Abraham Ellstein and Sylvia Regan papers

Abraham Ellstein and Sylvia Regan papers, 1921-1982

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Ellstein, Abraham, 1907-1963; Regan, Sylvia
Title: Abraham Ellstein and Sylvia Regan papers
Dates: 1921-1982 (inclusive)
Date of CollectionDate of Collection
Quantity: 16.00 cubic ft. (39 boxes)
Collection Number: 07927
Summary: Papers of a husband and wife who collaborated on composing and writing musicals and plays performed mostly in the Yiddish Theater Disctrict of New York City but also on Broadway.
Repository: American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions: Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
Languages: English, Yiddish

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Abraham Ellstein (1907-1963), was a Jewish composer and conductor born in New York City. During his most active years, he was one of the “Big Four” of composers in the Yiddish theater district. He composed scores for movies, the most well-known, “Yiddle With his Fiddle”, starring Molly Picon, a prominent actress in the Yiddish theater and movie industry. He also composed folk songs, as well as liturgical songs, some especially for Tenor Jan Peerce. His most famous work, “The Golem”, created with his wife, was the only opera he composed. It was performed at the New York City Opera in 1962. His wife, Sylvia Regan, started as an actress but later wrote plays, musicals, television, and radio scripts. She wrote “Great To Be Alive!” with her husband, and the show premiered on Broadway in 1950. She also had great success with “The Fifth Season” and “Morning Star”.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains scripts and music scores for "The Golem", Great To Be Alive" and other works by Ellstein and Regan; correspondence; contracts; audio magnetic tapes; phonograph records; scrapbooks; photographs; manuscripts; and programs.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Abraham Ellstein and Sylvia Regan at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Sylvia Regan, 1982-1991.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Alexandra Cardin in January 2018.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. BiographicalReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
Box
1	Biography and List of Published Works by A. Ellstein	undated
1	Biography and List of Published Works by Sylvia Regan	undated
1	Photographs of A. Ellstein and Sylvia Regan, Black and White	undated

Series II. Professional Abraham EllsteinReturn to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Sub-series 1. Administrative
Box
1	Abraham Ellstein Memorial Scholarship, Juilliard School of Music	1963-1981, undated
1	ASCAP Contracts, New Chord Inc.	1961-1964
1	Carnegie Hall Program, Gala Concert Participation	1928
	The Golem
Box
1	Contracts, Performance and Rights to Adapt	1961-1962
1	Correspondence, Reviews, Publicity, etc.	1962
1	Correspondence to Opera Companies	1962-1963
1	Description of Parts and Voice Range	undated
1	Reviews, Correspondence, etc.	1961-1962
	Great to Be Alive!
Box
1	Contracts	1944-1949
1	Contracts and Correspondence	1947-1950
1	Contracts for Musical	1944-1950
1	Los Angeles Photographs, Black and White	undated
1	Los Angeles Publicity and Contracts	1945-1954, undated
Box
1	Letters from Museums	1966-1971
	Danny Mendoza
Box
2	Contracts, Correspondence, Synopsis, Unproduced Work	1954-1956, undated
Box
2	Miscellaneous Contracts	1938-1964
2	Miscellaneous Contracts	1938-1974
2	Miscellaneous Programs	1961-1978, undated
2	Miscellaneous Programs,Publicity, Reviews, etc.	1959-1980, undated
	Ode to the King of Kings
Box
2	Programs	1958-1971, undated
	The Thief and the Hang Man
Box
2	Correspondence with Ohio University	1958-1976
	Sub-series 2. Music scores and Manuscripts
	Sub-sub-series 1. Early Work
	Impromptu
Box
3	Score for Violin and Piano	June 6, 1933
	In Beth Hamedrish
Box
3	Orchestra Score	December, 1927
	Mass,
Box
3	Entire Score	April, 1924-August, 1924
Box
3	Miscellaneous Scores 1 of 2	1921-1934, undated
3	Miscellaneous Scores 2 of 2	1921-1934, undated
3	Opera in 3 Acts, 4 Scenes	1920
	The Piper
Box
4	Bound Score	November, 1922-March, 1923
	Romanza
Box
4	Score for Violin and Piano	March 5, 1932-March 23, 1932
	Yzdra
Box
4	Opera Score	March, 1925
4	Opera Score	January, 1926
	Sub-sub-series 2. Folk Songs
	80 er 70 Sie
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Alevai Volt...
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Bulbes
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Chazkele
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	De Filisof
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Evev Pesach...
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Freg Di Volt An Alte Kashe
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Freitag Oif Der Nacht
Box
5	Score (Mansucript)	undatedS
	Ganvenen
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Gei Ich Mi Shpazvien
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)
	Hot a Yid a Vebete
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Lome Sich Ibebeten
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Lomir alle...
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Maybe
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	1939
	Meidel in Di Yuren
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Mesinke Osgegeben
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
Box
5	Miscellaneous Scores (Manuscripts)	undated
	Moschiach
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Ofin Pripitchok
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Oy Avram
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Rebi Elimelech
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Shluf Mein Feigele
Box
5	Score (Mansucript)	undated
	Yoshke
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Sub-sub-series 3. Liturgical Songs for Opera Singer, Jan Peerce
	A Pastuchl
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	A Zemer'l
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Adoshem Adoshem
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Ahavas Olom
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Borchenu Vabrocho
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Broches Chanuka (Blessing of the Candles)
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Hashkiveinu
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Kiddish
Box
5	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Madoglu, Pslam 92
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Retsei
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Rochel M'Vakoh
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Sheyibonei
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Sheyibonei Bes Hanikdosh
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Shma Yisroel
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Sim Sholom (Prayer for Peace)
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	V'li Yerusholayim Ircho
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Yismechu
Box
6	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Sub-sub-series 4. Miscellaneous
	As Der Rebi Vil
Box
7	Score (Manuscriipt)	1929
7	1st and 2nd Cornets Sheets	1929
7	1st and 2nd Violins Sheets	1929
7	Bass Sheets	1929
7	Cello Sheets	1929
7	Clarinet Sheets	1929
7	Drums Sheets	1929
7	Flute Sheets	1929
7	Oboe Sheets	1929
7	Piano Sheets	1929
7	Trombone Sheets	1929
	The Big Shot/the Baby Sitter
Box
7	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	undated
7	Bass Sheets	undated
7	Cello Sheets	undated
7	Clarinet Sheets	undated
7	Drums Sheets	undated
7	Entire Score (Manuscript)	undated
8	Flute Sheets	undated
8	Piano Sheets	undated
8	Trombone Sheets	undated
8	Violin Sheets	undated
	Booblitchki
Box
8	Score (Manuscript)	1937
8	Cello Sheets	1937
8	Clarinet Sheets	1937
8	Drums Sheets	1937
8	Flute Sheets	1937
8	Piano Sheets	undated
8	Trombone Sheets	1937
8	Trumpet Sheets	1937
8	Violin Sheets	1937
	Chassidic Dance
Box
8	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Chavivele
Box
8	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Der Berdichiver Chosen
Box
10	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	undated
9	Bass Sheets	undated
9	Bassoon Sheets	undated
9	Cello Sheets	undated
9	Clarinet Sheets	undated
9	Drums Sheets	undated
9	Entire Score (Manuscript)	undated
9	Flute Sheets	undated
9	Oboe Sheets	undated
10	Piano Sheets	undated
10	Trombone Sheets	undated
10	Violin Sheets	undated
	Don't Worry
Box
10	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	1951-1952
10	Bass Sheets	1951-1952
10	Clarinet Sheets	1951-1952
10	Drums Sheets	1951-1952
10	Entire Score (Manuscript)	1951-1952
10	Piano Sheets	1951-1952
10	Trombone Sheets	1951-1952
10	Violin Sheets	1951-1952
	Eretz Yisroel
Box
10	Bass Sheets	undated
10	Cello Sheets	undated
11	Clarinet Sheets	undated
11	Drums Sheets	undated
11	Flute Sheets	undated
11	Oboe and English Horn Sheets	undated
11	Piano Sheets	undated
11	Score (Manuscript)	undated
11	Trombone Sheets	undated
11	Trumpet Sheets	undated
11	Violin Sheets	undated
	Freilach Rhapsody
Box
11	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	The Golem
Box
12	Act I Before Final Corrections, Manuscript	undated
12	Act III, Before Final Corrections (Bound)	undated
13	Act I and II, Full Vocal Score(Bound)	undated
13	Act II, Full Vocal Score(Bound)	undated
13	Act III and IV, Full Vocal Score(Bound)	undated
12	Play Version	1962
12	Version of Opera Prior to Production by City Center Opera Company, NY	undated
	Haftorah
Box
14	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	His Wife's Lover
Box
14	1st and 2nd Cornets Sheets	1929-1930
14	Bass Sheets	1929-1930
14	Cello Sheets	1929-1930
14	Clarinet Sheets	1929-1930
14	Drums and Tympani Sheets	1929-1930
14	Flute Sheets	1929-1930
14	Oboe Sheets	1919-1930
14	Piano Sheets	1929-1930
14	Score (Manuscript)	1929-1930
14	Trombone Sheets	1929-1930
14	Violin Sheets	1929-1930
	Hora
Box
14	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	The Hungarian Cantor
Box
14	Clarinet Sheets	undated
14	Drums Sheets	undated
14	Flute Sheets	undated
14	Piano Sheets	undated
14	Trombone Sheets	undated
14	Trumpet Sheets	undated
14	Violin Sheets	undated
	Hungarian Chasen
Box
14	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	I'm in Love
Box
15	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	1946-1947
15	Bass Sheets	1946-1947
15	Clarinet Sheets	1946-1947
15	Drums Sheets	1946-1947
15	Piano Sheets	1946-1947
15	Score (Manuscript)	1946-1947
15	Trombone Sheets	1946-1947
15	Violin Sheets	1946-1947
	Israeli Rhapsody
Box
16	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	The Jolly World
Box
16	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	undated
16	1st and 2nd Violins Sheets	undated
16	Cello Sheets	undated
16	Clarinet Sheets	undated
16	Drums Sheets	undated
16	Flute Sheets	undated
16	Piano Sheets	undated
16	Score (Manuscript)	undated
16	Trombone Sheets	undated
	Just My Luck
Box
17	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	undated
17	Bass Sheets	undated
17	Clarinet Sheets	undated
17	Direction Sheets	undated
17	Drums Sheets	undated
17	Piano Sheets	undated
17	Trombone Sheets	undated
17	Violin Sheets	undated
	Keshinever
Box
17	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Leave it to Charlie
Box
18	Score (Manuscript)and Notes	1948-1949
	Leave it to Me
Box
18	Bass Sheets	1946-1947
18	Clarinet Sheets	1946-1947
18	Drums Sheets	1946-1947
18	Piano Sheets	1946-1947
18	Score (Manuscript)	1946-1947
18	Trombone Sheets	1946-1947
18	Trumpet Sheets	1946-1947
18	Violin Sheets	1946-1947
	Let's Be Gay
Box
18	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	1952
18	Bass Sheets	1952
18	Direction Sheets	1952
18	Drums Sheets	1952
18	Piano Sheets	1952
18	Trombone Sheets	1952
18	Violin Sheets	1952
	Malkela
Box
19	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	1937
19	Cello Sheets	1937
19	Clarinet Sheets	1937
18	Conductor Sheets	1937
19	Drums Sheets	1937
19	Flute Sheets	1937
19	Piano Sheets	1937
19	Trombone Sheets	1937
19	Violin Sheets	1937
	Mamele
Box
20	Movie Score (Manuscript)	1936
20	1st Horn Sheets	undated
20	1st Trumpet Sheets	undated
20	1st Violin Sheets	undated
20	2nd Horn Sheets	undated
20	2nd Trumpet Sheets	undated
20	2nd Violin Sheets	undated
20	Bass Sheets	undated
20	Cello Sheets	undated
21	Clarinet Sheets	undated
21	Drums Sheets	undated
21	Flute Sheets	undated
21	Harp Sheets	undated
21	Miscellaneous Sheets	undated
21	Oboe Sheets	undated
21	Opening Sheets	undated
21	Trombone Sheets	undated
21	Viola Sheets	undated
Box
22	Miscellaneous Scores	undated
	Motel Peyse
Box
22	1st and 2nd Cornets Sheets	undated
22	Bass Sheets	undated
22	Cello Sheets	undated
22	Clarinet Sheets	undated
22	Drum Sheets	undated
22	Flute Sheets	undated
22	Oboe Sheets	undated
23	Piano Sheets	undated
22	Score(Manuscript)	undated
23	Trombone Sheets	undated
23	Violin Sheets	undated
	Negev Concerto
Box
23	Score (Manuscript)	undated
23	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Ode
Box
23	Score (Manuscript), conducted by A. Ellstein at Carnegie Hall 1 of 2	1947
23	Score (Manuscript), conducted by A. Ellstein at Cranegie Hall 2 of 2	1947
	Phantasmata
Box
24	Bound Score	undated
Box
24	Original Pencil Score	undated
	Shabbat Menuchah
Box
25	Score (Manuscript)	undated
	Suzzie
Box
25	Cello Sheets	1937
25	Clarinet Sheets	1937
Box
25	Drums Sheets	1937
Box
25	Flute Sheets	1937
25	Piano Sheets	1937
25	Trombone Sheets	1937
25	Trumpets Sheets	1937
25	Violin Sheets	1937
	The Thief and the Hangman
Box
25	Bound Score and Productiuon Notes	1958, undated
	Two Tonal Sketches (by the Waters of Babylon and Haman Carnival
Box
25	Score (Manuscript) for Orchestra	undated
	Wedding Night
Box
26	1st and 2nd Trumpets Sheets	undated
26	Bass Sheets	undated
26	Clarinet Sheets	undated
26	Drums Sheets	undated
26	Piano Sheets	undated
26	Score (Manuscript)	undated
26	Trombone Sheets	undated
26	Violin Sheets	undated
	What a Guy
Box
27	Score and Yiddish Script	1948
	Wish Me Luck
Box
27	Bass Sheets	undated
27	Clarinet Sheets	undated
27	Drums Sheets	undated
28	Piano Sheets	undated
27	Score (Manuscript)	undated
28	Sheets for Singers	undated
28	Trombone Sheets	undated
28	Trumpet Sheets	undated
28	Violin Sheets	undated
	Yidl Mit'n Fidl
Box
28	Movie Score (Manuscript)	1937-1938
	Sub-series 3. Published works
Box
29	Ima - Mother of Israel, Score	undated
29	Miscellaneous Published Songs	1937-1965
29	Miscellaneous Works and Lists	1964-1978
	Sub-series 4. Audio Recordings
	Audio Magnetic Tapes
Box
30	Ellstein Tribute, Master #2, 9 mins	March 25, 1963
30	The Golem	April 4, 1962
30	Haftorah, Abraham Ellstein,William Gunther Sprecher and Itzhak Perlman Demonstration	undated
30	Ode, Rochester	undated
30	The Redemption,, Eastman School Chorus, Rochester	February, 1964
30	Test Reel in House, Jan Peerce etc.	undated
30	The Thief and the Hangman	undated
30	The Thief and the Hangman, Athens, Ohio	undated
30	The Thief and the Hangman, Redlands, Part 1	undated
30	The Thief and the Hangman, Redlands, Part 2	undated
30	Yiddish Maestro Please, The Ferder Sisters, Orchestra Conducted by A. Ellstein	undated
	Phonograph Records
Box
30	Cantorial Masterpieces, Jan Peerce, Orchestra Conducted by A. Ellstein	undated
30	Haftorah, Ellstein, Perlamn and Sprecher	undated
30	The Song and the Prayer: If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem, by A. Ellstein, in Hebrew, Sung by Jan Peerce	September 25, 1960
30	Introduction to the Kaddish, by A. Ellstein	undated
30	Jan Peerce Sings Yiddish Folk Songs, Orchestra Conducted by A. Ellstein	undated
30	Love, Italian Style, Demo (Melody)by A. Ellstein	undated
30	Stampede: a Tale of the West, Gene Autry, music by A. Ellstein	1949
30	The Thief and the Hangman, Side A, Performed by the Ohio University Opera Orchestra	undated
30	The Thief and the Hangman, Side B, Performed by the Ohio University Opera Orchestra	undated
	Sub-series 5. Scrapbooks and Clippings
Box
31	Miscellaneous Postcards and Notes	1922-1924, undated
31	Miscellaneous Programs and Clippings	1936-1947, undated
24	Molly Picon Concert Poster	undated
31	Programs and Clippings from Tours with Molly Picon	1932-1937, undated
31	Scrapbook	1924-1928
31	Scrapbook	1932-1937, undated
32	Scrapbook	1936-1947, undated
31	Scrapbook from European Tour and other	1928-1933
31	Write-ups of A. Ellstein	1921-1925

Series III. Professional Sylvia Regan Return to Top

Container(s)	Description	Dates
	Sub-series 1. Administrative
Box
33	Contracts - Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros.	1943-1975
	The Fifth Season
Box
33	Broadway Production Photographs	undated
33	Contracts and Correspondence	1951-1962
33	Contracts and Correspondence for Israel and South Africa	1968
33	Contracts, Reviews, etc. (Eden Theatre)	1975-1976
33	Correspondence with MCA Agent and Producer	1952-1962
33	Financial Backers and Contracts	1951-1953
33	London Production Photographs	1954
33	Miscellaneous Publicity and Reviews, London and USA	1962-1974
	Marianne
Box
33	Contracts	1942-1943
	Morning Star
Box
33	Broadway Reviews, Press Material and Photograph	1940
33	Contracts and Correspondence	1939-1960
33	Contracts and Correspondence	1938-1965
34	Reviews and Programs	1940-1972
34	London Correspondence	1949-1952
Box
34	Sylvia Regan's Early Career as an actress, Programs, Photographs and Reviews	1925-1928, undated
	Zelda
Box
34	Production Contracts	1967-1969
34	Publicity,Programs,Reviews and Photographs	1968-1969
	Sub-series 2. Manuscripts
	Bowery Nightingale
Box
34	Film Script	October 9, 1943
	Crossroads
Box
34	Play	1941
	Every Day but Friday
Box
34	Play	1937
	The Fifth Season
Box
34	London Production Script	February 24,1954
35	Screenplay	undated
35	Screenplay, Spanish Version	undated
35	Television Adaptation	undated
	Footsteps Behind Her
Box
35	Film Treatment for Twentieth Century Fox	April 27, 1944
	Forty-Four West
Box
35	Draft	undated
35	Draft, Final Version	undated
35	Original Version	undated
	Great to Be Alive!
Box
35	Book for Musical	undated
	A Hundred Million Nickels
Box
35	Play	undated
	Journey from a Noon Wedding
Box
36	Teleplay	undated
	The Man in White and Black
Box
36	Screenplay, 1st Draft	undated
36	Screenplay, Latest Draft	undated
	Marianne
Box
36	Book for Musical	July 22, 1942
	Danny Mendoza
Box
36	1st Version (Musical)	1954
36	2nd Version	1954
36	Final Draft	1954
Box
37	Miscellaneous Radio Scripts	undated
	Morning Star
Box
37	1st Draft	undated
37	prompt Copy, Rehearsal	1940
37	Radio and Television Scripts	1948-1954
	Parnell's Pyramid
Box
37	Script,Produced by CBC	September 11, 1956
37	Television Play	undated
	Safe Harbor
Box
37	Early Draft	undated
37	Later Draft	undated
37	Play	undated
	The Twelfth Hour
Box
37	1st Draft, Play	1972
38	2nd Draft	undated
38	Play, Final Draft	1981
Box
38	Untitle original for Monty Woolley-Gracie Fields Treatment for Twentieth Century Fox	March 3, 1944
	The Wind-Up Toys
Box
38	Play, 1st Draft	1982
38	Play, Final Draft	1982
	Zelda
Box
38	Play, Final Draft Before Rehearsal	1968
38	Revised Draft	1966
39	Script, Stage Manager Copy	1968
	Sub-series 3. Published works
	The Fifth Season
Box
39	Booklets	1953-1954
	Morning Star
Box
39	Booklet	1950
	Zelda
Box
39	Booklet	1969

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Judaism--Liturgy
Motion pictures, Yiddish.
Musicals.
Radio plays.
Synagogue music.
Television plays.
Theater, Yiddish.
Folk songs, Yiddish.

Personal Names

Peerce, Jan, 1904-1984.
Picon, Molly.

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Ellstein, Abraham--Golem

Archives West Finding Aid

Table of Contents