Finding Aid for the Frank Mandel Papers, 1892-1950

Processed by Phyllis Herzog; machine-readable finding aid created by Alight Tsai and Caroline Cubé

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division

Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575

Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/

Finding Aid for the Frank Mandel Papers, 1892-1950

Collection number: 844

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division

Los Angeles, CA

Contact Information

Manuscripts Division
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/

Processed by:: Phyllis Herzog, 4 November 1964
Encoded by:: Alight Tsai
Encoding supervision by:: Caroline Cubé
Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:: Apex Data Services
Online finding aid edited by:: Josh Fiala, March 2003

Descriptive Summary

Title: Frank Mandel Papers,

Date (inclusive): 1892-1950

Collection number: 844

Creator: Mandel, Frank, 1884-1958

Extent: 11 boxes (5.5 linear ft.)

Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.

Los Angeles, California 90095-1575

Abstract: Frank Mandel (1884-1958) was a playwright and a producer for Warner Brothers (1937-38). The collection consists of manuscripts of plays by Frank Mandel and other authors, manuscript fragments of poetry and prose, correspondence to and from Mandel, and financial records of his partnership with Laurence Schwab.

Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of 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: Advance notice required for access.

Additional Physical Form Available

A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:

Public Services Division
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gregory Paul, purchase, 1964.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Frank Mandel Papers (Collection 844). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4233360

Biography

Mandel was born on May 31, 1884 in San Francisco, California; attended UC Berkeley; his plays include Our wives (with Helen Craft, 1912), Sweet little devil (with Laurence Schwab, 1924), No, no, Nanette (with Otto Harbach, 1924), and The new moon (with Schwab and Oscar Hammerstein, 1927); dissolved partnership with Schwab in 1932; became producer for Warner Brothers, 1937-38; presented and produced Vickie (1942).

Scope and Content

Collection consists of manuscripts of plays by Frank Mandel and other authors, manuscript fragments of poetry and prose, correspondence to and from Mandel, and financial records of his partnership with Laurence Schwab. Also includes 3 photographs of Mrs. Mandel.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:

Typescripts of plays (Boxes 1-9).
Correspondence and financial reports of Mandel-Schwab partnership (Box 10).
Manuscript fragments, photographs (Box 11).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Mandel, Frank, 1884-1958--Archives.

Dramatists, American--20th century--Archival resources.

Librettists--United States--Archival resources.

Manuscripts for publication.

Box 1

The American beauty, act one [only] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 49 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 1

Auerlia, a play in two acts [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 2 copies of act one, carbons, 1 copy of act two, carbon, and 1 copy of act two, typescript not carbon. All of the copies have holograph corrections. 176 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Auerlia was later revised and made into the play Captain Jinks.

Box 1

Between a man and a woman, a play in one act [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 24 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

This copy has holograph corrections, and a note on the first page as a skit.

Box 1

Between ourselves, a play in three acts [complete] New York. June 15, _____.

Physical Description: 111 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 1

Bosom friends, a play in four acts [complete] New York. February, 1910.

Physical Description: 103 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 1

Bosom friends, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 413 leaves. Typescript and carbon.

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies marked last version, 1 copy marked Chicago version, and 1 copy of another version.

Box 1

Fox, Paul and Tilton, George. The brigand, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 107 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 2

Captain Jinks, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d. This play was written by Mandel and Schwab, as a team.

Physical Description: 2 versions, 1 version has various clippings of script pasted inside, and 2 separate holograph notes, plus extensive holograph corrections. 224 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 2

The confessions of a canary, chapters one and two [only] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 29 leaves. Typescript (carbon). This copy has extensive holograph notes and typed notes pasted inside.

Box 2

The desert song, a play in two acts [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 118 leaves. Mimeograph.

Scope and Content Note

Casino Theatre version.

Note

The play and lyrics of the versions in the Collection were written by Frank Mandel, Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd.

Box 2

The desert song, a play in two acts [complete] Los Angeles, California. September 7, 1948.

Physical Description: 104 leaves. Mimeograph. Final Lewis & Young version.

Box 2

Romberg, Sigmund. The desert song. Piano-vocal score [complete] New York, Harms. 1927.

Box 2

East wind, a play in two acts [complete] New York. September 3, _____.

Physical Description: 295 leaves. Typescript and carbon. The carbon copy contains holograph corrections, and loose typed pages, apparently additions.

Scope and Content Note

Included also, at the end of the carbon copy versions is a list of props.

Box 2

East wind, a play in two acts [complete] New York. December 1, _____.

Physical Description: 129 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 2

Enter Joan, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 113 leaves. Typescript.

Box 3

The five million, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d. The play was written by Frank Mandel and Guy Bolton.

Physical Description: 152 leaves. Typescript. The script contains holograph stage directions, and included with the script is a property plot.

Box 3

De Sylva, B.G. and Schwab, Laurence. Follow thru, a play in two acts [incomplete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 96 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included at the end of the script is the note the final scene is not yet written.

Box 3

Glory crazy, a play in four scenes [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 249 leaves. Typescript and carbon. This is the first uncut version, with several manuscript leaves interfiled, extensive holograph corrections and carbon copies of various portions of the script.

Box 3

De Sylva, B.G. and Schwab, Laurence. Good news, a musical comedy. Samuel French, New York. c. 1932.

Physical Description: [Published work, bound in orange paper].

Box 3

Henderson, Harper and Schley. A memorandum of events which has been edited and novelized by Frank Mandel. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 60 leaves. Typescript.

Box 3

The high cost of loving, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 141 leaves. Typescript (carbon). This copy has various holograph corrections and notations.

Box 3

The high cost of loving, a play in three acts [complete] New York. September 17, 1914.

Physical Description: 104 leaves. Typescript (carbon). Final script is noted on the front cover of Act 1.

Box 3

In search of a scent, a play in two acts [complete] New York n.d.

Physical Description: 119 leaves. Typescript. This working copy has numerous holograph corrections and 2 leaves of manuscript notes. Written on the front cover of each act is final Belasco (?) script.

Box 3

Jimmy, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 111 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies of the play, the second copy of Act 2 containing an added scene.

Box 4

The lady killer, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d. This play was written by Alice and Frank Mandel.

Physical Description: 90 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 4

Luck, a play in prologue and three acts [incomplete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: Typescript and carbon. Acts 2 and 3 to follow is noted on the last leaf of the typescript.

Box 4

The lady of the lake, plan for scenario [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 40 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 4

Mary, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d. This version and the following one were written by Frank Mandel and Otto Harbach.

Physical Description: 84 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are holograph stage notations and a blueprint of the stage and settings for both acts.

Box 4

Mary, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 89 leaves. Typescript.

Box 4

May wine, a play in two acts [complete] (?) New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 170 leaves. Typescript (carbon). The leaves are not in specific order; many are duplicates and many have holograph corrections.

Box 4

Miss Princess, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 308 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are three versions of the play. All are carbon copies except for one copy of Act 2.

Box 5

My lady friends, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 129 leaves. Typescript and carbon. Acts 1 and 3 are carbon copies, Act 2 is not. Unrevised version is written on the front cover of each act.

Box 5

My lady friends, a play in three acts [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 220 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 different carbon copies.

Box 5

The new moon, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d. This play was written by Frank Mandel and Oscar Hammerstein 2nd.

Physical Description: 282 leaves. Mimeograph.

Scope and Content Note

Included are 3 copies, 2 with holograph notes.

Box 5

The next generation, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 106 leaves. Typescript and carbon. Act 3 is a carbon copy; Acts 1 and 2 are not, all have a sketched plan of the stage setting.

Box 5

Nobody's business, a play in five scenes [complete] n.p. August 10, 1923.

Physical Description: 116 leaves. Typescript (carbon). In addition there are numerous typescript and manuscript notes filed inside, and on the front cover appears the note Cleveland version fixed stenog. for N.Y. version.

Box 5

Nobody's business, a play in prologue, two acts and epilogue [complete] New York. ca. 1909.

Physical Description: 109 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 5

Nobody's business. One folder of loose sheets of script, and list of characters, no specific order. New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 115 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 6

No no Nanette, a play in two acts [complete] (?) n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 150 leaves. Typescript (carbon). This is apparently an early copy, with extensive holograph corrections, many inserted notes, and frequent re-arranged leaves.

Box 6

No no Nanette, a play in two acts [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 80 leaves. Typescript (carbon). This copy has many holograph corrections, and several typescript sheets added at the end of Act 2.

Box 6

Youmans, Vincent. No no Nanette, Piano-vocal score [complete] New York, Harms. 1925. This copy is a Palace Theatre souvenir of the anniversary performance. March 11, 1926.

Box 6

Our wives, a play in three acts [incomplete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 122 leaves. Typescript (carbon). The script has many holograph corrections and stage directions.

Box 6

Our wives, a play in three acts [complete] n.p. n.d. This play was written by Frank Mandel and Helen Krafft.

Physical Description: 119 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 6

Paradise alley, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 134 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies, 1 an earlier version of 1 long act.

Box 6

A perfect lady, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d. This play was written by Frank Mandel and Laurence Schwab.

Physical Description: 94 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 6

Hammerstein 2nd, Oscar. Pipe dream, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 150 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

This play is based on Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck.

Box 7

De Sylva, B.G. and Schwab, Laurence. Queen high, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 206 leaves. Mimeograph.

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies of the play.

Box 7

The queen of hearts, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 138 leaves. Typescript (carbon). There are various holograph corrections throughout.

Box 7

The queen of hearts, a play in three acts [complete] New York. ca. 1911.

Physical Description: 128 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 7

The queen of hearts, a play in two acts [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 194 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies, apparently 2 revised versions of The queen of hearts, a play in three acts.

Box 7

Sherman was right, a play in three acts [complete] New York. c. 1915.

Physical Description: 158 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 7

The sky pilot, a play in three acts [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 97 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 7

A spring drive, a play in three acts [incomplete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 281 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies of Act 1, 1 copy of Act 1 with Comedy in Four Acts on the title page, and 2 copies of Act 2.

Box 8

Laszlo, Fodor. The stork, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 107 leaves. Typescript (carbon). There are several holograph corrections in the script.

Box 8

The storm, acts three and four [only] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 35 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 8

Success, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d. This play was written by Frank Mandel, Laurence Schwab, and Fields, Rodgers and Hart.

Physical Description: 79 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 8

Sweet little devil, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 422 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 5 copies of the play.

Of interest is the fact that B.G. De Sylva wrote the lyrics and George Gershwin wrote the music for the production.

Box 8

Ten, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d. This and following copies of the play were written by Frank Mandel and Morgan Wallace.

Physical Description: 142 leaves. Typescript. Copy I is noted on the front cover.

Box 8

Ten, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 130 leaves. Typescript. Working copy is noted, on the front cover.

Box 8

Ten, a play in three acts [complete] New York. c. 1909.

Physical Description: 131 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 8

That O'Brien girl, a play in two acts [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 103 leaves. Typescript and carbon.

Scope and Content Note

Included is a typescript copy marked 1st version of Act 1, and a carbon copy of Act 1 and Act 2 marked 2nd version.

Box 8

Tickle me, a play in two acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 251 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 versions of the play and a 3rd version of Act 1.

Box 9

Trifling with tomorrow, synopsis of the play [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 12 leaves. Typescript.

Box 9

Trifling with tomorrow, a play in three acts [complete] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 110 leaves. Typescript and carbon.

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies.

Box 9

Calfrisco, Frances. Twice to every woman, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 262 leaves. Typescript and carbon.

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies.

Box 9

Understanding women, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 133 leaves. Typescript (carbon). This is a Prompt Copy with extensive notation.

Box 9

Herzig, Sig. V for Vickie, a play in three acts, [complete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 205 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 versions, 1 with holograph corrections.

Box 9

What do we know, a play in three acts [complete] n.p. 1909.

Physical Description: 152 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Box 9

What every man forgets, a play in three acts [complete] New York. n.d. This play was written by Frank Mandel and Oscar Hammerstein, 2nd.

Physical Description: 126 leaves. Typescript.

Box 9

When the house settles, a play in three acts [complete] New York. c1909.

Physical Description: 165 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included is an additional copy of Act 3. All copies are working copies with holograph corrections.

Box 9

The wolverine, a play in three acts [incomplete] New York. n.d.

Physical Description: 126 leaves. Typescript (carbon).

Scope and Content Note

Included are 2 copies of Act 1. Acts 2 and 3 are missing.

Box 10

1 box of correspondence. ca. 1892-1950.

Physical Description: Approximately 290 items.

Scope and Content Note

Consists of letters to and from Frank Mandel, a group of letters from and concerning David Belasco, a group of letters and records concerning domestic accounts, and 1 bound report titled 1928 Audit Report on Schwab and Mandel Interests.

Box 11

1 box of miscellaneous fragments of dialogue, fiction notes, poetry and prose. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: Typescript and manuscript. Approximately 203 items.

Scope and Content Note

Included also, are 3 black and white pictures of Mrs. Frank Mandel.