Guide to the Noralee Frankel Collection on Gypsy Rose Lee, 1933-1990, 2009 SPEC.TRI.0110 Finding aid prepared by Allison McPherson Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
January 2025 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2025-02-27T12:09-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Noralee Frankel Collection on Gypsy Rose Lee SPEC.TRI.0110 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 1.99 Cubic feet 1933-1990, 2009 Rose Louise Hovick (1911-1970) took on the stage name Gypsy Rose Lee in the 1930s after moving to California and began performing in burlesque shows, acting in Hollywood, and writing novels. Noralee Frankel (1950-) is a historian and author of the book Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee. The collection spans from 1933-1990 including materials from during Lee’s career as a performer, after her death, and also includes a signed copy of Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee by Noralee Frankel from 2009. (1) 5'' legal document box; (1) 5'' letter document box; (1) oversized flat box; (1) flat box; (1) card box English Frankel, Noralee, 1950- Arrangement of Materials

Materials are arranged in chronological order based on the creation of the material or the date of the performance. Within each date the materials are then arranged in alphabetical order according to the folder title.

 Acquisitions Information

TRI.2024.0052: Noralee Frankel, 2021 September

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Noralee Frankel Collection on Gypsy Rose Lee, SPEC.TRI.0110, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Allison McPherson, 2024 December ; Finding Aid Written by: Allison McPherson, 2025 January

 Biographical Note

Noralee Frankel (1950-) is a historian and author who is the National History Day officer in Maryland. Previously Frankel was the Assistant Director of Women, Minorities, and Teaching at the American Historical Association, and is the author of the book Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee which was published by Oxford University Press in 2009.

Rose Louise Hovick (1911-1970) was born in Seattle, WA where Hovick began performing in vaudeville acts with younger sister June. She later took on the stage name Gypsy Rose Lee in the 1930s after moving to California and began performing in burlesque shows, becoming a star in Minsky’s Burlesque known for her wit and humorous approach to the striptease. Lee went on to be a Hollywood actress, mystery novels author, playwrite, and host of a daytime talk show.

 Scope and Contents

The Noralee Frankel Collection on Gypsy Rose Lee contains a range of materials detailing Lee’s life and career ranging from an original lithograph of Louise Hovick to glass negatives of Lee in costume for Michael Todd’s Star and Garter. The collection spans from 1933-1990 and includes a signed copy of Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee by Noralee Frankel from 2009. Also included in the collection are materials from Lee’s career as a performer including headshots, performance photographs, playbills, lobby cards, programs, pressbooks, newspapers, Tru-Vue films, advertisements, and a contract for Zeigfeld Follies. There are materials created in the last year of her life such as Rose Louise Hovick’s last will and testament. Other materials were created after Lee's death including public auction catalogues, and a paper doll coloring book for Lee’s costumes. The materials were brought together by Noralee Frankel while conducting research for Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee.

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains compact disc.

 Access to Materials

Audio/visual materials and computer media may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. The remainder of this collection is available for patron research, but may be used only in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room.

 Lee, Gypsy Rose, 1914-1970 Advertisements Burlesque (Theater)--United States--20th century Compact discs Lobby cards Motion picture actors and actresses--United States--20th century Photographs Playbills Stereoscopic photographs Stripteasers--United States--20th century Television actors and actresses--United States--20th century Theater programs Gypsy Rose Lee stereoscope film 1306 1 1-2 1933 Flameless Lektrolite advertisement 2 1 1936 Ali Baba Goes to Town photographs 2 3 1937 Hovick (Louise) headshot photographs 2 5 1937 Lee (Gypsy Rose) posing photographs 2 7 1937 Twentieth Century Fox Louise Hovick headshot 2 4 1937 Twentieth Century Fox presents Sally, Irene, and Mary photographs 2 2 1937 Twentieth Century Fox presents You Can't Have Everything photographs 2 6 1937 Twentieth Century Fox Film Coorporation Zeigfeld Follies contract 2 8 1937-1938 Major (Henry) lithograph of Louise Hovick and Leslie Howard 2 9 1938 Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper 4 1 1938 The World a Million Years Ago stereoscope film 229 1 7 1938 Twentieth Century Fox presents Battle of Broadway photographs 3 1 1938 Twentieth Century Fox presents My Lucky Stars photograph 2 10 1938 The Vanderbilt Theatre playbill 2 11 1939 Tournament of Roses 1939 stereoscope film 1 10 1939 Unidentified individual with Gypsy Rose Lee photographs 2 12 circa 1940s Esso Road News Volume 9 No 2 4 2 1940 Michael Todd's Hall of Music presents Streets of Paris at the new York Worlds Fair photographs 2 13 1940 Michael Todd's Hall of Music presents Streets of Paris playbill 3 3 1940 The Royal Theatre playbill 3 4 1940 Tru-Vue stereoscope film viewer 1 11 1940 Vertes (Marcel) drawing of Gypsy Rose Lee in Du Barry was a Lady 3 2 1940 National Defense aluminum drive article 3 5 1941 The G-String Murders publicity photograph 2 14 1941 Tru-Vue stereoscope silver box 1 13 1941 The Music Box playbill 2 15 1942 Egypt stereoscope film 1509 1 5 1943 Michael Todd's Star and Garter compact disc 5 1 1943 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements (1) Compact disc; approximate run time: unknown Michael Todd's Star and Garter photograph 2 19 1943 Michael Todd's Star and Garter photographs from glass negatives 3 7 1943 Michael Todd's Star and Garter program 3 6 1943 Michael Todd's Star and Garter sitting glass negative 5 1 1943 Michael Todd's Star and Garter standing glass negative 5 2 1943 Official U.S. Navy at the Naval Training Station in Newport Rhode Island photograph 2 17 1943 Sol Lesser in association with The American Theatre Wing presents Stage Door Canteen photographs 2 18 1943 The Plymouth Theatre playbill 2 16 1943 White Rock Sparkling Mineral Water advertisement 3 8 1943 Belle of the Yukon lobby cards 3 10 1944 Belle of the Yukon sheet music 3 9 1944 Independent Releasing Corporation pressbook 4 3 1944 RKO Radio Pictures Inc presents Belle of the Yukon 2 20 1944 Arrid deodorant advertisement 2 22 1945 Fairyland No 2 stereoscope film 208 1 9 1945 International News Photo of Eric Lee 2 23 1945 International Pictures photograph by Kenneth Lobben 3 11 1945 Mar-o-Oil shampoo advertisement 2 21 1945 Arrid deodorant advertisement 3 12 1946 Blondie stereoscope film 203 1 3 1946 Little Orphan Annie stereoscope film 214 1 6 1946 Ringling Brothers Circus 3 stereoscope film 219 1 4 1946 State Fair of Texas advertisement 2 24 1946 Wisconsin vacation booklet advertisement 2 25 1946 Tru-Vue stereoscope red box 1 12 1947 George A. Hamid presents Steel Pier program 3 13 1948 Carl J. Sedlmayr presents Gypsy Rose Lee and her Royal American Beauties programs 3 14 1949 Gypsy Rose Lee show in Memphis Tennessee photographs 2 27 1949 Shelburne Studios Inc. portrait of Julio de Diego 2 26 1949 The Billboard Cavalcade of Fairs magazine article 3 15 1949 The London Zoo series 1 stereoscope film 1 8 1949 ABC radio show directed by Art Heriley photographs 2 32 1950 Babes in Bagdad lobby card 3 16 1952 United Artists Corporation Babes in Bagdad photographs 2 28 1952 United Artists pressbook 4 4 1952 Norwich Summer Theatre playbill 3 17 1954 Westport Country Playhouse program 2 29 1954 Springmaid Sheets advertisements 3 18 1955 CBS's The United States Steel Hour photographs 2 31 1956 Palm Beach Playhouse program 2 30 1956 The Palladium State Theatre program for The Gypsy Rose Lee Show 3 19 1956 Weekend Magazine The Sunday Telegram Vol. 7 No. 30 4 5 1957 Columbia Pictures Corp photograph by Van Pelt of Red Norvo in Screaming Mimi 2 33 1958 Columbia Pictures presents Screaming Mimi 2 38 1958 Lee (Gypsy Rose) reading at the Westbury Music Fair 3 22 1958 Martin (Dean) during benefit for a child guidance center photograph 2 35 1958 Screaming Mimi lobby card 3 21 1958 Springmaid Fabrics advertisement 3 23 1958 United Press International, Incoporated Gypsy Rose Lee photograph 2 34 1958 Warner Bros Pictures Inc. presents Wind Across the Everglades photograph 2 37 1958 Wind Across the Everglades lobby card 3 20 1958 Wrightson (Earl) Gypsy Rose Lee and her Afghan hound in Happy Hunting photograph 2 36 1958 CBS Television Network presents The Big Party by Revlon Irene Dunne and guests drawing 2 39 1959 Merman (Ethel) and Gypsy Rose Lee Gypsy rehearsal photograph 2 41 1959 TV Scout headshot photograph 2 40 1959 Saint Pierre Smirnoff advertisement 3 24 1962 The Stripper lobby card 3 25 1963 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation exhibitor's campaign manual 4 6 1963 Woodward (Joanne) Clarie Trevor, Robert Webber, Louis Nye, and Richard Beymer in The Stripper photograph 2 42 1963 ABC Television Network presents Who Killed Vaudeville? photograph 2 44 1964 The Masquers presents Gypsy Rose Lee program 2 43 1964 Lewis (Shari) on The Gypsy Rose Lee Show photograph 2 45 1965 ABC Television Network presents Phyllis the Milkmaid on The Pruitts of Southampton photograph 2 49 1966 Bennett (Constance) and Ross Hunter at Madame X party photograph 2 51 1966 Columbia Pictures presents The Trouble with Angels photographs 2 48 1966 Columbia Studios presents Mother Superior photograph by Curt Gunther of Haley Mills 2 50 1966 Diller (Phyllis) and Gypsy Rose Lee press photograph 2 52 1966 The Gypsy Rose Lee Show photograph 2 46 1966 The Trouble with Angels lobby card 3 26 1966 Twentieth Century Fox presents A Woman in July photographs 2 47 1966 Heublein Incorporated advertisements 4 7 1967 Heublein Incoporated cocktails booklet 2 53 1967 ABC Television Network presents Around the World of Mike Todd photograph of Mike Todd and George S. Kaufman 2 56 1968 Fox Film Corporation portrait by George Hurrell of Alexander Kirkland 2 27 1968 Michael P. Iannucci presents This was Burlesque program 3 27 1968 Prowse (Juliet) and Tony Franciosa in Shine on, shine on, Jesse Gil on The Name of the Game photograph 2 54 1968 The Mike Douglas Show co-hostess photograph 2 55 1968 O'Brien (Pat) Chill Willis, Walter Brennan, and Edgar Buchanan in The Over the Hill Gang photograph 2 58 1969 Preminger (Otto) Erik Kirkland, and June Havoc newspaper article 2 59 1970 Hovick (Rose Louise) last will and testament 3 28 1970-1971 Sotheby, Parke-Bernet Los Angeles, The Estate of Gypsy Rose Lee Public Auction catalogue 2 60 1971 Plaza Art Galleries Inc. Important Costumes, Period Clothes, Furniture and Decorations public auction catalogue 3 29 1978 Hodgdon (Ralph) Gypsy Rose Lee Paper Doll Coloring Book 2 61 1986-1990 Frankel (Noralee) Stripping Gypsy: The Life of Gypsy Rose Lee 2 62 2009