Wynn (Ed) Papers, 1920-1938 bulk 1931-1938

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Summary

Title:
Ed Wynn Papers,
Dates:
1920-1938 bulk 1931-1938
Creators:
Wynn, Ed, 1886-1966
Abstract:
Born Isaiah Edwin Leopold, Ed Wynn (1886-1966) was a successful New York vaudeville comic headliner by the age of 17. He appeared in Ziegfeld follies, wrote and produced his own shows on Broadway (1920s and 1930s), and appeared in television and films (1950s and 1960s). The collection consists of Wynn's scrapbooks, clippings and ephemera, and sheet music documenting his career in Broadway theater and radio productions.
Extent:
1 box (0.5 linear ft.) 24 oversize boxes
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ed Wynn Papers (Collection 1181). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

Collection consists of scrapbooks, clippings and ephemera, and sheet music documenting Wynn's career in Broadway theater and radio productions. Includes sheet music by Sammy Fain and score to Simple Simon by Rodgers and Hart.

Biographical / historical:

Born Isaiah Edwin Leopold, November 9, 1886 of European immigrants in Philadelphia; entered show business at 15; became successful New York vaudeville comic headliner by 17; appeared in Ziegfeld follies; wrote and produced his own shows on Broadway in 1920s and 1930s, featuring songs by Rodgers and Hart, Sammy Fain, and other well-known composers, and billing himself as The perfect fool, featuring his lisp, giggle, fluttering hands, outlandish costumes and inventions, and outrageous puns; starred on radio as Texaco fire chief in 1930s; suffered nervous breakdown late 1930s; returned to Broadway in 1940s; appeared in television and films through 1950s and 1960s in both comic and dramatic roles; father of Keenan Wynn; died of cancer in Beverly Hills on June 19, 1966.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Keenan Wynn, 1968.
Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series:

  1. Scrapbooks (Boxes 2-13, 24-25).
  2. Sheet music (Boxes 9, 13-23).
  3. Memorabilia (Box 1).

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.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
Date Prepared:
© 1998
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid derived from database containing container list structure and data, encoding added via MS Access or other database program, unknown year . Frontmatter gathered from MARC record. Supplementary encoding and revision supplied by Caroline Cubé.

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Ed Wynn Papers (Collection 1181). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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