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Melcena Burns Denny Plays: Finding Aid
mssHM 65643-65679
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Title: Melcena Burns Denny Plays
Dates (inclusive): 1946-1966
Bulk dates: 1946-1949
Collection Number: mssHM 65643-65679
Creator:
Denny, Melcena Burns.
Extent: 37 pieces in 2 boxes.
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This small group consists mainly of materials dealing with the production of two plays
by California writer Melcena Burns Denny (1876–1974): "Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras" and "Lola Montez, The Spider
Dancer"
Language: English.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Melcena Burns Denny Plays, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Gift of Estate of Mrs. Melcena Burns Denny, August 29, 1974.
Related Material
The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley, has a copy of each of the plays represented in this collection
as well (BANC MSS C-H 21).
Melcena Burns Denny (1876–1974) was a member of the San Diego Writers' Club, the Authors' League
of America, and the Dramatists' Guild. She was a native of California and a graduate
of San Jose State Teachers College. In addition to her short stories and poems
purchased by Collier's, Woman's Home Companion, and Youth's Companion magazines,
Denny was the author of two plays, "Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras" and
"Lola Montez, The Spider Dancer."
This small group consists mainly of materials dealing with the production of two plays
by Melcena Burns Denny (1876–1974). There are multiple copies of each of these plays, but each has slight
variations. "Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras," was performed at
California's First Theatre by the Troupers of the Gold Coast in 1946 and 1952, then
at the Balboa Park Puppet Theatre in San Diego by the Junior Theatre Summer Work
Shop in 1950, and finally in 1961 by the Triangle Club at the three-day Apple
Festival in Julian, California. Included are scripts of her play and an essay
written by Denny about Black Bart (born 1829). Her other play, "Lola Montez, The
Spider Dancer," was performed at California's First Theatre in 1948 and 1949 by the
Troupers of the Gold Coast; and included are scripts of the play, an incomplete
short story about Lola Montez (1818-1861), song lyrics, and the music written by
Edward C. Hopkins.
This small group is organized as follows:
1. Manuscript material – arranged by genre as follows; letters (correspondence), scripts of plays, essay, short story, and
notes (Box 1)
2. Lyrics, music, and other materials – arranged by genre as follows; lyrics, music, ephemera, clippings, and posters (Box
2)
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Black Bart,
1829-
Denny, Melcena
Burns.
Montez, Lola,
1818-1861.
Melodrama.
Popular culture -- California.
Women authors, American -- 20th century
-- Archives.
Scripts (documents) -- California --
20th century.
Black Bart, born 1829
- 1946, Jan. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras.” HM 65646.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras.” HM 65647.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, the Lone Robber.” HM 65648.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, essay: “Who was Black Bart?” HM 65651.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, notes on Black Bart, b. 1829. HM 65653.
Montez, Lola, 1818-1861
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Lola Montez, The Spider Dancer.” HM 65649.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Lola Montez, The Spider Dancer.” HM 65650.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, short story: “Lola Montez, The Spider Dancer.” HM 65652.
Melodrama
- 1946, Jan. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras.” HM 65646.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras.” HM 65647.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, the Lone Robber.” HM 65648.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Lola Montez, The Spider Dancer.” HM 65649.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Lola Montez, The Spider Dancer.” HM 65650.
Popular culture – California
- 1946, Jan. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras.” HM 65646.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, The Lone Robber of Calaveras.” HM 65647.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Black Bart, the Lone Robber.” HM 65648.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Lola Montez, The Spider Dancer.” HM 65649.
- n.d. Melcena Burns Denny, play: “Lola Montez, The Spider Dancer.” HM 65650.