Louis Dropkin papers, 1941-1956, bulk 1947-1952

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Series II: Radio Scripts, 1946-1952

Nearly every item in this series is a production copy of a radio script, many of which were written by Dropkin and at least some of which were produced by him. There are also a few manuscript drafts for which production status is indeterminable. The scripts in this series cover a range of topics, but the two biggest groups include radio dramas and documentaries.

Of particular note in this series are scripts from two radio serials with which Dropkin was intimately involved: "The American Spirit" and "Mount Vernon Place." Each episode of the former program featured an adaptation of a story from some of the United States' most famous playwrights performed by aspiring actors from the American Theatre Wing, a professional group with which Dropkin was associated. The latter program was a documentary series that focused on Baltimore and Maryland history, aired by Dropkin's long-time employer, the Baltimore radio station WBAL.

Folders in Series II are arranged in alphabetical order according to program series title unless no such title is evident. In these cases, folders have been arranged by episode title. The folder title indicates those folders in this series which include multiple drafts of the same script or materials that are not a script (eg., correspondence).


The American Spirit



Box 2 Folder 20 "Ah Wilderness," by Eugene O'Neill, Adapted for Radio, 1951


Box 2 Folder 21 "The American Way," by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, Adapted for Radio,, undated


Box 2 Folder 22 "The Common Glory," by Paul Green, Adapted for Radio, 1952


Box 2 Folder 23 "The Devil and Daniel Webster," by Stephen Vincent Benet, Adapted for Radio,, undated


Box 2 Folder 24 "Of Mice and Men," by John Steinbeck, Adapted for Radio, 1952


Box 2 Folder 25 "The Petrified Forest," by Robert E. Sherwood, Adapted for Radio by Louis Dropkin,, 1952


Box 2 Folder 26 "Valley Forge," by Maxwell Anderson, Adapted for Radio, 1951


Box 2 Folder 27 The Baltimore Story : "Star Spangled Banner," WBAL Radio--Multiple Drafts,, undated



Box 3 Folder 1 "Death is the Hunter," by Louis Dropkin and Felix Leon, undated


Box 3 Folder 2 The Experimental Radio Theater: "Is Hitler Dead," by Louis Dropkin and Felix Leon,, 1946


Box 3 Folder 3 Harbor House Episode, by Louis Dropkin,, 1947


Mount Vernon Place


Box 3 Folder 4 History of the Port of Baltimore, 1947


Box 3 Folder 5 Story of Luther Martin--Multiple Drafts, 1947


Box 3 Folder 6 Story of Old Ironsides, by Louis Dropkin, 1947


Box 3 Folder 7 "'Red Goose,' by Norbert Davis. . .originally appeared in BLACK MASK MAGAZINE, Feb 1934," Adapted for Radio by Louis Dropkin,, undated


Box 3 Folder 8 "The Second Manhattan Project!," by Louis Dropkin--Multiple Drafts,, 1949


Box 3 Folder 9 "The Silent Invader," by Louis Dropkin, 1947


Box 3 Folder 10 "The Square Peg Club," by Louis Dropkin and Felix Leon, undated


Box 3 Folder 11 "State of the Union,", undated


Box 3 Folder 12 Us the Folks: "By a Nose," by Louis Dropkin and Felix Leon--Multiple Drafts, circa, 1946


Box 3 Folder 13 "Women Can Keep Secrets," by Louis Dropkin and Felix Leon, undated