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.
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).
Collection is open to the public. Some restrictions may apply.
Publication rights: All rights reside with the rights holder. All permissions must be obtained from the appropriate rights
holder.
The Leonard Spigelgass papers are the gift of Beulah Spigelgass Roth. Collection materials were received in 1986.
[Identification of item], Leonard Spigelgass Papers, Collection ID: LS, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research
Institute, The Ohio State University.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1 |
A COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS 1984 |
|
|
|
Program: The CAST Theatre's FOUNDRY Series for Developing Playworks. By Spigelgass and Marc Daniels. |
|
2 |
DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING 1963 |
|
|
|
Programs: The New Locust Theatre (Philadelphia, February 1963), The Music Box (New York, premiere performance 2 March 1963).
Play by Spigelgass.
|
|
3 |
Spigelgass, Leonard. FARCE |
|
|
|
TL(c)S Leonard Spigelgass to Robert Lantz. |
|
4 |
LOOK TO THE LILIES 1970 |
|
|
|
Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Leonard Spigelgass. New York: Chappell-Styne, Inc. Vocal Selection. Inscribed and signed: "Leonard/ Youre a loving Jew/ Love/ Jule" |
|
5 |
A MAJORITY OF ONE 1959 |
|
|
|
Scrapbook including newspaper advertisements, New York and Philadelphia reviews, program from the Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia. |
|
6 |
A MAJORITY OF ONE 1959 |
|
|
|
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.
|
|
7 |
A MAJORITY OF ONE 1959 |
|
|
|
Cartoon: "The Majority of One" by Sandy. |
|
8 |
Spigelgass, Leonard. THE PLAYGIRLS |
|
|
|
Based on an idea by Gertrude Berg. |
|
9 |
A REMEDY FOR WINTER 1985 |
|
|
|
Program: With Dana Andrews, Susan Oliver; Westport Country Playhouse. By Spigelgass. |
|
10 |
Spigelgass, Leonard. THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BROADWAY 1971 |
|
|
|
For Universal Studios. Holograph notes by Lynne Fontanne. |
|
11 |
THE WRONG WAY LIGHT BULB 1969 |
|
|
|
Program: premiere Performance 4 March 1969, John Golden Theatre. |
|
12 |
Photograph--Leonard Spigelgass |
|
|
|
Head shot, 8 x 10, black and white, 2 copies. |
|
13 |
Box Office Blue Ribbon Awards |
|
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
1. Box Office Blue Ribbon Award to Leonard Spigelgass for I WAS A MALE WAR BRIDE, October 1949. |
|
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
2. Box Office Blue Ribbon Awards to Leonard Spigelgass for BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE, November 1952. |
|
14 |
Screen Writers' Annual Awards |
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
1. Screen Writers' Annual Award, Writers Guild of America West, to Leonard Spigelgass for A MAJORITY OF ONE, 1961. |
|
14 |
|
|
|
|
|
2. Screen Writers' Annual Award, Writers Guild of America, to Leonard Spigelgass for GYPSY, 1962. |
|
15 |
Writers Guild of America Awards |
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
1. Writers Guild of America Valentine Davies Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 1966. |
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
2. Writers Guild of America Morgan Cox Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 1971. |
|
16 |
ACADEMY LEADER 1972Nov |
|
|
|
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. |
|
17 |
PLAYBILL 1966 |
|
|
|
PLAYBILL, Vol. 3, No. 11, November 1966. Includes Spigelgass, Leonard. "Gertrude Berg: a Memory." p. 5-7, amd MAME program, Winter Garden Theatre. |
|
18 |
Tributes and obituaries |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
1. Undated biography of Leonard Spigelgass compiled for WHO'S WHO. |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
2. Toast by Jerome Lawrence to Leonard Spigelgass on his 75th birthday, Chasen's Restaurant, Los Angeles, 23 November 1983. |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
3. Tribute to Leonard Spigelgass given by Jerome Lawrence at the Dramatists Guild, New York, 26 February 1985. |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
5. Obituaries and tribute for Leonard Spigelgass in HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 19 February 1985; DAILY VARIETY, 19 February 1985;
WGAW NEWS June 1985.
|
| Box |
Folder |
| 2 |
1 |
Award nomination 1950 |
|
|
|
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Certificate of Nomination for Award for MYSTERY STORY, 31 December 1950. |
|
2 |
Magazine articles |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
1. "Names in lights: who are they?" In VOGUE, Vol. 134, No. 3, 15 August 1959, p. 80-81. Includes information on Leonard Spigelgass. |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
2. "Gertrude Berg conquers Japan in A MAJORITY OF ONE." In LIFE, Vol. 46, No. 10, 9 March 1959, p. 50-54. |
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
3. LIFE. 25th anniversary issue. Forms part of the Leonard Spigelgass Collection. |
|
3 |
Posters |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
1. A MAJORITY OF ONE. Poster, Shubert Theatre. |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
2. THE WRONG WAY LIGHT BULB. Poster, Golden Theatre. |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
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" |
|
4 |
MAJORITY OF ONE, A |
|
|
|
Production photograph (framed): A MAJORITY OF ONE with Gertrude Berg, Cedric Hardwicke and others. |
|
5 |
Delta Kappa Alpha certificate 1972Feb |
|
|
|
Delta Kappa Gamma (honorary cinema fraternity) certificate naming Leonard Spigelgass an Associate Member, University of Southern
California.
|
|
6 |
Motion Picture and Television |
|
|
|
Plaque to Leonard Spigelgass from the Motion Picture and Television Fund for dedicated service. |
|
7 |
Conference of Jewish Women 1963Mar28 |
|
|
|
Plaque to Leonard Spigelgass in appreciation, Conference of Jewish Women's Organizations, 28 March 1963. |
|
8 |
MAJORITY OF ONE, A |
|
|
|
Photograph: Shubert Theatre marquee, A MAJORITY OF ONE starring Gertrude Berg and Cedric Hardwicke. |
|
9 |
American Council Nationalities 1960Jun03 |
|
|
|
Citation from the American Council of Nationalities Service to Leonard Spigelgass for A MAJORITY OF ONE, 3 June 1960. |
|
10 |
Nameplate |
|
|
|
Nameplate: Lt. Col. Leonard Spigelgass. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 3 |
1 |
DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING |
|
|
|
Photograph: DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING curtain call with Gertrude Berg and others. |
|
2 |
MAJORITY OF ONE, A: photograph |
|
|
|
Photographs, A MAJORITY OF ONE: Phoenix Theatre marquee starring Molly Picon and Robert Morley (2); Leonard Spigelgass with
actors (3).
|
|
3 |
MAJORITY OF ONE, A: awards 1962 |
|
|
|
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.
|
|
4 |
MAJORITY OF ONE, A: cartoon |
|
|
|
Cartoon: Copy of Sam Norkin cartoon of A MAJORITY OF ONE. |
|
5 |
Photographs |
|
|
|
Photographs (27): Leonard Spigelgass, Gertrude Berg, Jill Kraft and others including DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING publicity
photographs.
|
|
6 |
Army photographs, paperwork 1943-1945 |
|
|
|
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.
|
|
7 |
Headshots |
|
|
|
Photographs: Leonard Spigelgass (11). |
|
8 |
Photographs: book interview 1962 |
|
|
|
Photographs (6): interview regarding Spigelgass book THE SCUTTLE UNDER THE BONNET. |
|
9 |
Nat Dorfman Correspondence 1966 |
|
|
|
Correspondence from Nat Dorfman: TLS regarding Gertrude Berg's death, 23 November 1966; HLS, undated. |
|
10 |
Lawrence Langner memorial 1962 |
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
2. Article: "There Once Was a Place Called Hollywood" by Leonard Spigelgass in ACADEMY LEADER, November 1972. |
|
11 |
Gypsy Rose Lee obituary 1970 |
|
|
|
Funeral service tribute and notes by Spigelgass for Gypsy Rose Lee; THE NEW YORK TIMES obituary by Spigelgass, 10 May 1970. |
|
12 |
Dore Schary: funeral service |
|
|
|
Funeral service tribute by Leonard Spigelgass for Dore Schary. |
|
13 |
Press Release 1963 |
|
|
|
Press release to James Monks regarding Leonard Spigelgass. |
|
14 |
Family 1908 |
|
|
|
Page from city directory, Borough of Brooklyn, listing lawyer Abraham H. Spiegelgass. |
|
15 |
Writers Guild of America 1982Apr22 |
|
|
|
Writers Guild of America Service Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 22 April 1982. |
|
16 |
Interment service 1985Apr |
|
|
|
Interment service for Leonary Spigelgass reprinted in WGAW NEWS, April 1985. |
|
17 |
People's Musical Institute 1918-1919 |
|
|
|
Certificate to Leonard Spigelgass from People's Musical Institute of Brooklyn for diligence and progress in the study of Pianoforte
and Theory, 1918-1919.
|
