Leonard Spigelgass Papers
SPEC.TRI.LS
Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1.62 Cubic feet
Bulk, 1943-1985
1908-1985
Leonard Spigelgass (1908-1985) was an author, playwright and screenwriter. The Leonard Spigelgass Papers, dated 1908-1985, bulk 1943-1985, contain scripts, programs, clippings, awards, photographs, journal articles by Spigelgass, biographical and miscellaneous materials.
(1) 5” legal document box; (1) 2.5” legal document box; (1) oversize flat box
English
Spigelgass, Leonard
Arrangement of Materials
This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.
Acquisitions Information
Donated by Beulah Spigelgass Roth, 1986
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Leonard Spigelgass Papers, SPEC.TRI.LS, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.
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
This collection is unprocessed. Finding aid written by: Nena Couch, 2003 October
Biographical Note
Leonard Spigelgass (born 26 November 1908, Brooklyn, New York, death 15 February 1985, Los Angeles, California) 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 Leonard Spigelgass Papers, dated 1908-1985, bulk 1943-1985, contain scripts, programs, clippings, awards, photographs, 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).
Related Materials
Additional materials can be found by searching the
Ohio State University Libraries catalog for the Leonard Spigelgass Collection.
Spigelgass, Leonard
Authors, American--United States--20th century
Awards
Dramatists, American--United States--20th century
Motion pictures--United States--20th century
Photographs
Programs (documents)
Screenwriters--United States--20th century
Scripts (documents)
Theater--United States--20th century
"A Course of Human Events"
1
1
1984
Scope and Contents note
Program: The CAST Theatre's FOUNDRY Series for Developing Playworks. By Spigelgass and Marc Daniels.
"Dear Me, the Sky is Falling"
1
2
1963
Scope and Contents note
Programs: The New Locust Theatre (Philadelphia, February 1963), The Music Box (New York, premiere performance 2 March 1963). Play by Spigelgass.
Spigelgass, Leonard. "Farce"
1
3
undated
Scope and Contents note
TL(c)S Leonard Spigelgass to Robert Lantz.
"Look to the Lilies"
1
4
1970
Scope and Contents note
Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, Leonard Spigelgass. New York: Chappell-Styne, Inc. Vocal Selection. Inscribed and signed:
Leonard/ Youre a loving Jew/ Love/ Jule
"A Majority of One"
1
5
1959
Scope and Contents note
Scrapbook including newspaper advertisements, New York and Philadelphia reviews, program from the Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia.
"A Majority of One"
1
6
1959
Scope and Contents note
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.
"A Majority of One"
1
7
1959
Scope and Contents note
Cartoon:
The Majority of One by Sandy.
Spigelgass, Leonard. "The Playgirls"
1
8
undated
Scope and Contents note
Based on an idea by Gertrude Berg.
"A Remedy for Winter"
1
9
1985
Scope and Contents note
Program: With Dana Andrews, Susan Oliver; Westport Country Playhouse. By Spigelgass.
Spigelgass, Leonard. "The Royal Family of Broadway"
1
10
1971
Scope and Contents note
For Universal Studios. Holograph notes by Lynne Fontanne.
"The Wrong Way Light Bulb"
1
11
1969
Scope and Contents note
Program: premiere Performance 4 March 1969, John Golden Theatre.
Leonard Spigelgass head shot photograph
1
12
undated
8 x 10, black and white, 2 copies
Box Office Blue Ribbon Awards
1
13
1949, 1952
"I Was A Male War Bride"
1949 October
"Because You're Mine"
1952 November
Screen Writers' Annual Awards
1
14
1961-1962
Writers Guild of America West for "A Majority of One"
1961
Writers Guild of America for "Gypsy"
1962
Writers Guild of America Awards
1
15
1966, 1971
Valentine Davies Award
1966
Morgan Cox Award
1971
"Academy Leader"
1
16
1972 Nov
Scope and Contents note
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.
"Playbill"
1
17
1966
Scope and Contents note
PLAYBILL, Vol. 3, No. 11, November 1966. Includes Spigelgass, Leonard.
Gertrude Berg: a Memory. p. 5-7, amd MAME program, Winter Garden Theatre.
Tributes and Obituaries
1
18
1983-1985
Biography of Leonard Spigelgass compiled for "Who's Who"
undated
Toast by Jerome Lawrence to Leonard Spigelgass on his 75th birthday, Chasen's Restaurant, Los Angeles
1983 November 23
Tribute to Leonard Spigelgass given by Jerome Lawrence at the Dramatists Guild, New York
1985 February 26
Obituaries and tribute for Leonard Spigelgass in Hollywood Reporter, 19 February 1985; Daily Variety, 19 February 1985; WGAW News June 1985
1985
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Certificate of Nomination for Award for "Mystery Story"
2
1
1950 December 31
Magazine articles
2
2
1959, undated
"Names in lights: who are they?" In Vogue, Vol. 134, No. 3, p. 80-81
1959 August 15
"Gertrude Berg conquers Japan in A Majority of One." In Life, Vol. 46, No. 10, p. 50-54.
1959 March 9
Life. 25th anniversary issue
undated
Posters
2
3
undated
"A Majority of One". Poster, Shubert Theatre
undated
"The Wrong Way Life Bulb". Poster, Golden Theatre
undated
"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"
undated
"A Majority of One"
2
4
undated
Scope and Contents note
Production photograph (framed): A MAJORITY OF ONE with Gertrude Berg, Cedric Hardwicke and others.
Delta Kappa Alpha certificate
2
5
1972 February
Scope and Contents note
Delta Kappa Gamma (honorary cinema fraternity) certificate naming Leonard Spigelgass an Associate Member, University of Southern California.
Motion Picture and Television
2
6
undated
Scope and Contents note
Plaque to Leonard Spigelgass from the Motion Picture and Television Fund for dedicated service.
Conference of Jewish Women
2
7
1963 March 28
Scope and Contents note
Plaque to Leonard Spigelgass in appreciation, Conference of Jewish Women's Organizations, 28 March 1963.
"A Majority of One"
2
8
undated
Scope and Contents note
Photograph: Shubert Theatre marquee, A MAJORITY OF ONE starring Gertrude Berg and Cedric Hardwicke.
American Council Nationalities
2
9
1960 June 3
Scope and Contents note
Citation from the American Council of Nationalities Service to Leonard Spigelgass for A MAJORITY OF ONE, 3 June 1960.
Nameplate: Lt. Col. Leonard Spigelgass
2
10
undated
"Dear Me, the Sky is Falling"
3
1
undated
Scope and Contents note
Photograph: DEAR ME, THE SKY IS FALLING curtain call with Gertrude Berg and others.
"A Majority of One": photograph
3
2
undated
Scope and Contents note
Photographs, A MAJORITY OF ONE: Phoenix Theatre marquee starring Molly Picon and Robert Morley (2); Leonard Spigelgass with actors (3).
"A Majority of One": awards
3
3
1962
Scope and Contents note
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.
"A Majority of One": cartoon
3
4
undated
Scope and Contents note
Cartoon: Copy of Sam Norkin cartoon of A MAJORITY OF ONE.
Photographs (27): Leonard Spigelgass, Gertrude Berg, Jill Kraft and others including "Dear Me, the Sky is Falling" publicity photographs
3
5
undated
Army photographs, paperwork
3
6
1943-1945
Scope and Contents note
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.
Headshots
3
7
undated
Scope and Contents note
Photographs: Leonard Spigelgass (11).
Photographs: book interview
3
8
1962
Scope and Contents note
Photographs (6): interview regarding Spigelgass book THE SCUTTLE UNDER THE BONNET.
Nat Dorfman Correspondence
3
9
1966
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence from Nat Dorfman: TLS regarding Gertrude Berg's death, 23 November 1966; HLS, undated.
Lawrence Langner memorial
3
10
1962
Memorial tribute comments by Leonard Spigelgass for Lawrence Langner; program; letter to the editor from Spigelgass on Langner, Congress Bi-Weekly
1963 April 1
Article: "There Once Was a Place Called Hollywood" by Leonard Spigelgass in Academy Leader
1972 November
Gypsy Rose Lee obituary
3
11
1970
Scope and Contents note
Funeral service tribute and notes by Spigelgass for Gypsy Rose Lee; THE NEW YORK TIMES obituary by Spigelgass, 10 May 1970.
Dore Schary: funeral service
3
12
undated
Scope and Contents note
Funeral service tribute by Leonard Spigelgass for Dore Schary.
Press Release
3
13
1963
Scope and Contents note
Press release to James Monks regarding Leonard Spigelgass.
Family
3
14
1908
Scope and Contents note
Page from city directory, Borough of Brooklyn, listing lawyer Abraham H. Spiegelgass.
Writers Guild of America
3
15
1982 April 22
Scope and Contents note
Writers Guild of America Service Award to Leonard Spigelgass, 22 April 1982.
Interment service
3
16
1985 April
Scope and Contents note
Interment service for Leonary Spigelgass reprinted in WGAW NEWS, April 1985.
People's Musical Institute
3
17
1918-1919
Scope and Contents note
Certificate to Leonard Spigelgass from People's Musical Institute of Brooklyn for diligence and progress in the study of Pianoforte and Theory, 1918-1919.