorr papers and designs, 1908-1986.

Restricted Access

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

Biography

Producer and director Arthur James Knorr (1898-1966), who specialized in staging spectacles, was responsible for a wide variety of productions over the course of a long and prolific career. Born in Atlanta, Indiana, Knorr grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He took up the study of art while enrolled in the Pittsburgh Academy, a college preparatory and business school. After graduating in 1916, he entered the Carnegie Institute of Technology's School of Design, where he studied painting, design, and stage craft. Military service during World War I interrupted these studies. After the war, Knorr moved to New York City during the summer of 1920, where he began working in the field of commercial art. In 1922, he started designing posters for the Capitol Theatre, and later was appointed art director. While with the Capitol, he designed sets and lighting for the prologs or stage productions that accompanied films. By 1929, Knorr had been appointed a producer at the Capitol Theatre, where he now was responsible for devising and producing, as well as designing, stage shows. Around this same time, Knorr married a fellow graduate of the Pittsburgh Academy, Ruth Gray. She had been a dancer in touring companies of the Music Box Revue and in editions of George White's Scandals, but she appears to have retired from performing after marrying Knorr. In 1936, Knorr became production executive at the Roxy Theatre, where he would remain for the next decade. In addition to managing many special individual events (such as ice skating shows and various benefits), by 1948, Knorr had become increasingly involved with television production. He served as a producer for the Texaco Star Theater television show with Milton Berle in its earliest years (1948-1952). He staged many industrial shows as well during the latter part of his career. Around 1959, Knorr began an association with the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants that lasted until the time of his death.

Indexes

Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

Request Access to Theatre Division Special Collections material

Finding Aid

Occupation

Set designers.

Stage lighting designers.

Theatrical producers and directors.

Added Author

Knorr, Ruth Gray.

Capitol Theatre (New York, N.Y.)

Roxy Theatre (New York, N.Y.)

Miss USA Pageant.

Miss Universe Pageant.

Added Title

Milton Berle show (Television program)

Research Call Number

*T-Mss 2001-001