Finding aid for the Benno Frank Papers

Biography of Benno Frank

Born in Mannheim, Germany, Benno Frank (1908-1980) lived and worked in Germany, pre-World War II Palestine, and the United States. In the early 1930s, he directed the Schiller Opera at the Hamburg State Theater. Frank immigrated to Palestine and lived there from 1933 to 1938. While in Palestine, he served as general manager and director of Palestine Opera Company. Moving to the United States in 1938, Dr. Frank assumed positions in New York at the American League for Opera and the New York College of Music before moving to Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts.

Frank served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945, after which he was Chief of Theatre and Music for the United States military government in Germany until 1948. In that year, Frank became Director of the Cleveland Playhouse and Director of Musical Productions at Karamu House in Cleveland, Ohio. He served in these positions until 1968, when he became Consultant on the Arts of the Atlanta University Center Corporation. Frank settled permanently in Israel in the early 1970s. His career was distinguished by his willingness to cooperate internationally and across cultures. In 1960, the German government recognized Frank with the Officer's Cross for the Order of Merit for his work in re-establishing German theaters after World War II.

Scope and Content

The Benno Frank Papers, 1950-1967 and undated, consist of advertisements, articles, audition notices, certificates, citations, correspondence, newspaper clippings, playbills, play scripts, and a resume.

This collection is of value to researchers studying the history of theater in Cleveland, Ohio, Cain Park Theatre in Cleveland Heights, the Cleveland Playhouse, and Karamu House in the decades after World War II. Those interested in the career of Benno Frank, especially in Cleveland and northeast Ohio, will find this collection useful. Researchers with an interest in the interplay of Jewish theater and religion will also find the collection of interest. Of special interest is the correspondence noting Frank's connections with prominent Clevelanders and the impact of his work.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

All photographs have been removed to the photograph and print collection.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5098 Benno Frank Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of Danny Frank in 2010.

Processing Information

Processed by Arthur Diamond and Sean Martin in 2011.

Detailed Description of The Collection