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Joseph Urban papers, 1893-1998

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Series I: Vienna, 1897-1911

This series contains the records of the architecture and design projects from Urban's career in Vienna. It is arranged chronologically divided into five sections: General files-dated, General files-undated, Illustrations, Exhibits and Unidentified. It contains watercolor drawings, rough drawings, technical drawings, photographs, post cards, clippings, playbooks and exhibit catalogs. Of note are the catalogs from the 1902-1908 Hagenbund exhibits and the photographs of the 1908 Kaiserfest.

Subseries I.1: General Files

Bicycle tournament, May 26, 1897 :

Urban built a canopy for the tournament festival and made contributions to the program


Box 1 Folder 1 Program & description

Kaiser Jubilee Bridge, 1898 :

Urban won a competition to design this bridge between the Musikverein and the Künstlerhaus for the celebration of the emperor's 50th year of rule.

3 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink:


Box B1 Folder 1 --Brucke 1, 29x22 cm., sig.


Box 1 Folder 2 --Brucke 2 & 3, 29x22 cm., sig.

Box 1 Folder 2 2 photographs

Bosnian Pavilion, 1898 :

Also built for the Kaiserfest, the celebration of the emperor's 50th year of rule. See also postcard at Avery Library

Box 1 Folder 3 4 post cards

Rathauskeller, 1899 :

With Heinrich Lefler.

4 drawings, watercolor/ink on board:

Box 1 Folder 4 --Large dining room, 25x18 cm.


Box B1 Folder 2A --Staircase, 30x20 cm.


Box 1 Folder 4 --Die Sage vom Kussdenpfennig


Box B1 Folder 2 --Strauss table, 28x22 cm.


Box B32 6 drawings of murals, watercolor/ink on board


Box 1 Folder 4 2 pencil sketches of murals


Box A Folder 1 Lamps


Box 1 Folder 5 Clipping, Councilmen's room

Box 1 Folder 5 & 6 48 photographs, various views


Box A1 Folder 1 4 photographs, various views


Box 1 Folder 7 51 prints, various views

[See also print and 4 photographs at Avery Library]

Esterházy Estates, 1899, 1903 :

Count Karl Esterházy saw Urban and Lefler's Lady's Room in the Winter Exhibit of 1897/98 at the Austrian museum and commissioned them to design an addition for his country chateau in St. Abraham in Hungary. In 1903 Urban designed a fountain for another Esterházy estate.

8 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink:

Box 1 Folder 8 --2. decorative detail, 16x17 cm., sig.


Box B1 Folder 3A --II: Fireplace, 25x16 cm.

Box B1 Folder 3 --III: Bedroom, 22x23 cm., sig.

Box B1 Folder 4 --IV: Room with daybed, 26x21 cm., sig.

Box B1 Folder 5 --V: Corner of hall, 27x24 cm.

Box B1 Folder 6 --VI: Dining room, 27x24 cm., sig.

Box B1 Folder 7 --VII: Reception room, 28x24 cm., sig.


Box 1 Folder 8 --Bedroom, 16.5x24 cm.

Box 1 Folder 8 Wall Fountain, magazine print


Box C1 Folder 1 Wall Fountain, ink drawing, 42x30 cm.

[See also photograph of chateau at Avery Library]

Memorial Chapel for Empress Elizabeth, 1901 :

Kaiserin-Elizabeth-Kapelle at Baden bei Wien

4 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink:


Box 1 Folder 9 --Memorial, view from gate, 17x14 cm.


Box B1 Folder 8 --Memorial, front elevation, 24x23 cm.

Box B1 Folder 9 --Memorial, view from gate, 25x17 (20x14) cm.

Box B1 Folder 10 --Memorial w/ front walkway, 25x17 (20x14) cm.

Wähner House, 1900 :

Theodor Wähner was the Commissioner in charge of the Rathauskeller renovation and the editor of Deutschen Zeitung.


Box 1 Folder 10 2 photographs of building

Box 1 Folder 10 Easter note

Box 1 Folder 10 Clock, watercolor on board, 27x14 (20x9) cm.

Goltz House, Alexander, 1902 :

Urban built and furnished an addition to the house of artist and Hagenbund member, Alexander Goltz on Granzinger Street 87.

2 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink on board, sig.:

Box 1 Folder 11 --Room, corner & plan, 29x21 (24x19) cm.

Box 1 Folder 11 --Room, table in foreground, 29x21 (24x20) cm.

Von Wiener House and Office, 1902-1903 :

Baron Ritter von Wiener was Minister of Art, director of the Museum for Culture and Teaching and director of the Museum of Arts and Crafts. Von Wiener was a major patron of Urban and Lefler who provided them with government projects. Baron von Wiener took Urban as a delegate to represent Austria at the 1900 Paris World's Fair.

3 drawings, watercolor and ink on board:

Box 1 Folder 12 --Dining Room elevation, 18x30 cm.


Box C1 Folder 2 --Study- floor and elevation, 30x15 cm.

Box C1 Folder 2 --Study corner, 30x15 cm.


Box D1 Folder 1 --North side elevation, 40x40 cm.


Box 1 Folder 12 --Office of the Sectionschef von Stadler, 27x18 cm.


Box C1 Folder 3 5 plans

Spiesejaal Hotel Restaurant, 1905 :

Katowice, Poland (formerly, Kattowitz, Prussia)


Box 1 Folder 13 5 photographs of dining room

Zwischenspiel, 1905

Burgtheater comedy in 3 acts by Arthur Schnitzler

Box 1 Folder 14 Envelope

This folder contains the original envelope for the item, only. Drawing itself is in Box B1.


Box B1 Folder 11 Set sketch

Hopfner Restaurant, Paul, 1906

4 drawings, watercolor:


Box 1 Folder 15 --Doorknob detail, (16x11) cm.

Box 1 Folder 15 --Mantle detail, 20x28 cm.


Box B1 Folder 12 --Entrance elevation, 27x26 cm

Box B1 Folder 12 --Fireplace wall elevation, 26x29 cm.


Box C1 Folder 4 --Wall with mural elevation, 29x48 cm


Box 1 Folder 15 4 photographs of restaurant

Hölle Cabaret, 1906 :

With Heinrich Lefler. Cabaret in the cellar of the Theater an der Wien

Box 1 Folder 16 3 elevations, Theater

4 drawings, watercolor on board:


Box B1 Folder 13 --Elevation, mask wall, 7/30/06, 25x29 cm., sig.

Box B1 Folder 13 --Elevation, devil waltz, 24x29 cm.

Box B1 Folder 13 --Elevation, mask wall, 34x24 cm.

Box B1 Folder 13 --Curtain elevation, 7/30/06, 26x27 cm., sig.


Box 1 Folder 16 Photographs of theater and cabaret

Box 1 Folder 16 Program

Urban Home, Nibelungengasse 8, 1906 :

Donated by Robert Cole in 1995

Box 1 Folder 17 Corner of dining room elevation, 30x20 cm.


Box A1 Folder 2 Salon ground plan, 34x23 cm.

Box A1 Folder 2 Children's room wall elevation, 26x35 cm.

Landau Villa, Dr. Max, 1906 :

Villa am Semmering, Südbahnstr. 83


Box 1 Folder 18 5 plans, detail drawing


Box C1 Folder 5 5 detail drawings


Box 1 Folder 18 7 photographs of house and model

[See also drawing of furniture in Avery Library]

Redlich Villa, Carl, 1906-1907 :

Country house of the owner of the construction contracting firm Redlich and Berger


Box 2 Folder 1 Sketch of house exterior wall, pencil and ink

4 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink:

Box 2 Folder 1 2 elevations, Else Redlich's room, 20.5x28.5 cm.


Box C1 Folder 6 --elevation of chair and divan, 23.5x34 cm.

Box C1 Folder 6 --elevation of hall, 22x44 cm.


Box 2 Folder 1 --Garden lamp detail, 18x29 cm.


Box C1 Folder 6 Ground plan, ink, 26x24 cm.

Box C1 Folder 6 Ground plan, watercolor and pencil, 41x29 cm.


Box 14-E-11 Folder A.1 2 ground plans, 59x50 cm.


Box 2 Folder 1 5 photographs

Faust I, II, 1906-07 :

Directed by Paul Schlenther with Josef Kainz at the Burgtheater

Box 2 Folder 2 Playbook, German

Box 2 Folder 2 Set notes, 2 p.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil:

Box 2 Folder 2 --Prologue, Vienna, 1907, 17x21 cm.

Box 2 Folder 2 --Gretchen's Room, 15x28 cm.

Box 2 Folder 2 17 set sketches

Box 2 Folder 2 3 postcards of actors in costume

Aschenbrödel (Cinderella), Vienna Hofoper, 1907 :

Box 2 Folder 3 4 technical drawings

Kaiser Jubilee Festzug, June 12, 1908 :

Celebrating the 60th year of rule of the Emperor Franz Josef.

Box 2 Folder 4 & 5 103 photographs of festival


Box B1 Folder 14 Wiener Zeitung leaflet, 4 p.


Box 2 Folder 5 Program, 12 p.

[See also photograph of pavilion at Avery Library]

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, 1908, Vienna Hofoper :

Box 2 Folder 6 --I: Church, 18x24 (14x20) cm.


Box B1 Folder 15 --I: Church B, 34x22 cm.


Box 2 Folder 6 --II: Street, 18x24 (14x20) cm.

Box 2 Folder 6 --III.1: workshop, 18x24 (14x20) cm.

Box 2 Folder 6 --IV: Meadow, 18x24 (14x20) cm.

Box 2 Folder 6 2 p. libretto cover

Box 2 Folder 6 15 set elevations


Box C1 Folder 7 4 set elevations

[See also Vienna, 1909-11 and Boston January 23, 1914]

Suburbs, 1909 :


Box 2 Folder 7 7 plans

Tombstones and Chapels, 1909 :

Box 2 Folder 8 5 sketches

Box 2 Folder 8 18 photographs


Box B1 Folder 16 & 17 19 drawings and sketches


Mapcase 14-E-11 Folder A3 Rough sketch

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), 1909, Leipzig Opernhaus :


Box 2 Folder 9 Libretto

Box 2 Folder 9 5 p. notes

Box 2 Folder 9 12 plans and drawings

Der Fliegende Holländer, 1909, Vienna Volksoper, and Budapest :

Box 2 Folder 10 Libretto

Box 2 Folder 10 Volksoper program, 1909

Box 2 Folder 10 2 plans

Box 2 Folder 10 4 plans, Budapest

Tannhäuser, 1909 :

Box 2 Folder 11 Libretto

Box 2 Folder 11 9 set drawings

Box 2 Folder 11 Program, Volksoper, 1909

Faust, 1909-11, Gounod, Brunswick :

2 watercolor drawings:

Box 2 Folder 12 --am Brunnen, 19x30 cm.

Box 2 Folder 12 --Street, 20x26 cm.

Box 2 Folder 12 Osterspaziergang set sketch

[See also Vienna (Goethe) 1906-07; Boston 2/26/13; Met 11/17/17 and 11/30/23 ]

Quo Vadis?, 1909-11, Budapest, written by J. Nougués :

Box 2 Folder 13 6 set drawings

Oberon, 1909-11, Charlottenburg :

Box 2 Folder 14 Ground plan, island


Box A1 Folder 3 8 set drawings


Box C1 Folder 8 4 drawings & plans

[See also Met, 12/18/18]

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, 1909-11, Budapest :


Box 2 Folder 6 6 plans

[See also Vienna 1908 and Boston Opera January 23, 1914]

Die Fledermaus, 1909-11, Cologne Opernhaus, written by Johann Strauss :


Box 3 Folder 1 4 set drawings

Der Rosenkavalier, 1909-11, Cologne Opernhaus, written by Richard Strauss :

Box 3 Folder 2 Libretto


Box C1 Folder 9 3 set elevations


Box 3 Folder 2 Article, 2 p.

Salome, 1909-11, Stuttgart Hofoper, written by Richard Strauss :

Box 3 Folder 3 Set sketch

Der Ring Des Nibelungen, 1909-11, Budapest :

Box 3 Folder 4 Essay on Wagner, 17 p.

Box 3 Folder 4 Set notes & inventories, 25 p.

Das Rheingold, Budapest, Brunswick :

Box 3 Folder 4 libretto

Box 3 Folder 4 2 ground plans, Budapest

Box 3 Folder 4 Clipping of set

Box 3 Folder 4 10 plans and sketches


Box D1 Folder 2 4 plans

Die Walküre, Budapest, Mannheim National Theater, 1911 :


Box 3 Folder 5 Libretto


Box C1 Folder 10 5 technical drawings


Box 3 Folder 5 5 sketches and notes

Box 3 Folder 5 3 ground plans

Box 3 Folder 5 2 ground plans, Budapest

Siegfried :

Box 3 Folder 6 2 librettos

Box 3 Folder 6 Clipping of Act III

Box 3 Folder 6 4 sketches and plans


Box A1 Folder 4 2 drawings


Box 3 Folder 6 2 ground plans

Tristan und Isolde, 1909-11 :

Box 3 Folder 7 2 librettos


Box A1 Folder 5 Footwear, watercolor and ink, 32x26 cm.


Box 3 Folder 7 5 technical drawings

Lohengrin, 1909-11, Stuttgart Hofoper :

2 drawings, watercolor :

Box 3 Folder 8 --I: River bank scene, 9x11 (6x10) cm.


Box B1 Folder 18 --Costume drawing, 26x24 cm.


Box 3 Folder 8 4 set drawings, pencil


Box B1 Folder 19 Set drawing, pencil

[See also Metropolitan Opera February 6, 1921]

Zigeunerbaron (Gypsy Baron), 1910 :

By Johan Strauss conducted at the Hofoper by Felix Weingartner.


Box 3 Folder 9 5 set drawings

Der Junge Medardus, 1910 :

Box 3 Folder 10 4 set sketches

Mair House, Dr. Bartl, 1910 :

Dr. Mair was the local doctor for Scheiblingkirchen in lower Austria.

Box 3 Folder 11 Ground plan and rear elevation

Box 3 Folder 11 4 ground plans

Box 3 Folder 11 3 photographs of house

Eisenstein House, Viktor, 1910 :

Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 6. Eisenstein was the Vienna representative for the New York Life Insurance Company.

Box 3 Folder 12 2 drawings, watercolor, sig. :


Box B2 Folder 1 --Front elevation and ground plan, 29x24 (23x15) cm.

Box B2 Folder 1 --ground plan w/ landscaping, 29x24 (24x17) cm.

Benvenuto Cellini, 1911, Hofoper :


Box 3 Folder 13 3 detail drawings

Götterdämmerung, 1911, Mannheim Nationaltheater :

Box 3 Folder 14 5 Roller set & costumes designs

Box 3 Folder 14 12 set drawings


Box B2 Folder 2 2 set drawings

Lanval, 1911 :

Play by Eduard Stucken, Burgtheater

1 drawing, watercolor:


Box 3 Folder 15 --bedroom w/ ground plan

Box 3 Folder 15 Set drawing of bedroom


Box 14-E-11 Folder A.2 2 technical drawings

Gudrun, 1912 :

Opera by Ernst Hardt, Burgtheater


Box 3 Folder 16 4 set drawings

Subseries I.2: General Files-Undated

Freytag Library and Salon :

Box 3 Folder 17 Freytag Library and Salon


Box A1 Folder 6 Salon, 2 ladies at piano, 28x24 cm.

Subseries I.3: Theater

Blaue Vogel (The Blue Bird) by Maurice Maeterlink :


Box 3 Folder 18 12 set sketches

Czar und Zimmermann, by Albert Lortzing, comic opera :

Box 3 Folder 19 3 plans

Eisenhammer, Der, music by Benito Bersa, book by A. M. Willner :

Box 3 Folder 20 Set sketch

Erasmus Montanus, Ludwig Holberg, play :

Box 3 Folder 21 5 sketches and notes

Förster-Christel (The Girl and the Kaiser), operetta by Bernhard Buchbinder :

Box 3 Folder 22 4 set sketches

Frau ohne Schatten, by Richard Strauss :

Box 3 Folder 23 Libretto

Freischütz, Der, see also Met 1923 :

Box 3 Folder 24 4 ground plans

Garde Officier :

Box 3 Folder 25 Set sketch

Graf von Luxemburg (The Count of Luxemburg), Franz Lehar :

Box 3 Folder 26 Set sketch

Iphigenie auf Tauris, by Christoph Gluck :

Box 3 Folder 27 Libretto

Box 3 Folder 27 2 set drawings

Jongleur de Notre Dame, (Der Gaukler unserer lieben frauen), by Massenet :

Box 3 Folder 28 Libretto, German

3 drawings and plans, watercolor:

Box 3 Folder 28 --I: outside abbey

Box 3 Folder 28 --Act II: inside cloister

Box 3 Folder 28 --Act III: Chapel

Königskinder, by Engelbert Humperdinck :

Box 3 Folder 29 Technical drawing

Landschaft :

Box 3 Folder 30 2 landscape drawings

Love's Labor Lost :


Box 4 Folder 1 Playbook, German

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (The Merry Wives of Windsor) Opera by Otto Nikolai :

Box 4 Folder 2 Libretto

Nozze de Figaro (Marriage of Figaro) :

Box 4 Folder 3 Libretto, German

Pariser Leben, by Jacques Offenbach :

Box 4 Folder 4 3 set drawings

Puppenmädel, operetta by Leo Fall, Leo Stein and Alfred Maria Willner :

Box 4 Folder 5 4 set drawings

Rienzi, by Richard Wagner :

Box 4 Folder 6 Libretto

Box 4 Folder 6 Set notes & sketches, 14 p.

Roméo et Juliette :

Box 4 Folder 7 Set sketch

Rose vom Liebesgarten, opera by Hans Pfitzner :

Box 4 Folder 8 Rose vom Liebesgarten, opera by Hans Pfitzner


Box B2 Folder 3 2 set sketches

Schneemann, Der, Erich Wolfgang Korngold :


Box 4 Folder 9 Set sketch

Sirene, Die, by Leo Fall, Leo Stein and Alfred Maria Willner :

Box 4 Folder 10 2 set sketches

Sister Beatrice and Sumurün :

Box 4 Folder 11 Clipping and 2 postcards

Tiefland, opera by Eugen d'Albert :

Box 4 Folder 12 Ground plan


Box C1 Folder 11 Elevation drawing

Die Tote Stadt, Erich Wolfgang Korngold :


Box 4 Folder 13 Libretto

Verborgte Schloss :

Box 4 Folder 14 Set sketch

Waffenschmied, Der, comic opera by Albert Lortzing :

Box 4 Folder 15 3 ground plans

Wallenstein's Lager, play by Friedrich Schiller :

Box 4 Folder 16 Ground plan

Xantho, operetta by Jacques Richepin and Xavier Leroux :

Box 4 Folder 17 2 set sketches

Zerbrochene Krug (The Broken Jug), comedy by Heinrich von Kleist :

Box 4 Folder 18 4 sketches and notes

Zigeunerliebe, (Gypsy Love), music by Franz Lehar, book by A. M. Willner and Robert Bodanzky :

Box 4 Folder 19 1 set drawing

Subseries I.4: Illustrations

Chronika der drei Schwestern, 1899 :

Box 4 Folder 20 --3 illustrations, 23x39 cm.


Box B2 Folder 4 --Medieval street scene, p.8, 24x28 cm.

Box B2 Folder 5 --p. 34, 29x24 (28x23) cm.


Box 4 Folder 20 Bookbinding, 1899, watercolor, 21x30 cm., sig.

Grimm's Fairy Tales, 1904 :

Box 4 Folder 20 --4 illustrations


Box A1 Folder 7 --Der Froschkönig, 24x25 cm.


Box B2 Folder 6 --Rapunzel, 24x21 cm.


Box 4 Folder 20 8 p. Marienkind, 1905

Kling Klang Gloria, 1906 :


Box B2 Folder 5A --cover, 24x21 cm.


Box A1 Folder 8 --cover, 23x23 cm.


Box 4 Folder 20 Kaiser Calendar, 1898, 24x16 cm.

Box 4 Folder 20 Bookcover, 1910 Unsere Freiland Stauden, 29x20 cm.


Box B2 Folder 5B Andersen Calendar, 1911

Undated :


Box 4 Folder 21 16 miscellaneous drawings


Box C1 Folder 12 Wienermännergesang verein poster, 48x25 cm.


Box B2 Folder 7 Imperial Border, 40x27 cm.

Box B2 Folder 8 Wilhelm II of Germany tribute, 39x20 cm.


Box 4 Folder 21 23 borders and ornaments


Box D1 Folder 3 8 borders and ornaments

Subseries I.5: Exhibits

Jubiläums-kunst exhibit 1898 :


Box B3 Folder 1 catalog


Box 4 Folder 22 3 photographs of furniture, 1898

Box 4 Folder 22 Hevesi article, 4 p.

Hagenbund Exhibition Hall, 1901-1902 :

5 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B2 Folder 9 --Entrance, 37x26 (36x25) cm.

Box B2 Folder 9A --Perspective of Hall, 28x17 cm.


Box 4 Folder 22 --Side elevation, 18x28 cm.

Box 4 Folder 22 --Front elevation and ground plan, 29x18 cm.

Box 4 Folder 22 --Ceiling, 19x22 cm.

Box 4 Folder 22 4 magazine clippings

Art show catalogs :


Box B3 Folder 2 Watercolor club,1899

Box B3 Folder 3 Secession 14th exhibit

Box B3 Folder 4 Vienna Art Show, 1908

Hagenbund Exhibits :

Box B3 Folder 5-36 32 Hagenbund exhibit catalogs, 1902-1906


Box 4 Folder 23-26 4 Hagenbund catalogs, 1905, 1908, 1910

Box 4 Folder 22 1902 exhibit, Playroom, sig.


Box 5 Folder 1 & 2 56 photographs of exhibits (2 sets of 28)

Box 5 Folder 5 14 St. Louis World's Fair photograph and copies

Box 5 Folder 5 1905, 14 photographs of exhibit


Box C2 Folder 1 1905-06, exhibit #19, Wall elevation, 38x40 cm.

Box C2 Folder 2 1906, 2 plans for 20th Exhibit


Box 5 Folder 5 1906, 4 photographs of 20th Oct-Nov exhibit

Box 5 Folder 5 15 photographs of exhibits, unidentified

Box 5 Folder 5 1908, 19 exhibit photographs

Box 5 Folder 5 1906 London announcement, 16x11 cm.


Box D1 Folder 4 1910, elevation of Redlich exhibit room, 58x41 cm.

Subseries I.6: Unidentified


Box 5 Folder 3 Playbooks, Moliere

Box 5 Folder 6 17 watercolor drawings

Box 5 Folder 6 22 drawings and plans

Box 5 Folder 6 9 photographs


Box A1 Folder 9-10 9 drawings


Box B2 Folder 10 Clock elevation, 21x29 cm., sig.


Box C2 Folder 3 3 elevations


Box D1 Folder 5 Vorraum elevations


Box 14-E-11 Folder A.4 Plans for home and office

Series II: Boston Opera, 1910-1914

Joseph Urban was made artistic director of the Boston Opera Company beginning with the 1912-1913 season. The previous season, he had designed four operas for the Boston Opera while working in Vienna with Heinrich Lefler. This series contains files on all the productions from the repertory in chronological order. Each production is listed by title, opening date and production information. The production information is based on contemporary reviews taken from microfilm readings of the Boston Transcript and the Boston Herald. Those sets that Urban redesigned or retouched are so noted in parentheses after the title information. In addition to the drawings, plans, and photographs, the files contain production records--light plots, cast lists, set lists, line drops, etc

La Scala invoice for operas Mefistofele, Faust, Lakmé, Manon and Roméo et Juliette :


Box 5 Folder 7 Costume Invoice September 1910, 4 p.


Box 14-E-11 Folder A5 Ground Plan, Mefistofele

Pelléas et Mélisande, January 10, 1912 (New)

Opera in 5 acts by Claude Debussy, adapted from the play by Maurice Maeterlinck, conducted by André Caplet with Vanni Marcoux as Golaud, Georgette LeBlanc as Mélisande and Jean Riddez as Pelléas.


Box 5 Folder 4 Maeterlinck playbook incl. Pelléas et Mélisande

Box 5 Folder 8 1 drawing of dungeon, pencil


Box C2 Folder 4 10 technical drawings


Box 5 Folder 8 10 technical drawings


Box C2 Folder 4 2 drawings of furniture, watercolor


Box 5 Folder 8 Production notes, 25 p.

Box 5 Folder 8 7 photographs of sets

[See also Metropolitan Opera, March 21, 1925]

Hänsel und Gretel, January 27,1912 (New)

Opera by Engelbert Humperdinck, libretto by Adelheid Wette, after a fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers, conducted by Wallace Goodrich with Bernice Fisher as Gretel, Jeska Swartz as Hänsel, Maria Claessens as the Witch, Otto Goritz as Peter and Florence De Courcy as the Sandman.

6 drawings, watercolor & ink:

Box 5 Folder 9 --5 details of shoes and head pieces


Box B2 Folder 11 --Details of wigs and head pieces

[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 5, 1927]

Tristan und Isolde, February 12, 1912 (New)

Opera in 3 acts by Richard Wagner, conducted by Felix Weingartner, with Johanna Gadski as Isolde, Jacques Urlus as Tristan, Pasquale Amato as Kurvenal and Edward Lankow as King Marke


Box 5 Folder 10 Libretto

Box 5 Folder 10 Set notes in German

Set drawing, watercolor and pencil:

Box 5 Folder 10 --Act I: boat scene

Box 5 Folder 10 2 elevations of Act I and II


Box D1 Folder 6 2 technical drawings


Box 5 Folder 10 Electrical plot

Box 5 Folder 10 5 photographs of sets

[See also Vienna, 1909-11; Theater, Interstate Opera 1916; Metropolitan Opera, November 20, 1920]

Werther, March 1, 1912

Opera by Jules Massenet, conducted by André Caplet

Box 5 Folder 11 Production notes, 3 p.

Germania, March 9, 1912

Opera by Alberto Franchetti, conducted by Arnaldo Conti with Bernice Fisher as Jane, Ramon Blanchart as Crisogono, Madeleine D'Olige as Jebbel, Pasquale Amato as Carlo Worms, Carmen Melis as Ricke and Giovanni Zenatello as Loewe.

Box 5 Folder 12 Production notes, 2 p.

Le Martyre de Sebastien, March 30, 1912

Music by Claude Debussy, conducted by André Caplet with Evelyn Scotney and Jeska Swartz.

Box 5 Folder 13 2 set notes

Box 5 Folder 13 2 set sketches

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, November 25, 1912 (New)

Opera by Jacques Offenbach, libretto & book by Jules Barbier, after a play by Barbier & Michel Carré based on the stories of the poet E.T.A. Hoffmann, conducted by André Caplet with Edmond Clément as Hoffmann, Vanni Marcoux as Lindorf, Coppélius, Dappertutto and Dr. Miracle, Elvira Leveroni as Niklausse, Bernice Fisher as Olympia and Louise Edvina as Antonia.


Box 6 Folder 1 Libretto

Box 6 Folder 1 Clipping from German magazine

Box 6 Folder 1 3 set sketches, Opéra Comique production

Box 6 Folder 1 Set notes, 31 p.

Box 6 Folder 1 Production notes, 11 p.

17 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink:

Box 6 Folder 1 --7 costume drawings


Box B2 Folder 12 & 13 --2 costume drawings, Giulietta


Box 6 Folder 1 --6 set details


Box B2 Folder 14 --2 set details


Box 6 Folder 1 1/2 detail of elevation, photostat


Box B2 Folder 14 5 ground plans


Box 6 Folder 1 6 photographs of costume drawings

Box 6 Folder 2 26 photographs of sets

Box 6 Folder 2 Note to Deems Taylor, 1934, ts.

[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 13, 1924]

La Bohême, November 27,1912 (retouched)

Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Signori Giocosa and Illica, adapted from a novel by Henri Murger, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Lucrezia Bori as Mimì, Léon Laffitte as Rodolfo, Giovanni Polese as Marcello and Fely Dereyne as Musetta.

Box 6 Folder 3 2 librettos

Box 6 Folder 3 1 p. from Met program, 1913-14

Box 6 Folder 3 2 costume drawings, watercolor and pencil

Box 6 Folder 3 3 ground plans

Box 6 Folder 3 1 cast list from December 6 performance

Box 6 Folder 3 5 production notes, 6 p.

Box 6 Folder 3 2 photographs of sets

Madama Butterfly, November 29, 1912 (New)

Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica, after a play by David Belasco, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Riccardo Martin as Pinkerton, Emmy Destinn as Cio-Cio-San and Giovanni Polese as Sharpless.

Box 6 Folder 4 Libretto, German

Box 6 Folder 4 Set notes in German, 8 p.


Box B2 Folder 15 Act II, watercolor


Box 6 Folder 4 5 ground plans


Box B2 Folder 16 2 ground plans


Box 6 Folder 4 Production notes, 10 p.

Box 6 Folder 4 6 photographs of set

[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 24, 1922]

Il Trovatore, November 30, 1912

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Gertrude Rennyson as Leonora, Léon Laffitte as Manrico, Ramon Blanchart as Di Luna and Maria Claessens as Azucena.

Box 6 Folder 5 Libretto

Box 6 Folder 5 Production notes, 21 p.

Box 6 Folder 5 4 ground plans


Box B4 Folder 1 3 ground plans


Box 6 Folder 5 1 set photograph of III.1

Tosca, December 2, 1912 (retouched)

Opera by Giacomo Puccini, book by V. Sardou, L. Illica and G. Giacosa, after Victorien Sardou's play La Tosca, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Mary Garden as Tosca, Vanni Marcoux as Scarpia, Charles Dalmorès as Cavaradossi, and Aristodemo Sillich as Angelotti.

Box 6 Folder 6 Libretto in German

Box 6 Folder 6 2 clippings from program

Box 6 Folder 6 Watercolor drawing of Act III: Castle Terrace

Box 6 Folder 6 Set notes, 8 p.

Box 6 Folder 6 2 ground plans

Box 6 Folder 6 Production notes, 16 p.

Box 6 Folder 6 3 photographs of set

Thaïs, December 7, 1912 (retouched)

Opera by Jules Massenet, libretto by Louis Gallet, after a novel by Anatole France, conducted by André Caplet with Mary Garden as Thaïs, Vanni Marcoux as Athanael and Charles Dalmorés as Nicias.

Box 6 Folder 7 Set notes, 7 p.

Box 6 Folder 7 Production notes,18 p.

Box 6 Folder 7 2 photographs of set

[See also Metropolitan Opera, December 14, 1922]

Lucia di Lammermoor, December 14, 1912

Opera by Gaetano Donizetti, conducted by Ralph Lyford with Evelyn Scotney as Lucia, Umberto Sacchetti as Edgardo, Rodolfo Fornari as Enrico and Ernesto Giaccone as Arturo.

Box 6 Folder 8 Production notes, 20 p.

Box 6 Folder 8 Photograph of set

Louise, December 18,1912 (New)

Opera by Gustave Charpentier, conducted by André Caplet with Louise Edvina as Louise, Edmond Clément as Julien, Maria Gay as La Mère and Vanni Marcoux as Le Père.

Box 6 Folder 9 2 references clippings

3 set renderings, watercolor:

Box 6 Folder 9 --Act I & IV: Garret


Box B4 Folder 1A --Act II: At the foot of Montmartre

Box B4 Folder 1B --Act III: Garden


Box 6 Folder 9 2 ground plans


Box 14-E-11 Folder A6 1 ground plan, Act II


Box 6 Folder 9 Production notes, 12 p.

Box 6 Folder 9 5 photographs of set drawing and sets

[See also Metropolitan Opera, March 1, 1929]

La Traviata, December 21, 1912

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on the story by Alexandre Dumas La Dame Aux Camelias, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Evelyn Scotney as Violetta, Alfredo Ramella as Alfredo, Ramon Blanchart as Germont and Attilio Pulcini as Baron Douphol.

Box 6 Folder 10 3 ground plans

Box 6 Folder 10 Production notes, 11 p.

Box 6 Folder 10 Photograph of set

[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 14, 1921]

Aïda, December 27, 1912 (Retouched)

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, after a scenario by Auguste Mariette, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Giovanni Zenatello as Radames, Anafesto Rossi as Amonasro, Maria Gay as Amneris and Carmen Melis as Aïda.


Box 7 Folder 1 2 librettos

Box 7 Folder 1 Set notes in German, 4 p.


Box B4 Folder 2 4 ground plans


Box B25 Folder 7 3 costume sketches


Box 7 Folder 1 Production notes, 19 p.

Box 7 Folder 1 3 photographs of sets

Coppélia, December 28, 1912

Ballet by Léo Delibes, conducted by Charles Strony with Dolores Galli as Swanilda. Attilio Pulcini as Burgomaster and Cronan as Frantz.


Box B4 Folder 3 Ground plan


Box 7 Folder 2 Production notes, 5 items

Box 7 Folder 2 2 photographs of sets

Cavalleria Rusticana, December 30, 1912

Opera by Pietro Mascagni, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Maria Gay as Santuzza, Umberto Sacchetti as Turiddu, Anafesto Rossi as Alfio.

Box 7 Folder 3 Libretto

Box 7 Folder 3 Production notes, 3 p.

Box 7 Folder 3 Photograph of set

Curtain and Concerts, 1912-13

Box 7 Folder 4 Curtain and Concerts


Box B4 Folder 4 2 ground plans, 1912

Box B4 Folder 5 2 drawings of drapery ornament, watercolor, Feb 1913

I Pagliacci, January 4, 1913

Opera by Leoncavallo, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edith Barnes as Nedda, Ramon Blanchart as Tonio, Giuseppe Gaudenzi as Canio and George Everett as Silvio.


Box 7 Folder 5 Libretto

Box 7 Folder 5 Village, watercolor, sig.

Box 7 Folder 5 Ground plan

Box 7 Folder 5 5 p. production notes

Box 7 Folder 5 Photograph of set

[See also Theater, Interstate Opera Company 1916]

Carmen, January 15, 1913 (retouched)

Opera by Georges Bizet, libretto by Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy, after a novel by Prosper Mérimée, conducted by Charles Strony with Giovanni Zenatello as Don Jose, Maria Gay as Carmen and José Mardones as Escamillo.

Box 7 Folder 6 Libretto

Box 7 Folder 6 Clipping of Met stage sets

Box 7 Folder 6 8 ground plans


Box B4 Folder 6 4 ground plans


Box 7 Folder 6 28 production notes

Box 7 Folder 6 2 photographs of set

[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 22, 1923]]

I Gioielli della Madonna, January 17, 1913 (New)

Opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, libretto by Carlo Zangarini & Enrico Golisciani, with Giovanni Zenatello as Gennaro, Maria Gay as Carmela, Louise Edvina as Maliella and Vanni Marcoux as Raffaele.

Box 7 Folder 7 Synopsis in German, 24 p.

Box 7 Folder 7 Article in German, 1 p.


Box B4 Folder 7 3 prints of Charlottenburg sets by von Plessen

3 renderings, watercolor:


Box 7 Folder 7 --2 costume renderings, Madonna, 24x14 cm.

Box 7 Folder 7 --Procession scene, 17x31 cm.

Box 7 Folder 7 2 rough sketches

Box 7 Folder 7 3 ground plans, Berlin opera house


Box B4 Folder 7 1 ground plan


Box 7 Folder 7 1 cast list

Box 7 Folder 7 9 photographs of sets

Rigoletto, January 25, 1913

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, after the play by Victor Hugo Le roi s'amuse, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Evelyn Scotney as Gilda, Michele Sampieri as Monterone, Rodolfo Fornari as Rigoletto and Alfredo Ramella as the Duke.

Box 7 Folder 8 1 cast list

Box 7 Folder 8 1 set of production notes, 17 p.

Box 7 Folder 8 1 set photo

Don Giovanni, February 7, 1913 (New)

Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Vanni Marcoux as Don Giovanni, Adamo Didur as Leporello, John McCormack as Don Ottavio, Emmy Destinn as Donna Anna and Elizabet Amsden as Donna Elvira.

Box 7 Folder 9 Cast list

Box 7 Folder 9 Libretto

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil:

Box 7 Folder 9 --Act I: Garden scene, signed by Errol

Box 7 Folder 9 3 ground plans


Box B4 Folder 8 3 technical drawings


Box 7 Folder 9 Production notes, 6 p.

Box 7 Folder 9 13 retouched photos of sets

Box 7 Folder 10 22 photographs of sets and set drawings

[See also Metropolitan Opera, November 29, 1929]

La Fanciulla del West, February 21, 1913

Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Guelfo Civinini & Carlo Zangorini, based on the play by David Belasco The Girl of the Golden West, with Carmen Melis as Minnie, Giovanni Polese as Jack Rance and Giovanni Zenatello as Dick Johnson.

Box 7 Folder 11 Ground plan


Mapcase 14-E-11 Folder A7 3 ground plans


Box 7 Folder 11 Production notes, 9 p.

Box 7 Folder 11 2 photographs of set

Djamileh, February 24, 1913 (New)

American premiere of opera by Georges Bizet, libretto by Louis Gallet, after the story by Alfred de Musset Namouna, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Lucille Marcel as Djamileh, Léon Laffitte as Haroun and Ernesto Giaccone as Spendiano.

Box 7 Folder 12 Libretto

Box 7 Folder 12 Set notes in German, 34 p.

Box 7 Folder 12 3 rough set sketches:

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil:


Box B4 Folder 9 --wall elevation, 22x29 (22x23) cm., sig.


Box 7 Folder 12 Production notes, 2 p.

Box 7 Folder 12 3 photographs of set

Faust, February 26,1913 (redesigned costumes, retouched)

Opera by Charles Gounod, libretto by Jules Barbier & Michel Carré, adapted from the dramatic poem by Goethe, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Giovanni Zenatello as Faust, Lucille Marcel as Marguerite and Vanni Marcoux as Méphistophélès.

Box 7 Folder 13 2 librettos

Box 7 Folder 13 1 costume drawing, watercolor


Box B4 Folder 10 4 ground plans


Box 7 Folder 13 Production notes, 18 p.

Box 7 Folder 13 12 photographs of costume and set drawings

[See also Vienna 1906-07 and Metropolitan Opera, 1917 and 1923]

La Forêt Bleue, March 8, 1913 (American premiere) (New)

Opera by Louis Aubert, conducted by André Caplet with Fernand De Potter as Prince Charming, Jean Riddez as the Orge, Carmen Melis as the Princess, Jeska Swartz as Tom Thumb and Bernice Fisher as Little Red Riding -Hood.

Box 7 Folder 14 Libretto

Box 7 Folder 14 Synopsis, 5 p.

Box 7 Folder 14 Production notes, 9 p.

Box 7 Folder 14 4 photographs of sets

Samson et Dalila, March 12, 1913 (retouched)

Opera by Camille Saint-Saëns, libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire, conducted by André Caplet with Maria Gay as Dalila, Giovanni Zenatello as Samson and Jean Riddez as the High Priest.

Box 7 Folder 15 Libretto

Box 7 Folder 15 Postcard of set

Box 7 Folder 15 Set rendering, watercolor

Box 7 Folder 15 Production notes, 11 p.

Box 7 Folder 15 2 photographs of costume and set

Il Segreto di Susanna, March 17,1913 (New)

Opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, libretto by Max Kalbeck, adapted from a book by Enrico Golisciani, conducted by André Caplet with Antonio Scotti as Count Gil, Alice Nielsen as Countess Gil and Luigi Tavecchia as Sante.


Box 8 Folder 1 Libretto

Box 8 Folder 1 1 p. of sample fabrics, costume


Box B4 Folder 11 Drawing of back wall, watercolor


Box 8 Folder 1 2 watercolor drawings, side wall and detail

Box 8 Folder 1 10 plans and sketches


Box D1 Folder 7 3 ground plans


Box 8 Folder 1 Production notes, 8 p.

Box 8 Folder 1 6 photographs of set

Martha, March 24, 1913

Opera by Friedrich von Flotow, libretto W. Friedrich, after an idea by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Alice Nielsen as Lady Harriet, Maria Gay as Nancy, Max Lipmann as Lionel and Edward Lankow as Plunkett.


Box D1 Folder 8 1 ground plan, Act III & V


Box 8 Folder 2 2 set notes and plan

Box 8 Folder 2 Production notes, 8 p.

Photograph of set

[See also Metropolitan Opera December 14, 1923]

Monna Vanna, December 5, 1913 (New)

Opera by Henri Février, based on a play by Maurice Maeterlinck, conducted by André Caplet with Vanni Marcoux as Guido, Mary Garden as Monna Vanna and Lucien Muratore as Prinzivalle.

Box 8 Folder 3 Libretto, German

Box 8 Folder 3 Production notes, 31 p.

Box 8 Folder 3 3 working photographs

3 set renderings, watercolor on board:

Box 8 Folder 3 --Act I: Interior

Box 8 Folder 3 --Act II: Tent (painted photo)

Box 8 Folder 3 --Act III: Terrace

Box 8 Folder 3 2 watercolor sketches with plan

Box 8 Folder 3 2 detail drawings, watercolor, 1 sig.


Mapcase 14-E-12 Folder 1 5 technical drawings


Box 8 Folder 3 11 photographs of sets and scenes

Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), December 13, 1913

Opera by Gioachino Rossini, libretto by Cesare Sterbini, adapted from the play by Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais, conducted by Arnaldo Schiavoni with Hazel Sanborn as Rosina, Rodolfo Fornari as Figaro, Luigi Tavecchia as Dr. Bartolo and Alfredo Ramella as Il Conte D'Almaviva.

Box 8 Folder 4 2 ground plans


Box B4 Folder 12 Ground plan, Act I


Box 8 Folder 4 Production notes, 6 p.

Box 8 Folder 4 Photograph of Act II

[See also Metropolitan Opera November 27, 1919]

Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, January 23, 1914 (New)

Opera by Richard Wagner, conducted by André Caplet with Johanna Gadski as Eva, Robert Leonhardt as Beckmesser, Paolo Ludikar as Hans Sachs and Carl Jörn as Walther.

Box 8 Folder 5 Reference material


Mapcase 14-E-12 Folder 2 Reference material

7 drawings, watercolor and pencil on board:


Box 8 Folder 5 --Act I: Church , 19x26 cm.

Box 8 Folder 5 --Property elevations, 19x27 cm., sig.


Box B4 Folder 13 --Act II: Costumes, night scene, 18x26 cm., sig.

Box B4 Folder 14 --Act III: Costumes, open meadow, sig.

Box B4 Folder 15 --Act III.2: details, 29x19.5 cm., sig.

Box B4 Folder 16 --Act III.2: platform elevation, 22x26 cm., sig.

Box B4 Folder 17 --Property details, 28.5x19 cm., sig.


Box 14-E-12 Folder 2 2 technical drawings


Box 8 Folder 5 Production notes, 15 p.

Box 8 Folder 5 17 photographs of sets and set drawings

[See also Vienna, 1908, 1909-11]

La Gioconda, February 6, 1914

Opera by Amilcare Ponchielli, libretto by Tobia Gorrio, after the play by Victor Hugo Angélo, tyran de Padoue, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Emmy Destinn as La Gioconda, Florencio Constantino as Enzo, Marguerite D'Alvarez as Laura and Mario Ancona as Barnaba.

Box 8 Folder 6 Production notes, 6 p.


Box B4 Folder 18 Ground plan

L'Amore dei Tre Re, February 9, 1914 (New)

Opera in three acts by Italo Montemezzi, adapted from poem by Sem Benelli, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edoardo Ferrari-Fontana as Avito, Lucrezia Bori as Fiora and Pasquale Amato as Manfredo.


Box 8 Folder 7 Libretto

Box 8 Folder 7 3 photographs of Met production

Box 8 Folder 7 1 page from Met program


Box B4 Folder 19 Ground plan


Box 8 Folder 7 Ground plan and elevation

Box 8 Folder 7 1 cast list

Box 8 Folder 7 10 photographs of costumes, sets and set drawings

Manon, March 18, 1914

Opera by Jules Massenet, libretto by Henri Meilhac & Philippe Gille, after the novel by Antoine-Francois Prevost, L'histoire du chevalier de Grieux et de Manon Lescaut, conducted by Edouard Tournon with Jenny Dufau as Manon, Lucien Muratore as Des Grieux and Alban Grand as De Brétigny.

Box 8 Folder 8 3 p. from Met program

Box 8 Folder 8 5 photographs of set

[See also Metropolitan Opera December 22, 1928]

Otello, Paris Tour, May 5, 1914 (New)

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Berio di Salsa, based on the play by William Shakespeare, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edoardo Ferrari-Fontana as Otello, Vanni Marcoux as Iago and Nellie Melba as Desdemona.

Box 8 Folder 9 Libretto

Box 8 Folder 9 Playbook

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil:

Box 8 Folder 9 --Iago


Box B4 Folder 20 --Act II: Garden


Box 8 Folder 9 --Act III: Castle interior, sig.

Box 8 Folder 9 --Act III: Castle detail

Box 8 Folder 9 Article on Verdi, 1 p.

Box 8 Folder 9 3 technical drawings


Box 14-E-11 Folder A.8 7 ground plans


Box 8 Folder 9 Production notes, 6 p.

Box 8 Folder 9 15 photographs of sets and set drawings

Parsifal, Paris Tour, June 3, 1914 (New)

Opera by Richard Wagner, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Johannes Sembach as Parsifal, Margarete Matzenauer as Kundry and August Kiess as Klingsor.

Box 8 Folder 10 2 librettos in German, pamphlets

Box 8 Folder 10 1 libretto in German, hardback

Box 8 Folder 10 Clipping of scenes


Box 9 Folder 1 4 German post cards

Box 9 Folder 1 Act I.1: Spring, painted photograph

Box 9 Folder 1 Sketch, Klingsor tower

Box 9 Folder 1 Drawing, watercolor and pencil: --Klingsor tower detail

Box 9 Folder 1 6 photographs of set drawings

Box 9 Folder 1 1 newspaper article, German

[See also Metropolitan Opera, February 19, 1920]

Francesca Da Rimini, 1914

Box 9 Folder 2 Swedish transportation schedule

Box 9 Folder 2 Libretto

Box 9 Folder 2 3 sketches


Box B4 Folder 21 4 ground plans


Box 9 Folder 2 10 photographs of set drawings and costumes

Louse Edvina, Musical America, 1/29/16


Box B4 Folder 21 Louse Edvina, Musical America

La Muette de Portici, (Dumb Girl of Portici) November 23, 1915 (New)

Opera by Daniel Auber, libretto by Eugene Scribe, conducted by Agide Jacchia with Anna Pavlowa as Fenella, Giovanni Zenatello as Masaniello and Giori Michailoff as Alfonso.


Box 9 Folder 3 Notes and sketches, 6 p.

3 drawings, watercolor :

Box 9 Folder 3 --Act II: island

Box 9 Folder 3 --Act IV: fountain, stone lion

Box 9 Folder 3 --Act V: interior

Box 9 Folder 3 5 technical drawings


Box B4 Folder 22 Ground plan, Act I

Undated Articles


Box 9 Folder 4 Les Arts Décoratifs au Théâtre, 5 p.

Boston Office

Box 9 Folder 5 2 photographs of studio office

Don Pasquale, Donizetti

Performed in the 1909-10, 1910-11 seasons

Box 9 Folder 6 1 clipping of set design

Box 9 Folder 6 1 libretto

Box 9 Folder 6 3 production notes

Box 9 Folder 6 1 photograph of set

Elijah, Oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn

Box 9 Folder 7 Drawing, Rocky landscape, sig.

Erste Walpurgisnacht, Die, Mendelssohn

2 drawings, watercolor, sig. :

Box 9 Folder 8 --Costume, 20 furies, 20x17 cm.

Box 9 Folder 8 --Costume, druids, detail 13, 20x16 cm.

Box 9 Folder 8 Notes and sketches, 17 p.

Box 9 Folder 8 11 photographs of sets & costumes

Habañera, Raoul La Parra

Performed in the 1909-1910, 1911-12 season

Box 9 Folder 9 Libretto

Hippodamia, Andre Campra

Box 9 Folder 10 Set notes, 6 p.

Box 9 Folder 10 Notes and sketches, 15 p.


Box B4 Folder 23 Plan

Lakmé, Léo Delibes

Performed in the 1909-10 season


Box 9 Folder 11 Production notes, 4 p.

Box 9 Folder 11 4 photographs of sets

Librettos

Box 9 Folder 12 --Ballo in Maschera

Box 9 Folder 12 --Boris Godunov

Box 9 Folder 12 --Conchita

Box 9 Folder 12 --Forza del Destino overture

Box 9 Folder 12 --Nozze de Figaro

Box 9 Folder 12 --Orfeo ed Euridice libretto, piano score

Box 9 Folder 12 --Siegfried, 2 librettos

Loeffler's Opera, Charles Martin Loeffler

Box 9 Folder 13 Notes, German, 7 p.

Mignon, Abroise Thomas

Performed in the 1911-12 season.

Box 9 Folder 14 Libretto

Box 9 Folder 14 Production notes, 3 p.

Parisina, Pietro Mascagni

Box 9 Folder 15 Newspaper clipping, 1913

Pipe of Desire, Frank S. Converse

Box 9 Folder 16 Libretto

Box 9 Folder 16 Script, Italian, 15 p.

Box 9 Folder 16 Line Drops, 1 p.

Box 9 Folder 16 2 photographs of scenes

Sacrifice, Frank S. Converse

Performed in the 1910-11 season

Box 9 Folder 17 Production notes, 3 p.

Box 9 Folder 17 3 photographs of sets

Series III: New York, 1912-1933, undated

This series is arranged chronologically within five subseries: Theater, Ziegfeld, Met, Film, and Architecture and Design. The series are preceded by a listing of general files in which photograph scrapbooks, clippings scrapbooks and Square Yard Books are followed by undated and unidentified files. The clippings scrapbooks are the major source for Urban's New York career and document some projects and activities not found in the archive. The square yard books contain drawings and measurements of set pieces for opera, theater and film sets. There is very little documentation in the form of letters, contracts, and financial accounts. Numerous photographs of sets and set models are to be found but production photographs are rare.

Subseries III.1: General Files


Box A2-A6 4 Photo scrapbooks, 1912-1933

Clipping Scrapbooks 1912-1933, 12 microfilm reels [6/2034-2036, 98/10117-10119]

Reels are stored offsite and need to be requested two business days in advance via CLIO


Box 10 Folder 1-4 5 Square Yard Books, 1922-1925

Box 10 Folder 5 Inventory of pounces, 1933

Subseries III.2: Undated

Studio-Yonkers :

Box 10 Folder 6 7 photographs of Yonkers studio

Box 10 Folder 6 2 drawings of proposed studio

Box 10 Folder 7 Reference

Unidentified drawings :

Box 10 Folder 8 45 drawings and photographs

Box 10 Folder 9 26 sketches and notes


Box 11 Folder 1 16 photographs

Subseries III.3: Theater, 1914-1933

This subseries records the productions that Urban designed for producers other than Florenz Ziegfeld. It contains reference material, scripts, watercolor drawings, technical drawings, photographs and programs, and is arranged chronologically. Each production is listed by title, followed by the opening date and production information. The production information is from Bordman, Gerald M.American Theatre,New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Leiter, Samuel.The Encyclopedia of the New York Stage.Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1989 Mantle, Burns, ed.The Best Plays Series.New York: Dodd, Mead and Co.

General

Box 11 Folder 2 Articles on set design, 1934, 1966

Box 11 Folder 3 Trees & borders

Box 11 Folder 4 Undated scripts

Twelfth Night, November 23, 1914 :

Play by William Shakespeare, revived by Liebler and Co. (George C. Tyler) at the Liberty Theater with Eben Plympton, Walter Creighton, Henry E. Dixey, Edith Campbell Walker, Jessie Busley and Phyllis Neilson-Terry. 8 performances.

Box 11 Folder 5 Play

Box 11 Folder 5 Production notes, 11 p.

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :

Box 11 Folder 5 --I. Orsino's Palace, 19x29 (16x27) cm.


Box B5 Folder 4 --I.5: before Olivia's House, 19x29 (16x27) cm.


Box 11 Folder 5 --II.2: Olivia's Garden, 19x29 (16x27) cm.

Box 11 Folder 5 --III.2: Malvolio's Prison, 19x29 (16x27) cm.

Box 11 Folder 5 6 set sketches


Box C2 Folder 7 2 plans for portal


Box 11 Folder 5 9 plans

Box 11 Folder 5 9 photos of set drawings

Garden of Paradise, November 28, 1914 :

Play in nine scenes by Edward Sheldon based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, directed by O. P. Heggie, produced by Liebler and Co. (George C. Tyler) at the Park Theater. 17 performances.

Box 11 Folder 6 & 7 Script, part 1 & 2

Box 11 Folder 8 Booklet, set notes in German

Box 11 Folder 8 German article on sea dragon

Box 11 Folder 8 Lefler print for Der Graf von Cilli

Box 11 Folder 8 2 reference photos

Box 11 Folder 8 Costume sketch, pencil

7 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 11 Folder 8 --costume drawings, Act I,II, 16x20 cm.

Box 11 Folder 8 --costume drawing, Act III, 16x10 cm.

Box 11 Folder 8 --props-chests, 16x24 cm.

Box 11 Folder 8 --Act I: Under the Sea, 13x22 cm.

Box 11 Folder 8 --Act I: Under the Sea, 20x30 cm.


Box B5 Folder 5 --Under the Sea, Octopus, 25x30 cm.

Box B5 Folder 6 --Glade Scene, 23x36 (21x33) cm., sig.


Box 11 Folder 8 Set sketch, pencil


Box D2 Folder 5 9 technical drawings


Box 11 Folder 9 71 photographs of sets & costumes

Behold Thy Wife,1915 :

The show opened and closed in Washington DC

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B5 Folder 7 --Act III: Library, 23x36 cm., sig.


Box 11 Folder 10 5 technical drawings


Box D2 Folder 6 3 technical drawings


Box 11 Folder 10 6 photographs of set drawings

Set model

Yesterday or Tomorrow, October 8, 1915 :

Fashion extravaganza in 4 acts, written by Pierre de Lanux, directed by Julian Mitchell, sponsored by the International Fashion Show Association and the New York Globe at Carnegie Hall to aid the Actors' Fund of America.


Box 12 Folder 1 Script, 18 p.

2 costume renderings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 12 Folder 1 --Marguerite costume design


Box D2 Folder 7 --Costume sketch, male


Box 12 Folder 1 4 plans


Box D2 Folder 7 4 technical drawings


Box 12 Folder 1 1 photograph of proscenium idea

Box 12 Folder 1 Program

Around the Map (Here Comes Tootsie), November 1, 1915 :

Musical revue in 3 acts, book and lyrics by C. M. S. McLellan, music by Herman Finck, musical numbers staged by Julian Mitchell, directed by Herbert Gresham, produced by Klaw and Erlanger at the New Amsterdam Theater with Hazel Cox, Else Adler, William Norris and Robert Pitkin. 104 performances.

Box 12 Folder 2 Set notes in German and English

1 drawing-watercolor, sig.

Box 12 Folder 2 ---Act III.2: Sitting Room, 22x33 cm.

Box 12 Folder 2 3 technical drawings


Box D2 Folder 8 2 technical drawings


Box 12 Folder 2 22 photographs of set drawings

Box 12 Folder 2 Program, Dec. 6, 1915

Pavlowa Ballet, 1915-1917 :

Urban designed sets for Giselle, Orpheo, and "Snowflakes" from Act I of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil:

Box 12 Folder 3 --Preliminary sketch for Orpheo

Box 12 Folder 3 4 letters/telegrams from V. Dandré, 5 p.


Box D2 Folder 9 1 ground plan


Box 12 Folder 3 6 photographs of set drawings

Macbeth, February 7, 1916 :

Tragedy by William Shakespeare, directed by James K. Hackett at the Criterion Theater with Mr. Hackett as Macbeth and Viola Allen as Lady Macbeth. 40 performances.

Box 12 Folder 4 Set analysis, 3 p.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B5 Folder 8 --Outside the castle, 24x36 (20x32) cm.

Box B5 Folder 9 --Battlements, 24x36 (20x32) cm., sig.


Box 12 Folder 4 7 technical drawings


Box 14-E-12 Folder 4 25 technical drawings


Box 12 Folder 4 27 photographs of set drawings

Set model

The Greatest Nation, February 28, 1916 :

Play in 3 acts by Marion Creighton and William Elliott, directed by Cyril Scot, produced by William Elliott at the Booth theater. 16 performances.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B5 Folder 10 --Bedroom, 24x33 (21x32) cm.


Box 12 Folder 5 4 details and plans


Box D2 Folder 10 7 technical drawings


Box 12 Folder 5 6 photographs of set drawings

Set model.

Pom-Pom, February 28, 1916 :

Comic opera in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Anne Caldwell, music by Hugo Felix, directed by George Marion, produced by Henry W. Savage at the Cohan Theater. 128 performances.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :

Box 12 Folder 6 --Prison Court, 15x23 (12x20) cm.

Box 12 Folder 6 --Green room, 12x20 cm.


Box B5 Folder 11 --Elephant scene, 23x35 (20x30) cm.


Box D2 Folder 11 1 plan


Box 12 Folder 6 6 photographs of set drawings

Set model

Merry Wives of Windsor, March 20, 1916 :

Comedy by William Shakespeare, produced by James K. Hackett at the Criterion Theater for the Shakespeare tercentenary, directed by Richard Ordynski with Thomas A.Wise, Orrin Johnson, Viola Allen and Henrietta Crosman.

Box 12 Folder 7 Opera libretto with notes, German

Box 12 Folder 7 Playbook, English

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 12 Folder 7 --Street Scene, 11x21 cm.

Box 12 Folder 7 --Street Scene, 15x23 (10x18) cm.


Box D2 Folder 12 5 technical drawings


Box 12 Folder 7 16 photographs of set drawings

Set model

Caliban of the Yellow Sands, May 24, 1916 :

Masque based on works of Shakespeare by Percy MacKaye, produced by Joseph Urban and Richard Ordynski, inner settings designed by Robert Edmond Jones, with John Drew and Margaret Wycherly at the Lewisohn Stadium of City College of New York.

Box 12 Folder 8 Letter from Percy MacKaye, March 6, 1916

Box 12 Folder 8 Masque Structure, ts., 2 p.

Box 12 Folder 8 Article, Caliban-1916, ts., 2 p.


Box B5 Folder 12 Tower detail for stage in pencil, 25x38 cm.

Box B5 Folder 13 Sight lines, 25x38 cm.

6 drawings, watercolor, sig. :


Box D3 Folder 1 --ground plan, 42x37 (36x40) cm

Box D3 Folder 2 --tower detail, 50x38 (41x28) cm


Box 14-F-7 Folder 2 --stage, 38x76 (34x76) cm.

Box 14-F-7 Folder 4 --ground plan, 82x59 (74x58) cm


Box B5 Folder 14 --Worship god Osiris, 22x36 (18x30) cm.


Box D2 Folder 1A --Setebos, 35x43 cm.


Box 12 Folder 8 5 watercolor drawings of interval sets

Box 12 Folder 8 2 programs

Box 12 Folder 9-13 72 photographs


Box 13 Folder 1 1 photo scrapbook

Flora Bella, September 11, 1916 :

Operetta in 3 acts, book by Felix Doermann, revised and adapted by Cosmo Hamilton, music by Charles Cuvillier and Milton Schwarzwald, produced by John Cort, dances by Carl Randall, directed by Richard Ordynski at the Casino Theater. Moved to the 44th Street Theater on November 27, 1916. 112 performances.

Box 13 Folder 2 2 photographs of set drawings

Miss Springtime, September 25, 1916. :

Musical comedy in 3 acts, book by Guy Bolton, music by Emmerich Kalman, ensembles by Julian Mitchell, directed by Herbert Gresham, produced by Klaw and Erlanger at the New Amsterdam Theater. 224 performances.

Drawing, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B5 Folder 15 --Act I: outside Post Office, 37x45 (18x27) cm.


Box D3 Folder 3 3 technical drawings


Box 13 Folder 3 10 photographs of set drawings and sets

Othello, 1916 :

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :

Box 13 Folder 4 --Act II: Dining Hall, 18x25 (14x22) cm.

Box 13 Folder 4 --Act V: Entrance to garden, 18x25 (14x22) cm.

Box 13 Folder 4 --Act V: Desdemona's room, 18x25 (14x22) cm.

Box 13 Folder 4 Script with tip-in letter from James K. Hackett

Interstate Opera Company, 1916 :

Urban was contracted to do 8 sets for this company which was made up of interests from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cincinnati, joined together as a corporation to bring opera to the interior. The corporation collapsed after the United States entry into the First World War.

Box 13 Folder 5 Pagliacci, 2 ground plans


Box D3 Folder 4 2 ground plans

Lakmé :


Box 13 Folder 5 Drawing, II: Opening, market group, Detail 14


Box D3 Folder 5 3 ground plans

Tristan Und Isolde :


Box 13 Folder 5 Set notes, 5 p.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B6 Folder 1 --Act I: Boat, preliminary sketch, 20x26 (15x23) cm.

Box B6 Folder 2 --Act I: boat, 1917, 24x33 (21x31) cm.

Box B6 Folder 3 --Act II: King Mark's Castle, 20x26 (15x23) cm.

1 photograph, retouched with watercolor, sig. :


Box 13 Folder 5 --Act III: Tristan's Courtyard, 16x24 (10x17) cm.

Box 13 Folder 5 3 ground plans

Box 13 Folder 5 5 photographs of set drawings

Box 13 Folder 5 Clipping

Studio Accounts, 1916-1919, 38 p. :

Box 13 Folder 6 Studio Accounts

Nju, March 22, 1917 :

Written by Ossip Dymow, translated by Rosallind Ivin, produced by Joseph Urban and Richard Ordynski at the Bandbox Theater with Ann Andrews, Henry Stanford and Thomas Mitchell. 44 performances.

Box 13 Clippings, 2 p.

Box 13 Folder 7 Script in German

Box 13 Folder 7 Script notes, 4 p.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B31 Folder 1 --bedroom, dining room, 23x37 (18x24) cm.

Box B31 Folder 2 --2 rooms, 30x24 (25x18) cm., sig.


Box 13 Folder 7 Invitation Detail 7

Box 13 Folder 7 3 invitations

Box 13 Folder 7 Billing and Accounts, 35 p.

Box 13 Folder 7 4 photographs of production

Riviera Girl, September 24, 1917 :

Musical comedy in 3 acts, music by Emmerich Kalman based on his Czardasfürstin, book and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, with songs by Jerome Kern, produced by Klaw and Erlanger at the New Amsterdam with Louis Cassavant and Wilda Bennett. 78 performances.


Box D3 Folder 6 6 ground plans


Box 13 Folder 8 5 photographs of set drawings

Jack O'Lantern, October 16, 1917 :

Musical extravaganza in 2 acts by Anne Caldwell and R. H. Burnside, music by Ivan Caryll, directed by R. H. Burnside, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Globe Theater with Fred Stone. Included sets by Homer Ewens and Ernest Albert. 265 performances.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B31 Folder 3 --Clown curtain, 26x28 (20x23) cm.


Box 14-E-12 Folder 5 6 technical drawings


Box 13 Folder 9 7 photographs of set drawings

Glorianna, October 28, 1918 :

Play with music in 3 acts, book and lyrics by Catherine Chisholm Cushing, music by Rudolf Friml, directed by Clifford Brooke, produced by John Cort at the Liberty Theater. 96 performances.

Box 13 Folder 10 1 script

Box 13 Folder 10 2 photographs of sets

The Invisible Foe, December 30, 1918. :

Play in 3 acts by Walter Hackett, produced and directed by Thomas Dixon at the Harris Theater with Daisy Vivian and Frank Andrews. 112 performances.


Box C2 Folder 9 1 ground plan


Box 13 Folder 11 2 photographs of set drawing

London Revue, 1918-1920 :

Albert DeCourville commissioned Urban to make sets for a Follies-style revue in London.

Box 13 Folder 12 1 agreement and 3 letters regarding set drawings

Belle Hélène,1919, unrealized :

Operetta in 3 acts, music by Jacques Offenbach, director-Richard Ordynski

Box 13 Folder 13 Libretto

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B6 Folder 4 --Act I: Temple, not used, 25x36 cm.

Box B6 Folder 5 --Act II: Boudoir, not used, 24x34 cm.

Box B6 Folder 6 --Act III: Nauplia, 31x40 cm.


Box 13 Folder 13 5 photographs of set drawings

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall, Detroit symphony, 1919 :

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box D3 Folder 7 --Symphony concert set (dated 1925), 43x50 (30x41) cm.


Box 13 Folder 14 2 photographs of set drawing dated 1919

Hitchy Koo, October 6, 1919. :

A revue in 2 parts, book by George V. Hobart, music and lyrics by Cole Porter, produced by Raymond Hitchcock at the Liberty Theater with Raymond Hitchcock, Florence O'Denishawn and Princess White Deer.

Box 13 Folder 15 4 photographs of sets

Apple Blossoms, (Marriage Knot), October 7, 1919. :

Operetta in prologue and 2 acts, music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi, book and lyrics by William Le Baron, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Globe with Adele and Fred Astaire in supporting roles. 236 performances.


Box 14 Folder 1 5 letters, 1919

5 drawings-Watercolor :


Box C3 Folder 1 --Act I: School Garden (28x48) cm.


Box B6 Folder 7 --Act I: School Garden, not used (25x27) cm., sig.


Box C3 Folder 2 --Act II: Parlor (27x44) cm.

Box C3 Folder 3 --Act III: Ballroom (28x47) cm.


Box B6 Folder 8 --Act III: Ballroom, not used (25x28) cm., sig.


Box 14 Folder 1 Sketches and notes, 14 p.

Box 14 Folder 1 2 photographs of set drawings


Box 14-E-12 Folder 6 4 technical drawings

Set model

A Young Man's Fancy, October 15, 1919 :

A comedy in 3 acts by John T. McIntyre, produced by George C. Tyler at The Playhouse with Philip Merivale and Jeanne Eagels.

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B6 Folder 9 --Window Garden, 25x35 (18x28) cm.

Box B6 Folder 10 --Shop Window, 25x35 (18x28) cm.

Box B6 Folder 11 --Dining Room, 21x32 (16x28) cm.

Box B6 Folder 12 --NY Street Scene at Night, 25x35 (18x28) cm.


Box A1 Folder 15 Working photograph


Box 14 Folder 2 Sketches, 2 p.


Box D3 Folder 8 8 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 2 7 photographs of set drawings

Rose of China, November 25, 1919 :

Musical comedy by Guy Bolton, lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse, music by Armand Vecsey, produced by F. Ray Comstock and Morris Gest at the Lyric Theater with Oscar Shaw, Jane Richardson and Edna May Oliver. 6 weeks.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B6 Folder 13 --I: garden, 30x41 (23x36) cm.

Box B6 Folder 14 --II: bungalow, 24x36 (21x34) cm.


Box 14 Folder 3 11 notes and sketches


Box 14-E-12 Folder 7 2 ground plans


Box 14 Folder 3 2 photographs of set drawings

Smilin' Through, December 30, 1919 :

Play in prolog and 3 acts by Allan Langdon Martin, directed by Priestly Morrison, produced by the Selwyns at the Broadhurst Theater with Jane Cowl, Henry Stephenson and Orme Caldara.

Box 14 Folder 4 2 scripts

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B7 Folder 1 --Garden gate, 25x37 (19x27) cm.


Box 14-E-12 Folder 8 6 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 4 4 photographs of set drawings

Singer Midgets, 1920-1923 :

5 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 14 Folder 5 --Chapel of Wedding Bells, 23x19 (16x15) cm., sig.

Box 14 Folder 5 --Chapel, 23x18.5 (16x15) cm.

Box 14 Folder 5 --Gingerbread House, 15x26 (14x26) cm., sig.

Box 14 Folder 5 --Ice Cream Pavilion, 19x23 (11x18) cm., sig.

Box 14 Folder 5 --Post Office, signed, 19x23 (14x14) cm., sig.

Box 14 Folder 5 1 photograph of Village set

Merry Widow, September 5, 1921 :

Operetta in 3 acts, music by Franz Lehar, lyrics by Adrian Ross, produced by Henry W. Savage, directed by George Marion at the Knickerbocker Theater with Lydia Lipkowska, Reginald Pasch and Jefferson De Angelis. 56 performances. Urban designed the sets but asked to have his name removed from the production due to a disagreement with Savage over the design of the 3rd act.

Box 14 Folder 6 Script

Box 14 Folder 6 3 ground plans


Box 14-E-11 Folder A10 5 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 6 Notes on Savage/Urban disagreement, 4 p.

Box 14 Folder 6 3 photographs of set drawings

The Love Letter, October 4, 1921 :

Musical comedy in 3 acts adapted from The Phantom Rival by Ferenc Molnar, book and lyrics by William Le Baron, music by Victor Jacobi, directed by Edward Royce, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Globe Theater with John Charles Thomas, and Fred and Adele Astaire. 31 performances.

Box 14 Folder 7 1 drawing, watercolor and pencil:


Box B31 Folder 4 --dream scene, 26x13 (16x25) cm


Box 14 Folder 7 Sketches and notes, 11 p.


Box 14-E-12 Folder 9 9 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 7 1 program

Blaue Mazur, 1921 :

Urban had agreed to design the Lehar operetta for Henry W. Savage. The project was canceled after Urban and Savage had a disagreement regarding the sets for The Merry Widow.

Box 14 Folder 8 Director's playbook

Yankee Princess, October 2, 1922 :

Musical comedy adapted from the Viennese operetta Die Bajadere by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald, with book by William Le Baron, lyrics by B. G. De Sylva, music by Emmerich Kalman, choreographed by Julian Mitchell, directed by Fred G. Latham, produced by A. L. Erlanger at the Knickerbocker Theater with Vivienne Segal and Thorpe Bates. 80 performances.

3 set renderings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 14 Folder 9 --Act I: Theater Lobby, 21x31 (16x25) cm.

Box 14 Folder 9 --Act II: Princess Room, 20x30 (16x25) cm.

Box 14 Folder 9 --Act III: Club room, 21x31 (16x25) cm.


Box 14-E-12 Folder 10 4 technical drawings

Dream Girl, August 20, 1924 :

The premiere of this musical, produced by Lee and J. J. Shubert at the Ambassador Theater and starring Fay Bainter was designed by Watson Barratt.


Box 14 Folder 10 Script notes

Orpheum Circuit, 1925 :


Box D3 Folder 9 3 blueprints

14 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B7 Folder 2 --Garden, 26x32 (15x23) cm.

Box B7 Folder 3 --Mountain panorama, 25x33 (13x21) cm.

Box B7 Folder 4 --Pavilion, 25x33 (13x21) cm.

Box B7 Folder 5 --Club room, 25x32 (16x25) cm.

Box B7 Folder 6 --Terrace, 26x36 (13x21) cm.

Box B7 Folder 7 --Library, 23x35 (13x21) cm.

Box B7 Folder 8 --White interior, 26x33 (13x21) cm.

Box B7 Folder 9 --Drawing room drop, 26x31 (13x21) cm.

Box B7 Folder 10 --Street Scene, 24x35 (18x29) cm.

Box B7 Folder 11 --Oriental city, 25x33 (19x29) cm.

Box B7 Folder 12 --Park drop, 26x31 (14x22) cm.

Box B7 Folder 13 --Drawing room, 26x31 (13x21) cm.

Box B7 Folder 14 --Portal, not used, 23x31 (16x27) cm.

Box B7 Folder 15 --Conservatory, 26x31 (13x21) cm.


Box 14 Folder 11 1 scaled drawing of eagle

Mayflower Hotel Stage Setting, 1925 :

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 14 Folder 12 --Woman fg., street scene

Box 14 Folder 12 --Champs Elysees, 21x26 (11x16) cm.

Box 14 Folder 12 --stage setting, 22x25 cm

Box 14 Folder 12 9 technical drawings


Box 14-E-12 Folder 11 11 technical drawings

Box 14-E-12 Folder 11 1 drawing of slouching panther


Box 14 Folder 12 1 photograph of stage setting

Human Nature (Gun Powder), September 24, 1925 :

Comedy in 3 acts by J. C. and Elliott Nugent, produced by Gene Buck, directed by J. C. Nugent and Frederick Stanhope with Mary Duncan, Brandon Tynan, John Marston and Frank Conroy at the Liberty Theater. 4 performances

Box 14 Folder 13 3 technical drawings

Box 14 Folder 13 1 job order


Box 14-E-12 Folder 12 7 technical drawings

Set model

Tale of the Wolf, October 7, 1925 :

Comedy in 3 acts by Ferenc Molnar, produced by Charles Frohman Inc., directed by Frank Reicher at the Empire Theater with Phyllis Povah, Roland Young and Wallace Eddinger. 13 performances.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B8 Folder 1 --Act I: Cabaret interior, 26x31 (17x25) cm.

Box B8 Folder 2 --Act II: Room, Kelemen House, 22x33 (17x11) cm.


Box 14 Folder 14 9 sketches & notes


Box 14-E-12 Folder 13 11 technical drawings

Set model

Antonia, October 20, 1925 :

Written by Melchior Lengyel, adapted by Arthur Richman, directed by George Cukor, produced by Charles Frohman, Inc. with Marjorie Rambeau at the Empire Theater. 55 performances.

Box 14-E-12 Folder 14 12 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 15 2 sketches of details

Box 14 Folder 15 2 photographs of set drawings

Box 14 Folder 15 Program

Song of the Flame, December 30, 1925 :

Romantic opera in prologue, two acts and epilogue, book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Herbert Stothart and George Gershwin, costumes by Mark Mooring, choreographed by Jack Haskell, produced by Arthur Hammerstein, directed by Frank Reicher at the Forty-fourth Street Theater with Tessa Kosta as Aniuta and Guy Robertson as Volodya. 224 performances.


Box 14-E-12 Folder 15 33 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 16 I.5: Elevation

Box 14 Folder 16 2 programs

Set model

Duchess of Elba, 1925-1926 :

Written by Rudolph Lothar.

3 watercolor drawings by Gretl Urban, sig.:

Box 14 Folder 17 --Act I: Store scene, 19x29 (10x20) cm.

Box 14 Folder 17 --Act II: Sitting Room, 18x29 (10x18) cm.

Box 14 Folder 17 --Act III: Bedroom, 19x29 (12x25) cm.


Box 14-E-12 Folder 16 6 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 17 2 set sketches

Box 14 Folder 17 1 sketch of Napoleon

Box 14 Folder 17 1 wallpaper sample

Set model

Wild Rose (Hawthorne of the USA), October 20, 1926 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Rudolf Friml, choreographed by Busby Berkeley, costumes by Mark Mooring, directed by William J. Wilson, produced by Arthur Hammerstein at the Martin Beck Theater with Joseph Santley, Desiree Ellinger and William Collier. 61 performances.

8 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B8 Folder 3 --ActI.1: Casino, not used, 27x33 (12x18) cm.

Box B8 Folder 4 --Act I.2:Inn Front, 25x31 (12x19) cm.

Box B8 Folder 5 --Act I.3: Tavern, 26x31 (12x18) cm.

Box B8 Folder 6 --Act I.4: Garden Wall, 26x31 (13x18) cm.

Box B8 Folder 7 --Act II.1:King's Dressing Room, 26x31 (12x20) cm.

Box B8 Folder 8 --Act II.2: Castle yard, 26x31 (12x18) cm.

Box B8 Folder 9 --Act II.3: Tower, 26x31 (12x18) cm.

Box B8 Folder 10 --Act II.4: Border drop, 26x31 (13x18) cm., signed by Gretl


Box 14 Folder 18 Sketches and notes, 6 p.


Box 14-E-12 Folder 17 28 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 18 4 detail sketches of throne room

Box 14 Folder 18 Letter from construction co.

Set models

Yours Truly (Lotus Flower), January 25, 1927 :

Musical play in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Clyde North and Anne Caldwell, music by Raymond Hubbell, choreographed by Ralph Reader, produced by Gene Buck, directed by Paul Dickey at the Shubert Theater with Leon Errol, Marion Harris, Ina Williams and Irene Dunne. 129 performances. Restaged at the Century Theater for 16 performances March 12, 1928.

5 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B8 Folder 11 --Green curtain, 26x31 (14x20) cm.

Box B8 Folder 12 --I: Mission Square, 26x31 (15x19) cm.


Box B9 Folder 2 --II.1: Garden, 25x31 (14x22) cm.


Box B8 Folder 13 --II.3 Mission interior, 26x31 (13x19) cm.


Box B9 Folder 1 --II.5: Cabaret, 24x28 (13x19) cm.


Box 14 Folder 19 2 set sketches


Box 14-E-13 Folder 1 18 technical drawings


Box 14 Folder 19 16 photographs of set drawings and set

Box 14 Folder 19 Program

Golden Dawn, November 30, 1927. :

Musical drama in 2 acts by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein, II, music by Emmerich Kalman and Herbert Stothart, choreographed by Dave Bennett, costumes by Mark Mooring, directed by Reginald Hammerstein, produced by Arthur Hammerstein at Hammerstein Theater with Louise Hunter, Robert Chisholm, Paul Gregory and Archie Leach (Cary Grant). 184 performances.


Box 15 Folder 1 Sketches & notes, 12 p.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box A1 Folder 21 --Straw Curtain, 22x22 cm.


Box B9 Folder 3 --Act I.4: Magic Tree, 26x32 (13x19) cm.

Box B9 Folder 4 --Act II.4: Mission, Finale A, 26x31 (13x20) cm.


Box 14-E-13 Folder 2 & 3 31 technical drawings


Box 15 Folder 1 9 photographs of set drawings

Set model

Big Parade, MGM, 1925 :

Art direction by James Basevi and Cedric Gibbons. In 1928 plans were made to make a musical for which Urban was to design the set.


Box 27 Folder 19 & 20 83 photographs of scenes and publicity stills

Treasure Girl, November 8, 1928 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book by Fred Thompson and Vincent Lawrence, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin, directed by Bertram Harrison, choreographed by Bobby Connolly, produced by Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley at the Alvin Theater with Gertrude Lawrence, Walter Catlett, Clifton Webb and Mary Hay. 68 performances.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B9 Folder 5 --Curtain, 28x38 cm.


Box 15 Folder 2 9 sketches & notes


Box 14-E-13 Folder 4 19 technical drawings


Box 15 Folder 2 9 photographs of sets

Set model

Polly, January 8, 1929 :

Musical in 2 acts by Guy Bolton and George Middleton of the 1917 comedy Polly with a Past, music and lyrics by Herbert Stothart, Philip Charig and Irving Caesar, directed by John Harwood, choreographed by Jack Haskell, produced by Arthur Hammerstein at the Lyric Theater with June, Charles Esdale and Fred Allen. 15 performances.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :

Box 15 Folder 3 --Western Union Office


Box 14-E-13 Folder 5 7 technical drawings

Set model

Sons O' Guns (Tin Hats), November 26, 1929 :

Musical comedy by Fred Thompson and Jack Donahue, music and lyrics by Arthur Swanstrom, Benny Davis and J. Fred Coots, choreographed by Bobby Connolly and Albertina Rasch, costumes by Charles Le Maire, directed by Bobby Connolly, produced by Connolly and Swanstrom at the Imperial Theater with Jack Donahue, William Frawley and Lily Damita. 295 performances


Box 15 Folder 4 1 reference photo

Box 15 Folder 4 20 sketches & notes


Box 14-E-13 Folder 6 52 technical Drawings


Box 15 Folder 4 19 photographs of sets

Set model

Ripples, February 11, 1930 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts by William Anthony McGuire, music by Oscar Levant and Albert Sirmay, lyrics by Irving Caesar and Graham John, costumes by Charles LeMaire choreographed by William Holbrook, directed by William Anthony McGuire, produced by Charles Dillingham at the New Amsterdam with Fred Stone, Dorothy Stone, Paula Stone, Charles Collins, and Eddie Foy, Jr. 55 performances.

Box 15 Folder 5 Scene IV set notes, 21 p.


Box 14-E-13 Folder 7 44 technical drawings


Box 15 Folder 5 4 detail drawings

Box 15 Folder 5 4 photographs of sets

Set models

Flying High, March 3, 1930 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book and lyrics by B. G. DeSylva, Lew Brown and John McGowan, music by DeSylva, Brown and Ray Henderson, costumes by Charles LeMaire, choreographed by Bobby Connolly, directed by Edward Clark Lilley, produced by George White at the Apollo Theater with Bert Lahr, Kate Smith, Grace Brinkley and Oscar Shaw. 357 performances.

Box 15 Folder 6 1 set list

Box 15 Folder 6 2 drawings-pencil


Box 14-E-13 Folder 8 47 technical drawings


Box 15 Folder 6 13 photographs of sets

Box 15 Folder 6 1 program

Box 15 Folder 6 3 exhibit notes

Set models

Princess Charming, October 13, 1930 :

Romantic opera in 2 acts adapted by Jack Donahue from the original by Franz Martos, Arthur Wimperis and Laurie Wylie, music by Albert Sirmay and Arthur Swartz, lyrics by Arthur Swanstrom, choreographed by Albertina Rasch and Bobby Connolly, costumes by Charles LeMaire, directed by Edward Clark, produced by Bobby Connolly and Arthur Swanstrom at the Imperial Theater with Victor Moore, Evelyn Herbert, George Grossmith and Robert Halliday. 56 performances


Box 14-E-13 Folder 9 31 technical drawings


Box 15 Folder 7 2 detail drawings

Box 15 Folder 7 7 photographs of set models

Box 15 Folder 7 1 program

Set models

George White's Scandals, September 14, 1931 :

Revue in 2 acts, sketches by George White, Lew Brown and Irving Caesar; music by Lew Brown and Ray Henderson, costumes by Charles LeMaire, produced and directed by George White at the Apollo Theater with Edward Everett Marshall, Rudy Vallee, Ray Bolger, Ethel Merman, Alice Faye and Ethel Barrymore Colt. 202 performances.

Box 15 Folder 8 Set notes, 6 p.

Box 15 Folder 8 Watercolor drawing of clouds, 16x21 (9x13) cm.

Box 15 Folder 8 11 technical drawings


Box 14-E-13 Folder 10 & 11 68 technical drawings

Set models

The Good Fairy, November 24, 1931 :

Comedy in 3 acts by Ferenc Molnar, English text by Jane Hinton, music by Alexander Haas, staged and produced by Gilbert Miller at the Henry Miller Theater with Helen Hayes, Paul McGrath and Walter Connolly. 151 performances. Revived with a different cast November 17, 1932 for 72 performances.


Box 15 Folder 9 1 property plot, 4p.


Mapcase 14-E-13 Folder 12 1 rough set sketch

Mapcase 14-E-13 Folder 12 7 technical drawings


Box 15 Folder 9 1 ad

Box 15 Folder 9 1 program

Set model

Mad Hopes, May, 1932 :

Pre-Broadway tryout of Romney Brent play produced by Curran and Belasco at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles with Billie Burke, Peg Entwhistle and Humphrey Bogart.

Box 15 Folder 10 Mad Hopes


Box 14-E-13 Folder 13 2 ground plans

Music in the Air, November 8, 1932 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern, costumes by John Harkrider, directed by Hammerstein and Kern, produced by Peggy Fears at the Alvin Theater with Al Shean, Walter Slezak and Katherine Carrington. 144 performances, return performance at the Forty Fourth Street Theater, 196 performances.


Box 15 Folder 11 8 research photographs

Box 15 Folder 11 13 sketches & notes

2 drawings, watercolor and/or pencil :


Box B9 Folder 6 --Curtain, 25x33 (16x28) cm.

Box B9 Folder 7 --1.4: Weber's Munich office, 25x33 (13x20) cm.

Box B9 Folder 7A --Bedroom with table, 27x40 (14x20)

Box B9 Folder 7B --II.4: dressing room, 29x39 (12x20) cm.


Box 14-E-13 Folder 14 46 plans

The Light, 1932-1933. :

Ottis Lucas had written this pageant to be produced at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933. It was never produced but Urban won a prize for his set model at the 48th Annual Exhibition of the Architectural League of New York.


Box D3 Folder 10 2 technical drawings, 47x62 cm.

7 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box D3 Folder 10 --Rocks, 42x58 (42x58) cm.


Box C3 Folder 4-7 --4 Rocks, 39x47 (24x32) cm.


Box B9 Folder 8 & 9 --2 cyclorama, 31x42 (40x42) cm.


Box 15 Folder 12 Script and letters

[See also Design: Chicago World's Fair, 1933 and Architectural League, 1933]

Musician's Emergency Fund, February 14, 1933 :

Urban designed the setting for a concert of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony conducted by Walter Damrosch in Madison Square Garden for the benefit of unemployed musicians in New York.

Box 15 Folder 13 4 photographs

Melody, February 14, 1933 :

Operetta composed by Sigmund Romberg, book by Edward Childs Carpenter, lyrics by Irving Caesar, choreographed by Bobby Connolly, costumes by Charles LeMaire, produced and directed by George White at the Casino Theater with Jeanne Aubert and Everett Marshall, Walter Woolf, Evelyn Herbert and Hal Skelly. 80 performances.

Box 15 Folder 14 Set sketches, 3 p.

Subseries III.4: Ziegfeld Productions, 1915-1932

This subseries documents Joseph Urban's designs for the producer Florenz Ziegfeld. Ziegfeld never staged a show since their collaboration began in 1915 without some input from Joseph Urban. He designed all the subsequent Ziegfeld Follies and the Ziegfeld Frolics as well as the hit book shows such as Sally (1921), Show Boat (1927) and Whoopee (1928). The subseries contains drawings, research material, technical drawings, photographs of sets and some programs. There are comparatively few watercolor renderings probably because they were given away as gifts by Urban. The productions are arranged in chronological order listed by title, opening date and production information. Production information was pulled from the sources cited in the Theater subseries and from The Ziegfeld Touch cited in the biography.

New Amsterdam Roof Garden, 1915, 1917, 1921 :


Box B9 Folder 10 Midnight Frolic, August 23, 1915, 1 Photograph of roof garden

Box B9 Folder 11 Drawing, watercolor and pencil: --Curtain, 24x36 (19x27) cm.

Midnight Frolic, 1917 :


Box 16 Folder 1 Program, 11/26/17

Nine O'clock Frolic, February 8, 1921 :

[No material listed]

Midnight Frolic, November 17, 1921 :

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B9 Folder 12 --Mountain Terrace, 26x32 (19x19) cm., sig.


Box 16 Folder 1 --set piece for horse race, 21x15 (7x7) cm

Box 16 Folder 1 19 sketches & notes


Mapcase 14-E-14 Folder 1 7 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 1 3 photographs of set drawings


Box 14-E-14 Folder 1 Ad mockup

Ziegfeld Follies, June 21, 1915 :

Revue in 2 acts, lines and lyrics by Channing Pollock, Rennold Wolf and Gene Buck, music by Louis Hirsch and David Stamper, costumes by Lucile, choreographed by Julian Mitchell, staged by Mitchell and Leon Errol at the New Amsterdam Theater with Ed Wynn, Ann Pennington, Justine Johnstone, Kay Laurell, Olive Thomas, Mae Murray, W. C. Fields, Bert Williams, Bernard Granville, George White, Ina Claire, Lucille Cavanaugh and Leon Errol. 104 performances.


Box 16 Folder 2 Notes and letters, San Francisco Expo, 8 p.

Box 16 Folder 2 6 photographs, San Francisco Expo. 8 p.


Box 14-E-14 Folder 2 2 photographs, San Francisco Expo


Box 16 Folder 2 Research on submarines, 6 p.


Box B9 Folder 13 3 technical drawings

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :

Box B9 Folder 14 --House entrance, not used, 24x35 (20x33) cm

Box B9 Folder 15 --Flower curtain, 24x35 (20x33) cm.


Box B10 Folder 1 --Zeppelin, 20x33 cm.

Box B10 Folder 2 --Map for Frisco, 24x34 (20x32) cm.


Box 16 Folder 2 8 technical drawings

Box 16 Folder 2 24 photographs of set drawings

Ziegfeld Follies, June 16, 1916 :

Revue in 2 acts, book and lyrics by George V. Hobart and Gene Buck, music by Louis Hirsch, Jerome Kern and Dave Stamper, costumes by Lucile et al., staged and choreographed by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater with Bernard Granville, Ina Claire, Justine Johnstone, Bert Williams, Allyn King, Marion Davies, Ann Pennington, Lilyan Tashman, W. C. Fields, Fannie Brice and Will Rogers. 112 performances.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B10 Folder 3 --Globe curtain, 22x31 (18x28) cm.

Box B10 Folder 4 --Opening scene, 24x35 (21x32) cm.


Box 16 Folder 3 1 ground plan, island


Box D3 Folder 11 11 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 3 15 photographs of set drawings

Century Girl, November 6, 1916 :

Music by Victor Herbert and Irving Berlin, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Century Theater with Marie Dressler, Hazel Lewis, Hazel Dawn, Irving Fisher, Leon Errol, Elsie Janis, Gus Van, Joe Schenk, Vera Maxwell, Frank Tinney and Lilyan Tashman. 200 performances.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B10 Folder 5 --Bubbles, 24x45 (19x30) cm.

Box B10 Folder 6 --Grand Central Station, 23x28 (20.5x25) cm., sig.


Box 14-E-14 Folder 3 6 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 4 20 photographs of set drawings

Century Roof Garden, January 18, 1917 :

The producers, Ziegfeld and Dillingham, named the roof garden the Cocoanut Grove and staged a Midnight Revue entitled Dance and Grow Thin, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and Blanche Merrill, staging by Leon Errol and Gertrude Hoffman, with Will Richie, Rita Boland, Hattie Burks, Leon Errol, Irving Fisher, Dolly Hackett, and Van and Schenck.

Box 16 Folder 5 Silhouette, unused sketch

Box 16 Folder 5 17 p. sketches and notes


Box 14-E-14 Folder 4 14 technical drawings

Ziegfeld Follies 1917, June 12, 1917 :

Revue in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Gene Buck and George V. Hobart, music by Raymond Hubbell, Dave Stamper and Victor Herbert, costumes by Lucile et al., staged and choreographed by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater, with Walter Catlett, Lilyan Tashman, W. C. Fields, Bert Williams, the Fairbanks Twins, Eddie Cantor, Fannie Brice, Will Rogers, Allyn King, Delores and Peggy Hopkins. 111 performances.


Box 16 Folder 6 1 contract letter, 2/7/17

Box 16 Folder 6 1 set list

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 16 Folder 6 --Modern Interior, 20x20 (14x14) cm.


Box B10 Folder 7 --Eagle, 21x26 cm.


Box D3 Folder 12 12 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 6 20 photographs of set drawings

Miss 1917, November 5, 1917 :

Revue in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, music by Victor Herbert, staged by Ned Wayburn, produced by Charles Dillingham and Florenz Ziegfeld at the Century Theater with Lew Fields, Andrew Tombs, Elizabeth Brice, Marion Davies, Charles King, Bessie McCoy Davis, Vivienne Segal, Vera Maxwell, Van & Schenk, Irene Castle, Bert Savoy, Joe Brennan, Lilyan Tashman, Dolores, George White and Ann Pennington and others. 48 performances.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B10 Folder 8 ---Garden of Eden, 24x29 (22x27) cm.

Box B10 Folder 9 --Swan curtain, 22x22 (19x19) cm.


Box 14-E-14 Folder 5 4 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 7 24 photographs of set drawings

Box 16 Folder 7 1 program

Ziegfeld Follies 1918, June 18, 1918 :

Revue in two acts, lines and lyrics by Rennold Wolf and Gene Buck, music by Louis A. Hirsch and Dave Stamper, interpolations by Irving Berlin and Victor Jacobi, costumes by Lucile et al., staged by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater with Eddie Cantor, Frank Carter, Gus Minton, Marilyn Miller, Will Rogers, Allyn King, Dolores, Ann Pennington, Kay Laurell, the Fairbanks Twins, W. C. Fields, and Lillian Lorraine. 151 performances.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B10 Folder 10 --Miniature (spinet scene), 22x33 (13.5x24) cm.

Box B10 Folder 11 --Totem pole, not used, 23x21 (16x18) cm.

Box B10 Folder 12 --Trench, 23x33 (20x31) cm.


Box D4 Folder 1 8 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 8 18 photographs of set drawings

Box 16 Folder 8 Program, 7/29/18 and program pages

By Pigeon Post, November 25, 1918 :

Play in three acts by Austin Page at the Cohan Theater with Jerome Patrick, Frank Kemble Cooper, John Sainpolis, Phoebe Foster and Peggy O'Neil. 24 performances.

Box 16 Folder 9 4 p. of program

Ziegfeld Follies of 1919, June 16, 1919 :

Written by Irving Berlin, Gene Buck, Rennold Wolf and Dave Stamper, ballet by Victor Herbert, costumes by Lucile et al., directed by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater with Eddie Cantor, Johnny and Ray Dooley, Eddie Dowling, Phil Dwyer, the Fairbanks Twins, Mary Hay, George LeMaire, Marilyn Miller, John Steele, Van and Schenck, Hazel Washburn and Bert Williams. 171 performances

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B11 Folder 1 --Twilight curtain, 23x33 (22x18) cm., sig.


Box 16 Folder 10 18 p. sketches and notes


Box D4 Folder 2 13 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 10 42 photographs of set drawings

Box 16 Folder 10 Program, 2 p.

Caesar's Wife, November 24, 1919 :

Drama in 3 acts by W. Somerset Maugham, directed by B. Iden Payne, starring Billie Burke, Norman Trevor, and Ernest Glendenning at the Liberty Theater. 81 performances.

Box 16 Folder 11 12 sketches and notes

Box 16 Folder 11 2 photographs of set drawings


Box 14-E-14 Folder 6 5 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 11 1 check stub showing payment for scenery

Ziegfeld Follies of 1920, June 22, 1920 :

Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, Dave Stamper, Gene Buck, Joseph McCarthy, Harry Tierney and Victor Herbert, costumes by Lucile et al., directed by Edward Royce at the New Amsterdam Theater with Ray Dooley, Fannie Brice, W. C. Fields, Charles Winninger, Bernard Granville, John Steel, Mary Eaton, Jack Donahue, Van and Schenck and Moran and Mack. 123 performances.

Box 16 Folder 12 5 sketches and notes


Box D4 Folder 3 22 technical drawings


Box 16 Folder 12 2 photographs of set drawing

Box 16 Folder 12 Program, 5 p.

James Theater, Columbus, Ohio, 1920-1921 :

Box 16 Folder 12 2 detail sketches


Box 14-E-14 Folder 7 4 technical drawings

Sally, December 21, 1920 :

Musical comedy in three acts, book by Guy Bolton, lyrics by Clifford Grey, music by Jerome Kern and Victor Herbert, directed and choreographed by Edward Royce at the New Amsterdam Theater with Marilyn Miller, Leon Errol, Mary Hay, Walter Catlett, and Dolores. 570 performances.


Box D4 Folder 4 5 technical drawings


Box 17 Folder 1 2 sketches

Box 17 Folder 1 1 photograph of curtain

Ziegfeld Follies of 1921, June 21, 1921 :

Lines and lyrics by Channing Pollock, Gene Buck, Willard Mack, Ralph Spence and Bud De Silva, music by Victor Herbert, Rudolf Friml and Dave Stamper, costumes by James Reynolds, directed by Edward Royce at the Globe Theater with Raymond Hitchcock, Fannie Brice, Van and Schenk, Ray Dooley, Florence O'Denishawn, Charles O'Donnell, W. C. Fields, Mary Eaton and Mitti and Tillio. 119 performances.

5 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B11 Folder 2 --Venetian, 26x31 (18x21) cm., sig.

Box B11 Folder 3 --Paris-Bridge over Seine, 26x28 (18x21) cm.

Box B11 Folder 4 --Temple of Colors, 26x31 (20x23) cm., sig.

Box B11 Folder 5 --Princess, Queen of the Night, 21x31 (10x22) cm., sig.

Box B11 Folder 5A --Rose Bower, 25x31 (11x12) cm.


Box D4 Folder 5 38 technical drawings


Box 17 Folder 2 2 p. notes and plan

Box 17 Folder 2 21 photographs of set drawings

Ziegfeld Follies of 1922, June 5, 1922 :

Music by Victor Herbert, Louis A. Hirsch and Dave Stamper, book and lyrics by Ring Lardner, Gene Buck and Ralph Spence, sets by Urban, James Reynolds and Herman Rosse, costumes by James Reynolds, Charles LeMaire, et al., directed and choreographed by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater, with Will Rogers, Michael Fokine, Gallagher and Shean, Lulu McConnell, Andrew Tombes, Evelyn Law, Gilda Gray, Mary Eaton and Jessie Reed. 541 performances.

Box 17 Folder 3 4 sketches


Box D4 Folder 6 6 technical drawings


Box 17 Folder 3 Program, June 25, 1923

Rose Briar, December 25, 1922 :

Comedy in 3 acts by Booth Tarkington with Billie Burke, Frank Conroy, Allan Dinehart, Julia Hoyt and Florence O'Denishawn at the Empire Theater. 89 performances. 17


Box 14-E-14 Folder 8 4 technical drawings

Ziegfeld Follies of 1923, October 20 :

Musical revue in 2 acts, lyrics by Gene Buck, music by Victor Herbert, Rudolph Friml and Dave Stamper, costumes by Ben-Ali Haggin, Tappé, Alice O'Neill, Erté, and James Reynolds, et al., directed and choreographed by Ned Wayburn with Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, Bert and Betty Wheeler, Lina Basquette, Ann Pennington, Paul Whiteman Orchestra and Dave Stamper at the New Amsterdam Theater. 333 performances

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B11 Folder 6 --Spanish exterior, 26x31 (18x26) cm.


Box 17 Folder 5 American Review of Reviews, p. 405-6

Box 17 Folder 5 Lyrics, 6 p.

Box 17 Folder 5 Curtain samples

Box 17 Folder 6 2 letters, Urban Studio

Box 17 Folder 5 & 6 65 sketches & notes


Box A1 Folder 16-20 13 technical drawings


Box 14-E-14 Folder 9 & 10 47 technical drawings

Set Models

Kid Boots, December 31, 1923 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts by William Anthony McGuire and Otto Harbach, music by Harry Tierney, lyrics by Joseph McCarthy, directed by Edward Royce at the Earl Carroll Theater with Eddie Cantor, Mary Eaton and Jobyna Howland. 479 performances.


Box 17 Folder 7 3 sketches

1 drawing-watercolor and pencil :

Box 17 Folder 7 --trees, 27x19 cm.


Box 14-E-14 Folder 11 Ground plan

Ziegfeld Follies of 1924, June 24, 1924 :

Musical revue with lyrics by Gene Buck and Joseph J. McCarthy, music by Victor Herbert, Raymond Hubbell, Dave Stamper, Harry Tierney and Dr. Albert Szirmai, dialog by William Anthony McGuire and Will Rogers, costumes by James Reynolds, Charles LeMaire, et al., sets by Joseph Urban and Ludwig Kainer, staged by Julian Mitchell at the New Amsterdam Theater with Will Rogers, Vivienne Segal, Ann Pennington, Lina Basquette, Evelyn Law, Mae Daw and the Tiller Girls. c. 401 performances.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B11 Folder 7 --2 Entrance curtains, pheasants, 16x31 (18x16) cm.


Box 17 Folder 8 5 sketches


Box 14-E-14 Folder 12 21 technical drawings

Annie Dear, November 4, 1924 :

Musical comedy in 3 acts from the original Good Gracious, Annabelle (1916), book, music and lyrics by Clare Kummer, interpolations by Sigmund Romberg and Harry Tierney, staged by Edward Royce at the Times Square Theater, with Billie Burke, Marion Green and Ernest Truex. 103 performances.


Box 17 Folder 9 Rough sketch of hotel scene, watercolor

8 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B11 Folder 8 --Curtain A, 26x31 cm.

Box B11 Folder 9 --Curtain B, not used, 27x34 cm.

Box B11 Folder 10 --Curtain, bouquet, not used, 26x31 cm.


Box 17 Folder 9 --Hotel Lobby, rough drawing, 15x19 cm.


Box B12 Folder 1 --Hotel lobby, 27x35 cm.

Box B12 Folder 2 --Hotel lobby drop, 26x31 cm.

Box B12 Folder 3 --Kitchen scene, 27x35 cm.

Box B12 Folder 4 --Kitchen Garden, 27x35 cm.

Box B12 Folder 5 --Park scene, garden, night, 26x31 cm.


Box 17 Folder 9 Detail for Rainbow Garden and curtain


Box 14-E-14 Folder 13 12 technical drawings

Set model

Louie the 14th, March 3, 1925 :

Musical play from the German, adaptation and lyrics by Arthur Wimperis, music by Sigmund Romberg, sets in collaboration with Gretl Urban and Karl Koeck, directed by Edward Royce with Leon Errol, Ethel Shutta, Doris Patson, and Henry Fender at the Cosmopolitan Theater. 79 performances.

6 drawings-watercolor and pencil :


Box B31 Folder 5 --Act I: Market place, 27x32 (14x23) cm.


Box B12 Folder 6 --Road to Inn, not used, 27x31 (14x23) cm.

Box B12 Folder 7 --Mountain Inn, sig. Karl Koeck, 24x31 (17x23) cm.


Box B31 Folder 6 --Mountain Inn (not used), 27x32 (17x24) cm.


Box 17 Folder 10 --Act II.1: Ballroom detail, 18x36 (14x33) cm.


Box B12 Folder 8 --Act II.2: Garden Scene, sig. Gretl Urban, 27x32 (14x23) cm.


Box 17 Folder 10 Sketches and notes, 11 p.


Box B12 Folder 9 3 technical drawings


Box 14-E-14 Folder 14 28 technical drawings

Palm Beach Girl, January 14, 1926 :

Opened as Ziegfeld's Palm Beach Nights, book by Gene Buck and Irving Caesar, music by Rudolph Friml, staged by Ned Wayburn at the Club de Montmartre in Palm Beach with Harry Fender, Mort Downey, Ray Dooley, Claire Luce, Polly Walker, and Paulette Goddard.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B12 Folder 10 --Curtain, 26x31 (13x19) cm.

Box B12 Folder 11 --Snow Bound, not used, 27x34 (12x21) cm.


Box 17 Folder 11 --Palm Beach Night, 13x19 (9x12) cm.

Box 17 Folder 11 14 sketches and notes


Box D4 Folder 7 20 technical drawings

Box D4 Folder 7 Montmartre Theater proscenium drawing, 37x44 cm.


Box 17 Folder 11 2 photographs of proscenium

[See also No Foolin']

No Foolin', June 24, 1926 :

Revue in two acts, a revised version of Ziegfeld's Palm Beach Girl, music by Rudolf Friml, written by Gene Buck, Irving Caesar, Ballard MacDonald, J. P. McEvoy and James Hanley, tableaux by Ben Ali Haggin, costumes by John Harkrider, sets by Urban and John Wenger, dances by John Boyle, staged by Walter Wilson and Ed Royce at the Globe Theater with James Barton, Ray Dooley, Polly Walker, Peggy Fears, Paulette Goddard, and Claire Luce. This was essentially the Follies for 1926 but went by several titles including Ziegfeld's American Revue due to a legal dispute with the Erlanger estate over the use of the name. 108 performances.

7 drawings, watercolor and pencil:


Box B13 Folder 1 --Portal & Opening, 32x26 cm.

Box B13 Folder 2 --Curtain, 26x31 cm.

Box B13 Folder 3 --Curtain, not used, 26x32 cm.

Box B13 Folder 4 --Cabaret, 26x31 cm.

Box B13 Folder 5 --Oriental, 25x31 cm.

Box B13 Folder 6 --Skyscraper, 26x31 cm.

Box B13 Folder 7 --Pink Gauze, 23x28 cm.

See also Palm Beach Girl.

Betsy, December 28, 1926. :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, book by Irving Caesar & David Freedman, choreographed by Sammy Lee, directed by William Anthony McGuire at the New Amsterdam Theater, with Belle Baker. 39 performances.

1 drawing, watercolor & pencil :


Box B31 Folder 7 --Garden, 26x31 (18x20) cm.


Box 14-E-14 Folder 15 3 technical drawings


Box 17 Folder 13 2 detail rough sketches

Box 17 Folder 13 1 photograph of set drawing

Set model

Rio Rita, February 2, 1927 :

Musical comedy in two acts, book by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson, music and lyrics by Harry Tierney and Joseph McCarthy, choreographed by Albertina Rasch and Sammy Lee, costumes by John Harkrider, directed by John Harwood at the Ziegfeld Theatre with J. Harold Murray, Ethelind Terry, Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey and the Albertina Rasch Girls. 494 performances.

Box 17 Folder 14 10 work sketches


Box A7 Folder A Sketch of ship deck

9 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B13 Folder 8 --Curtain B, not used, 26x32 (18x20) cm.

Box B13 Folder 9 --Cactus curtain C, not used, 32x42 (23x33) cm.

Box B13 Folder 10 --Curtain D, not used, 26x31 (19x20) cm.


Box B14 Folder 1 --Spanish Shawl , 26x32 (19x19) cm.

Box B14 Folder 2 --I.1: Inn A, 25x31 (18x20) cm.

Box B14 Folder 3 --Cellar, 26x31 (17x17) cm.

Box B14 Folder 4 --Patio, 32x34 (21x24) cm.

Box B14 Folder 5 --Boat scene, 26x31 (18x21) cm.

Box B14 Folder 6 --Colonial House, 26x31 (18x21) cm.


Box 14-E-14 Folder 16 21 technical drawings


Box 17 Folder 14 12 photographs of sets

Set model

Ziegfeld Follies of 1927, August 16, 1927 :

Musical revue in 2 acts, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, sketches by Harold Atteridge and Eddie Cantor, costumes by John Harkrider, choreographed by Sammy Lee and Albertina Rasch, produced by Abe Erlanger and Florenz Ziegfeld, directed by Ziegfeld and Zeke Colvan at the New Amsterdam Theater with Eddie Cantor, Andrew Tombes, Claire Luce, Ruth Etting and the Albertina Rasch Girls. 167 performances.


Box C4 Folder 1 Castles in the clouds, watercolor, 34x43 cm.


Box 17 Folder 15 13 notes and technical drawings


Box 14-E-14 Folder 17 40 technical drawings


Box 17 Folder 15 9 photographs of sets

Set model

Show Boat, December 27, 1927 :

Musical adapted from Edna Ferber's novel, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern, costumes by John Harkrider, choreographed by Sammy Lee, directed by Zeke Cohan at the Ziegfeld Theatre with Charles Winninger, Edna May Oliver, Howard Marsh, Norma Terriss, Helen Morgan, Aunt Jemima (Tess Gardell) and Jules Bledsoe. 572 performances.


Box D4 Folder 8 18 prints of Chicago World's Fair of 1893.

15 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box C4 Folder A --Curtain, 29x46 cm.


Box B14 Folder 7 --Curtain, not used, 26x32 (18x27) cm.

Box B14 Folder 8 --Curtain, 22x35 (15x24) cm.

Box B14 Folder 9 --I.1,8: Levee B 26x32 (11x20) cm.

Box B14 Folder 10 --I.2: Pantry A, 26x32 (11x20) cm.


Box B15 Folder 1 ----I.2: Pantry B, 26x32 (12x19) cm.

Box B15 Folder 2 --I.3: Outside cabaret, 26x32 (12x19) cm.

Box B15 Folder 3 --I.4: Empty Stage, 26x32 (13x19) cm.

Box B15 Folder 4 --I.5: Box Office, 26x32 (13x20) cm.

Box B15 Folder 5 --I.7: Upper Deck, 26x32 (12x19) cm.

Box B15 Folder 6 --II.2: Kitchen Pantry, 26x32 (14x19) cm.

Box B15 Folder 7 --II.5,6: Music hall, 26x32 (12x21) cm.

Box B15 Folder 8 --II.6: Music hall, 26x32 (12x19) cm.

Box B15 Folder 9 --II.5,6: Cabaret C, 27x32 (13x19) cm.

Box B15 Folder 10 --Doorway, 26x32 (14x20) cm.


Box 17 Folder 16 2 detail drawings

Box 17 Folder 16 15 photos of drawings & models

Box 17 Folder 16 1 clipping, NY News 1966

Set Models

[See also Show Boat 1932]

Rosalie, January 10, 1928 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book by William Anthony McGuire and Guy Bolton, lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse and Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin and Sigmund Romberg, costumes by John Harkrider, choreographed by Seymour Felix, directed by McGuire and Florenz Ziegfeld at the New Amsterdam Theater with Frank Morgan, Marilyn Miller, Oliver McLennan, Jack Donahue, Gladys Glad and Helen Forbes. 335 performances.

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B16 Folder 1 --Curtain, 18x18 cm.

Box B16 Folder 2 --I.1: Palace A, 26x32 (17x23) cm.

Box B16 Folder 3 --Palace B, not used, 32x34 (16x19) cm.

Box B16 Folder 4 --Sleeping Quarters, 26x31 (13x19) cm.


Box 17 Folder 17 16 sketches


Mapcase 14-E-15 Folder 1 30 technical drawings


Box 17 Folder 17 8 photographs of sets and models

Box 17 Folder 17 1 program

Set models

The Three Musketeers, March 13, 1928 :

Musical version in 2 acts of novel by Alexandre Dumas, adapted by William Anthony McGuire, music by Rudolph Friml, lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse and Clifford Grey, choreographed by Albertina Rasch, costumes by John Harkrider, directed by McGuire and Richard Boleslavsky at the Lyric Theater with Vivienne Segal and Dennis King. 318 performances.


Box 18 Folder 1 37 sketches & notes


Box 14-E-15 Folder 2 34 technical drawings


Box 18 Folder 1 2 cloth samples

Box 18 Folder 1 8 photographs of sets & set models

Set model

Whoopee, December 4, 1928 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts and 12 scenes by William Anthony McGuire, based on The Nervous Wreck by Owen Davis, music by Walter Donaldson, lyrics by Gus Kahn, choreographed by Seymour Felix and Tamara Geva, costumes by John Harkrider, directed by McGuire at the New Amsterdam Theater with Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, Gladys Glad, Ethel Shutta, Jack Rutherford and Frances Upton. 379 performances.

Box 18 Folder 2 First Act Lay-Out


Box A7 Folder 1 Photograph from The Nervous Wreck


Box 18 Folder 2 2 photographs from The Nervous Wreck

Box 18 Folder 2 6 rough set sketches


Box 14-E-15 Folder 3 22 technical drawings


Box 18 Folder 2 17 photographs of set drawings

Box 18 Folder 2 Program

Set models

Show Girl, July 2, 1929 :

Musical comedy revue by William Anthony McGuire based on the novel by J. P. McEvoy, music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Gus Kahn, costumes by John Harkrider, choreographed by Bobby Connolly and Albertina Rasch, directed by Zeke Colvan at the Ziegfeld Theater with Ruby Keeler, Jimmie Durante, Lou Clayton, Eddie Jackson, Eddie Foy, Jr. and Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra. 111 performances.

Box 18 Folder 3 Drawing of horse, classical style, 20x25 cm.

Box 18 Folder 3 29 sketches & notes


Box 14-E-15 Folder 4 & 5 81 technical drawings


Box 18 Folder 3 6 photos of set drawings

Box 18 Folder 3 1 clipping

Box 18 Folder 3 1 program

Set models

Simple Simon, February 18, 1930 :

Musical comedy by Ed Wynn and Guy Bolton, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, dances by Seymour Felix, directed by Zeke Colvan at the Ziegfeld Theatre with Ed Wynn, Ruth Etting and Harriet Hoctor. 101 performances.

Box 18 Folder 4 10 detail drawings


Box 14-E-15 Folder 6 47 technical drawings

Smiles, November 18, 1930 :

A musical comedy in 2 acts by William Anthony McGuire, music by Vincent Youmans, lyrics by Clifford Grey, Harold Adamson and Ring Lardner, choreographed by Ned Wayburn, directed by William Anthony McGuire at the Ziegfeld Theater with Paul Gregory, Fred and Adele Astaire, Larry Adler, Marilyn Miller, and Eddie Foy, Jr. 63 performances.


Box 18 Folder 5 NY Times Magazine article

Box 18 Folder 5 6 drawings of props


Box 14-E-15 Folder 7 35 technical drawings


Box 18 Folder 5 13 photographs of sets

Ziegfeld Follies of 1931, July 1, 1931 :

Music by Harry Revel, Ben Oakland, Dave Stamper, Dimitri Tiomkin, Noel Coward, Nora Bayes, Jimmy Monaco, Chick Endor, Walter Donaldson, and Jay Gorney, sketches by Gene Buck, Mark Hellinger, and J. P. Murray, lyrics by Gene Buck, Joseph McCarthy, Charles Farrell, Mack Gordon, J. P. Murray, Barry Trivers, E. Y. Harburg, Jack Norworth, and Noel Coward, costumes by John Harkrider, dances by Bobby Connolly and Albertina Rasch, directed by Edward C. Lilley at the Ziegfeld Theater with Buck and Bubbles, Ruth Etting, Gladys Glad, Grace Moore, Helen Morgan, Jack Pearl, Albertina Rasch Dancers, Albert Carroll, Hal Leroy, Mitzi Mayfair, and Harry Richman. 164 performances


Box C4 Folder 2 Bridge, watercolor, 34x42 cm.


Box 14-E-15 Folder 8 & 9 89 technical drawings


Box 18 Folder 6 19 technical drawings

Set models

Hot-Cha! (Laid in Mexico), March 8, 1932 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts by Lew Brown, Ray Henderson, Mark Hellinger and H. S. Kraft, music by Brown and Henderson, staged by Edgar McGregor, dances by Bobby Connolly, directed by Edward Lilley at the Ziegfeld Theater with Bert Lahr, Lupe Velez, Marjorie White, and Buddy Rogers. 119 performances

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 18 Folder 7 --Train

Box 18 Folder 7 --Mexican Square, 18.5x27 (17x25) cm.

Box 18 Folder 7 15 technical drawings


Box 14-E-15 Folder 10 & 11 59 technical drawings


Box 18 Folder 7 3 photographs of Lahr and Velez

Set models

Show Boat, May 23 1932 :

See Show Boat, December 27, 1927. Revival at the Casino Theater with Charles Winninger, Edna May Oliver, Dennis King, Norma Terriss, Helen Morgan, Tess Gardell (Aunt Jemima) and Paul Robeson. 36 performances

Box 18 Folder 8 1 program

Subseries III.5: Metropolitan Opera, 1917-1933

Urban designed several operas a year for the Metropolitan Opera Company during the time when the financier philanthropist Otto Kahn was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Giulio Gatti-Cassazza was the manager. Urban's good friend and fellow Austrian Artur Bodanzky was a conductor, and major singers such as Enrico Caruso, Rosa Ponselle, Maria Jeritza, Giuseppe De Luca, Beniamino Giglio, Ezio Pinza and Fiodr Chaliapin performed on his sets. The productions are arranged in chronological order listed by title, opening date and production information. The last year the set was used is shown in parentheses. The files contain drawings, research material, technical drawings, photographs of sets and some programs. The production information is from the Metropolitan Opera Archives and Seltsam, William H.Metropolitan Opera Annals. New York: W. W. Wilson Co., 1947.

Faust, November 17, 1917 (1951) :

Opera in 4 acts and 6 scenes based on the dramatic poem by Goethe, music by Charles Gounod, book by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, costumes by Joseph Urban, conducted by Pierre Monteux with Giovanni Martinelli as Faust, Geraldine Farrar as Marguerite and Leon Rothier as Mephistopheles.

6 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B16 Folder 5 --Study, 23x34 (20x31) cm.

Box B16 Folder 6 --Kermesse, 23x33 (19x35) cm.


Box 18 Folder 9 --Garden, 18x25 (13x21) cm.


Box B16 Folder 7 --Church, 23x36 (19x31) cm.

Box B16 Folder 8 --Walpurgisnacht, 22x36 (20x31) cm.


Box 18 Folder 9 1 ground plan, quick sketch

Box 18 Folder 9 20 photographs of set drawings.

Box 18 Folder 9 2 programs, 1918

[See also Vienna 1906-07, Boston Opera 1913 and Metropolitan Opera 1923]

Saint Elizabeth (Die Legende von der Heiligen Elisabeth), January 3, 1918 :

First American performance of oratorio in a prologue and 4 tableaux, sung in English, music by Franz Liszt, book by Otto Roquette, translated by Constance Bache, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Richard Ordynski, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Florence Easton as St. Elizabeth, Clarence Whitehill as Ludwig and Margarete Matzenauer as Sophie.


Box 19 Folder 1 1 libretto

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B16 Folder 9 --Prologue: Betrothal, 23x35 (19x31) cm.

Box B16 Folder 10 --Ascension, 24x35 (19x31) cm.

Box B16 Folder 11 --Woods, 24x35 (19x32) cm.


Mapcase 14-F-1 Folder 1 10 technical drawings


Box 19 Folder 1 12 photographs of set drawings and models

Box 19 Folder 1 2 programs, 1917 & 1918

Le Prophète, February 7, 1918 (1928) :

Opera in 4 acts and 9 scenes, book by Eugene Scribe, music by Giacomo Meyerbeer, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Richard Ordynski, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Enrico Caruso as Jean of Leyden, Margarete Matzenauer as Fidès, Claudia Muzio as Bertha and Adamo Didur as Count Oberthal.

Box 19 Folder 2 2 librettos

7 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 19 Folder 2 --I.1: suburb of Dordrecht, 16x21 (14x20) cm.

Box 19 Folder 2 --I: City Wall in Winter, 15x25 cm.

Box 19 Folder 2 --snow, Detail 9


Box B17 Folder 1 --I.2: John of Leyden's inn, 22x36 (19x32) cm.

Box B17 Folder 2 --II.2: View of the City, 23x30 (17x21) cm., sig.


Box 19 Folder 2 --Banquet, 19x27 (14x24) cm.

Box 19 Folder 2 --Dungeon, 21x33 (19x31) cm.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 2 14 technical drawings


Box 19 Folder 2 9 photographs of costumes

Box 19 Folder 2 18 photographs of sets

Box 19 Folder 2 1 program, 1918-1919

Set model

Oberon, December 18, 1918 (1921) :

First Metropolitan Opera performance in English of opera in 3 acts and 9 tableaux, music by Carl Maria von Weber, book by J. R. Planché, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Richard Ordynski, revised and conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Rosa Ponselle as Rezia, Giovanni Martinelli as Huon and Paul Althouse as Oberon.


Box A7 Folder 2 & 3 2 vocal scores, 1 inscribed by Bodanzky


Box 19 Folder 3 Annotated playbook

Box 19 Folder 3 15 sketches and notes

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B17 Folder 3 --Rezia's Sleeping Garden, 24x35 (20x30) cm.

Box B17 Folder 4 --Storm, 24x34 (20x30) cm., sig.

Box B17 Folder 5 --Charlemagne's Room, 23x33 (20x30) cm.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 3 18 technical drawings


Box 19 Folder 3 19 photographs of sets

Box 19 Folder 3 3 programs, 1918-1920

Set model

[See also Vienna, 1909-11]

La Juive (The Jewess), November 22, 1919 (1936) :

Opera in 5 acts by Jacques Halévy, libretto by Eugene Scribe, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Rosa Ponselle as Rachel, Enrico Caruso as Eleazar and Leon Rothier as Cardinal Brogni.

Box 19 Folder 4 2 librettos in German

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B17 Folder 6 --II.2: Passover, 22x33 (17x28) cm.

Box B17 Folder 7 --III: Kaiser's garden, 24x35 (19x30) cm.

Box B17 Folder 8 --IV: Cardinal's room, 24x36 (18x19) cm.

Box B17 Folder 9 --V: Burning Scene, 24x35 (17x30) cm.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 4 12 technical drawings


Box 19 Folder 4 10 photographs of sets

Set model

Barbiere di Siviglia (Barber of Seville), November 27, 1919 (1951) :

Opera in 3 acts, music by Gioachino Rossini, book by Cesare Sterbini, conducted by Gennaro Papi with Giuseppe DeLuca as Figaro, Mabel Garrison as Rosina, Charles Hackett as Almaviva, Jose Mardones as Don Basilio and Pompilio Malatesta as Dr. Bartolo.

Box 19 Folder 5 1 libretto

3 Drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B17 Folder 10 --Act I: Square in Seville, 21x35 cm.

Box B17 Folder 11 --Act II & III: Drawing Room, not used, 22x33 cm.

Box B17 Folder 12 --Act II & III: Drawing Room, 23x37 cm.


Box 19 Folder 5 1 photograph of set drawing

Box 19 Folder 5 3 programs, 1945 - 1948

[See also Boston Opera 1913]

Parsifal, February 19, 1920 (1955) :

Opera in 3 acts and 6 scenes by Richard Wagner, English version by Henry Edward Krehbiel, costumes by Urban, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Orville Harrold as Parsifal and Margarete Matzenauer as Kundry.

Box 19 Folder 6 1 libretto


Box B18 Folder 1 2 articles, German, 3 p.

8 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box C4 Folder 3 --Curtain, Titurel's vision

Box C4 Folder 4 --I.1: Holy Woods

Box C4 Folder 5 --II.1: Klingsor's tower


Box B18 Folder 2 --II.2: Klingsor's garden D


Box D5 Folder 1 --II.2: Klingsor's garden, unused


Box C5 Folder 1 --II.2: Klingsor's garden B


Box B18 Folder 3 --II.2: Klingsor's garden

Box B18 Folder 4 --II.2: Klingsor's garden G


Box B31 Folder 8 --II.2: Klingsor's garden


Box 19 Folder 6 2 slides from. Austrian National Library


Box 14-F-1 Folder 5 13 technical drawings


Box 19 Folder 6 17 photos of set drawings and set

Box 19 Folder 6 1 article, 1954, 6 p.

[See also Boston, June 3, 1914.]

Eugene Onegin, March 24, 1920 (1921) :

The first New York performance, sung in Italian, of lyric opera in 3 acts adapted from the poem by Alexander Pushkin, music by Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, directed by Richard Ordynski, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Giuseppe DeLuca as Onegin, Claudia Muzio as Tatiana and Giovanni Martinelli as Lenski.

Box 19 Folder 7 Libretto

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box D5 Folder 2 --Act I: Larina's garden, 43x25 (20.5x37) cm.


Box B18 Folder 5 --Act 1.3: garden B, 26x36 (16x26) cm.

Box B18 Folder 6 --Act II: Larina's ballroom, 26x36 (17x26) cm.

Box B18 Folder 7 --Act II.2: Duel, 25x35 (16x26) cm.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 6 3 technical drawings


Box 19 Folder 7 10 photographs of set drawings

Box 19 Folder 7 Program, April 1, 1920

Tristan und Isolde, November 20, 1920 (1958) :

Performed in English, by Richard Wagner, conducted by Artur Bodanzky, with Johannes Sembach as Tristan, Margarete Matzenauer as Isolde, and Clarence Whitehill as Kurvenal.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B18 Folder 8 --II: King Mark's Castle, 24x33 (20x30) cm.

Box B18 Folder 9 --III: Tristan's Courtyard, 24x32 (20x30) cm.


Box 19 Folder 8 Rough sketch


Box 14-F-1 Folder 7 9 technical drawings


Box 19 Folder 8 Photograph of set drawing

Box 19 Folder 8 5 programs 1935-55

Set models

[See also Boston Opera 1912 and Interstate Opera, 1916]

Don Carlos, December 23, 1920 (1923) :

First Metropolitan performance of opera based on tragedy by Schiller, music by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Mery and Camille du Locle, costumes by Gretl Urban, conducted by Gennaro Papi with Giovanni Martinelli as Don Carlos, Giuseppe DeLuca as Rodrigo, Adamo Didur as Phillip, and Rosa Ponselle as Elizabeth.

7 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B18 Folder 10 --I: Wood scene, 23x31 cm.

Box B18 Folder 11 --II: Church, 26x38 cm.

Box B18 Folder 12 --III.1: Ballet scene, 26x38 cm.

Box B18 Folder 13 --Grotto scene, 22x31 cm.


Box B19 Folder 1 --III.2: City Square, 26x38 cm.

Box B19 Folder 2 --IV.1: King's cabinet, Phillip's room, 23x31 cm.

Box B19 Folder 3 --IV.2: Prison scene, 23x30 cm.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 8 8 technical drawings


Box 20 Folder 1 17 photographs of set drawings

Set model, Convent exterior

Lohengrin, February 2, 1921 (1950) :

Opera in 3 acts and 4 scenes by Richard Wagner, performed in English, costumes by Joseph and Gretl Urban, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Johannes Sembach as Lohengrin and Florence Easton as Elsa.

Box 20 Folder 2 1 libretto, German

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 20 Folder 2 --Act I: River bank, 17x28 (13x23) cm., sig.

Box 20 Folder 2 --Act II: Courtyard, 18x28 (13x23) cm., sig.

Box 20 Folder 2 --2 of Act III.1: Bedroom


Box 14-F-1 Folder 9 6 technical drawings


Box 20 Folder 2 8 photographs of sets

Box 20 Folder 2 5 programs, 1937-1950

Set models

[See also Vienna 1909-11]

La Traviata, November 14, 1921 (1935) :

Opera in 4 acts, music by Giuseppe Verdi, book by F. M. Piave, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Amelita Galli-Curci as Violetta, Beniamino Gigli as Alfredo, and Giuseppe De Luca as Germont.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B19 Folder 4 --Flora's Palace, 25x32 (15x18) cm.


Box 20 Folder 3 3 plans & sketches


Box 14-F-1 Folder 10 5 technical drawings


Box 20 Folder 3 7 photographs of set drawings

Box 20 Folder 3 Program, 4/1/32

Set models

[See also Boston Opera, December 21, 1912]

Ernani, December 8, 1921 (1929) :

Opera in 4 acts and 5 scenes, music by Giuseppe Verdi, book by F. M. Piave based on Hernani by Victor Hugo, costumes by Gretl Urban, conducted by Gennaro Papi with Giovanni Martinelli as Ernani, Giuseppe Danise as Don Carlos and Rosa Ponselle as Elvira.

Box 20 Folder 4 2 librettos

7 drawings-watercolor and pencil, 16x26 (10x16) cm. :

Box 20 Folder 4 --Act I.1: first idea, sig.

Box 20 Folder 4 --Act I.1: Sea, stone bridge

Box 20 Folder 4 --Act II: Elvira's Room, sig.

Box 20 Folder 4 --Act III.1: Throne Room A

Box 20 Folder 4 --Act III.1: Throne Room B, sig.

Box 20 Folder 4 --Act III.2: Tomb Scene A, sig.

Box 20 Folder 4 --Act III.2: Tomb Scene B


Box 14-F-1 Folder 11 9 technical drawings


Box 20 Folder 4 6 photographs

Box 20 Folder 4 1 program, 1922-1923

Salzburg Festival Playhouse Fund, 1921-1922 :

Richard Strauss, while on a US tour in the fall of 1921, enlisted the aid of Mrs. Samuel(Minnie) Untermeyer to raise money for the Salzburg Festival. Strauss, with Max Reinhardt and Hugo von Hofmannstal, had formed the Salzburg Festspielhaus Committee whose purpose was to build a theater dedicated to Mozart in war-devastated Austria.

Box 20 Folder 5 5 letters, 10 p.

Box 20 Folder 5 1 flyer

Le Roi d'Ys, January 5, 1922 :

First New York performance of opera in 3 acts and 5 scenes, music by Edouard Lalo, book by Edouard Blau, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by Samuel Thewman, conducted by Albert Wolff with Beniamino Gigli as Mylio, Giuseppe Danise as Karnac, Leon Rothier as the King, Rosa Ponselle as Margared and Frances Alda as Rozenn.

8 drawings, watercolor and pencil on board :

Box 20 Folder 6 --Act I & II, 26x16 (10x15) cm.

Box 20 Folder 6 --Act II, 2:Grotto and set notes, 16x26 (10x14)

Box 20 Folder 6 --Act III: Courtyard, Flood, 26x16 (10x15) cm.

Box 20 Folder 6 --Act I: Castle, 15.5x26 (10x16) cm.

Box 20 Folder 6 --Act II.1: Interior, 16x26 (10x16) cm

Box 20 Folder 6 --Act II.2: Grotto, 16x26 (10x16) cm.

Box 20 Folder 6 --III.1: Courtyard, 16x26 (10x16) cm.

Box 20 Folder 6 --III.2: Flood, 16x26 (10x16) cm.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 12 5 technical drawings


Box 20 Folder 6 11 photographs of set drawings

Box 20 Folder 6 2 programs, 1921-22

Cosi Fan Tutte, March 24, 1922 (1928) :

First New York performance of the opera buffa in 2 acts, music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, book by Lorenzo da Ponte, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by Samuel Thewman, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Florence Easton as Fiordiligi, Frances Peralta as Dorabella, George Meader as Ferrando, Giuseppe DeLuca as Guglielmo, Adamo Didur as Don Alfonso and Lucrezia Bori as Despina.

5 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B19 Folder 5 --Act I.1: Inn, 36x43 (20x29) cm.

Box B19 Folder 6 --Act I.2,4; II.2: Garden, 27x35 (19x26) cm.

Box B19 Folder 7 --Act I.3: Green Room, 27x35 (19x26) cm.

Box B19 Folder 8 --Act II.1: White Room, 27x35 (19x27) cm.

Box B19 Folder 9 --Act II.3: Tapestry Room, 27x35 (19x27) cm.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 13 5 technical drawings


Box 20 Folder 7 Set list

Box 20 Folder 7 6 photographs of set drawings

Box 20 Folder 7 2 programs, 1921-22

Set model-Portal

Madama Butterfly, November 24, 1922 :

Tragic opera in 3 acts, music by Giacomo Puccini, lyrics by L. Illica & G. Giacosa from the book by John L. Long and play by David Belasco, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Florence Easton as Cio-Cio-San, Giovanni Martinelli as Pinkerton and Antonio Scotti as Sharpless.


Box 21 Folder 1 1 libretto

1 drawing-watercolor and pencil :

Box 21 Folder 1 --Act II, III: Cio-Cio-San's House, 21x30 (16x24) cm.

Box 21 Folder 1 5 technical drawings, sketchesm.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 14 4 technical drawings


Box 21 Folder 1 8 programs, 1945-1953

1 set model-Act I, Border #1

[See also Boston Opera November 29, 1912 ]

Roméo et Juliette, November 25, 1922 (1947) :

Opera in 5 acts and 7 scenes, music by Charles Gounod, book by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, costumes by Gretl Urban, conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Lucrezia Bori as Juliette, Beniamino Gigli as Roméo, Giuseppe DeLuca as Mercutio and Leon Rothier as Friar Laurence.

Box 21 Folder 2 1 libretto

6 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B19 Folder 10 --Prologue, 21x31 (15x24) cm.

Box B19 Folder 11 --Ballroom, 21x31 (15x24) cm.

Box B19 Folder 12 --Garden scene, not used, 21x31 (16x24) cm.

Box B19 Folder 13 --Square, 21x31 (15x24) cm.


Box B20 Folder 1 --Bedroom, 21x31 (15x24) cm.

Box B20 Folder 2 --Tomb 21x31 (15x24) cm.


Box 21 Folder 2 Ground plans, 1 p.


Box 14-F-1 Folder 15 8 technical drawings


Box 21 Folder 2 2 photographs of set drawing

Box 21 Folder 2 2 programs, 1922-23, 1926-27

Set model

Thaïs, December 14, 1922 (1939) :

Opera by Jules Massenet, libretto by Louis Gallet, costumes by Gretl Urban, conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Maria Jeritza as Thaïs, Orville Harrold as Nicias and Clarence Whitehill as Athanael.

Box 21 Folder 3 3 sketches & notes


Box 14-F-1 Folder 16 8 technical drawings

Set model

[See also Boston Opera, December 7, 1912]

Concert Sets, 1922, 1929:


Box 21 Folder 4 Detail, measurements


Box 14-F-1 Folder 17 6 technical drawings, 58x77 cm.


Box C5 Folder A Concert Set for the Metropolitan Opera Stage, 192[5]

L'Africaine, March 21, 1923 (1934) :

Opera in four acts and 5 scenes, music by Giacomo Meyerbeer, book by Eugene Scribe, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by Samuel Thewman, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Beniamino Gigli as Vasco Da Gama, Rosa Ponselle as Selika and Giuseppe Danise as Nelusko, Adamo Didur as Don Pedro and Leon Rothier as the Grand Inquisitor.


Box 21 Folder 5 2 librettos

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil:

Box 21 Folder 5 --1. Court Room, 20.5x30.7 cm.

Box 21 Folder 5 --IV. 2: Promontory, 17.5x18.5 cm.


Mapcase 14-F-2 Folder 1 5 p. sketches of ship, Act III


Box 21 Folder 5 8 technical drawings

Box 21 Folder 5 1 program

L'Amico Fritz, November 15, 1923 (1924) :

Comedy in 3 acts by Pietro Mascagni, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Lucrezia Bori as Suzel and Miguel Fleta as Fritz, and Giuseppe Danise as Rabbi David.

Box 21 Folder 6 Libretto

4 Drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B20 Folder 3 --Dining Room (not used), 26x44 (19x36) cm.

Box B20 Folder 4 --Dining Room B, 28x36 (16x23) cm.

Box B20 Folder 5 --Terrace A, 28x46 (36x19) cm.

Box B20 Folder 6 --Terrace, used, 24x31 (15x23) cm.


Box 14-F-2 Folder 2 4 ground plans

Carmen, November 22, 1923 (1950) :

Opera in 4 acts with music by Georges Bizet, lyrics by H. Meilhac & L. Halévy based on the novel by Prosper Merimée, costumes by Gretl Urban, conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Florence Easton as Carmen and Giovanni Martinelli as Jose.


Box 21 Folder 7 2 librettos

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B20 Folder 7 --Act I: Square in Seville, 23x30 (16x23) cm., sig.

Box B20 Folder 8 --Act II: Tavern, 23x30 (16x23) cm.

Box B20 Folder 9 --Act III: Smuggler scene, 23x30 (16x23) cm., sig.

Box B20 Folder 10 --Act IV: Arma scene, 23x30 (12x20) cm.


Box 14-F-2 Folder 3 4 technical drawings


Box 21 Folder 7 5 photographs of set drawings

Box 21 Folder 7 4 programs, 1937-1950

[See also Boston Opera, January 15, 1913]

Faust, November 30, 1923 (1951) :

A new design for the prolog was added to the 1917 production. Conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Giovanni Martinelli as Faust, Lawrence Tibbett as Valentin, Fiodr Chaliapin as Mephistopheles and Frances Alda as Margarette.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :

Box 21 Folder 8 --Study, 22x33 (14x23) cm.


Box 14-F-2 Folder 4 1 ground plan


Box 21 Folder 8 3 programs, 1942-50

[See also Vienna 1906, Boston 1913 and Metropolitan Opera November 25, 1917 ]

Fedora, December 8, 1923 (1926) :

A lyric drama in 3 acts, music by Umberto Giordano, book by V. Sardou, directed by Wilhelm von Wymetal, conducted by Gennaro Papi, with Maria Jeritza as Fedora, Giovanni Martinelli as Loris Ipanov and Antonio Scotti as De Siriex.

Box 21 Folder 9 1 libretto

Box 21 Folder 9 4 p. of script notes, von Wymetal

2 drawings-watercolor and pencil :


Box 21. Folder 9 --Drawing room, 22x30.5 (16x25) cm.


Box 21 Folder 9 --Bed room, 22.5x31.5 (16x25) cm., sig.

Box 21 Folder 9 1 set sketch


Box 14-F-2 Folder 5 5 technical drawings

Martha, December 14, 1923 (1929) :

Opera by Friedrich von Flotow, conducted by Gennaro Papi with Frances Alda as Harriet, Kathleen Howard as Nancy, Beniamino Gigli as Lionel and Giuseppe DeLuca as Plunkett.

2 drawings, watercolor and/or pencil :


Box B20 Folder 11 --I: Village square, 28x38 (15x22) cm.


Box 21 Folder 10 --Kitchen scene, 22x29 (15x23) cm.

Box 21 Folder 10 2 sketches


Box 14-F-2 Folder 6 5 technical drawings

[See also Boston March 24, 1913.]

Freischütz, Der, March 22, 1924 (1929) :

Opera in 3 acts, music by Carl Maria von Weber, libretto by Friedrich Kind, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Elizabeth Rethberg as Agathe, Curt Taucher as Max, Michael Bohnen as Caspar and Leon Rothier as the hermit.


Box 21 Folder 11 1 libretto

Box 21 Folder 11 4 p. of script notes

3 drawings-watercolor and pencil :

Box 21 Folder 11 --II.1: Hunter's room, 22x31 (14x22) cm.


Box C5 Folder 2 --II.2: Wolves Glen, 34x38 (30x34) cm.


Box B21 Folder 1 --II.2: Wolves Glen B, 28x38 (23x34) cm.


Box 21 Folder 11 1 sketch


Mapcase 14-F-2 Folder 7 8 technical drawings


Box 21 Folder 11 1 program, 1928-1929

Set model

[See Vienna undated]

Contes d'Hoffman, (Tales of Hoffman), November 13, 1924 (1946) :

Comic opera in 4 acts, music by Jacques Offenbach, book by Jules Barbier, conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Nina Morgana as Olympia, Lucrezia Bori as Giulietta and Antonia, Giuseppe DeLuca as Coppelius, Miguel Fleta as Hoffman and Lawrence Tibbett as Schlemil.

Box 21 Folder 12 Libretto

5 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B21 Folder 2 --I: Prologue-Tavern, 27x35 (16x24) cm.

Box B21 Folder 3 --II: a. Olympia-Physician's room, 27x34 (16x24) cm.

Box B21 Folder 4 --II: b. Olympia-ballroom, 27x34 (16x24) cm.

Box B21 Folder 5 --III: Giulietta, 27x34 (16x24) cm.

Box B21 Folder 6 --IV: Antonia, 27x34 (16x24) cm.


Box 21 Folder 12 1 p. set notes

Box 21 Folder 12 3 detail drawings


Box 14-F-2 Folder 8 8 technical drawings


Box 21 Folder 12 7 photographs of set drawings

[See also Boston Opera, November 25, 1912]

Falstaff, January 2, 1925 (1949) :

Opera based on The Merry Wives of Windsor by Shakespeare, music by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Arrigo Boito, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by Wilhelm von Wymetal, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Antonio Scotti as Falstaff, Frances Alda as Anne, Lawrence Tibbett as Ford, Lucrezia Bori as Mistress Ford and Adamo Didur as Pistol.

Box 21 Folder 13 Libretto

Box 21 Folder 13 3 photographs of sets

Box 21 Folder 13 2 p. script notes

Box 21 Folder 13 1 set sketch and notes

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :

Box 21 Folder 13 --Portal detail


Box B21 Folder 7 --Ford's room, 27x34.5 (16x24) cm.


Box 14-F-2 Folder 9 5 technical drawings


Box 21 Folder 13 2 photographs of set drawings

Pelléas et Mélisande, March 21, 1925 (1949) :

First Metropolitan performance of opera in 5 acts by Claude Debussy, adapted from the play by Maurice Maeterlinck, costumes by Gretl Urban, conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Clarence Whitehill as Golaud, Leon Rothier as Arkel, Lucrezia Bori as Mélisande and Edward Johnson as Pelléas.


Box 22 Folder 1 2 librettos

Box 22 Folder 1 1 set sketch


Box B21 Folder 8 5 technical drawings


Box 22 Folder 1 13 photos of set drawings

Set model

[See also Boston January 10, 1912.]

Der Barbier von Bagdad (Barber of Bagdad), November 7, 1925 (1926) :

Opera in 2 acts, book and music by Peter Cornelius, directed by Samuel Thewman, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with George Meader as Kadi Baba Mustapha and Elisabeth Rethberg as Margiana.

Box 22 Folder 2 Libretto, German


Box B21 Folder 9 Rough sketch, pencil

2 Drawings-watercolor and pencil, sig. :

Box B21 Folder 9 --Act I: Room, Nueddin's House, 27x35 cm.

Box B21 Folder 10 --Act II: Mustapha's women's room, 27x35 cm.


Box 22 Folder 2 7 technical drawings


Box 14-F-2 Folder 10 8 technical drawings


Box 22 Folder 2 1 photograph of Act I set

Box 22 Folder 2 1 program, 1925-1926

La Vestale, November 12, 1925 (1927) :

First Metropolitan performance of opera in 3 acts by Gaspare Spontini, book by De Jouy, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by Wilhelm Von Wymetal, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Rosa Ponselle as Giulia, Edward Johnson as Licinio, Giuseppe De Luca as Cinna and Margarete Matzenauer as the High Priestess.

5 drawings, watercolor and pencil on board :


Box B21 Folder 11 --I: Forum, 26x33 (22x33) cm., sig.


Box B22 Folder 1 --II: Vestal Temple, 21x45 (21x32) cm.

Box B22 Folder 2 --III.1: Campus Sceleratus, 32x45 (23x33) cm., sig.


Box 22 Folder 3 --III.1: Cemetary


Box B22 Folder 3 --III.2: Arena, 32x45 (22x33), sig.


Box 22 Folder 3 6 technical drawings


Box 14-F-2 Folder 11 24 technical drawings


Box 22 Folder 3 5 photos of set drawings

Box 22 Folder 3 2 programs 1925-26

Set models

Cena delle Beffe, January 2, 1926 (1927) :

First Metropolitan performance of opera by Umberto Giordano based on the play The Jest by Sem Benelli, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Beniamino Gigli as Gianetto Malaspini, Frances Alda as Ginevra, Titta Ruffo as Neri and Adamo Didur as the Doctor.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig.:

Box 22 Folder 4 --Act 1: Banquet Hall, 19x19 (10x15) cm.

Box 22 Folder 4 --Act II, IV, bedroom, 19x19 (9x14) cm.

Box 22 Folder 4 --Act III: Prison, 19x19 (19x15) cm.


Box D5 Folder 3 4 technical drawings


Box 22 Folder 4 6 sketches on tracing paper

Box 22 Folder 4 4 photographs of set drawings

La Vida Breve, March 6, 1926. :

First American performance of opera by Manuel de Falla, costumes by Gretl Urban, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Lucrezia Bori as Salud.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B22 Folder 4 --Act I.1: Gypsy, 27x34 (16x24) cm., sig.

Box B22 Folder 5 --Act II.1: side of Manuel's house, 26x33 (17x24) cm.

Box B22 Folder 6 --Act II.2: square, 27x34 (16x24) cm.


Box D5 Folder 4 6 technical drawings


Box 22 Folder 5 5 photographs of set drawings

Don Quichotte (Don Quixote), April 3, 1926 (1927) :

First Metropolitan performance of comic opera in 5 acts, music by Jules Massenet, book by Henri Cain, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by Samuel Thewman, conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Florence Easton as Dulcinea, Feodor Chaliapin as Don Quichotte and Giuseppe DeLuca as Sancho.

Box 22 Folder 6 1 libretto

5 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B22 Folder 7 --I: open square, 27x35 (18x24) cm., sig.

Box B22 Folder 8 --II: The Windmill Scene, 27x35 (18x24) cm., sig.

Box B22 Folder 9 --III: Bandits Scene A, 27x35 (16x24) cm., sig.

Box B22 Folder 10 --III: Bandits Scene, 28x38 (17x24) cm.

Box B22 Folder 11 --V: Road in the Woods, 27x34 (16x24) cm., sig.


Box 14-F-2 Folder 12 7 technical drawings


Box 22 Folder 6 6 photographs of set drawings

Turandot, November 16, 1926 (1930) :

First American performance of lyric opera in 3 acts and 5 scenes, music by Giacomo Puccini, book by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni, costumes by Gretl Urban and B. Brunelleschi, directed by Wilhelm Von Wymetal, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Maria Jeritza as Princess Turandot, Giacomo Lauri-Volpi as Calaf, and Giuseppe DeLuca as Ping.

Box 22 Folder 7 Director's notes, von Wymetal, 20 p.

Box 22 Folder 7 3 postcards, costumes Austrian production

Box 22 Folder 7 3 photostats of Buddha figures

Box 22 Folder 7 7 sketches and plans

Box 22 Folder 7 4 property detail drawings


Box 14-F-2 Folder 13 17 technical drawings


Box 22 Folder 7 12 photographs of set models

Box 22 Folder 7 Program, 3/16/29

Box 22 Folder 7 Article, NY Times Magazine, 11/14/26

Set models

Fidelio, January 22, 1927 (1951) :

Opera in 2 acts, music by Ludwig von Beethoven, libretto by J. Sonnleithner and F. Treitschke from the French by J. N. Bouilly, conducted for the Beethoven Centenary revival by Artur Bodanzky with Nanny Larsen-Todsen as Leonore, Rudolf Laubenthal as Florestan, George Meader as Jacquino and Michael Bohnen as Rocco.

Box 22 Folder 8 3 librettos

Box 22 Folder 8 Script notes & sketches, 4 p.

4 drawings-watercolor and pencil :

Box 22 Folder 8 --Act I.2: prison yard,17x24 (10x13) cm.

Box 22 Folder 8 --Act II.1: prison, 18x24 (10x16) cm.


Box B23 Folder 1 --Act II.2: castle terrace, 23x30 (17x24) cm., sig.


Box 14-F-2 Folder 14 8 technical drawings


Box 22 Folder 8 5 photographs of set drawings.

Box 22 Folder 8 2 programs, 1945-46;1950-51

Set model

The King's Henchman, February 17, 1927 (1929) :

World premiere of opera in 3 acts, music by Deems Taylor, libretto by Edna St. Vincent Millay, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Lawrence Tibbett as Eadger, Edward Johnson as Aethelwold and Florence Easton as Aelfrida.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B23 Folder 2 --Act II: Forest, 24x30 (13x19) cm.

1 drawing, watercolor and ink :


Box 23 Folder 1 --Trees, 14x20 (9x12) cm.

Box 23 Folder 1 2 graphed drawings of Act I, III


Box 14-F-2 Folder 15 7 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 1 1 bound piano-vocal score, inscr.

Set models

Violanta, November 5, 1927 (1928) :

First American performance of opera with music by E.W. Korngold, written by Hans Müller, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Maria Jeritza as Violanta, Clarence Whitehill as Simone and Walter Kirchhoff as Alfonso.

Box 23 Folder 2 Libretto

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B23 Folder 3 --room (not used A), 27x38 (16x26) cm.,sig.

Box B23 Folder 4 --room B, 28x38 (20x22) cm.


Box 23 Folder 2 1 fireplace detail


Box 14-F-2 Folder 16 14 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 2 1 photograph of set drawing

Hänsel und Gretel, November 5, 1927 (1948) :

Fairy opera in 3 acts, music by Engelbert Humperdinck, book by Adelheid Wette, costumes by Gretl Urban, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Editha Fleischer as Hänsel and Queena Mario as Gretel.

Box 23 Folder 3 Libretto

Box 23 Folder 3 Set notes by Von Wymetal, 6 p.

Box 23 Folder 3 Sketches and notes, 7 items

Drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B23 Folder 5 --Peasant's room, 26x31 (10x17) cm., sig.


Box 14-F-2 Folder 17 10 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 3 6 photographs of sets

Set model

[See also Boston January 27, 1912]

Norma, November 16, 1927 (1945) :

Opera in 4 acts and 5 scenes, music by Vincenzo Bellini, book by Felice Romani, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Samuel Thewman, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Rosa Ponselle as Norma, and Ezio Pinza as Oroveso.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B23 Folder 6 --II: Norma's room, 27x37 (15x20) cm.

Box B23 Folder 7 --III: bedroom A, 27x37 (15x20) cm.

Box B23 Folder 8 --IV.1: Rocky Pass, 27x39 (15x20) cm.


Box 23 Folder 4 2 sketches


Box 14-F-2 Folder 18 10 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 4 7 photographs of set drawings

Box 23 Folder 4 1 program, 1928-29

Set model

La Rondine, March 10, 1928 (1936) :

First American performance of opera in 3 acts, music by Giacomo Puccini, costumes by Joseph Urban, conducted by Vicenzo Bellezza with Lucrezia Bori as Magda and Beniamino Gigli as Ruggero.

Box 23 Folder 5 Director's notes, Von Wymetal, 17 p.

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B23 Folder 9 --I: Magda's salon, 28x37 (14.5x21) cm., sig.

Box B23 Folder 10 --Ballroom A, 27x34 (14x21) cm.

Box B23 Folder 11 --Ballroom B, 26x32 (15x21) cm.

Box B23 Folder 12 --III: Park, 28x38 (15x21) cm., sig.


Box 23 Folder 5 2 set sketches


Box 14-F-2 Folder 19 12 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 5 2 photographs of set drawings

Set model

Die Ägyptische Helena (Egyptian Helen), November 6, 1928 (1929) :

First American performance of opera by Richard Strauss, libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Maria Jeritza as Helen and Rudolph Laubenthal as Menelas.


Box A7 Folder 4 & 5 Piano score

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box B24 Folder 1 --Aithra palace on island, 27x35 (15x20) cm.

Box B24 Folder 2 --Enchanted tent, 27x35 (15x19) cm.


Box 23 Folder 6 14 set notes by von Wymetal

Box 23 Folder 6 8 technical drawings


Box 14-F-2 Folder 20 10 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 6 8 photographs of sets

Set model

La Campana Sommersa, November 24, 1928 (1930) :

First American performance of opera by Ottorino Respighi based on Gerhart Hauptmann's Die Versunkene Glocke, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Elizabeth Rethberg as Rautendelein, Giovanni Martinelli as Heinrich, Giuseppe DeLuca as Nickelmann and Ezio Pinza as Pastor.

Box 23 Folder 7 Director's notes, Von Wymetal, 3 p.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B24 Folder 3 --I, IV: Forest, 27x34 (16x19) cm., sig.

Box B24 Folder 4 --II: Interior, 15x19, sig.

Box B24 Folder 5 --III: Smithy, 27x34 (15x19)


Box 14-F-2 Folder 21 5 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 7 2 photos of set drawings

Manon, December 22, 1928 (1952) :

Opera in 5 acts with music by Jules Massenet, words by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, costumes by Joseph Urban, conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Lucrezia Bori as Manon, Beniamino Gigli as Des Grieux, Leon Rothier as Comte Des Grieux and Giuseppe DeLuca as Lescaut.

Box 23 Folder 8 2 librettos

Box 23 Folder 8 Set notes, Von Wymetal, 5 p.

Box 23 Folder 8 2 research photographs, 18c. interiors

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil, 27x34 (15x19) cm., sig. :


Box B24 Folder 6 --I: Inn at Amiens

Box B24 Folder 7 --II: Apartment in Paris

Box B24 Folder 8 --IV: Hotel gambling room

Box B24 Folder 9 --V: Road to Havre


Box 23 Folder 8 8 technical drawings


Box 14-F-2 Folder 22 15 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 8 5 photographs of set drawings

Set model

[See also Boston Opera, March 18, 1914]

Jonny Spielt Auf, January 19, 1929 :

Opera in two parts by Ernst Krenek, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Michael Bohnen as Jonny and Florence Easton as Anita.

Box 23 Folder 9 1 libretto

Box 23 Folder 9 2 reference photographs

Box 23 Folder 9 2 clippings

Box 23 Folder 9 14 sketches


Mapcase 14-F-3 Folder 1 33 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 9 14 photographs of sets and scenes

Set model

Louise, March 1, 1929 (1949) :

Opera in 4 acts and 5 scenes by Gustave Charpentier, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Wilhelm Von Wymetal, conducted by Louis Hasselmans with Lucrezia Bori as Louise, Antonin Trantoul as Julien, and Leon Rothier as the father.

Box 23 Folder 10 1 libretto, German

Box 23 Folder 10 1 sketch of Act I & IV


Box 14-F-3 Folder 2 9 technical drawings


Box 23 Folder 10 6 photographs of sets

Box 23 Folder 10 2 programs, 1947-1949

Set model

[See also Boston Opera, December 18, 1912]

Fra Gherardo, March 21, 1929 :

First American performance of opera by Ildebrando Pizzetti, conducted by Tullio Serafin, with Edward Johnson as Gherardo, Maria Mueller as Mariola and Ezio Pinza as the Old Man and Podesta.


Box 24 Folder 1 2 sets of script notes, German and English, 3 p. each

1 drawing-watercolor and pencil :

Box 24 Folder 1 --Act II: square, 22x25 cm.

Box 24 Folder 1 8 sketches & details


Box 14-F-3 Folder 3 24 technical drawings


Box 24 Folder 1 7 photographs of set models and sets

Set model

Don Giovanni, November 29, 1929 (1953) :

Opera in 2 acts, music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, book by Lorenzo Da Ponte, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Wilhelm Von Wymetal, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Ezio Pinza as Don Giovanni, Pavel Ludikar as Leporello, Leonora Corona (for Rosa Ponselle) as Donna Anna, Elisabeth Rethberg as Donna Elvira, Beniamino Gigli as Don Ottavio and Leon Rothier as the Commandante.

Box 24 Folder 2 Libretto


Box A8 Folder 1 11 photographs of previous Met sets

Box A8 Folder 2 Piano score

2 drawings, watercolor and/or pencil :


Box B24 Folder 10A --Act I.1: exterior, 28x37 (15x20) cm.

Box B24 Folder 10 --Act II.5: Giovanni's room, 41x31 cm.


Box 24 Folder 2 13 set sketches


Box 14-F-3 Folder 4 34 technical drawings


Box 24 Folder 3 27 photographs of set models and sets

Box 24 Folder 3 2 programs, 1929, 1937

Set models

[See also Boston Opera Feb. 7, 1913]

Luisa Miller, December 21, 1929 (1931) :

First Metropolitan performance of opera in 3 acts, music by Giuseppe Verdi, book by Salvatore Cammarano based on Schiller's Kabale und Liebe, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Ernst Lernt, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Giacomo Lauri-Volpi as Rodolfo, Giuseppe DeLuca as Miller and Rosa Ponselle as Luisa.


Box 14-F-3 Folder 5 22 technical drawings


Box 24 Folder 4 6 sketches

Box 24 Folder 4 10 photographs of sets

Box 24 Folder 4 1 program, 1929-30

Set model

Boccaccio January 2, 1931. :

First Metropolitan performance of opera in 3 acts by Franz von Suppe, directed by Wilhelm Von Wymetal, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Maria Jeritza as Boccaccio and George Meader as Scalza.

Box 24 Folder 5 Set notes, Von Wymetal, 16 p.

Box 24 Folder 5 2 set details


Box 14-F-3 Folder 6 6 technical drawings


Box 24 Folder 5 6 photographs of set drawings

Set models

Schwanda, der Dudelsakpfeifer (Schwanda the Bagpiper), November 7, 1931 (1932) :

First American performance of Czech opera Svanda Dudák with music by Jaromir Weinberger, book by Miles Kares translated into German by Max Brod, choreographed by August Berger, directed by Hanns Niedecken-Gebhard, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Friedrich Schorr as Schwanda.

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box B25 Folder 1 --City Entrance, 31X39 (26X35) cm.


Box 24 Folder 6 Bagpiper, pencil drawing


Box 14-F-3 Folder 7 10 technical drawings


Box 24 Folder 6 6 photos of drawings & sets

Set model

Donna Juanita, January 2, 1932 :

Fist Metropolitan performance of opera in 3 acts, music by Franz von Suppe, book by F. Zell and Richard Genee, costumes by Lillian Gaertner Palmedo, directed by Hans Niedecken-Gebhard, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Maria Jeritza as Donna Juanita.


Box A7 Folder 6 Booklet, set notes


Box 24 Folder 7 Detail sketch


Box 14-F-3 Folder 8 7 technical drawings


Box 24 Folder 7 3 photographs of sets

Box 24 Folder 7 Program, 1932

Set model

Peter Ibbetson, February 7, 1932 (1935) :

World premiere of opera in 3 acts and 8 scenes based on novel by George Du Maurier, music by Deems Taylor, libretto by Constance Collier and Deems Taylor, directed by Wilhelm von Wymetal, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Edward Johnson as Peter Ibbetson, Lucrezia Bori as Mary and Lawrence Tibbett as Colonel Ibbetson. Urban also designed the costumes for the 1933-1935 performances.


Box 25 Folder 1 Libretto

Box 25 Folder 1 Set notes, 11p.

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B25 Folder 2 --II.1: Inn

Box B25 Folder 3 --II.2: Garden


Box 25 Folder 1 7 set sketches and notes

Box 25 Folder 1 13 technical drawings, furniture


Box 14-F-3 Folder 9 19 technical drawings


Box 25 Folder 1 1 program, 1931-1932

Set model


Box 24 Folder 7 Piano-vocal score, inscr. Deems Taylor

La Sonnambula, March 16, 1932 (1935) :

Opera in 3 acts, 4 scenes with music by Vincenzo Bellini, book by Felice Romani, conducted by Tullio Serafin with Lily Pons as Amina, Beniamino Gigli as Elvino and Ezio Penza as Count Rudolfo.


Box 25 Folder 2 Libretto

Box 25 Folder 2 3 detail drawings


Box 14-F-3 Folder 10 13 technical drawings


Box 25 Folder 2 3 photos of set drawings

Box 25 Folder 2 Program, 1931-1932

Set model

Electra, December 3, 1932 (1962) :

First Metropolitan performance of opera in one act, music by Richard Strauss, libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, costumes by Lillian Gaertner Palmedo, conducted in the first Metropolitan performance by Artur Bodanzky with Gertrude Kappel as Electra, Karin Branzell as Clytemnestra, Rudolf Laubenthal as Aigisthus and Friedrich Schorr as Orestes.

2 drawings, watercolor, sig. :


Mapcase 14-F-7 Folder 1 --Set, 50x65 (36x50) cm.


Box D5 Folder 5 --Set, 45x62 (28x46) cm.


Box B25 Folder 4 Mounted photograph of set drawing


Box 25 Folder 3 7 technical drawings


Box 14-F-3 Folder 10 6 technical drawings


Box 25 Folder 3 2 programs, 1937-1952


Box D5 Folder 5 Picture of set model from article

Set model

Undated or Unproduced :


Box 25 Folder 4 Walküre, 1 libretto

Box 25 Folder 4 Notes, 1 p.

Box 25 Folder 4 2 drawings of Act III, pencil


Box 14-F-3 Folder 11 8 technical drawings


Box 25 Folder 4 3 mounted photos of set drawings

Set model

Box 25 Folder 5 Metropolitan Opera Stage Plans


Box 14-F-3 Folder 12 8 technical drawings


Box 25 Folder 6 Portfolio Cover, early opera plans


Box D6 Wiener Werkstätte scrapbook cover, 50x50 cm.

Librettos :


Box 25 Folder 7 Josephs Legende (Legend of Joseph): --Guide to the ballet


Box A7 Folder 7 --Piano score


Box 25 Folder 7 Meistersinger, 2 librettos

Box 25 Folder 7 Merman and Mermaid, 1 libretto

Box 25 Folder 7 Pearl Fishers, 1 libretto

Box 25 Folder 7 Rheingold, 1 libretto

Box 25 Folder 8 Trovatore, 1 piano score

Box 25 Folder 8 Villi, 1 libretto

Subseries III.6: Film, 1915-1931

Joseph Urban was art director for William Randolph Hearst's Cosmopolitan Productions from 1919 to 1925. He also worked a year for the Fox Film Studios in 1930, drawn to the one source of income not devastatingly depleted by the Great Depression. Each film is listed by title, followed by the name of the producing studio and the releasing company, the production number and the release date. The files contain letters, contracts, reference and photo scrapbooks, drawings, photographs and articles. Some of the productions contain photographs which mark, for purposes of comparison, whether the set was lighted by the director or by Urban. Items of interest include a color key, a numbered code for how colors would photograph in black and white under studio lights, and a letter dated January 1920 which discusses whether the director or the studio should control the making of the film. The photo scrapbooks picture all the sets used for the Hearst films and show the attention to detail used for period sets as well as the imagination employed for the modern interiors. The reference scrapbooks provide an example of how Urban sourced his designs.

Cosmopolitan Productions, 1920-23 :

Box 25 Folder 9 Contract, Feb. 19, 1920, 2 p.

Box 25 Folder 9 7 letters, 1920-1921, 10 p.

Box 25 Folder 9 Articles, 1920-1923, 6 p.

Box 25 Folder 9 4 photographs of color key


Box C5 Folder 3 Article and letter from Gurschner, 1923

Strand Theater Stage Set, 1915 :

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil:


Box B25 Folder 4A --stage and orchestra set, 24x34 cm., sig.


Box 25 Folder 10 Plan for stage set

Box 25 Folder 10 2 photographs of set

Rivoli Theater Stage Setting, 1919 :

2 drawings, Watercolor and/or pencil :


Box C5 Folder 4 --Mythical scene, 35x47 cm.


Box D5 Folder 6A --Stage, 39x40 (37x39) cm.


Box 25 Folder 11 Set notes, 1 p.


Box D5 Folder 6 5 technical drawings


Box 25 Folder 11 2 photographs of stage setting

The Golem, UFA/Paramount, 1920 (US 1921) :

German film written by Paul Wegener and Henrik Galeen, set designed by Hans Polzig, directed by Paul Wegener and Carl Boese, with Paul Wegener, Albert Steinruck and Ernst Deutsch.


Box 26 Folder 1 47 photographs of scenes

Humoresque, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #5, 1920 :

Written by Frances Marion based on the stories by Fannie Hurst, directed by Frank Borzage with Alma Rubens, Gaston Glass and Vera Gordon.

Box 26 Folder 2 2 photographs of sets & scene


Box A8 Folder 3 1 photograph, Venetian Court


Box C6 Scrapbook #1

The Restless Sex, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #6, September 12, 1920 :

Romantic comedy-drama based on the Robert W. Chambers story, by Leo d'Usseau, costumes by Erté, directed by Robert Z. Leonard with Marion Davies, Carlyle Blackwell and Ralph Kellard. Norma Shearer played a bit part. Premiered at the Criterion Theater where the manager Hugo Riesenfeld composed music around the Marion Davies Waltz for the live Prologue, The Garden of Eden designed by Urban.


Box 14-F-3 Folder 14 6 technical drawings


Box 26 Folder 3 7 sketches & notes

Box 26 Folder 3 4 photographs of sets and scenes


Box C6 Scrapbook #1

[See also Miss 1917 for drawing of Garden of Eden Prolog set]

The World and His Wife, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #7, 1920 :

Adapted from the play by Charles Frederic Nirdlinger which was based on the Spanish poem El Gran Galeoto by Jose Echegaray, screenplay by Frances Marion, directed by Robert G. Vignola with Alma Rubens, Montagu Love, Pedro de Córdoba and Gaston Glass.


Box 26 Folder 4 18 photographs of sets and scenes


Box C6 Scrapbook #1

Heliotrope, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #8, 1920. :

Based onWhiff of the Heliotropeby Richard Washburn Child, directed by George D. Baker with Frederick Burton.


Box 26 Folder 5 9 photographs of sets & scenes


Box C6 Scrapbook #1

Inside of the Cup, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #10, 1921 :

Written by George Dubois Proctor based on a novel by Winston Churchill, directed by Albert Capellani with William Carleton and David Torrence.


Box 26 Folder 6 5 photographs of sets and scenes


Box A8 Folder 4 & 5 2 photographs of Church altar


Box C6 Scrapbook #1

Passionate Pilgrim, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #11, 1921 :

Directed by Robert G. Vignola with Matt Moore and Mary Newcombe

Box C6 Scrapbook #1

Buried Treasure, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #12, 1921 :

Written by F. Britten Austin, directed by George D. Baker, starring Marion Davies and Norman Kerry.

14 drawings-watercolor and/or pencil :


Box 26 Folder 7 --12 decorations of ship panels, paper, 11x13 cm.


Box B25 Folder 5 --1 pirate ship stern, 26x20 cm.


Box 14-F-3 Folder 15 --Elevation of pirate ship, 74x90 cm.


Box 26 Folder 7 1 print of altar, retouched

Box 26 Folder 7 & 8 23 photographs of sets & scenes


Box A8 Folder 6-9 4 photographs of sets

Set model


Box C6 Scrapbook #1

Straight Is the Way, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #15, 1921 :

Directed by Robert G. Vignola with Matt Moore.

Box C6 Scrapbook #1

Proxies, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #16, 1921 :

Story by Frank R. Adams, directed by George D. Baker with Norman Kerry and Zena Keefe.


Box 26 Folder 9 1 photograph, Set 16.9, Stairs


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

Bride's Play, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #18, 1921 :

Story by Donn Byrne, directed by George Terwilliger, with Marion Davies and Wyndham Standing.

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil:


Box 26 Folder 10 --Drawbridge, 17x25 (15x21) cm.

Box 26 Folder 10 --Servant's room, 19x22 (17x20) cm.

Box 26 Folder 10 --Wedding, 23x21 (19x20) cm.

Box 26 Folder 10 5 plans & sketches

Box 26 Folder 10 Prolog, set sketch


Box 14-F-3 Folder 16 3 technical drawings, Prolog


Box 26 Folder 10 & 11 36 photographs of sets & scenes


Box A8, A9 12 photographs of drawings, sets & scenes


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

The Wild Goose, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #19, 1921 :

Story by Gouveneur Morris, directed by Albert Capellani with Norman Kerry and Mary MacLaren. New York premiere at the Rialto May 1921.


Box 27 Folder 1 1 photograph of set


Box A9 Folder 7 1 photograph of set


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

The Woman God Changed, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #20, 1921 :

Directed by Robert G. Vignola with Seena Owen.


Box 27 Folder 2 1 drawing, watercolor and pencil:


Box D5 Folder 6B --Courtroom scene, 35x55 cm.


Box A9 Folder 8 & 9 2 photographs of set & scene


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

Get-Rich-Quick, Wallingford, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #21, 1921 :

Written by Luther Reed from a play by George M. Cohan based on George Randolph Chester's Wallingford stories, directed by Frank Borzage with Sam Hardy, Doris Kenyon, Norman Kerry and Billie Dove.


Box 27 Folder 3 4 photographs of sets


Box A9 Folder 10 & 11 2 photographs of sets


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

Just Around the Corner, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #22, 1921 :

Story by Fannie Hurst, directed by Frances Marion with Fred Thomson and Sigrid Holmquist.

Box C7 Scrapbook #2

Enchantment, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #23, 1921 :

Written by Frank R. Adams, directed by Robert G. Vignola with Marion Davies and Forrest Stanley


Box 27 Folder 4 Clipping of Sleeping Beauty set

Box 27 Folder 4 5 renderings of Fairy Tale scenes


Box A9 Folder 12 1 drawing of silhouette birth scene


Box 27 Folder 5 19 reference photographs

Box 27 Folder 6 30 photographs of sets & scenes


Box A9 Folder 13-29 18 mounted photographs of sets and scenes

Box A9 Folder 30 Mounted graphed elevation and photo of fairy tale drawing


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

Back Pay, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #24, 1922 :

Story by Fannie Hurst, written by Frances Marion, directed by Frank Borzage, with Seena Owen and Matt Moore.


Box 27 Folder 7 Back Pay, Cosmopolitan/Paramount


Box A10 Folder 1 Photograph of scene


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

Boomerang Bill, Paramount/Cosmopolitan, #26, 1922 :

Written by Jack Boyle and Doty Hobart, directed by Tom Terriss with Lionel Barrymore


Box 27 Folder 8 2 photographs of sets


Box A10 Folder 2-5 4 photographs of sets


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

Find the Woman, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #A1, 1922 :

Story by Arthur Somers Roche, directed by Tom Terriss with Alma Rubens, Norman Kerry and Harrison Ford.

Box C7 Scrapbook #2

The Young Diana, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #27, 1922 :

Written by Marie Corelli and Luther Reed, directed by Robert G. Vignola and Albert Capellani, with Marion Davies, Clara Kimball Young, Pedro de Córdoba and Forrest Stanley.


Box 27 Folder 9 Letter from William Randolph Hearst

Box 27 Folder 9 Chair elevations, graphite and colored pencil, 10x18 cm.

Box 27 Folder 9 2 photographs-Dimitrius' Study


Box A10 Folder 6-8 3 photographs-Dimitrius' Lab


Box C7 Scrapbook #2

Beauty Shop, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #30, 1922 :

Based on the play by Channing Pollock, directed by Edward Dillon with Raymond Hitchcock. Not designed by Joseph Urban (as noted in scrapbook)


Box C8 Scrapbook #3

Beauty's Worth, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #31, 1922. :

Story by Sophie Kerr, screenplay by Luther Reed, directed by Robert G. Vignola, starring Marion Davies, released March 26, 1922.


Box 14-F-3 Folder 17 5 technical drawings


Box 27 Folder 10 Photograph of Doll scene

Sisters, Cosmopolitan #32 :


Box C8 Scrapbook #3

The Good Provider, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #34, 1922 :

Story by Fannie Hurst, written by John Lynch, directed by Frank Borzage with Vera Gordon, Dore Davidson and Vivienne Osborne.

Box C8 Scrapbook #3

When Knighthood Was In Flower, Cosmopolitan/Paramount. #35, 1922 :

Novel by Charles Major, screenplay by Luther Reed, directed by Robert G. Vignola with Marion Davies, Forrest Stanley, Lyn Harding, Pedro de Córdoba and William Powell.


Box C9 Reference Scrapbook

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box 27 Folder 11 --Inn room, 21x26 (20x24) cm.

Box 27 Folder 11 --entranceway, 21x24 (14x11) cm.


Box A10 Folder 9 Retouched photographs of Doors


Box 14-F-3 Folder 18 Blueprint, Set 27


Box 27 Folder 11 12 photos of sets and scenes


Box C8 Scrapbook #3

Valley of Silent Men, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #36, 1922 :

Story by James Oliver Curwood, directed by Frank Borzage with Lew Cody and Alma Rubens.

Box C8 Scrapbook #3

Face in the Fog, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #37, 1922 :

Boston Blackie mystery drama, directed by Alan Crosland with Lionel Barrymore and Seena Owen.

Box C8 Scrapbook #3

Adam and Eva, Cosmopolitan/Paramount, #39, 1923 :

Adapted by Luther Reed from the stage comedy by Guy Bolton and George Middleton, directed by Robert G. Vignola with Marion Davies, T. Roy Barnes and Edward Douglas.


Box C10 Scrapbook #4

Enemies of Women, Cosmopolitan /Goldwyn, #40, 1923 :

Based on book by Vicente Blasco Ibanez, script by John Lynch, choreographed by Mary Urban, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by Alan Crosland with Lionel Barrymore, Pedro de Córdoba, and Alma Rubens.


Box 27 Folder 12 1 photograph of Monte Carlo


Box 14-F-3 Folder 18 4 technical drawings


Box C10 Scrapbook #4

[See also Square Yard Book Misc 1923-1924]

The Go-Getter, Cosmopolitan/Goldwyn, #42, 1923 :

Story by Peter B. Kyne, directed by Edward H. Griffith with T. Roy Barnes and Seena Owen.

Box C10 Scrapbook #4

Little Old New York, Cosmopolitan/Goldwyn, #43, 1923 :

Written by Luther Reed based upon the play by Rida Johnson Young, special music by Victor Herbert, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by Sidney Olcott with Marion Davies and Harrison Ford. Urban renovated the Park Theater, renamed the Cosmopolitan Theater, for the August 1 premiere.


Box C9 Reference Scrapbook


Box 27 Folder 13 3 photographs of sets


Box 14-F-3 Folder 20 2 prop drawings, diplomas

Box 14-F-3 Folder 20 2 blueprints, Cosmopolitan Theater stage set


Box C10 Scrapbook #4

[See also Architecture and Design: Cosmopolitan Theater]

Unseeing Eyes, (Snowblind) Cosmopolitan/Goldwyn, #45, 1923 :

Adapted from Snowblind by Arthur Stringer, screenplay by Bayard Veiller, directed by E. H. Griffith with Lionel Barrymore and Seena Owen. Original music composed by Erno Rapee.

Box C10 Scrapbook #4

Under the Red Robe, Cosmopolitan/Goldwyn, #46,1923 :

From story by Simon Weyman, adapted by Bayard Veiller, driected by Alan Crosland with Alma Rubens, John Charles Thomas, Robert B. Mantell and William Powell. Opened at the Cosmopolitan Theater where Victor Herbert conducted his overture and Frederick Stahlberg conducted the picture score by William Frederick Peters.


Box C11 Reference scrapbook


Box B25 Folder 6 Elevation, King's audience


Box 27 Folder 14 6 photographs of sets


Box C10 Scrapbook #4

Yolanda, Cosmopolitan/Metro-Goldwyn, #48, February 19, 1924 :

Story by Charles Major adapted by Luther Reed, directed by Robert G. Vignola, cameramen Ira H. Morgan and George Barnes, special musical score by William Frederick Peters, overture composed by Victor Herbert, costumes by Gretl Urban, with Marion Davies, Lyn Harding, Holbrook Blinn, Maclyn Arbuckle, and Johnny Dooley.


Box C12-13 Reference scrapbook


Box 14-F-3 Folder 21 2 technical drawings


Box 27 Folder 15 4 rough sketches


Box C14 Scrapbook #5

The Great White Way, (Cain and Mabel), Cosmopolitan/Metro-Goldwyn, #49, 1924 :

Story by H. C. Witwer, written by Larry Doyle and Luther Reed, directed by E. Mason Hopper with Anita Stewart, T. Roy Barnes, and Oscar Shaw.


Box 14-F-3 Folder 22 2 blueprints


Box 27 Folder 16 1 photograph of set


Box C14 Scrapbook #5

Janice Meredith, Cosmopolitan/Metro-Goldwyn, #51, 1924 :

Written by Lillie Hayward based on Paul Leicester Ford novel, music by Deems Taylor, costumes by Gretl Urban, directed by E. Mason Hopper with Marion Davies, Harrison Ford, Tyrone Power, Sr., Olin Howlin and W. C. Fields.


Box C15-16 Reference scrapbook


Box 27 Folder 17 3 photographs of sets


Box 14-F-3 Folder 23 2 blueprints of stage set for premiere


Box C14 Scrapbook #5

Zander the Great, Cosmopolitan/Metro-Goldwyn, 1925 :

Adapted by Frances Marion and Lillie Hayward from the play by Salisbury Field, costumes by Gretl Urban, musical score by Victor Schertzinger, directed by George Hill with Marion Davies, Holbrook Blinn, Harrison Ford, Olin Howlin, John Huff and Hedda Hopper.


Box 27 Folder 18 Zander the Great


Box D5 Folder 7 2 ground plans

Fox Movietone City Studio, 1930 :


Box 28 Folder 1 3 photographs of studio lot

Big Trail, Fox,1930 :

Directed by Raoul Walsh.

Box 28 Folder 2 4 photographs of publicity

East Lynne, Fox, 1931 :

Written by Bradley King and Tom Barry from the novel by Mrs. Henry Wood, directed by Frank Lloyd, starring Ann Harding and Clive Brook.


Box D5 Folder 8 3 sketches and technical drawings


Box 28 Folder 3 54 photographs of sets

Box 28 Folder 4 Scottish Song book

Subseries III.7: Architecture and Design, 1914-1933

This subseries chronicles Urban's numerous design and architectural projects. The files contain watercolor renderings, technical drawings, and photographs. Items of interest are the files on exhibits, the Wiener Werkstätte gallery, the extensive work for the unrealized Metropolitan Opera House, the designs for store fronts and restaurants, the drawings for the New School, the Palace of the Soviets proposal and the Suburban Movie Theater. There is very little on some projects such as the Palm Beach buildings and the Hearst International Magazine Building. The file on Mar A Lago, for example, lacks plans and is almost entirely made up of photographs and magazine articles.

United Shoe Machinery Company, 1914 :

Urban designed 50 panels on the history of the shoe for a San Francisco Exposition display.

Box 28 Folder 5 List of sketches & plates

Box 28 Folder 5 3 sketches

Box 28 Folder 5 20 photos of costumes

Conry's House, 1915 :

Box 28 Folder 6 2 pencil sketches

Box 28 Folder 6 5 wall decorations

Box 28 Folder 6 3 photographs of hallway

[See also Liberty Theater 1917]

Century Theater Roof, 1916 :

28.7


Mapcase 14-F-4 Folder 1 5 blueprints, Carrere and Hastings

[See also Ziegfeld: Century Roof Garden, January 18, 1917]

Liberty Theater, 1917 :


Box 28 Folder 8 2 drawings of mermaid panel

Box 28 Folder 8 26 photographs, wall decorations

Buck House, Gene, 1919 :

Urban decorated Gene Buck's house in Great Neck shortly after the Ziegfeld writer's marriage.

Box 28 Folder 9 Buck House


Box 14-F-4 Folder 2 5 blueprints

War Memorial, 1919 :

Studies for G. S. Mandell, editor of the Boston Transcript and the New York Tribune

8 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box 28 Folder 10 --Ground plan, 22x22 cm.

Box 28 Folder 10 --Detail A, 26x19 (19x15) cm.

Box 28 Folder 10 --Detail B, 22x22 (15x16) cm., sig.


Box B25 Folder 8 --Sanctuary, 41x28 (29x17) cm., sig.

Box B25 Folder 9 --Conception, 33x25 (23.5x14) cm., sig.


Box 28 Folder 10 --Portal of Honor, 22x22 (18x15) cm., sig.

Box 28 Folder 10 --Peace Memorial on Palisade, 22x20 (19x16) cm., sig.

Box 28 Folder 10 --Perception on Terrace, 26x20 (20x14) cm., sig.

Box 28 Folder 10 12 photographs of renderings

Sherman Hotel Tiger Room, Chicago, 1920 :

Box 28 Folder 11 34 photographs of wall decorations

Dodge Brothers Banquet, February, 1921. :

Urban designed the grand ballroom in the Waldorf Astoria for the Dodge Brothers' 6th Annual Dealers' luncheon.

Box 28 Folder 12 3 photographs of decorative detail

Box 28 Folder 12 2 photographs of the banquet room

Wiener Werkstätte, June 1922 :

Box 28 Folder 13 7 sketches of furniture


Box B25 Folder 10 3 showroom plans


Box 28 Folder 13 7 articles re opening, 17 p.

Box 28 Folder 13 Drawing of chair by fire place, 20x20 (13x13) cm.


Box B25 Folder 11 Scrapbook, 31 p.


Box 28 Folder 13 4 photographs of New York showroom

Box 28 Folder 13 4 photographs of Chicago exhibit

Box 28 Folder 13 2 photographs of Klimt painting

Box 28 Folder 13 St. Etienne Gallery catalog and invitation, 1966

Rialto Theater Stage, June, 1922 :

Drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box D5 Folder 9 --stage elevation


Box 29 Folder 1 1 working sketch


Box 14-F-4 Folder 3 7 technical drawings

Fulton Theater, Fall, 1922 :


Box 29 Folder 2 Fulton Theater


Box A10 Folder 10 2 Fairy Tale Illustrations

Lyon and Healey Store Window, Chicago, November, 1922 :


Box 29 Folder 3 Sketches, 10 p.


Box 14-F-4 Folder 4 6 technical drawings


Box 29 Folder 3 8 photographs of window & plans

Cosmopolitan Theater, August 1, 1923. :

The Park Theater was renovated and renamed for the film premiere of Little Old New York.


Box E3 Watercolor drawing of floral panel decoration, 25x71 cm.


Box 29 Folder 4 Watercolor drawing of floral wall decoration

Box 29 Folder 4 6 sketches and notes


Box 14-F-4 Folder 5 4 technical drawings


Box 29 Folder 4 41 photographs of before and after

[See also Film:Little Old New YorkandJanice Meredith]

Daily Mirror Float, September 5, 1924 :

Designed for the National Beauty Pageant at Atlantic City. The float carried the 8 New York contestants in a Boardwalk parade and won first prize.

Box 29 Folder 5 1 photograph

Camp House, Dallas, Texas, 1925-1926 :

Box 29 Folder 6 Specifications booklet, August 1926

Mar-A-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida, 1925-1926 :

This house was designed for Mrs. E. F. Hutton, the former Marjorie Merriweather Post

Box 29 Folder 7 Telegram, 8/9/26

Box 29 Folder 7-11 141 photographs


Box 30 Folder 1 141 photographs (cont.)


Box A11-A14 174 photographs by Geisler


Box 30 Folder 1 2 American Architect reprints, 6/19/24


Box A14 Folder 44 3 articles, 1929, 1965


Box C17 Scrapbook

Demarest Little Castle, Palm Beach, Florida, Oct.1925-Apr. 1926 :

House planned for the Hypoluxo Island estate belonging to John M. Demarest of Roslyn, Long Island. According to Mary Urban, the plans were abandoned after Mrs. Demarest fell seriously ill.


Box 30 Folder 2 6 drawings, watercolor and pencil:


Box B26 Folder 1 --Arch/chandelier detail


Box D7 Folder 1 --Grounds and house plan, 54x39 cm.

Box D7 Folder 2 --South end elevation and plan, 39x57 cm.

Box D7 Folder 3 --Elevation, North and West side, 46x47 cm.

Box D7 Folder 4 --Elevation, [East side], 38x55 cm.

Box D7 Folder 5 --Elevations, landings & entrance, 41x49 cm.

Paramount Theater, Sunrise Building, Palm Beach, Florida, 1926 :

Box D7 Folder 6 1 drawing, watercolor and pencil: --Elevation of proposed theater, 38x50 (30x40) cm.


Box E4-E5 2 ground plans


Box D7-D8 7 technical drawings on board


Box 30 Folder 3 1 drawing, Fish panel

Box 30 Folder 3 6 sketches & notes


Box 14-F-4 Folder 6 7 technical drawings


Box B26 Folder 2 Rough sketch

Box B26 Folder 2 8 prints of proposed theater building by D. Douglass

Box B26 Folder 2 Photograph of auditorium


Box 30 Folder 3 10 photographs of drawings & building

Biddle House, Palm Beach,1926 :


Box 14-F-4 Folder 7 2 technical drawings


Box 30 Folder 4 18 photographs


Box A10 Folder 11 Photograph of Grilled door

Bath and Tennis Club, Palm Beach, Florida, July 1926 :


Box 14-F-4 Folder 8 2 technical drawings


Box 30 Folder 5 14 photographs


Box C5 Folder 6 12 etchings

Oasis Club, Summer 1926 :


Box 30 Folder 6 8 photographs


Box B26 Folder 3 4 photographs


Box 14-F-4 Folder 9 2 blueprints

Metropolitan Opera House, Proposed, 1926-1927 :


Box 14-F-7 Folder 3 Preliminary sketch 57th St., 75x50 cm.

Scheme I :


Box 30 Folder 7 --5 plans, photostats


Mapcase 14-E-11 Folder 11 --32 plans, photostats


Box E6-E12 --7 photographs and plans on board

Scheme II :


Box 30 Folder 7 --Specs, 13 p.


Mapcase 14-E-11 Folder 12 --15 plans, photostats


Box E13-E29 --17 plans on board

Scheme III :


Box 30 Folder 7 --Specs, 11 p.


Box E30-E40 --11 plans on board

Scheme IV :


Box 30 Folder 7 --Specs, 10 p.

Box 30 Folder 7 --10 plans, photostats


Box E41-E50 --10 plans on board

Scheme V :


Box 14-E-11 Folder 13 --13 plans, blueprints and photostats

Scheme VI :


Box 30.7 Folder 7 --38 plans, photostats


Box C18 Folder 1 --2 plans, photostats


Box E51-E63 --13 Scheme VI plans on board


Box C18 Folder 2 --Ground floor plan, undated, ink & pencil

Scheme VII :


Box 30 Folder 7 --10 sketches and plans


Box D8 Folder 5 --21 sketches and plans

Scheme VIII :


Box 30 Folder 7 --81 plans


Box 14-E-11 Folder 14 --36 plans

Scheme IX :


Box 30 Folder 8 --Material, 58 specs, plans, photos


Box B26 Folder 4-6 --Material, 36 etchings, plans, photos


Box 14-E-11 Folder 15 --Material, 36 plans


Box 14-F-4 Folder 10 --Ground plan, 82x126 cm.


Box E64-E77 --14 mounted photographs of models


Box 30 Folder 8 Start of Sch. 9 file, 5/10/27, 23 p.

Box 30 Folder 8 Start of Sch. 9 file, 5/21/27, 8 p.

Box 30 Folder 8 7 negatives of Scheme IX June 1927


Box B26 Folder 7 96 plans, photostats


Box 30 Folder 8 Specs, 4 p.

Box 30 Folder 8 62 negative photostats, June 1927

Box 30 Folder 8 14 photographs of plans


Box E78-E114 36 plans on board


Box C18 Folder 3 2 positive photostats, Jan. 1928

Ziegfeld Theatre, 1926-27 :

See also mural section "Ziegfeld Theatre Mural Section" in Series V.4 (Other Donations)


Box 30 Folder 9 3 wall patterns

Box 30 Folder 9 2 wall mural drawings

6 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B27 Folder 1 --lobby, Flower detail, not used A, 27x35 (20x25) cm.

Box B27 Folder 2 --lobby, Flower detail, not used B, 26x31 (24x29) cm.

Box B27 Folder 3 --lobby, Flower detail, not used C, 23x36 (19x32) cm.

Box B27 Folder 4 --lobby, Flower detail, not used D, 26x31 (24x29) cm.

Box B27 Folder 5 --lobby, Flower detail, not used, 20x29 (9x29) cm.

Box B27 Folder 6 --balcony ceiling, 32X36 (29X34) cm.


Box 14-F-4 Folder 11 25 technical drawings


Box 30 Folder 9 Secretary's journal and budget, 2 p.

Box 30 Folder 9 37 photographs, interior & exterior


Box B27 Folder 7 13 photographs


Box 30 Folder 9 2 etchings of front exterior, Douglass


Box B27 Folder 8 5 etchings of front exterior, Douglass


Box 30 Folder 9 Ground plan, balcony

2 drawings :


Mapcase 14-F-6 Folder B.4 --Street front, watercolor, 49x57 cm.

--Street front, charcoal on paper, Hugh Ferriss, 100x92 (84x73) cm.


Box 30 Folder 9 4 articles, 1927-1930, 17 p.

Box 30 Folder 9 2 congratulations notes

Box 30 Folder 9 2 articles, 1967

[See also Architectural Detail scrapbook, p. 12-14, 19 in C17]

St. Regis Hotel, 1927-1928 :


Box 31 Folder 1 Notes and sketches, 16 p.

7 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box D9 Folder 1A --Roof Garden dining room, 29x36 cm.

Box D9 Folder 1 --Screen scheme, 50x31 (30x12) cm., sig.


Box 31 Folder 1 --Room A and B print, 20x25 (15x15) cm.

Box 31 Folder 1 --2 Fish Details, 15x18 cm.


Box C18 Folder 4 --Seaglade Wall Decoration, 24x42 (22x40) cm.


Box E115 --Door panels


Box 14-F-4 Folder 12 26 technical drawings


Box 31 Folder 1 22 photographs

Box 31 Folder 1 1 postcard

Temple Israel, Lawrence, Long Island, Fall 1927-1929 (not built) :

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box E116 --exterior, 46x62 (36x57) cm.


Box D9 Folder 2 --interior, 48x43 (36x41) cm.


Box E117-E119 3 ground plans


Box 31 Folder 2 Bookplate for Rabbi Isaac Landman

Box 31 Folder 2 8 photographs of plans

Reinhardt Theater, proposed, 1928 :

4 drawings, watercolor and pencil, sig. :


Box D9 Folder 3 --Front elevation, 35x43 (25x34) cm.

Box D9 Folder 4 --Facade, 50x38 (37x29) cm.


Box B27 Folder 10 --View of Stage, 38x29 (24x17) cm.

Box B27 Folder 11 --Auditorium, 38x29 (24x16) cm.

Box B27 Folder 12 Print of facade drawing, 32x27 (23x18) cm.


Box 31 Folder 3 22 plans, photostats


Box C18 Folder 5 48 plans, photostats


Box 31 Folder 3 5 photographs of drawings

Music Center, 1928 :

The pencil rendering of the Greek Theater Garden and the print of the Greek Theater Concert stage were exhibited in the 1930 annual exhibit of the Architectural League of New York.

2 drawings:


Box C18 Folder 6 --Greek Theater garden, pencil, 49x38 (23x27) cm.


Box C19 Folder 1 --Greek Theater Concert set, print, 37x37 (27x23) cm.


Box 31 Folder 4 11 photostats of plans


Box C19 Folder 2 4 photostats of plans dated 2/1/28

Box C19 Folder 3-8 6 mounted photographs of model


Box 31 Folder 4 4 photographs


Box A10 Folder 12 Photograph of proscenium

[See also Theatres 1929]

Hotel Gibson Roof Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1928 :


Box 31 Folder 5 Sketches, notes, letter

1 drawing, watercolor and pencil :


Box D9 Folder 4A --Proscenium


Mapcase 14-F-5 Folder 1 10 technical drawings


Box 31 Folder 5 4 photostats of chair designs

Box 31 Folder 5 9 photographs of roof garden

Unidentified Drawings, 1928 :

Box 31 Folder 5A Unidentified Drawings

6 drawings, watercolor and pencil on board, sig. :


Box D9 Folder 5 --5th Ave side, night street scene, 43x35 (29x21) cm.

Box D9 Folder 6 --5th Ave elevation, 49x38 (36x28) cm.


Box D10 Folder 1 --lobby, 43x50 cm.

Box D10 Folder 2 --Armchair, 41x31 (33x24) cm.


Box B28 Folder 2 --Front elevation, 2nd scheme, 44x35 (34x26) cm.


Box D10 Folder 3 --Building in daytime street scene, 44x35 (30x23) cm.


Box 31 Folder 6 4 photostats of arm chair

Box 31 Folder 6 2 photographs of Night street scene drawing

Kaufmann Department Store, Proposed, Pittsburgh, Pa., July 23, 1928 :

11 drawings, watercolor and/or pencil, sig.:


Box D10 Folder 4 --Front elevations, 47x49 (42x40) cm.

Box D10 Folder 5 --Entrance, 47x49 (21x23) cm.

Box D10 Folder 6 --Counter area, 47x49 (21x23) cm.

Box D10 Folder 7 --View towards Mezzanine, 47x49 (21x31) cm.

Box D10 Folder 8 --First Floor Plan, 47x49 (38x41) cm.

Box D10 Folder 9 --Mezzanine Floor Plan, 47x49 (38x41) cm.

Box D10 Folder 10 --Special Counters, 47x49 (31x32) cm.

Box D10 Folder 11 --Counters, grill detail, 47x49 (25x28) cm.


Box D11 Folder 1 --First Floor detail, 29x30 (25x27) cm.

Box D11 Folder 2 --First Floor Ceiling Plan, 29x30 (25x27) cm.

Box D11 Folder 3 --Ground plan of beauty Salon, Scott and Teegen

Bossert Hotel, Grill Room, Brooklyn, 1928 :

Box D11 Folder 4 3 watercolor drawings of screen & plans, 33x59 cm., 2 sig.


Box 31 Folder 7 13 technical drawings, detail


Box 14-F-5 Folder 2 3 technical drawings & prints


Box 31 Folder 7 9 photographs

Bedell Department Store, New York City, August 6, 1928 :

2 drawings, pencil, sig. :


Box D11 Folder 5 --34th Street elevation, 48x48 (26x26) cm.


Box D12 Folder 1 --Section, Rotunda, Exhibition Hall, 48x48 (21x21) cm.

5 drawings, watercolor, August 6, 1928, sig. :

Box D12 Folder 2 --perspective of 34th St. elevation, 48x49 (20x20) cm.

Box D12 Folder 3 --show window, 48x49 (20x20) cm.

Box D12 Folder 4 --Show room, 48x49 (20x20) cm.

Box D12 Folder 5 --Millinery Department, 48x48 (20x20) cm.


Box B28 Folder 3 --elevator, 28x31 (23x20) cm.


Box 31 Folder 8 1 watercolor sketch of Millinery Department

Box 31 Folder 8 5 photographs of design


Box A10 Folder 13 9 photographs of store


Box C19 Folder 9 7 photographs of Store


Box 31 Folder 8 Architectural Forum, 2 p.

William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, August 1928, 1932 :

The opening for the renovated hotel was held in May of 1929. The Chatterbox Room was commissioned in 1932.

6 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box D13 Folder 1 --Tea Room detail and plan, 51x43 cm., sig.

Box D13 Folder 2 --Exhibition Room, 51x43 (33x34) cm., sig.

Box D13 Folder 3 --Men's Lounge, 51x43 cm., sig.

Box D13 Folder 4 --Ballroom, 34x51 (25x45) cm., sig.

Box D13 Folder 5 --Ballroom Ceiling Decoration, 37x50 (30x41) cm.


Box C19 Folder 10 --Wall Panel, 46x19 (18x12) cm.


Box E120 --2 Wall panels, Chatterbox Room, 20x68 cm.


Box 31 Folder 9 Hotel magazine cover, 5/29

Box 31 Folder 9 3 photos of Chatterbox Room

New Amsterdam Roof, 1928 :

Urban redesigned the New Amsterdam roof garden for Ziegfeld's final Midnight Frolic which opened December 29, 1928.

Box 31 Folder 10 New Amsterdam Roof

2 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box B31 Folder 9 --Butterfly-floral pattern, yellow, 26x32 (15x32) cm.

Box B31 Folder 10 --section: elephant panel, 37x16 (27x11) cm.


Box 14-F-5 Folder 3 5 technical drawings

International Magazine Building, 1928-1929 :


Box 31 Folder 11 6 photographs


Box C20 Folder 1 8 photographs and one etching

Encyclopaedia Britannica article, 1928-1929


Box 31 Folder 12 Article on Steele MacKaye, 9 p.

Box 31 Folder 12 Letter from Percy MacKaye, ts., 4 p.

Hutton Ball, 1928

3 drawings, watercolor and pencil on board :


Box B31 Folder 11 --A: Mountain background, 29x38 (23x33) cm.


Box C19 Folder 11 --B: Mountain with floral foreground, 36x42 (24x30) cm.


Box B31 Folder 12 --C: Chinese lanterns, 33x42 (20x29) cm.

American Designers' Gallery, 1928-1929 :

Urban joined with other artists to establish a cooperative art gallery at 145 W. 57th St. Their first exhibit was shown in October of 1928 for which Urban designed a young lady's room entitled "Repose."


Box 31 Folder 14 14 photographs

Box 31 Folder 14 7 letters, ts., 10 p.

Central Park Casino, 1929 :

3 drawings, watercolor :


Box B28 Folder 4 --external view, 26x36 (14x24) cm., sig.


Box D13 Folder 6 --Ceiling pattern, 34x53 (30x45) cm.


Box 14-E-11 Folder B.6 --North and South Wall, Ballroom, 28x63 cm.


Box 31 Folder 15 2 detail drawings and letter


Box 14-F-5 Folder 4 9 technical drawings


Box 31 Folder 15 26 photographs


Box B28 Folder 5 10 photographs


Box C20 Folder 2 16 photographs, Sigurd Fischer


Box 31 Folder 15 2 articles from Architectural Record, 32 p.

Metropolitan Museum of Art 11th annual exhibition of American Industrial Art, February and March 1929 :

Box 31 Folder 16 16 photographs of sun porch and man's den

Box 31 Folder 16 American Architect reprint, 9 p.

Box 31 Folder 16 Mosaic Messenger cover

Box 31 Folder 16 Woman's Journal, 3 p.

Emerich Residence, Chicago, Il., interior design, 1929 :

Remodeling of the home of Banker Melvin L. Emerich of Chicago.

Box 31 Folder 17 2 photographs of interiors

Hartman Trunks, 1929

Box 31 Folder 18 2 drawings and 1 photostat of patterns

Jewish Art Theater, proposed, 1929 :

Box 31 Folder 19 4 photostats of plans


Box D13 Folder 7 19 photostats of plans


Box D13, D14 8 plans


Box 31 Folder 19 2 photographs of proscenium

Cadillac magazine advertisement, 1929 :

Box 31 Folder 20 6 ad sketches

Box 31 Folder 20 1 letter, McManus Inc, ts


Box B28 Folder 6 7 sketches and ads

Gingerbread House, 1929 :

F. H. Bennett of Wheatsworth, Inc. asked Urban to make the Gingerbread House after seeing the Urban-designed Metropolitan production of Hänsel and Gretel.


Box 32 Folder 1 18 photographs of building

Box 32 Folder 1 1 tearsheet, Fortune, p 89

Box 32 Folder 1 Postcard, letter and ceramics catalog

Theatres, 1929 :


Box 14-F-5 Folder 5 10 prints of ground plans

Box 14-F-5 Folder 5 3 Music Center ground plans, photostats, 40x28 cm.


Box E121, E122 2 Reinhardt Theater ground plans


Box B28 Folder 7 Mock up of p. 35, Music Center Site

Box B28 Folder 7 Detail of plastic relief, p. 48


Box E123-E127 5 Music Center plans


Box 32 Folder 2 5 Music Center plans, photostats

Box 32 Folder 2 47 loose pages

Box 32 Folder 3 Book

New School for Social Research, 1929-1931 :

19 drawings, watercolor and/or pencil :


Box B28 Folder 8 --Talk over corner perspective, 32x41(15x22) cm.

Box B28 Folder 9 --Talk-over niches, 36x30 (22x19) cm.

Box B28 Folder 10 --Classroom, 30x45 (13x28) cm.


Box C20 Folder 3 --12th Street Front, 1929, 46x32 (33x19) cm.

Box C20 Folder 4 --Main Lobby Color Treatment, 37x37 (26x26) cm.


Box C21 Folder 1 --Classroom perspective, 32x41 (19x31) cm.

Box C21 Folder 2 --Auditorium perspective, 32x41 (20x31) cm.


Box D14 Folder 7 --Street elevation, 38x52 (25x34) cm.

Box D14 Folder 8 --Basement Lobby Color Treatment, 37x50 (24x40) cm.


Box D15 Folder 1 --Reception Room Color Treatment, 37x50 (19x42) cm.

Box D15 Folder 2 --Faculty Dining Room Color Treatment, 37x52 (19x40) cm.

Box D15 Folder 3 --Faculty Dining Room Color Treatment, Green, 37x50 (19x40) cm.

Box D15 Folder 4 --Director's offices, 36x50 (20x41) cm.

Box D15 Folder 5 --Assistant Director's offices, 37x53 (19x41) cm.


Box D16 Folder 1 --Ground plan, classrooms, 37x51 (25x33) cm.


Box 14-F-6 Folder A.1 --Dance Studio Color Treatment, 37x67 (19x56) cm.


Box E128-E129 --2 Street elevation Color Treatment, 47x67 cm.


Box B29-B30 13 ground plans


Box 32 Folder 4 Main floor ground plan

Box 32 Folder 4 Letters and notes, 6 p.


Box A10 Folder 14 Book of Color Control Patches


Box 32 Folder 4 Ordynski correspondence, 11 p.

Box 32 Folder 4 10 photographs


Box A10 Folder 15-44 30 photographs, interior & exterior


Box C21 Folder 3 4 photographs, interiors


Box 32 Folder 4 5 flyers, pamphlets, forms

Box 32 Folder 4 2 articles, Architectural Digest, 14 p.

Box 32 Folder 4 Architectural Record, 13 p.

Box 32 Folder 4 2 booklets

Box 32 Folder 4 1 chapter from Johnson's autobiography, 18 p.

Atlantic Beach Club, Long Island, NY, 1930-1931 :

Urban also designed Café de Paris for Night on the Riviera fete held August 3, 1930.

13 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink :


Box B30 Folder 6 --Main entrance Terrace Apartments, 33x34 (17x19) cm., sig.


Box D16 Folder 2 --Isometric view of Terraced Apts., 47x51 (40x44) cm., sig.


Box E130 --Beach front view, blue background, 57x74 (40x44) cm.


Box E131 --Beach front, green, 51x76 (42x72) cm.


Box E132 --Room, color isometric drawing, 56x76 (43x36) cm.


Box E133 --Apartment perspective and floor plan, 76x51 (60x39) cm., sig.


Box E134 --Detail of End bays, 51x76 (38x55) cm.


Box E135 --Alternate floor plan, 51x76 (35x60) cm.


Box E136 --Typical floor plan, 51x76 (42x72) cm., sig.


Box E137 --Basement ground plan, 51x76 (43x72) cm., sig.


Box E138 --First floor ground plan, 51x76 (43x72) cm., sig.


Box E139 --5th and 6th floor plan, 51x76 (43x72) cm., sig.


Box E140 --Penthouse floor plan, 51x76 (43x72) cm., sig.


Box 32 Folder 5 11 photographs

Box 32 Folder 5 Photograph of Café de Paris, August 1930


Box A15 Folder 1 18 photographs


Box C21, C22 10 photographs

Suburban Movie Theater, 1931 :

Westchester County, NY


Box D16 Folder 3 Interior, facing screen, pastel, 21x55 (16x50) cm.


Box E141 Plan, longitudinal section, 46x75 (26x63) cm.


Box B30 Folder 7 4 photographs of model


Box 32 Folder 6 3 photographs of model

Box 32 Folder 6 2 articles, 6 p.

[See also Architectural League Exhibition, 1932-1933]

Park Avenue Restaurant, 1931 :


Box C22 Folder 3 4 photographs of club interior


Box 32 Folder 7 2 Architectural Forum reprints, 8 p. ea.

Palace of the Soviets, 1931 :

The Russian Government held an open competition to find an architect for their assembly hall. Urban was one of six prominent architects chosen to present a design for the building for $10,000.

Box 32 Folder 8 130 p. reports, specs

Box 32 Folder 9 79 p. correspondence

Box 32 Folder 9 2 booklets, Russian


Box A15 Folder 2 Map of Moscow

7 drawings, watercolor, pencil and ink :


Box D17 Folder 1 --Assembly Hall, 36x46 (33x41) cm.

Box D17 Folder 2 --Colonnade, 34x55 (27x41) cm.

Box D17 Folder 3 --Perspective Central Plaza, 34x46 cm.


Box 14-F-7 Folder 5 --Interior, Large Hall with demonstration, 74x64 (70x61) cm.


Box 14-F-6 Folder B.1 --Ground plan, 47x60 (39x54) cm.

Box 14-F-6 Folder B.2 --Ground plan with landscaping, 43x57 cm.

Box 14-F-6 Folder B.7 --Perspective of large hall, 46x63 cm.


Box D18 Folder 1-10 10 plans


Box 32 Folder 9 31 photographs


Box A15 Folder 2 5 photographs

Lerner, Max Suburban House, 1932 :


Box 32 Folder 10 Photograph of model, back view


Box A15 Folder 3 Photograph of model, side view

Architectural League One-Man Show, February 1932 :

Joseph Urban donated proceeds for the benefit of New York's unemployed draftsmen.


Box 32 Folder 11 5 photographs of Joseph Urban's office

Box 32 Folder 11 Plan for small house, awarded 4th prize

Fairy Tale book illustration reprints, April 22, 1932 :

The Yonkers Statesman reported on April 22, 1932 that an exhibit of prints from 24 fairy tale illustrations was held at a Yonkers book shop on 155 North Broadway.


Box A15 Folder 4 & 5 34 reprints of illustrations with index


Box 32 Folder 12 5 reprints of illustrations with index

Box 32 Folder 12 9 photographs of illustrations

Congress Hotel, Joseph Urban Room, Chicago, Illinois, 1932 :

2 drawings, watercolor :


Box D17 Folder 4 --Urban Room, 41x41 (29x25) cm.


Box B30 Folder 8 --Pattern, 23x23 (18x18) cm.


Box D17 Folder 4 Print of Joseph Urban Room


Box 14-F-5 Folder 6 Blueprint of Balloon Room


Box 33 Folder 1 2 photographs


Box A15 Folder 6 Photograph


Box D17 Folder 4 Photograph, mounted

Urban, Harrison and Hood Houses Co-design, 1932 :

Raymond Hood, Joseph Urban, and Wallace K. Harrison jointly proposed a plan for houses constructed largely of steel for mass production.

Two drawings watercolor:

Box D17 Folder 5 --Neighborhood, 43x52 (22x40) cm.

Box D17 Folder 6 --Houses, front elevations

Box D17 Folder 6 Ground plan for house

Book-Cadillac Hotel, Mayfair Room, Detroit, Michigan, 1932 :


Box 33 Folder 3 6 sketches


Box 14-F-5 Folder 7 15 detail sketches


Box 33 Folder 3 2 photographs

Architectural League Exhibition, 1932-1933 :

Urban arranged the 48th Annual Exhibition of the Architectural League of New York, held from February 18 to March 12, 1933, at the Galleries of the American Fine Arts Society. Urban received the President's Medal for "the unique architectural treatment of the galleries and the effective installation of the exhibits" and a Medal of Honor for his set model for the unproduced religious pageant Light

Box 33 Folder 4 Letters, lists, plans, 84 p.


Box 14-E-11 Folder B.8 4 technical drawings


Box 33 Folder 4 11 photographs of exhibit and award ceremony


Box C22 Folder 4 2 photographs of exhibit


Box 33 Folder 4 2 certificates of award


Box A15 Folder 7 Exhibit catalog


Box 33 Folder 4 Architecture, 2 p

Box 33 Folder 5 Medal with case

Chicago World's Fair: Century of Progress, opened May 7, 1933 :

Urban was the director of Light for the fair and designed panels for the New York exhibit. He also proposed a stage design for a religious pageant The Light which was never produced.

Box 33 Folder 6 1 letter from Raymond Hood, ms.


Box 14-F-5 Folder 8 1 blueprint of New York State Exhibit


Box A15 Folder 8 Reference picture for NY State Exhibit

17 drawings, watercolor and pencil :


Box E142-E146 --11 panels of buildings, 33x84 cm.


Box E147 --Agricultural Building, 63x41 cm.


Box 14-F-6 Folder A.2 --Fountain of metal, 34x61 cm.

Box 14-F-6 Folder A.3 --Esplanade of flags, 42x58 cm.

Box 14-F-6 Folder B.3 --Buildings in blue, yellow, 44x70 (41x67) cm.


Box 14-E-11 Folder B.9 --Orange building with radiator center, 34x59 (26x46) cm.

Box 14-E-11 Folder B9 --Green building with gray circle, 48x64 (45x58) cm.


Box 33 Folder 6 1 booklet, Light Recommendations


Box B30 Folder 9 2 newspaper magazine pullout sections


Box 33 Folder 7 7 programs

Katherine Brush Apartment, 1933 :

Box 33 Folder 8 Katherine Brush Apartment


Box B30 Folder 10 3 photographs


Box A15 Folder 9 Article House & Garden, January 1933

Undated :


Box 33 Folder 9 Decorative Illustrations, 5 drawings, 24x22 cm., sig.

Hearst House :

Box 33 Folder 10 Hearst House


Box 14-F-5 Folder 9 1 ground plan, blueprint of room

Huron Building, Detroit :


Box 33 Folder 11 Huron Building


Box 14-F-5 Folder 10 Blueprint, ceiling plan

Knickerbocker Hotel :


Box 33 Folder 12 Knickerbocker Hotel


Box 14-F-5 Folder 11 2 blueprints

Mallin Furniture Company :


Box 33 Folder 13 Ma