Finding aid for the Arthur Lewis papers 2153

Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library

Title: Arthur Lewis papers

Creator: Lewis, Arthur, 1916-2006

Identifier/Call Number: 2153

Physical Description: 40.23 Linear Feet 29 boxes

Date (bulk): 1940s-1970s

Abstract: This collection consists of the papers of screenwriter and producer Arthur Lewis (1916-2006). Materials include contracts, financial records, journal publications, realia, and books. Lewis was the son of producer Albert Lewis.

Language of Material: English.

The Lewis family consists of father Albert Lewis (1884-1978), eldest son Arthur Lewis (1916-2006), and younger son Burton Lewis (1918-2002). While Burton Lewis has just one Broadway acting and stage-managing credit for the play "Off to Buffalo," Albert and Arthur Lewis had long careers in entertainment. Albert Lewis started off as a partner of Max Gordon (1892-1978), creating single act plays for vaudeville. In 1925, Albert Lewis produced and directed the original Broadway production of "The Jazz Singer," which later became the talking picture "The Jazz Singer" (1927). In 1942, Albert Lewis and George Balanchine co-produced and co-directed "Cabin in the Sky," a Broadway musical with an all-black cast, that later became a film. He produced films like "Torch Singer" (1933), "Cabin in the Sky" (1943), and "Ready for Love" (1934). He also co-wrote films with his son, Arthur Lewis including "Oh You Beautiful Doll" (1949) and "Golden Girl" (1951). Together they also produced the Broadway musical "Three Wishes for Jamie" (1952). Arthur Lewis produced theater works including the plays "Guys and Dolls" (1953), The Boy Friend" (1954), "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1963), Little Me" (1964), "Funny Girl" (1966), The Odd Couple" (1966), and "A Thousand Clowns" (1964). He produced films "Baxter" (1972) and "The Killer Elite" (1975). He also produced three television series, "Brenner" (1959), "The Asphalt Jungle" (1961), and "The Nurses" (1962), and the television film version of "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1980). Arthur Lewis is a University of Southern California alumni.

This collection consists of the papers of screenwriter and producer Arthur Lewis (1916-2006). Materials include contracts, financial records, journal publications, realia, and books. He produced plays Guys and Dolls (1953), The Boy Friend (1954), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1963), Little Me (1964), Funny Girl (1966); films Baxter (1972) and The Killer Elite (1975); and the television film version of The Diary of Anne Frank (1980). Lewis was the son of producer Albert Lewis.

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Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Gift of Arthur Lewis, April 1987.

[Box/folder no. or item name], Arthur Lewis papers, Collection no. 2153, Cinematic Arts Library, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

This collection is unprocessed.