Leonard Spigelgass Papers

Inventory of the Leonard Spigelgass Papers



Title:	Leonard Spigelgass Papers
Repository:	The Ohio State University. Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute.
Creator:	Leonard Spigelgass
Dates:	1949-1985
Quantity:	3 linear feet
Abstract:
Identification:	SPEC.TRI.LS

Biography of Leonard Spigelgass, 1908-1985

Leonard Spigelgass (b. 26 November 1908 Brooklyn, NY, d. 15 February 1985, Los Angeles, CA) was an author, playwright and screenwriter. During his long career in Hollywood and New York including collaboration on Erich Von Stroheim's Hello Sister! (1933), Spigelgass authored such popular and award-winning plays as I Was a Male War Bride (1949), Because You're Mine (1952), A Majority of One (1958 stage and 1961 screenplay), Gypsy (1962 screenplay), Dear Me the Sky Is Falling (1963), Look to the Lilies (1970), and The Wrong Way Light Bulb (1969). He was a member of the Writers Guild and received the Guild's Morgan Cox and Valentine Davies award.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains books, scripts, playbills, clippings, awards, photos, journal articles by Spigelgass, biographical and miscellaneous materials. It includes typescript copies of Spigelgass's scripts for The Playgirls, Farce and The Royal Family of Broadway (television play with holograph notes by Lynn Fontanne). Materials on A Majority of One include a scrapbook with N.Y. and Philadelphia review clippings, programs and an original cartoon signed by Sandy Roth. There is sheet music by Jule Styne for the musical Look to the Lilies; 3 theater posters; and photographs of actors (including signed photographs of Mae West and of Gertrude Berg and Cedric Hardwicke in A Majority of One).

Restrictions on Use

Publication rights: All rights reside with the rights holder. All permissions must be obtained from the appropriate rights holder.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open to the public. Some restrictions may apply.

Custodial History

The Leonard Spigelgass papers are the gift of Beulah Spigelgass Roth. Collection materials were received in 1986.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Leonard Spigelgass Papers, Collection ID: LS, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, The Ohio State University.

Detailed Description/Box and Folder Listing

Box 1 / Folder 1
A COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS, 1984

Scope and Content: Program: The CAST Theatre's FOUNDRY Series for Developing Playworks. By Spigelgass and Marc Daniels.

Box 1 / Folder 2
DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING, 1963

Scope and Content: Programs: The New Locust Theatre (Philadelphia, February 1963), The Music Box (New York, premiere performance 2 March 1963). Play by Spigelgass.

Box 1 / Folder 3
Spigelgass, Leonard. FARCE,

Scope and Content: TL(c)S Leonard Spigelgass to Robert Lantz.

Box 1 / Folder 4
LOOK TO THE LILIES, 1970

Scope and Content: Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Leonard Spigelgass. New York: Chappell-Styne, Inc. Vocal Selection. Inscribed and signed: "Leonard/ Youre a loving Jew/ Love/ Jule"

Box 1 / Folder 5
A MAJORITY OF ONE, 1959

Scope and Content: Scrapbook including newspaper advertisements, New York and Philadelphia reviews, program from the Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia.

Box 1 / Folder 6
A MAJORITY OF ONE, 1959

Scope and Content: Programs: Biltmore Theatre (Los Angeles, opening night 8 May 1961), Sam S. Shubert Theatre (New York, 1959), souvenir program. Clipping: announcement of New York run.

Box 1 / Folder 7
A MAJORITY OF ONE, 1959

Scope and Content: Cartoon: "The Majority of One" by Sandy.

Box 1 / Folder 8
Spigelgass, Leonard. THE PLAYGIRLS,

Scope and Content: Based on an idea by Gertrude Berg.

Box 1 / Folder 9
A REMEDY FOR WINTER, 1985

Scope and Content: Program: With Dana Andrews, Susan Oliver; Westport Country Playhouse. By Spigelgass.

Box 1 / Folder 10
Spigelgass, Leonard. THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BROADWAY, 1971

Scope and Content: For Universal Studios. Holograph notes by Lynne Fontanne.

Box 1 / Folder 11
THE WRONG WAY LIGHT BULB, 1969

Scope and Content: Program: premiere Performance 4 March 1969, John Golden Theatre.

Box 1 / Folder 12
Photograph--Leonard Spigelgass,

Scope and Content: Head shot, 8 x 10, black and white, 2 copies.

Box 1 / Folder 13
Box Office Blue Ribbon Awards,

Box 1 / Folder 13
,

Scope and Content: 1. Box Office Blue Ribbon Award to Leonard Spigelgass for I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE, October 1949.
Box 1 / Folder 13
,

Scope and Content: 2. Box Office Blue Ribbon Awards to Leonard Spigelgass for BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE, November 1952.

Box 1 / Folder 13
,

Scope and Content: 1. Box Office Blue Ribbon Award to Leonard Spigelgass for I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE, October 1949.

Box 1 / Folder 13
,

Scope and Content: 2. Box Office Blue Ribbon Awards to Leonard Spigelgass for BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE, November 1952.

Box 1 / Folder 14
Screen Writers' Annual Awards,

Box 1 / Folder 14
,

Scope and Content: 1. Screen Writers' Annual Award, Writers Guild of America West, to Leonard Spigelgass for A MAJORITY OF ONE, 1961.
Box 1 / Folder 14
,

Scope and Content: 2. Screen Writers' Annual Award, Writers Guild of America, to Leonard Spigelgass for GYPSY, 1962.

Box 1 / Folder 14
,

Scope and Content: 1. Screen Writers' Annual Award, Writers Guild of America West, to Leonard Spigelgass for A MAJORITY OF ONE, 1961.

Box 1 / Folder 14
,

Scope and Content: 2. Screen Writers' Annual Award, Writers Guild of America, to Leonard Spigelgass for GYPSY, 1962.

Box 1 / Folder 15
Writers Guild of America Awards,

Box 1 / Folder 15
,

Scope and Content: 1. Writers Guild of America Valentine Davies Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 1966.
Box 1 / Folder 15
,

Scope and Content: 2. Writers Guild of America Morgan Cox Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 1971.

Box 1 / Folder 15
,

Scope and Content: 1. Writers Guild of America Valentine Davies Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 1966.

Box 1 / Folder 15
,

Scope and Content: 2. Writers Guild of America Morgan Cox Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 1971.

Box 1 / Folder 16
ACADEMY LEADER, 1972Nov

Scope and Content: ACADEMY LEADER, November 1972 issue. Includes Spigelgass, Leonard. "There Once Was A Place Called Hollywood: an Excerpt from a Memoir to be published by Atheneum." p. 3-9.

Box 1 / Folder 17
PLAYBILL, 1966

Scope and Content: PLAYBILL, Vol. 3, No. 11, November 1966. Includes Spigelgass, Leonard. "Gertrude Berg: a Memory." p. 5-7, amd MAME program, Winter Garden Theatre.

Box 1 / Folder 18
Tributes and obituaries,

Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 1. Undated biography of Leonard Spigelgass compiled for WHO'S WHO.
Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 2. Toast by Jerome Lawrence to Leonard Spigelgass on his 75th birthday, Chasen's Restaurant, Los Angeles, 23 November 1983.
Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 3. Tribute to Leonard Spigelgass given by Jerome Lawrence at the Dramatists Guild, New York, 26 February 1985.
Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 4. "Leonard Spigelgass 26 November 1908-15 February 1985." Tributes at the Writers Guild Theatre, 26 November 1985. Speakers included Robert E. Lee. In WGAW NEWS April 1985, p. 16-19.
Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 5. Obituaries and tribute for Leonard Spigelgass in HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 19 February 1985; DAILY VARIETY, 19 February 1985; WGAW NEWS June 1985.

Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 1. Undated biography of Leonard Spigelgass compiled for WHO'S WHO.

Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 2. Toast by Jerome Lawrence to Leonard Spigelgass on his 75th birthday, Chasen's Restaurant, Los Angeles, 23 November 1983.

Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 3. Tribute to Leonard Spigelgass given by Jerome Lawrence at the Dramatists Guild, New York, 26 February 1985.

Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 4. "Leonard Spigelgass 26 November 1908-15 February 1985." Tributes at the Writers Guild Theatre, 26 November 1985. Speakers included Robert E. Lee. In WGAW NEWS April 1985, p. 16-19.

Box 1 / Folder 18
,

Scope and Content: 5. Obituaries and tribute for Leonard Spigelgass in HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 19 February 1985; DAILY VARIETY, 19 February 1985; WGAW NEWS June 1985.

Box 2 / Folder 1
Award nomination, 1950

Scope and Content: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Certificate of Nomination for Award for MYSTERY STORY, 31 December 1950.

Box 2 / Folder 2
Magazine articles,

Box 2 / Folder 2
,

Scope and Content: 1. "Names in lights: who are they?" In VOGUE, Vol. 134, No. 3, 15 August 1959, p. 80-81. Includes information on Leonard Spigelgass.
Box 2 / Folder 2
,

Scope and Content: 2. "Gertrude Berg conquers Japan in A MAJORITY OF ONE." In LIFE, Vol. 46, No. 10, 9 March 1959, p. 50-54.
Box 2 / Folder 2
,

Scope and Content: 3. LIFE. 25th anniversary issue. Forms part of the Leonard Spigelgass Collection.

Box 2 / Folder 2
,

Scope and Content: 1. "Names in lights: who are they?" In VOGUE, Vol. 134, No. 3, 15 August 1959, p. 80-81. Includes information on Leonard Spigelgass.

Box 2 / Folder 2
,

Scope and Content: 2. "Gertrude Berg conquers Japan in A MAJORITY OF ONE." In LIFE, Vol. 46, No. 10, 9 March 1959, p. 50-54.

Box 2 / Folder 2
,

Scope and Content: 3. LIFE. 25th anniversary issue. Forms part of the Leonard Spigelgass Collection.

Box 2 / Folder 3
Posters,

Box 2 / Folder 3
,

Scope and Content: 1. A MAJORITY OF ONE. Poster, Shubert Theatre.
Box 2 / Folder 3
,

Scope and Content: 2. THE WRONG WAY LIGHT BULB. Poster, Golden Theatre.
Box 2 / Folder 3
,

Scope and Content: 3. MAMA SAN: A MAJORITY OF ONE. Poster, Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg, Brussels. Inscribed and signed: "Aside from/ all this - I do/ love you -/ Merry Xmas to Both/ Havoc"

Box 2 / Folder 3
,

Scope and Content: 1. A MAJORITY OF ONE. Poster, Shubert Theatre.

Box 2 / Folder 3
,

Scope and Content: 2. THE WRONG WAY LIGHT BULB. Poster, Golden Theatre.

Box 2 / Folder 3
,

Scope and Content: 3. MAMA SAN: A MAJORITY OF ONE. Poster, Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg, Brussels. Inscribed and signed: "Aside from/ all this - I do/ love you -/ Merry Xmas to Both/ Havoc"

Box 2 / Folder 4
MAJORITY OF ONE, A,

Scope and Content: Production photograph (framed): A MAJORITY OF ONE with Gertrude Berg, Cedric Hardwicke and others.

Box 2 / Folder 5
Delta Kappa Alpha certificate, 1972Feb

Scope and Content: Delta Kappa Gamma (honorary cinema fraternity) certificate naming Leonard Spigelgass an Associate Member, University of Southern California.

Box 2 / Folder 6
Motion Picture and Television,

Scope and Content: Plaque to Leonard Spigelgass from the Motion Picture and Television Fund for dedicated service.

Box 2 / Folder 7
Conference of Jewish Women, 1963Mar28

Scope and Content: Plaque to Leonard Spigelgass in appreciation, Conference of Jewish Women's Organizations, 28 March 1963.

Box 2 / Folder 8
MAJORITY OF ONE, A,

Scope and Content: Photograph: Shubert Theatre marquee, A MAJORITY OF ONE starring Gertrude Berg and Cedric Hardwicke.

Box 2 / Folder 9
American Council Nationalities, 1960Jun03

Scope and Content: Citation from the American Council of Nationalities Service to Leonard Spigelgass for A MAJORITY OF ONE, 3 June 1960.

Box 2 / Folder 10
Nameplate,

Scope and Content: Nameplate: Lt. Col. Leonard Spigelgass.

Box 3 / Folder 1
DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING,

Scope and Content: Photograph: DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING curtain call with Gertrude Berg and others.

Box 3 / Folder 2
MAJORITY OF ONE, A: photograph,

Scope and Content: Photographs, A MAJORITY OF ONE: Phoenix Theatre marquee starring Molly Picon and Robert Morley (2); Leonard Spigelgass with actors (3).

Box 3 / Folder 3
MAJORITY OF ONE, A: awards, 1962

Scope and Content: Awards, A MAJORITY OF ONE: Box Office Blue Ribbon Award to spigelgass for screenplay and original, February 1962; letter of nomination, Writers Guild of America for Best Written Comedy, 1961.

Box 3 / Folder 4
MAJORITY OF ONE, A: cartoon,

Scope and Content: Cartoon: Copy of Sam Norkin cartoon of A MAJORITY OF ONE.

Box 3 / Folder 5
Photographs,

Scope and Content: Photographs (27): Leonard Spigelgass, Gertrude Berg, Jill Kraft and others including DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING publicity photographs.

Box 3 / Folder 6
Army photographs, paperwork, 1943-1945

Scope and Content: Photographs (8) of Spigelgass in uniform including one with Bob Hope; promotions to Major and Lt. Colonel; immunization record; pay data card; ration card; SCREEN MAGAZINE article; dog tags.

Box 3 / Folder 7
Headshots,

Scope and Content: Photographs: Leonard Spigelgass (11).

Box 3 / Folder 8
Photographs: book interview, 1962

Scope and Content: Photographs (6): interview regarding Spigelgass book THE SCUTTLE UNDER THE BONNET.

Box 3 / Folder 9
Nat Dorfman Correspondence, 1966

Scope and Content: Correspondence from Nat Dorfman: TLS regarding Gertrude Berg's death, 23 November 1966; HLS, undated.

Box 3 / Folder 10
Lawrence Langner memorial, 1962

Box 3 / Folder 10
,

Scope and Content: 1. Memorial tribute comments by Leonard Spigelgass for Lawrence Langner; program; letter to the editor from Spigelgass on Langner, CONGRESS BI-WEEKLY, 1 April 1963.
Box 3 / Folder 10
,

Scope and Content: 2. Article: "There Once Was a Place Called Hollywood" by Leonard Spigelgass in ACADEMY LEADER, November 1972.

Box 3 / Folder 10
,

Scope and Content: 1. Memorial tribute comments by Leonard Spigelgass for Lawrence Langner; program; letter to the editor from Spigelgass on Langner, CONGRESS BI-WEEKLY, 1 April 1963.

Box 3 / Folder 10
,

Scope and Content: 2. Article: "There Once Was a Place Called Hollywood" by Leonard Spigelgass in ACADEMY LEADER, November 1972.

Box 3 / Folder 11
Gypsy Rose Lee obituary, 1970

Scope and Content: Funeral service tribute and notes by Spigelgass for Gypsy Rose Lee; THE NEW YORK TIMES obituary by Spigelgass, 10 May 1970.

Box 3 / Folder 12
Dore Schary: funeral service,

Scope and Content: Funeral service tribute by Leonard Spigelgass for Dore Schary.

Box 3 / Folder 13
Press Release, 1963

Scope and Content: Press release to James Monks regarding Leonard Spigelgass.

Box 3 / Folder 14
Family, 1908

Scope and Content: Page from city directory, Borough of Brooklyn, listing lawyer Abraham H. Spiegelgass.

Box 3 / Folder 15
Writers Guild of America, 1982Apr22

Scope and Content: Writers Guild of America Service Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 22 April 1982.

Box 3 / Folder 16
Interment service, 1985Apr

Scope and Content: Interment service for Leonary Spigelgass reprinted in WGAW NEWS, April 1985.

Box 3 / Folder 17
People's Musical Institute, 1918-1919

Scope and Content: Certificate to Leonard Spigelgass from People's Musical Institute of Brooklyn for diligence and progress in the study of Pianoforte and Theory, 1918-1919.