AHJ_ah11001 Inventory of the David Freedman papers, 1905-1954 Freedman (David) Papers Processed by Audrey J. Wilcox University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
American Heritage Center Dept. 3924, 1000 E. University Avenue University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 Phone: 307.766.2574 Fax:307.766.5511 Email:ahcref@uwyo.edu URL:http://ahc.uwyo.edu/
2013, 2014

University of Wyoming

 Finding aid encoded by Ann Mulfort June 2013 Finding aid is in English Collection Summary Freedman, David David Freedman papers 1905-1954 11001 6.38 cubic feet (7 boxes) University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center. English David Freedman was a prolific comedy and play writer during his career from 1915 to the late 1930's and his works included topics about Jewish Heritage, Prohibition, The Great Depression, and the League of Nations. Within this collection are copies of his stories, Radio show scripts, short comedy scripts, and drafts of his novel "Mendel Marantz", as well as personal collections of notes, drawings, and newspaper clippings. Biography of David Freedman

David Freedman was an author and radio script writer in New York City. He wrote scripts for Eddie Cantor, Fanny Brice, and Jack Benny among others. He wrote stories for the "Pictorial Review", 1922-1932; some motion picture screenplays, such as Buster Keaton's "The Fourth Alarm" and Eddie Cantor's "Palmy Days" (1931); and Broadway plays, as well as scripts for various radio shows such as "Ex-Lax...The Big Show" that aired in 1934, and short stories such as his famous "Mendel Marantz" that was published in 1926 and translated into Russian, German, Yiddish, and Dutch. Freedman's plays and novels were some of the very first Jewish comedies to have been written and published in the United States. After Freedman's death in 1944 Loew, Inc. purchased "Sweepstakes Ticket" and "Death and Taxes" from his estate. Freedman published articles in national magazines such as "Saturday Evening Post", "Red Book", and "Colliers".

 Scope and Content

The collection contains the original files of Freedman's stories, scripts, radio sketches, and stage plays like "The People's Choice: A Comedy of Politics" (1932) which portrayed an anti-Prohibition stance. Also included are various personal notebooks containing poems, short stories, personal correspondence, and sketches by David Freedman. Published articles in the original magazines and a Loews' contract and correspondence for the purchase of film rights from Freedman's estate are included.

 Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

 Copyright Information

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

 Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by David Freedman at the date of processing.

 Acquisition Information

This material was recieved from David Noel Freedman,the son of David Freedman, in 1976 and 2001.

 Processing Information

Processed by Audrey J. Wilcox in February 2014.

 Preferred Citation

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

 Access Terms Cantor, Eddie, 1892-1964. Brice, Fanny. Benny, Jack, 1894-1974. Keaton, Buster, 1895-1966. Radio scripts -- United States. Motion picture plays -- United States. Comedy. Radio writers. Radio comedy writers. Media and Communication Fine Arts 20th Century American Culture Playwright and Radio Scriptwriter <?xm-replace_text {Title as Subject}?> Container List Series I. Loose Play and Radio Show Scripts

1 "Minne and Mannie" Radio Show Script Episodes 1-3 undated 1 "Minnie and Mannie" Radio Show Script Episode 4 with notes undated 1 "Minne and Mannie" Radio Show Script Episode 5 undated 1 "Minne and Mannie" Radio Show Script Episode 6-7 (End) undated 1 "Ex-Lax...The Big Show" January 1934 1 "Ex-Lax...The Big Show" February 1934 1 "Ex-Lax...The Big Show" March 1934 1 "Ex-Lax...The Big Show" April 1934 1 "Ex-Lax...The Big Show" May 1934 1 "Ex-Lax...The Big Show" June 1934 1 Radio Shows "Holtz" September 1932 1 Radio Shows "Holtz" May 1933 1 Radio Shows "Holtz" June 1933 1 Radio Shows "Holtz" July 1933 1 Radio Shows "Holtz" August 1933 1 Radio Shows "Holtz" September 1933 1 "Sweet Evening Breeze" A Musical Comedy by David Freedman and Lou Holtz undated 1 "The Chase and Sanborn Hour" 1931-1932 1 Radio Shows Miscellaneous circa 1933 1 Radio Shows Miscellaneous undated 1 Radio Shows Miscellaneous undated 1 Radio Shows Miscellaneous undated 1 Radio Shows Miscellaneous undated 2 Miscellaneous Play Scripts and Notes circa 1930 2 Miscellaneous Short Stories undated 2 "Tim and Irene-One Big Happy Family" undated 2 "The Ring Goes Round and Round" undated 2 "Tom Howard in 'Where is Wall Street'" undated 2 "The White Horse Inn" undated 2 "Horse Sketch" and "Horsetronics" with personal newspaper clippings (added later) undated, 1954 2 "Buster Keaton in: The Fourth Alarm" undated 2 Buster Keaton-shorts, notes on undated 2 "The Inquiring Reporter" undated 2 Bake Easy "What Price Pants" with Smith and Dale undated 2 "The Travelers' Stationary Bank" undated 2 Accidents Will Happen" by William K. Wells and David Freedman, plus a miscellaneous diagram undated 2 "Believe It or Not" Ripley undated 2 "A Hungarian Rhapsody by Smith and Dale" undated 2 "La Schnapps Inc. with Smith and Dale" and "Love Upstairs" 1930 2 "The Great Humorists" and "Men of Humor", with letter and notes 1932 2 "Antiques with Sasha and Pasha" undated 2 "Strudel and Schnapps in: The Fat of the Land" undated 2 "Strudel and Schnapps: Detectives" undated 2 "The Duo-League Inter-Association of World Peace", with letter from publisher addressed to Mrs. Freedman undated, 1944 2 Buzzel Shorts: "Bedtime Story" and others undated 2 "Out of the Air" with letter from Universal Pictures 1932 2 Reliance Pictures-"After the Party" undated 2 "Strudel and Schnapps in Banking" undated 2 "Kid Fiddle" with notes undated 2 "When Money Sings" undated 2 "Pagan Irish" undated 2 "You Oughta Be In Pictures" by David Cantor and David Freedman undated 2 "The Petrified Elevator" with others undated 2 "A Newport Wedding" and others undated 2 "Death and Taxes" with others circa 1926 2 "She Loves Me" and "Some Like it Hot" 1934 2 "A Fourth at Bridge" and "Mind and Body" undated 2 "The New Deal Ladies' Circle" 1934 2 "Floria the Flute" by Ben Freedman (unknown) undated 2 "Mother in Law" undated 2 "The Treasure Hunt" and "Taxation Trailer" with note undated 2 "S.P.O.T.S."-"Secret Papers Of The Soviets" with newspaper clippings 1931 2 "Lucky Tom: A plot for a scenario for Thomas Meighan to be used in an Irish Production" undated 2 "On Marriage Without Love" and others undated 2 "Mendel: Housewives' Bank" undated 2 "Milton Berle" undated 2 "Department Store" undated 2 Letke Material undated 2 "Park Avenue" undated 2 "Strudel and Schnapps: A Love Lesson" undated 2 "Holtz Spots" 1933 2 "The Bring 'Em Back Alive Business" with notes undated 2 "Coming to the Theatre on Time" and others undated 2 "George Beatty" undated 2 "Steed", "Home Golf", "Of Thee I Spend", and others undated 2 "The Bake Easy" undated 2 "The People's Choice: A Comedy of Politics" 1932 2 "Horsetronics" undated 2 "The Knife Thrower" undated 3 "Radio Sketch" undated 3 "The Prodigy" 1934 3 "Babykins" and other various short stories undated 3 "A Second Shirley Temple" undated 3 "The Facts of Life" and "It Makes the World Go Round" 1934 3 "Mendel, Inc." Script in damaged binding undated 3 "The Lorelei and the Idiot" Script with original envelope undated 3 "Revolution in Havana" undated 3 "Home Golf" undated 3 "For Florence Desmond" undated 3 "Something New" script undated 3 "Recovery" with Author corrections undated 3 "Max Hayes" script undated 3 "Eddie Robinson" scripts and notes undated 3 "Neilla Goodelle" short script undated 3 "Major Bones" scripts with notes undated 3 "Follies" 1936 3 Various short fantasy stories with notes undated 3 "Share the Wealth" undated 3 Various scripts with personal notes and corrections undated 3 "The Sweepstakes Ticket" undated 3 "The Sweepstakes Ticket" continued undated 3 Miscellaneous scripts by David Freedman undated 3 "Radio Comedian" Various notes by David Freedman undated 3 "A Musical Family" undated 3 "Mills Grand Hotel" and other short scripts undated 3 "Strudel and Schnapps: Detectives" undated 3 Various short stories with notes undated 3 Various short stories with notes undated 3 Various short stories undated 3 Various short stories undated 3 Loose script pages undated 3 Various loose "Talks" undated 3 Loose scripts and Writings: "On Marriage Without Love" undated 3 Various loose scripts undated 3 "Divina" short script in damaged binding undated 3 Collection of "What Is Its" undated Series II. Short Bound Comedy Scripts

5 Collections of Short Bound Comedy Scripts undated 6 Collections of Short Bound Comedy Scripts undated Series III. Personal

3 Play and Theatre Booklets 1930-1936 3 Copyright Information-Library of Congress 1932 3 Correspondence and Script with David Freedman and National Broadcasting Company 1934 3 Correspondence between Beatrice Freedman and Benedict Freedman with early photography possibly of Beatrice 1944-1946 3 Correspondence pertaining to the play "Mendel Marantz", some with family members 1922-1931 3 "Izzy Wadizit" newspaper comic sketches, ideas, scripts, and correspondence undated 3 "IDEAMAZE"-boardgame plans with ideas,notes, and sketches made by David Freedman with patent latter circa 1929 3 Poems, Notes, and Newspaper Clippings-some in Hebrew undated 3 Lists of Books, Plays, Radio Programs, etc. done by David Freedman 1922-1931 3 General Inventory of Work Done by David Freedman undated 3 Correspondence,Notes, and College Course Transcript from Columbia University 1928-1935 3 Sherman Correspondence 1934-1935 3 Various Correspondence with Film Arts Guild, Who's Who in America and more 1927-1928 3 Correspondence-Pictorial Review 1922-1932 4 David Freedman Personal History (written by his own hand) undated 4 Notebook of Poems and Notes 1905 4 Notes, Doodles, and Miscellaneous Newspaper Clippings circa 1929 4 Damaged Notebook with Poems and Notes circa 1915 4 Personal Letters, Notes, and Drawings circa 1930-1934 4 Personal Letters and Notes circa 1930-1934 4 Personal Notes and Newspaper Clippings circa 1928-1934 4 Notebook with Notes and Personal Newspaper Clippings circa 1913 4 Correspondence-Peter Ochnomenko, Letters from Russia plus notes 1924-1927 4 Novel Notes undated 4 Copies of Agreements Covering Purchase by Loew's Inc. of motion picture rights to "Sweepstakes" and "Death and Taxes" with letter. 1944 4 De Hollandsche Revue Issues from April, June, and July 1925 4 De Hollandsche Revue Issues from June, May 8th, and May 22nd 1925 4 Testimonials 1935 4 Correspondence-Universal Pictures 1931 4 Correspondence with Paramount Pictures and Max van Buren 1925, 1931 4 Play Reviews-Newspaper Clippings and Notes circa 1931 4 Correspondence-Community Synagogue and Miscellaneous 1933 4 Correspondence with Personal Notebook of Poems 1915, 1933 4 The Smith-Corona Sales News with article and picture of David Freedman August 1930 4 Redbook Magazines Issues from January, February, and March 1932 4 Newspaper Clipping Reviews of "The Show is On" 1936 4 Small Notebook with Newspaper Clippings, Ticket Stubs, and Miscellaneous Personal Items 1911-1928 4 Notebook with Personal Newspaper Clippings-some in Hebrew undated 4 "The People's Choice" by David Freedman, large bound script with personal corrections and notes undated 4 Bound Volume of "Solomone Weiss" by Darby Crane with Freedman's Personal letters, notes, telegrams and newspaper clipping 1915, 1929-1932 4 Scrapbook with various newspaper clippings refering to David Freedman, also within are personal notes,telegrams, and letters 1925-1929 7 Collection of 12 Collier's Magazines 1924-1936 7 Scrapbook with Newspaper Clippings about Eddie Cantor 1919-1929