This collection consists of the sheet music manuscripts of Czech cellist, composer, and film music director Alois Reiser. These materials span Reiser's entire career and include his classical compositions, operas, materials from his time as conductor at New York's Strand Theater, and work as a composer and music director for the film industry in Los Angeles. Also included are screenplays for various films, newspaper clippings of publicity for Reiser, some published material, and a few photographs.

Reiser (born on April 6, 1887) was a Czech composer and cellist. Born in Prague, Reiser studied with Antonín Dvorák at the Prague Conservatory and received his doctorate of music at the University of Prague. Reiser also took cello lessons and toured Europe and the United States as a concert cellist with the Bohemian Trio, also performing for a time as a cellist with the Pittsburgh and New York Symphony Orchestras. Afterward, Reiser reestablished himself in Prague and became conductor Prague Opera House. Returning to New York in 1918, he worked as a conductor at the Strand Theater until 1929, when he moved to Hollywood to work as a composer and musical director for film studios. At Warner Bros. and, later, Fox Studios, he worked on films such as Noah's Ark (1928), Her Private Life (1929), Spring Is Here (1930), The Millionaire (1931), and Caravan (1934). His classical compositions include the opera Gobi (1912), Concerto for cello and orchestra (1916), String quartet in E minor (1916), Little Coquette (1918), From Mount Rainier (1926), Slavic Rhapsody (1927), Trio in F major (1931), and Erewhon (1931). He died on April 4, 1977 in Los Angeles.

8.2 Linear Feet (4 document boxes, 14 flat boxes and 1 oversize flat box.)

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