Finding Aid for the Leonard Gershe Papers PASC.0268

Finding aid prepared by Cheryl Clayton with assistance from Julie Graham; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.

UCLA Library Special Collections

Online finding aid last updated 2021 August 12.

Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575

spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

URL: https://www.library.ucla.edu/special-collections

Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections

Title: Leonard Gershe papers

Creator: Gershe, Leonard

Identifier/Call Number: PASC.0268

Physical Description: 8.0 Linear Feet (14 boxes and 1 oversize box)

Date (inclusive): 1944-2000

Date (bulk): 1966-1990

Abstract: The collection consists of scripts, correspondence, ephemera, clippings, and legal and financial papers for various productions. Also includes a variety of lyrics and music sheets, a small collection of material written or collected by Gershe, legal documents, correspondence, and photographs.

Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other 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], Leonard Gershe Papers (Collection PASC 268). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gift, 2003.

Processing Information

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

Processed by Cheryl Clayton with assistance from Julie Graham.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4859480

Biography

Leonard Gershe was born in NY,1922. He began his entertainment career writing material for revues. He collaborated with composer Richard Adinsell on A Jabberwocky Song and Sing, for the revue Tuppence Coloured (1947). Gershe moved to Hollywood after forming a close professional relationship with composer-arranger Roger Edens and together they co-wrote Born In A Trunk, performed by Judy Garland in A Star Is Born (1954). His numerous credits include Destry Rides Again (1959), Funny Face (1957), Silk Stockings (1957), Butterflies are Free (1969), 40 Carats (1973), That's Entertainment II (1976), The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1978), and Snacks (1982). Gershe died in Beverly Hills, CA on March 9, 2002.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of material related to the career of playwright and lyricist, Leonard Gershe. Primarily includes scripts, correspondence, ephemera, clippings, and legal and financial papers for various productions of Butterflies Are Free. Other projects include Snacks, Funny Face, 40 Carats, and Destry Rides Again, among others. Also includes a variety of lyrics and music sheets; a small collection of eulogies, speeches, and toasts written or collected by Gershe; legal documents pertaining to Born in a Trunk; correspondence; and photographs.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Film scripts.

Song sheets.

Plays.

Clippings.

Composers -- Archives.

Dramatists -- Archives.

Gershe, Leonard--Archives.

40 Carats

box 7

40 Carats A screenplay by Leonard Gershe - revised motion picture shooting script - set photographs 1972 Aug 22

box 7

40 Carats publicity reviews - clippings 1972

According to Jan

box 7

According To Jan A teleplay by Leonard Gershe - The Janet Leigh Show teleplay script no date

box 7

According To Jan by Leonard Gershe - The Janet Leigh Show first draft teleplay script 1967

Boys On Top (The)

box 8

Boys On Top (The) by Leonard Gershe - synopsis no date

Broadway Babies

box 8

Broadway Babies - contracts 1978

box 8

Broadway Babies A musical comedy, book by Leonard Gershe - synopsis and first draft script (musical) 1978

box 8

Broadway Babies by Leonard Gershe - script (musical) no date

Butterflies Are Free

box 1

[Butterflies Are Free] - play script no date

box 5

Butterflies Are Free - photos by Max Eisen 234 West 44th Street NY, NY 10036 no date

box 6

Butterflies Are Free "Le Fafalle Sono Libre" Italian - script no date

box 5

Butterflies Are Free (1 of 2) - letters and personal ephemera 1969-1985

box 5

Butterflies Are Free (2 of 2) - letters and personal ephemera 1969-1985

box 5

Butterflies Are Free a Frankovich production - original screenplay and shooting script 1971

box 1

Butterflies Are Free A play by Leonard Gershe - annotated play script no date

box 1

Butterflies Are Free An original screenplay by Leonard Gershe - shooting script 1971 Aug 16

General note

Bound with production information and stills.

box 1

Butterflies Are Free Australia - production rights, correspondence, and royalty information 1970-1971

box 1

Butterflies Are Free Austria - production rights agreement 1989

box 1

Butterflies Are Free Austria English Speaking Theatre of Vienna - reviews and ephemera 1990

box 6

Butterflies Are Free bus and truck - clippings 1971-1972

box 1

Butterflies Are Free Canada - production rights and correspondence 1971, 1979-1980

box 1

Butterflies Are Free China - production rights agreement 2000

box 6

Butterflies Are Free correspondence pre-Broadway 1968-1969

box 1

Butterflies Are Free Czechoslovakia - production rights, correspondence, and financial statements 1973-1990

box 1

Butterflies Are Free Dutch - production rights, correspondence, financial statements, and agreement 1970-1980, 2000

box 1

Butterflies Are Free England (1 of 2) - ephemera and clippings - clippings 1970, 1982

box 1

Butterflies Are Free England (2 of 2) - ephemera and clippings - ephemera 1970, 1982

box 5

Butterflies Are Free Eric Douglas Dinner Playhouse, Inc. Kansas City, MO - correspondence, clippings, and ephemera 1986

box 6

Butterflies Are Free film letters - clippings and correspondence 1972

box 6

Butterflies Are Free film reviews and articles (1 of 2) - clippings, ephemera, and correspondence 1972

box 6

Butterflies Are Free film reviews and articles (2 of 2) - clippings, ephemera, and correspondence - clippings and ephemera 1972

box 6

Butterflies Are Free film stills 1972

box 1

Butterflies Are Free France - production rights, correspondence, and ephemera 1970-1989

General note

Oversized material moved to Box 15.

box 15

Butterflies Are Free France - production rights, correspondence, and ephemera - poster removed from Box 1 1970, 1972

General note

Oversized material pulled from Box 1.

box 2

Butterflies Are Free France, Belgium - clippings and ephemera 1970, 1972

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Germany - clippings and correspondence 1971

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Germany - production rights, correspondence, and financial statements 1969-1997

box 6

Butterflies Are Free Gloria Swanson NY reviews - clippings and ephemera 1971

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Greece - production rights, correspondence, and contract 1970-1994

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Greece, Turkey, So. Africa, Israel, Australia - photos, clippings, and ephemera 1970-1971

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Holland - scripts, clippings, ephemera, and photos 1970

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Hungary - production rights, correspondence, and financial statements 1971-1999

box 2

Butterflies Are Free India - production rights 1971

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Ireland - production rights 1972

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Israel - production rights, correspondence, financial statements, and agreement 1971-2000

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Italy - clippings and ephemera 1971

General note

Oversized material moved to Box 15.

box 15

Butterflies Are Free Italy - clippings and ephemera - poster removed from Box 3 1971

General note

Oversized material pulled from Box 3.

box 2

Butterflies Are Free Italy - production rights and correspondence 1970-1973, 1995, 1997

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Japan - production rights and agreement 1980, 1990

box 4

Butterflies Are Free Konzertkirektion Landgraf Neustadt-Schwarzwald - correspondence and clippings 1973-1975

General note

German scrapbook.

box 1

Butterflies Are Free language translations - performing rights documents 1983, 1985, 1997

box 5

Butterflies Are Free McGraw-Hill or S. French - correspondence and reprint permissions 1980

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Mexico - production rights and agreement 1970-1983

box 5

Butterflies Are Free Miami Beau Bridges, Ann Southern, Pamela Kingsley - clippings 1971

box 5

Butterflies Are Free misc. production correspondence 1970-1980

box 6

Butterflies Are Free motion pictures - correspondence and royalty statements 1969-1982

box 6

Butterflies Are Free National Company (1 of 3) - ephemera and clippings - ephemera 1970-1971

box 6

Butterflies Are Free National Company (2 of 3) - ephemera and clippings - clippings 1970-1971

box 6

Butterflies Are Free National Company (3 of 3) - ephemera and clippings - clippings 1970-1971

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Poland - clippings and ephemera 1972-1976

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Poland (1 of 2) - production rights, correspondence, and financial statements 1971-1977

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Poland (2 of 2) - production rights, correspondence, and financial statements 1978-1987

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Portugal - production rights 1971

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Puerto Rico - production rights 1971

box 4

Butterflies Are Free quote from Iran-Contra hearings - clippings 1987

box 5

Butterflies Are Free Random House - correspondence and royalty statements 1970-1975

box 4

Butterflies Are Free reviews - photocopies and ephemera 1969-1970

box 4

Butterflies Are Free reviews and clippings 1969-1970

box 5

Butterflies Are Free Samuel French (stock and amateur) - correspondence, agreement, and reprint permissions 1969-1979, 1994-1995

box 3

Butterflies Are Free Scandinavia - production rights, correspondence, financial statements, and agreement 1970-1974, 1991

box 3

Butterflies Are Free So. Africa - production rights, correspondence, and financial statements 1971, 1985

box 3

Butterflies Are Free So. America - production rights, correspondence, financial statements, and agreement 1971-1980, 1994

box 3

Butterflies Are Free So. America, Mexico (1 of 2) - script, correspondence, photos, clippings, and ephemera - script, correspondence, photos, and ephemera 1971

box 4

Butterflies Are Free So. America, Mexico (2 of 2) - script, correspondence, photos, clippings, and ephemera - clippings and ephemera 1971

box 4

Butterflies Are Free Spain - correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and photos 1971

General note

Oversized material moved to Box 15.

box 15

Butterflies Are Free Spain - correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and photos - poster removed from Box 4 1970

General note

Oversized material pulled from Box 4.

box 4

Butterflies Are Free Spain - production rights, correspondence, financial statements, and agreement 1970-1975, 1994

box 5

Butterflies Are Free stock - clippings and ephemera 1971-1972, 1976

box 5

Butterflies Are Free summer stock reviews - clippings, correspondence, and ephemera 1969

box 4

Butterflies Are Free Sweden, Denmark, Norway - correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and photos 1971

General note

Oversized material moved to Box 15.

box 15

Butterflies Are Free Sweden, Denmark, Norway - correspondence, clippings, ephemera, and photos - posters removed from Box 4 1971

General note

Oversized material pulled from Box 4.

box 4

Butterflies Are Free Turkey - production rights, correspondence, and agreement 1970, 1988

box 5

Butterflies Are Free TV - production rights, correspondence, and agreement 1977-1979

box 4

Butterflies Are Free West Indies - production rights 1972

box 4

Butterflies Are Free Yugoslavia - production rights 1971, 1973

box 13

Gershe Butterflies Are Free - cast photo album from New York (Broadway) production 1970 June 10

Climb Upon My Knee

box 8

Climb Upon My Knee A comedy by Leonard Gershe - script and correspondence 1966

box 8

Climb Upon My Knee by Leonard Gershe - script (play) no date

box 8

Climb Upon My Knee by Leonard Gershe - script (play) no date

Delicate Outrage (A )

box 8

Delicate Outrage (A) by Leonard Gershe, Outline for It Takes A Thief - synopsis and motion picture script no date

Destry Rides Again

box 7

Destry "Fair Warning" lyrics no date

box 9

Destry England, British Production - correspondence, clippings, and ephemera 1981-1982

General note

Oversized material moved to Box 15.

box 15

Destry England, British Production - poster removed from Box 9 1981-1982

General note

Oversized material pulled from Box 9.

box 9

Destry Rides Again by Leonard Gershe - script (musical), ephemera, and set photographs ca. 1959

Eulogies, Speeches, and Toasts Written or Collected by L. Gershe

box 14

Eulogies, Speeches, and Toasts (1 of 3) - scripts, ephemera, and clippings 1944-1996

box 14

Eulogies, Speeches, and Toasts (2 of 3) - scripts, ephemera, and clippings - ephemera 1944-1996

box 14

Eulogies, Speeches, and Toasts (3 of 3) - scripts, ephemera, and clippings - Kennedy clippings and ephemera 1944-1996

box 14

Remembering Connie Salinger cassette tape no date

Fame and Fortune

box 9

Fame and Fortune (The Enchanted Cottage) A screenplay by Leonard Gershe - first draft script 1977

box 9

Fame and Fortune (The Enchanted Cottage) by Leonard Gershe - second draft screenplay 1977 Dec 2

General note

Two script copies.

Friend of the Family

box 9

Friend of the Family by Leonard Gershe - script (play) no date

Funny Face

box 9

Funny Face by Leonard Gershe - revised final white motion picture script with set photographs - new print clipping 1956 Mar 21, 1990

box 7

Music and lyrics 1956

Hand in Hand

box 10

Hand in Hand - synopsis no date

Horse Opera

box 15

Horse Opera A musical satire by Enoch Sheraton (book) and Leonard Gershe (music and lyrics) - music for Horse Opera - music and lyrics pulled from Box 10 no date

General note

Oversized material pulled from Box 10.

box 10

Horse Opera A musical satire by Enoch Sheraton (book) and Leonard Gershe (music and lyrics) - script 1947

General note

Oversized material moved to Box 15.

box 7

Horse Opera lyrics no date

I Married A Star

box 10

I Married A Star - Outline of a half hour comedy by Leonard Gershe no date

Jacobowsky and the Colonel

box 10

Jacobowsky and the Colonel A musical by Leonard Gershe (book) and Stan Daniels (music and lyrics) - first draft script 1976 Aug

Lawsuit Gershe v. Haver, et al. (A Star Is Born - Born In A Trunk)

box 14

[Gershe v. Haver, et al. suit] - request for documents and interrogatories 1989

box 14

Born in a Trunk libel suit - correspondence and clippings 1985, 1996-1991

box 14

Deposition - Gershe v. Haver, Luft, and Knopf, Inc. 1990

box 14

Knopf's requests - correspondence and legal documentation 1989

box 14

Libel settlement, apology statement, Luft dismissal letter - correspondence and legal documentation 1991

box 14

M.S. Luft - correspondence and legal documentation 1954, 1985

box 14

Stein and Kahan contract - correspondence and financial statement 1989, 1991

Man in the Santa Claus Suit (The)

box 10

The Man in the Santa Claus Suit A teleplay by George Kirgo, Story by Leonard Gershe - first script after final draft - correspondence 1979 Oct 11

box 10

The Man in the Santa Claus Suit An outline by Leonard Gershe - annotated and revised script pages 1979 May 23, 1979 Sept 11

Mato Grosso

box 10

Mato Grosso by Leonard Gershe - outline for a mystery-adventure series for TV, including synopsis for a feature film no date

Misc. Correspondence

box 13

American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) Correspondence 1984, 1989

box 7

Gloria Vanderbilt - handwritten note no date

box 13

Letter and photo from Peter Turrini - personal ephemera no date

Miss Pell Is Missing

box 10

Miss Pell Is Missing by Leonard Gershe - corrected script (play) - set photographs and ephemera ca. 1962

Music Written or Collected by L. Gershe

box 7

Addinsell Music 1954-1959

box 7

Alive and Kicking lyrics by Leonard Gershe and music by Irma Jurist 1947

box 7

Lyrics by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blanc no date

box 14

Marti Stevens - musical numbers list for The American Musical Comedy Script ca. 1980s

box 7

Music by Addinsell 1948, 1950

box 14

Songs of Irving Berlin - songbook and tribute ephemera 1990

box 7

Star Is Born (A) - music and lyrics 1954

box 7

Various lyrics and music sheets no date

box 7

Wedding Day (Ogden Nash and Vernon Duke) no date

No Strings

box 10

No Strings (1 of 2) - by Leonard Gershe - A screenplay from the musical play by Richard Rodgers (music and lyrics) and Samuel Taylor (book) no date, 1966

box 11

No Strings (2 of 2) - by Leonard Gershe - A synopsis, reviews, and correspondence no date, 1966

Nutcracker (The)

box 11

Nutcracker (The ) - synopsis and correspondence 1966

box 11

Nutcracker (The) (1 of 2) - by Leonard Gershe - first draft screenplay no date, 1967

box 11

Nutcracker (The) (2 of 2) - by Leonard Gershe - screenplay drafts and correspondence no date, 1967

Photographs

box 13

Photo album - "Lennys" no date

box 13

Unidentified photographs no date

Rear Window

box 11

Rear Window - contract and correspondence 1982

box 11

Rear Window A play by Leonard Gershe from a story by Cornell Woolrich - second draft script (play) no date

box 11

The All New.. Rear Window A screenplay by Leonard Gershe from the story Rear Window by Cornell Woolrich no date

Second Time Around

box 11

Second Time Around written by Leonard Gershe - screenplay 1974 Dec 10

Silk Stockings

box 11

Silk Stockings by Leonard Gershe - changes to motion picture script - set photographs ca. 1956-1957

Snacks

box 12

Snacks A play by Leonard Gershe - play script 1980 June

box 12

Snacks - Brisson contract 1982

box 12

Snacks - Brisson correspondence and clippings 1982

box 12

Snacks - clippings, correspondence, photos, and ephemera 1984, 1987

box 12

Snacks - Jim McKenzie (Connecticut Theatre Foundation) contract 1984

Stone of Chastity (The)

box 12

The Stone of Chastity - synopsis no date

Swing Low, Sweet Harriet

box 12

Swing Low, Sweet Harriet (1 of 2) - script - revised first draft script 1967-1968

box 12

Swing Low, Sweet Harriet (2 of 2) - script - script outline, ephemera, revised first draft script 1967-1968

That's Entertainment, Too

box 12

That's Entertainment, Too - songwriters sequence 1975 June

That's Willie for You

box 12

That's Willie for You A screen treatment by Leonard Gershe - synopsis no date

TJB on Tour (The)

box 13

The TJB on Tour by Leonard Gershe - treatment first draft synopsis no date

Tuppence Coloured (Europe Trip)

box 8

Europe (1 of 3) - ephemera, correspondence, and clippings - correspondence and Tuppence Coloured ephemera and clippings 1947

box 8

Europe (2 of 3) - ephemera, correspondence, and clippings - telegrams and travel ephemera 1947

box 8

Europe (3 of 3) - ephemera, correspondence, and clippings - clippings 1947

Valentine Hatchett

box 13

Valentine Hatchett A comedy by Leonard Gershe - play script no date

Who Is Sylvia

box 13

Who Is Sylvia A screenplay by Leonard Gershe - second draft script 1959 Feb 3

box 7

Who Is Sylvia music and lyrics no date

Wilds of Pasadena (The)

box 13

Wilds of Pasadena (The) created by Norman Abbott, written by Leonard Gershe - TV script and correspondence 1969