Finding Aid for the Eddie Cantor Papers, 1915-1964

Processed by UCLA Library Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé

UCLA Library Special Collections

UCLA Library Special Collections staff

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/

Note

Arts and Humanities --Film, Television and Broadcasting Arts and Humanities --Performing Arts --Music Geographical (By Place) --United States (excluding California) Geographical (By Place) --California --Los Angeles Area

Finding Aid for the Eddie Cantor Papers, 1915-1964

Collection number: 861

UCLA Library Special Collections

UCLA Library Special Collections staff

Los Angeles, CA

Contact Information

UCLA Library Special Collections staff
UCLA Library 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:: UCLA Library Special Collections staff
Encoded by:: Caroline Cubé
Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:: Apex Data Services
Online finding aid edited by:: Josh Fiala, June 2002

Descriptive Summary

Title: Eddie Cantor Papers,

Date (inclusive): 1915-1964

Collection number: 861

Creator: Cantor, Eddie, 1892-1964

Extent: 75 boxes (37.5 linear ft.)

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

Los Angeles, California 90095-1575

Abstract: Eddie Cantor (1892-1964) was a vaudeville performer and singing waiter. He turned to radio in the 1930s and was the highest paid radio star by 1936. The collection consists of radio and television scripts, sheet music, orchestrations, photographs, awards, tributes, correspondence, and scrapbooks.

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.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

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: 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 Library Special Collections for in-house consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:

Public Services Division
UCLA Library 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

Gift of Natalie Metzger, 1964.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Eddie Cantor Papers (Collection 861). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 709577

Biography

Cantor was born Edward Israel Iskowitz on January 31, 1892 in New York City; he was orphaned at age of two and raised by his grandmother; was a vaudeville performer and singing waiter; appeared in Gus Edwards' Kid Kabaret; appeared in Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolics in 1916; became star in successive Ziegfeld Follies, 1917-1919, and also starred in the producer's shows, Kid Boots and Whoopee; starred in two silent films, Kid Boots (1926) and Special Delivery (1927); had own radio show through the 1930s, and was the highest paid radio star by 1936; semi-retired after heart attack in 1952; given Academy Award in 1956 for distinguished service to film industry; was married to Ida Tobias for 48 years and had 5 daughters; died on October 10, 1964 in Hollywood, California.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of materials related to Cantor's career, including radio and television scripts, sheet music, orchestrations, photographs, awards, tributes, correspondence, and scrapbooks. Sound recordings which were a part of the original gift were transferred to UCLA Theater Arts Department.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:

Radio and television scripts.
Music orchestrations and scores.
Publications.
Correspondence and scrapbook.
Awards, testimonials.
Photographs.

Indexing Terms

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

Cantor, Eddie, 1892-1964--Archives.

Entertainers--United States--Archival resources.

Motion picture actors and actresses--United States--Archival resources.

Radio plays.

Television plays.

Scores.

Guest Spots and Television Specials

Box 1

September 27, 1936-April 27, 1939.

Box 2

June 29, 1939-August 17, 1942.

Box 3

August 23, 1942-April 10, 1944.

Box 4

April 23, 1944-March 4, 1945.

Box 5

March 22, 1945-December 26, 1946.

Box 6

January 1947-December 25, 1948.

Box 7

January 3, 1949-January 12, 1957.

The Eddie Cantor Show

Box 8

no.1-40 (short no.16) Also included is the Special Christmas Show for December 23, 1955 and the Special New Years Show for December 30, 1955.

Box 9

no.41-75 (short no.55).

Box 10

no.76-115.

Box 11

no.116-160.

Box 12

no.161-200.

Box 13

no.201-240.

Box 14

no.241-258 plus duplicates of above scripts.

Show Business Old and New

Box 15

no.1-45 (October 2, 1952-October 1, 1953)

Abstract: Also included is an Index to Show Business Old and New and an Index to Eddie Cantor's column for the Bell Syndicate.

Box 16

no.46-86 (October 8, 1953-July 1, 1954).

Box 17

Duplicate scripts for Show Business Old and New (unarranged) and show number 48 on large type cue sheets.

Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre

Box 18

Scripts 1-13.

Box 19

Scripts 16-28.

Box 20

Scripts 29-38. Also, 3 early draft screenplays, 1955.

March of Dimes Scripts

Box 21

For the years 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1948.

Colgate Comedy Hour

Box 22

September 30, 1951-May 18, 1952.

Box 23

June 7, 1952-March 15, 1953.

Box 24

April 12, 1953-January 31, 1954.

Show Business Scripts

Box 25

October 14, 1951-May 13, 1952 (Short numbers 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) Also, unidentified parts of other scripts.

Music

Orchestrations and Scores

Box 26

An index-book of music used by Eddie Cantor. Songs arranged alphabetically by title, but are not necessarily included in this collection. Box contains eight orchestrations (numbers 1, 3-7, 14, 15).

Box 27

Nine orchestrations (numbers 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26a, 26b, 27).

Box 28

Tweleve orchestrations (numbers 28, 29, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44a, 44b, 45, 46, 47.

Box 29

Four orchestrations. Two miscellaneous orchestrations. Songs by Eddie Cantor.

Box 30

Miscellaneous orchestrations, sheet music (Cantor and non-Cantor).

Box 31

Lyrics, arranged alphabeticaly by first line.

Box 32

Lyrics, unarranged.

Eddie Cantor Publications

Box 33

Box contains Cantor authored magazine articles, scenario synopses and anecdotes gathered by Cantor for use in his Bell Syndicate column.

Abstract: Also contains two books by Eddie Cantor, As I Remember Them and The Way I See It, along with a typescript copy of several chapters from a ghost written autobiography.

Also: Caught Short! by Eddie Cantor. (New York, Simon and Schuster, 1929).

Miscellaneous items

Box 34

Fan mail 1953-1954, Eddie Cantor publicity, Mother Contest mail, momentoes, programs, show projects.

Box 35

Eddie Cantor publicity, awards and citations, miscellaneous items.

Abstract: Included also is a letter from Dwight Eisenhower, a letter and a telegram from Franklin D. Roosevelt, and telegrams from Byrd and Reinhardt. Also, material on Jimmy Durante.

Box 36

Two Israeli photo albums and one publicity scrapbook.

Box 37

Scrapbooks (2), photo album (1), testimonial (1).

Plaques, Awards and Testimonials

Box 38

Spectacles and tie worn in Whopee.

Box 38

Plaques (5):

Scope and Content Note

n.d. Radio Stars Award for Distinguished Service.
1939 Annual Humanitarian Award, Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 210.
1949 War Veterans
1952 65th Birthday Testimonial
1954 National Broadcasting Corporation

Box 39

Plaques (6):

Scope and Content Note

1945 General Maurice Rose Memorial Medal for Humanitarian Service
1952 Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity (Honorary Member)
1954 Hall of Fame Award
1958 National Brotherhood Award. National Council of Christians and Jews
1959 Brandeis University (Honorary Fellow)

Box 40

Plaques (7):

Scope and Content Note

n.d. U.S. Treasury Department War Finance Committee for Ohio
1935 St. Paul Police Detective Association (Honorary Member)
1937 Radio Guide Weekly: 25 Years Distinguished Contribution To The Show World
1949 B'nai B'rith Mr. and Mrs. American Citizen
1955 Mt. Sinai Childrens Aid (Eddie Cantor an Honorary Father)
1955 National Safety Council Award for Exceptional Service to Safety
1959 Eleanor Roosevelt Institute for Cancer Research

Box 41

Plaques (4):

Scope and Content Note

n.d. March of Dimes Service Award
1946 Jewish War Veterans of the United States Citation
1956 Burbank Jewish Community Center
1958 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 10th Annual Emmy Awards Ceremony (for presenting)

Box 42

Plaques (4):

Scope and Content Note

n.d. American Trucking Association Incorporated for safe driving)
n.d. Modern Screen Radio Award (30 Years in Show Business)
1946 National Retail Dry Goods Association
1963 March of Dimes (25th Anniversary of March of Dimes)

Box 43

n.d. Richmond Fifth War Loan Drive.

Scope and Content Note

1952 Cleveland Show People's Committee for the Diner in Honor of Eddie Cantor (Get Well Message)
1952 Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. Tribute (scroll)
1957 Happy Birthday Scroll. Bay Area Jewish Women's Israeli Bond Campaign
1957 Mrs. F.D. Roosevelt and the Salute Luncheon to Eddie Cantor. Bond solicitation for Israel, Miami. (Scroll)
1962 Screen Actors Guild Annual Award (First). Good Citizenship, Acting Ideals

Box 44

Plaques (4), bust (1):

Scope and Content Note

1938 Eaton Paper Corporation. Winner of Eaton's Nation-Wide Radio Poll
1948 Advertising Club of San Francisco. Showman of the Year Award
1957 American Heart Association. Heart and Torch Award
1960 American Heart Association. Gold Heart Award
n.d. Bust. Presented to Eddie Cantor for participation in the development of Brandeis University.

Box 45

Testimonials (3):

Scope and Content Note

1952 State of Israel Bonds (On occasion of Eddie Cantor's 60th birthday)
1957 Birthday congratulations. (Signed) Ben Gurion. (Silver scroll case, hand painted map on parchment
1957 To Eddie Cantor in warm appreciation of rare devotion and dedicated friendship for Israel. Ben Gurion. Silver bound book in Hebrew

Photographs

Box 46

Photographs, v.d., v.p. Eddie Cantor in show business or with show business people.

Box 47

Photographs, v.d., v.p. Cantor family, early Eddie Cantor pictures. Pictures of fund raising and public relations.

Box 48

Photographs of the personalities listed below:

Scope and Content Note

Allen, Gracie
Baker, Belle
Belasco, David
Ben Gurion, David
Benny, Jack
Berlin, Irving
Bernie, Ben
Brice, Fanny
Burns, George
Burke, Billie
Cohan, George M.
Correll, Chas. (Amos)
Dempsy, Jack
Donaldson, Walter
Durante, Jimmy
Durbin, Deanna
Edwards, Gus
Errol, Leon
Fairbanks, Douglas
Fields, W.C.
Freeman, F.F. (Andy)
Gershwin, George
Jessel, George
Kay, Danny
Lasky, Jesse L.
Lawerence, Gertrude
Leonard, Benny
Lewis, Ted
Lilli, Beatrice
Lloyd, Harold
Harris, Sam
Meighan, Tom
Miller, Marilyn
Morris, William
Pennington, Ann
Richman, Harry
Rogers, Will
Roosevelt, Eleanor
Schenck, Joe
Shore, Dinah
Smith. Alfred E.
Steel, John
Tucker, Sophie
White, George
Whitman, Paul
Winchell, Walter
Van, Gus
Ziegfeld, Florenz

Also contains seven photographs of unidentified persons all inscribed to Eddie Cantor.

Box 49

Five audio-tapes and unidentified photographic negatives.

Box 50

7 taped recordings. Taped by Dr. Shaw, 1976.

Flat Box 51

Photographs of Eddie Cantor's family with celebrities and Ida Candor.

Trophies

Carton 52

1958: Conference of Jewish Women's Organizations of Los Angeles.

Physical Description: (10 × 20).

Flat Box 53

n.d.: Palm Springs Jewish Community Center on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal.

Physical Description: (24 × 18).

Flat Box 54

1919: Playbill. Zeigfeld Follies - Frolic Ball of 1919.

Physical Description: (20 × 7).

Flat Box 54

1939: National Safety Council Award.

Flat Box 54

n.d.: Watercolor by David Gilboa.

Carton 52

1955: Torch Bearer Award, City of Hope.

Physical Description: (13 × 6 × 6).

Carton 52

1957: American Heart Association.

Physical Description: (10 × 9).

Flat Box 55

1962: State of Israel Bond Organization.

Physical Description: (23 × 12).

Portrait

Flat Box 56

1955: Portrait of Eddie Cantor by Caristar.

Phonorecordings

Flat Box 56

[Taped] Twenty nine recordings of other performers from the Cantor collection. Included are Al Jolson, Eddie Gorme, Sammy Davis Jr., and Edward R. Murrow.

Flat Box 56

[Taped] Ten assorted Cantor recordings, 1938-1952.

Flat Box 56

[Taped] Phonorecordings of Show Business Old and New.

Scope and Content Note

Some dates are missing from the albums. Opening and closing dates for the albums run:

1) October 2, 1952 - May 7, 1953 (complete).
2) May 28, 1953-July 16, 1953
3) October 1, 1953-December 3, 1953
4) July 23, 1953-September 24, 1953
5) December 10, 1953-February 11, 1954
6) February 18, 1954-April 24, 1954
7) May 13, 1954-July 1, 1954

Flat Box 56

56 phonorecordings of Eddie Cantor and his material.

Flat Box 56

Phonorecordings of Cantor in The Colgate Palmolive Hour, Time to Smile and in a duet with Al Jolson's voice in For me and my gal.

Flat Box 56

Phonorecordings of Time to Smile, assorted shows 1940-1943 and My 40 Years in Show Business from Carnegie Hall.

Flat Box 56

Assorted recordings.

Abstract: Included are Franklin D. Roosevelt's Thanksgiving Message of 1938, the Sister Elizabeth Kinney Foundation Guest Star Time (with Rudy Vallee), Cantor's 39th Wedding Anniversary Show, and 19 unidentified and miscellaneous recordings.

Note

UCLA Radio Archive.

Scrapbooks

Flat Box 57

Three scrapbooks, mostly press clippings.

Flat Box 58

Three scrapbooks, mostly press clippings.

Flat Boxes 54, 59

Three scrapbooks, mostly press clippings.

Flat Box 60

Scrapbook of clippings and messages concerning Cantor's heart attack in 1952.

Abstract: Included are letters and cards from national, state and local leaders and other admirers, including Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Photograph Albums

Flat Box 61

Contains these photo albums: 1) Testimonial Dinner for Eddie Cantor and George Jessel, May 5, 1951; 2) The Eddie Cantor Story stills of the Pacific Coast Premier, December 29, 1953; 3) Mr. and Mrs. Cantor's visit to Israel, 1950.

Plaques, Awards and Testimonials

Box 62

Plaques (5):

Scope and Content Note

n.d. Award of Merit. United Jewish Appeal.
n.d. In memory of your beloved wife, Ida Cantor, Tree Fund, Jewish National Fund.
1947 Scroll of Appreciation. Combined Jewish Associations of Greater Boston.
1949 To Eddie Cantor. City of Hope, National Award Dinner.
1949 Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Award. Midwood High School.

Box 63

Plaques (3):

Scope and Content Note

1950 Citation and testimonial. Massachusetts Committee of Catholics, Protestants and Jews.
1951 Freedom Award. Freedom Lodge, B'Nai B'rith, New York, New York.
1952 In appreciation. United Jewish Appeal, also signed by David Ben Gurion.

Box 64

Plaques (3):

Scope and Content Note

1954 Certificate of Merit, Al Jolson Award Medal. Veterans of Foreign Wars.
1955 Man of the Year. Women's American O.R.J.
1956 Plaque. Temple Beth Hillel.

Box 65

Plaques (5):

Scope and Content Note

1959 City of Hope. Biennial Convention.
1959 Brandeis University. Fellow of Brandeis.
1960 Gold Heart Award. American Heart Association.
1961 Medallion of Valor. State of Israel Commendation Dinner.
1964 Commendation. Issued and signed by the President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson.

Box 66

Plaques (2):

Scope and Content Note

1952 Tribute (on occasion of Cantor's 60th birthday). State of Israel Bonds.
1958 Tenth Anniversary. State of Israel Bonds.

Box 67

Plaques (5):

Scope and Content Note

n.d. American Legion
1937 To Eddie Cantor from his friends in appreciation and recognition of 25 years in public service.
1952 Honorary member. Boston Taxi Drivers Association, Incorporated.
1954 City of Hope.
1957 In recognition of Distinguished Acheivement in Theatrical Arts. The Lambs.

Honorific Occasions

Box 69

1953: Honor Roll of Friends and Admirers who have purchased $1,000 of Israeli Bonds on the occasion of Eddie Cantor's birthday.

Box 68

Photographs and script from Eddie Cantor's appearance on the television program This Is Your Life.

Awards, Testimonials

Box 70

A collection of certificates of thanks, awards of merit, testimonials, etc. all addressed to Eddie Cantor for his philanthropic activities.

Pictorial Materials

Box 51

Cariacatures, cartoons and sketches of Eddie Cantor.

Abstract: Also contains photos of Cantor on stage, inscribed photos from entertainment personalities and early photos of Cantor in private life.

Audiotapes

Box 72

Three audiotapes.

Publications by Eddie Cantor

Box 73

Four copies of The Way I See It.

Congratulatory Letters

Box 74

Consisting of an album of letters whose title reads In tribute to Eddie Cantor on the occasion of his 65th birthday. Under the auspices of State of Israel Bonds. Miami Beach, February 16, 1957.

Physical Description: Typescript letters, signed.

Scope and Content Note

The authors are listed below in the following catagories:

Governor Gordon Allott (Colorado).
Governor Victor E. Anderson (Nebraska).
Governor J. Hugo Aronson (Montana).
Senator J. Glenn Beall (Maryland).
Yul Brynner.
Governor Homer E. Capehart (Indiana).
Sen. Clifford P. Case (New Jersey).
Margaret Chase Smith (Maine).
Justice Tom C. Clark.
Governor LeRoy Collins (Florida).
Cecil B. deMille.
Governor George Docking (Kansas).
Governor Orval E. Faubus (Arkansas).
Abba Eban.
Abraham Feinberg.
Rosemary &
Jose Ferrer.
Louis Finkelstein.
Mirion B. Folson.
Governor Joe Foss (South Dakota).
Dave Garroway
Governor Raymond Gary (Oklahoma).
Governor Marvin Griffin (Georgia).
Governor Harold W. Handley (Indiana).
Governor Hubert H. Humphrey (Minnesota).
Senator Irving M. Ives (New York).
Senator Jacob K. Javits (New York).
Senator Lyndon B. Johnson (Texas).
Governor Goodwin J. Knight.
Lawerence G. Lasky.
Herbert H. Lehman.
Governor Earl K. Long (Louisiana).
Governor Herschel C. Loveless (Iowa).
James G. McDonald.
Senator Pat McNamara (Michigan).
Senator Warren G. Magnuson (Washington).
Golda Meir.
Governor Robert B. Meyner (New Jersey).
Lewis Milestone.
George Murphy.
Senator James E. Murray (Montana).
Edward R. Murrow.
Governor Edmund S. Muskie (Maine).
Richard Nixon.
Arthur E. Summerfield.
Senator Estes Kefauver (Tennessee).
Lawerence Olivier.
Sen. John O. Pastore (Rhode Island).
Mary Pickford.
Michael Redgrave.
Governor Abraham Ribicoff (Connecticut).
Governor Albert D. Rosellini (Washington).
Governor Charles H. Russell (Nevada).
Senator Leverett Saltonstall (Massachusetts).
Joseph J. Schartz.
Governor Milward L. Simpson (Wyoming).
Senator John Sparkman (Alabama).
Adali E. Stevenson.
Senator Stuart Symington (Montana).
Senator Herman E. Talmadge (Georgia).
Richard Tucker.
Rudy Vallee.
Earl Wilson.

Cables, Wires, Telegrams

Box 74

Members of the Israeli Cabinet:

Scope and Content Note

Israel Baryehuda (Interior).
Israel Barzilai (Health).
David Ben Gurion.
Joseph Berg.
Moshe Carmel (Communications).
Levi Eshkol (Finance).
Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog.
Kaddish Luz (Agriculture).
Morredehai Namir (Labor).
Pinhas Rosen (Justice).
Pinhas Sapir (Commerce & Industry).
Moshe Shapira (Religion).
Behor Shalom Shitreet (Police).
William Carmen Natinal Commander, Jewish.
War Veterans Of the United States.
Senator Francis Case.
Arthur Godfrey.
Samuel Goldwyn.
Jennie Grossinger.
Israel Actors Union.
Jennifer Jones.
Sen. William F. Knowland (California).
Sen. Thomas H. Kuchel (California).
Governor George M. Leader (Pennsylvania).
Kim Novak.
Sen. Frederick G. Payne (Maine).
Gregory Peck.
Lily Pons.
David O. Selznick.
Governor William G. Stratton (Illinois).
Leonard Sues.
Sophie Tucker.
John Wayne (signed by secretary Mary St. John).
Robert F. Wagner, Mayor New York City.
Sinclair Weeks, U.S. Secretary of Commerce).

Holograph Letters

Box 74

Jascha Heifitz.

Box 74

Fannie Hurst.

Box 74

Basil Rathbone.

Miscellaneous Letters and Telegrams

Box 74

1952 Paul A. Dever, Governor of Massachusetts. Proclamation of an Eddie Cantor Blood Donor Day.

Box 74

1955 Mamie Doud Eisenhower. Reply to get well note for President Eisenhower.

Box 74

1964 Lyndon Johnson. Telegram reply.

Box 74

n.d. David Moore. Thank you letter on behalf of Person To Person television show.

Box 74

1936 John J. Pershing. Statement on war prevention.

Box 74

1955 W.G. Reardon. Congratulatory message.

Box 74

1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt. Reply to message from Cantor.

Box 74

1964 Mordechai Shalev, Israeli Consul General, Los Angeles. Condolences to Cantor family.

Box 74

1954 Earl Warren. Reply to congratulatory message from Cantor.

Scrapbooks

Box 71

Scrapbooks--Charity work.

Poster

Box 71

Israeli poster, 1950(?) in Hebrew advertising showing of Cantor film Show Business.

Phonorecordings

Box 74

Assorted recordings (14).

Note

UCLA Radio Archive.

Box 75

Unmarked package.

Box 75

The Haggadah - entered by Cecil Ral. Jerusalem: published by Massadah and Mga, 1956.

Box 75

Presented to Eddie Cantor by Theater Jewish app.

Box 75

Portfolio of drawings by Harry Davids--Committee to spread Jewish Art.

Box 76

Package of renderings.

Scope and Content Note

1) NBC March 12, 1940.
2) Bob Hope Pepsodent ShowApril 1, 1947.
3) Motion Picture Relief Fund radio program December 31, 1939.

Box 77

Israeli Poster for film Show Business.