Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Bruno, Anthony J., 1894-1976
2. Seymour, Maurice.
3. Coplan, Maxwell.
4. Weissman, Len.
5. Ballagher, Barrett.
6. Peterich, Gerda.
7. Studio Liseg.
8. Draper, Kate.

Description

1. 1 box (126 photographic prints) : b&w; 36 x 28 cm. or smaller

Subject

1. Draper, Paul, 1909-1996 > Photographs
2. Photographic prints
3. Tap dancers > Pictorial works

Genre/Form

1. Photographic prints.

Call number

1. *MGZEB 11-3149

Note

1. Performance and publicity photographs of Paul Draper.
2. Photographers include Bruno of Hollywood, Maurice Seymour, Maxwell Coplan, Len Weissman, Barrett Gallagher, Gerda Peterich, Studio Liseg, et al.
3. Collection includes a numbered list of each photograph with description, photographer and date compiled by Kate Draper, Paul Draper's daughter who also processed the collection.

Biography (note)

1. Paul Draper, born of a socially prominent family Oct. 25, 1909, was an American tap dancer and choreographer whose career began in 1920s. Although Draper’s training in tap dance was minimal, his later study of ballet led to a unique performing style combining the two. In 1932, Draper made his solo debut in London. By 1937, he was performing at such venues as the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel, the Rainbow Room, Carnegie Hall, on Broadway, and a film version of William Saroyan's Time of your life (1948). In 1940, he teamed up with Larry Adler, a virtuoso harmonicist. The two became a world-famous act, performing together until 1949, appearing regularly at New York's City Center. Their act finally disbanded when jobs dried up after both were blacklisted as Communist sympathizers. After a period, Draper resumed performing and choreographing. Draper began to teach in the theater department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until 1978, seldom performing during the next decade. Draper married Heidi Vosseler, a dancer for George Balanchine's first American ballet company, on June 23, 1941, in Rio de Janeiro; they had three daughters. Draper died in 1996 at age 86 from emphysema.

Title

1. Paul Draper photographs, [192-?]-[198-?].

Biography

1. Paul Draper, born of a socially prominent family Oct. 25, 1909, was an American tap dancer and choreographer whose career began in 1920s. Although Draper’s training in tap dance was minimal, his later study of ballet led to a unique performing style combining the two. In 1932, Draper made his solo debut in London. By 1937, he was performing at such venues as the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel, the Rainbow Room, Carnegie Hall, on Broadway, and a film version of William Saroyan's Time of your life (1948). In 1940, he teamed up with Larry Adler, a virtuoso harmonicist. The two became a world-famous act, performing together until 1949, appearing regularly at New York's City Center. Their act finally disbanded when jobs dried up after both were blacklisted as Communist sympathizers. After a period, Draper resumed performing and choreographing. Draper began to teach in the theater department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania until 1978, seldom performing during the next decade. Draper married Heidi Vosseler, a dancer for George Balanchine's first American ballet company, on June 23, 1941, in Rio de Janeiro; they had three daughters. Draper died in 1996 at age 86 from emphysema.

Added author

1. Bruno, Anthony J., 1894-1976, photographer.
2. Seymour, Maurice. Photographer
3. Coplan, Maxwell. Photographer
4. Weissman, Len. Photographer
5. Ballagher, Barrett. Photographer
6. Peterich, Gerda. Photographer
7. Studio Liseg. Photographer
8. Draper, Kate. Compiler

Research call number

1. *MGZEB 11-3149