Gus Kahn musical compositions and papers
Finding aid prepared by Doug Johnson, 2015; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
©2015 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Title: Gus Kahn musical compositions and papers
Collection number: PASC-M 614
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.2 linear ft.
(1 phonograph record storage box, 2 flat boxes, and 5 document boxes)
Date: 1913-1955
Abstract: Gus Kahn was a prolific lyricist who wrote for the stage and for films. The collection consists of disc recordings, music
manuscripts, lyrics, letters of condolence, and some personal papers.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Kahn, Gus
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright,
are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Gus Kahn Musical Compositions and Papers (Collection PASC-M 614), UCLA Library Special Collections,
Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biographical Note
Gus Kahn, (b. 6 November 1886, Koblenz, Germany, d. 8 October 1941, Beverly Hills, California, USA) was a prolific lyricist
during the 1920s and 1930s for Tin Pan Alley, stage, and films. After being brought to the USA by his parents in 1891 when
they settled in Chicago, he started writing songs while still at school. In 1908 he collaborated with his future wife, the
composer Grace LeBoy, and had some success with "I Wish I Had A Girl." His first big hit came in 1915 with "Memories," written
with composer Egbert van Alstyne. In the following year, Kahn collaborated with him again, and Tony Jackson, for "Pretty Baby,"
which became one of Kahn's biggest hits, and was featured in the biopics
Jolson Sings Again (1949) and
The Eddie Cantor Story (1953).
In the 1920s he co-wrote many songs that would become standards, including "Ain't We Got Fun," "I'll See You in My Dreams,"
"Yes Sir, That's My Baby," and "Makin' Whoopee." His songs were often used by Hollywood during the nascent sound era, and
in 1933 he moved to Los Angeles to write for the movies directly. His output was prolific, and he contributed songs to films
such as
Flying Down to Rio (1933),
A Day at the Races (1937), and
Spring Parade (1940).
In the 1951 movie,
I'll See You In My Dreams, based on his life, Kahn was portrayed by Danny Thomas, and Grace LeBoy by Doris Day.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of disc recordings, music manuscripts, lyrics, correspondence and letters of condolence, and some
personal papers.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection is arranged into the following series:
- Series 1. Musical compositions
- Series 2. Sound recordings
- Series 3. Correspondence
- Series 4. Personal papers
UCLA Catalog Record ID
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Composers--California--Los Angeles--Archives.
Popular music--Manuscripts.
Series 1. Musical compositions.
1913-1945.
Scope and Content
Contains manuscript, printed, and published songs and song lyrics.
Box 2, Folders 1-4
Gus Kahn compositions.
1913-1951.
Box 2, Folder 5
Gus Kahn film music.
1933-1936.
Scope and Content
Includes music for Great Day (unrealized), Reunion in Vienna (1933), Storm at Daybreak (1933), Maytime (1937), and unidentified
films; lyrics for Spring Parade (1940).
Box 3, Folders 1-5
Grace LeBoy Kahn compositions.
1937-1964.
Box 3, Folder 6
Walter Donaldson compositions.
1931-1932.
Boxes 4-6
Lyrics.
1921-1936.
Scope and Content
Notebooks and loose pages with lyrics by Gus Kahn.
Series 2. Sound recordings.
1936-1942.
Scope and Content
Contains 7" and 10" disc recordings, mostly transcription discs.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Use of audio material requires production of listening copies.
Box 1
Always Be a Good Boy.
undated.
Box 1
Baby Feet Go Pitter Patter.
undated.
Box 1
Ballad in C / Ballad in D (Jimmy McHugh).
undated.
Box 1
Blue Lovebird - Alice Faye from Lillian Russell (1940) [2 copies].
undated.
Box 1
Cry - Grace Kahn with Don Kahn and His Woodwinds [2 copies].
1942.
Box 1
Day Dreaming - Guy Lombardo (Jerome Kern).
1941.
Box 1
Day Dreaming - Glenn Miller.
1941.
Box 1
Day Dreaming - Alan Holt / Jimmy Shields.
1941.
Box 1
Day Dreaming - Jimmy Shields.
1941.
Box 1
Gone With the Wind - Grace LeBoy Kahn.
1936.
Box 1
I Want You to Know - Benny Meroff's Orchestra / Donald Kahn.
1938.
Box 1
I'll See You in My Dreams.
undated.
Box 1
It's About Time - Margaret Lake / Serenade - Spencer-Hagen Orchestra.
undated.
Box 1
Kol Nidre - Al Jolson from Hollywood Cavalcade (1939).
undated.
Box 1
Louella Parsons-Jimmy McHugh interview / I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Ames Brothers; I'm in the Mood for Love - Eddie
Fisher; I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me - Ames Brothers; Cuban Love Song - Gordon MacRae [2 copies].
undated.
Box 1
Symphony no. 41 in C Major - Winterthur Symphony Orchestra, Otto Ackerman (Mozart).
Box 1
The Waltz You Saved for Me - Al Goodman (Gus Kahn, Flindt, King) / Let Me Call You Sweetheart - Al Goodman (Whitson, Friedman).
undated.
Series 3. Correspondence.
1933-1941.
Scope and Content
The bulk of correspondence consists of cards and letters of condolence sent to the family after Gus Kahn's death.
Box 6, Folder 3
General correspondence.
1933-1941.
Scope and Content
Includes two letters from Charles N. Daniels (Neil Moret) enclosing music.
Box 6, Folder 4
Condolences - notable personages.
1941.
Scope and Contents note
Includes Hazel and Harry Beaumont, Sam Bischoff, Sally Eilers and Harry Joe Brown, Edward Buzzell, Ida and Eddie Cantor, Dorothy
and Oscar Hammerstein II, Groucho Marx, Samuel Marx, Lillian and Sigmund Romberg, Ann Ronell.
Box 6, Folders 5-7, Box 7, Folders 1-3
Series 4. Personal papers.
1915-1955.
Box 7, Folder 4
Lists of songs by Gus Kahn.
1942-1955.
Box 7, Folder 5
Notebooks.
1915-1938.
Scope and Contents note
Includes potential song titles.
Box 8, Folder 1
Writings by Gus Kahn.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Contains: partial film treatment "The Old Maestro"; satirical essay "Lo, the Poor Lyric Writer."
Box 8, Folder 2
Writings by others.
1924.
Scope and Content
Contains: "Elmer's Story" by Benny Rubin; "The Girl from Kelly's" by Dan Kusell.
Box 8, Folder 3
Financial.
1930-1939.
Scope and Contents note
Contains notebooks with lists of income and expenses.
Box 8, Folder 4
Record library.
undated.
Scope and Contents note
Contains notebook with alphabetized list of records presumably owned by Gus Kahn.
Box 8, Folder 5
Drawing of Winston Churchill.
undated.
Box 8, Folder 6
Artifacts.
1942-1945.
Scope and Content
Includes coin commemorating the centenary of the New York Philharmonic; souvenir coin from Mt. Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles;
keys; coins; a cross.
