Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Stuart Hodes [sound recording].

Author

Hodes, Stuart.

Publication

1972.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• McDonagh, Don.
• Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Description

5 sound discs (ca. 149 min.) : digital, stereo; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Part 1, disc 1 (ca. 31 min.). Stuart Hodes speaks with Don McDonagh about Martha Graham, describing her as cosmic; Graham's encouragement of dancers by enraging them; people's inability to endure Graham's personal brand of encouragement; first time he saw Graham dance at her studio; taking lessons in 1946; joining the company in 1947; watching the female dancers; first tour with the company in Long Island, N.Y.; first time he saw Graham in a performance, Deaths and entrances, and was equally impressed with Erick Hawkins; the fact that women were prone to suffer in the company due to Graham's harsh approach, but the men fared better; Graham's dancers' belief they were doing important work; Merce Cunningham's technique and the quality of his dance; the Graham tour in Asia, and the various countries they visited; Graham's sewing capabilities, and the dancers contributing to costuming and sewing; an anecdote about Graham pinning a costume directly into his skin; his enjoyment in dancing with Graham.
• Part 1, disc 2 (ca. 31 min). Stuart Hodes speaks with Don McDonagh about touring with Martha Graham, and instances in which Graham did not want to perform because she believed the dances were not complete; Diversion of angels, and his role; Graham's tendency to throw out dance steps; Graham's prolific reading interests, citing the fact that Graham would have made an excellent dance critic; leaving Graham's company; dancing with Graham off and on for many years; not being able to afford staying with Graham's company; Graham's financial situation; Graham dancers not being allowed to read their contracts.
• Part 2, disc 1 (ca. 31 min). Stuart Hodes speaks with Don McDonagh about the Asian tour with the Graham company, indicating that different responses were received depending on the country; Graham's enjoyment of stories of people being moved by her; Ruby Keeler, tap dancing, and how her dancing moved Hodes; anecdotes about Japanese audiences and their robust responses during Graham tour.
• Part 2, disc 2 (ca. 30 min). Stuart Hodes speaks with Don McDonagh about touring in Jakarta with the Graham company, and being unable to perform after breaking a toe while swimming ; local dance performances throughout Asia, including India, Pakistan and Java; the luxurious quality of the hotels in India in juxtaposition to the extreme poverty on the streets; Graham's ability to give press conferences; the difference in the styles of Graham and Doris Humphrey, including the fact that Graham did not follow rules.
• Part 3 (ca. 25 min.). Stuart Hodes continues speaks with Don McDonagh about touring with the Graham company, including visits to Sweden, Holland, and Vienna; an anecdote about buying a pearl for Bethsabee de Rothschild, which she lost immediately after opening; a Christmas party given for Graham dancers in Calcutta, which Graham did not attend; 1950 Paris tour when Graham injured herself and the company cancelled the tour; staying behind in Europe with Bertram Ross and other Graham dancers, all of whom toured England on bicycle; Graham's 75th birthday party; Ruth St. Denis's 82nd birthday party; the books given to him by Graham, including Immortal shadows by Stark Young; Graham's issues with alcohol abuse, citing an incident when he taped a phone conversation between the two of them; Graham's sobriety once she came to terms with her inability to dance; Graham's use of cosmetic surgery to maintain her youthful appearance; the fact that no one knew Graham's age; Graham's professional relationship with Frances Hawkins [abrupt end].

Subjects

• Graham, Martha
• Graham, Martha > Deaths and entrances
• Hodes, Stuart > Interviews
• Martha Graham Dance Company
• Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance

Note

• Interview with Stuart Hodes conducted by Don McDonagh on April 9, 1971.
• Each disc ends abruptly.
• Open as of August 22, 2012.

Funding (note)

• Recording was preserved through a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Source (note)

• Don McDonagh;

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-2543

OCLC

262558543

Author

Hodes, Stuart. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Stuart Hodes [sound recording].

Imprint

1972.

Funding

Recording was preserved through a grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Local Note

Archive orig. : *MGZTCO 3-2543, nos. 1-3

Dubbing master : *MGZTD 4-2543, nos. 1-5

Source

Gift; Don McDonagh; 2007

Added Author

McDonagh, Don. Interviewer

McDonagh, Don. Donor

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-2543 sound disc