David Freedman papers, 1905-1954

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Freedman, David
Title
David Freedman papers
Dates
1905-1954 (inclusive)
Quantity
6.38 cubic feet (7 boxes)
Collection Number
11001
Summary
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.
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

Historical NoteReturn to Top

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".

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

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.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

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

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Related Materials

Related Materials

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

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

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

Processing Note

Processing Information

Processed by Audrey J. Wilcox in February 2014.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series I. Loose Play and Radio Show ScriptsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
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 ScriptsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
5
Collections of Short Bound Comedy Scripts
undated
6
Collections of Short Bound Comedy Scripts
undated

Series III. PersonalReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
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

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Comedy.
  • Motion picture plays -- United States.
  • Radio comedy writers.
  • Radio scripts -- United States.
  • Radio writers.

Personal Names

  • Benny, Jack, 1894-1974.
  • Brice, Fanny.
  • Cantor, Eddie, 1892-1964.
  • Keaton, Buster, 1895-1966.

Form or Genre Terms

  • 20th Century American Culture

Occupations

  • Playwright and Radio Scriptwriter