http://sca.gmu.edu/finding_aids/reich.html Guide to the Molka Reich papers, 1904-1986 Molka Reich C0229 Finding aid prepared by Greta Kuriger Suiter George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives January 22, 2013 This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-02-18T15:14-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard 2019-02-13 Converted to schema conforming EAD by dtd2schema.vh.xsl. Descriptive Summary Molka Reich papers C0229 George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives English 6.0 linear feet (9 boxes) 1904-1986 The Molka Reich papers includes playscripts, programs, puppetry newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks with most of it dating from the 1930s to the 1950s. About half of the material directly relates to the Federal Theatre Project, especially the newspaper clippings, programs, and scrapbooks. Many of the puppetry newsletters and playscripts are from after the 1930s. Some of the material relates to the actor Scott Griffin who acted with the Federal Theatre Project in Miami, Florida, alongside Reich. Reich, Molka Related Material

Special Collections and Archives also holds the , the , the , as well as numerous other personal papers.

Processing Information

Processed in December 2012 by Greta Kuriger Suiter. EAD completed in January 2013 by Greta Kuriger Suiter.

Biographical note

Molka Reich studied puppetry under Remo Bufano in New York during the 1920s. She and her husband moved to Miami, Florida, in 1930. While there, she joined the Federal Writers Project, and then the Federal Theatre Project. She started with the FTP as an actress but soon was working with the marionette unit where she made puppets, wrote and adapted scripts, and built sets. As an actress she appeared in the Federal Theatre production Engaged that was performed in August of 1936. She stayed with the Federal Theatre Project until 1939, after which she continued to be a proponent for puppetry. In Miami, she served as president of the Business and Professional Women's Club.

Arrangement Series 1: Essays, newsletters, published works, and miscellany, 1904-1950 (Boxes 1-2, 9) Series 2: Newspaper clippings, 1936-1986 (Box 2) Series 3: Photographs, circa 1930s-1940s (Boxes 2, 9) Series 4: Playscripts, 1920s-1953 (Boxes 2-6) Series 5: Programs, 1928-1950s (Boxes 6-7) Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1920s-1950s (Boxes 7-8) Scope and Content

The Molka Reich papers includes playscripts, programs, puppetry newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks with most of it dating from the 1930s to the 1950s. About half of the material directly relates to the Federal Theatre project, especially the newspaper clippings, programs, and scrapbooks. Many of the puppetry newsletters and playscripts are from after the 1930s. Some of the material relates to the actor Scott Griffin who acted with the Federal Theatre Project in Miami, Florida, alongside Reich.

Series 1 contains many different types of materials including essays, puppetry newsletters, play synopses, published plays, vaudeville sketches, marionette patterns in various sizes, and original artwork by Ken Bare. Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Series 2 contains newspaper clippings from Miami, Florida, newspapers. Many of the newsclippings are reviews for plays that Molka Reich or Scott Griffin were involved in. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 3 contains photographs both black and white and color and in a variety of sizes. Photographs consist of portraits of Molka Reich, and Scott Griffin, as well as production photographs, and photographs of a Jack and the Beanstalk marionette. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 4 is the largest series and contains scripts for plays and some radio productions. Some of the scripts have accompanying music, mostly handwritten. This series is arranged alphabetically by title.

Series 5 contains programs for Federal Theatre productions and non Federal Theatre productions that were performed in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Long Island and Pawling, New York; and The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 6 contains scrapbooks that have been disassembled and foldered. The Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 contains mostly material relating to Scott Griffin. There is also a scrapbook for marionette newspaper and magazine clippings, a scrapbook with clippings and programs from productions in Miami, and a scrapbook containing calendar programs for the Starlight Theater in Pawling, New York. This series is arranged by size of material.

Alternative Form Available

There are scripts from this collection and other FTP collections online in the .

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Molka Reich papers must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Molka Reich in 1980 and 1981. Scott Griffin material presented by Molka Reich for the Scott Griffin estate on June 25, 1979.

Preferred Citation note

Molka Reich papers, C0229, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.

Index Terms Corporate Names: Federal Theatre Project (U.S.) Subjects: New Deal, 1933-1939. Theater--United States. Contents List Series 1: Essays, newsletters, published works, and miscellany, 1904-1980s

Series 1 contains many different types of materials including essays, puppetry newsletters, play synopses and published plays and vaudeville sketches, marionette patterns in various sizes, and original artwork by Ken Bare. Materials are arranged alphabetically.

A & B Booksellers theatre catalog, 1 1 undated Bare, Ken, 1 2 1930s

Blueprint for portable stage

Bare, Ken, 1 3 1930s

Original artwork for set and other designs - watercolors, pencil drawings

Denison's Vaudeville Sketches, 1 4 1904-1934 Dolls and puppets, 1 5 1930s-1940s

Newsletters, catalogs, pamphlets related to dolls, marionettes, and puppets

Fairy Tales for Workers Children, 1 6 1925 Federal Theatre Project at George Mason University, 1 7 circa 1970s-1980s

Pamphlets and newsletters related to George Mason events revolving around puppetry and the Federal Theatre Project

History of the Drama 20th century, 1 8 circa 1935-1939 History of the Drama series, outline for class study, 1 9 1937-1939 Letter, 1 10 March 3, 1940

"Dear Charlotte", possibly from Scott Griffin

Marionette pattern for a 18" cloth marionette, 1 11 undated Marionette pattern for a 15" marionette, 1 12 undated Marionette pattern for a 9" marionette, 1 13 undated Marionette patterns for larger marionettes, 8 2 undated Marionette patterns (oversize), 9 2 circa 1930s Newsletters, 1 14 1980s

Newsletters from The Puppetry Guild of Greater New York, The Puppeteers of America, The Puppeteers of America Regional Reporter for the Southeast Region, D. C. Puppetimes, George Mason University Golden Anniversary Puppetry Festival, The Puppet Guild of Greater Miami, Barry University Department of Theatre, The Puppet Masters calendar featuring famous puppeteers, itinerary for trip to Japan (UNIMA XV 1988)

Notes on the Soviet Theatre, 1 15 February 1946 Play synopses (article from magazine?), 1 16 circa 1920s Published plays, 2 1 1918; 1935

12 Plays for Boys and Girls edited by Ben Blake with pictures by Bill Siegel; The Slave with Two Faces by Mary Carolyn Davies

Shakespeare: Actor and Critic by George Henry Lewes, 2 2 undated Theatre Workshop, 2 3 1936-1937

Three issues: Art of Acting Issue (1936), Second Art of Acting Issue (1937), Fall Issue (1937)

Series 2: Newspaper clippings, 1936-1986

Series 2 contains newspaper clippings from Miami, Florida newspapers. Many of the newsclippings are reviews for plays that Molka Reich or Scott Griffin were involved in. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Newsclippings, 2 4 1981-1987 A, 2 5 1938

Ah, Wilderness; Altars of Steel

B, 2 6 1937-1938

Boy Meets Girl; The Bride the Sun Shines On

C, 2 7 1936-1937

Candle Light; Chalk Dust; Coquette; Criminal at Large

Engaged, 2 8 1936 Gallows Gate, 2 9 1937 If Ye Break Faith, 2 10 1938 M, 2 11 1938

Miami Federal Theatre; Molka Reich; Mystery of the Boardwalk Asylum

N, 2 12 September 25, 1936

"New Director Named for Theatre Project", article about Dorothea Lynch becoming state director for the Federal Theatre.

One More Spring, 2 13 1937 Room Service, 2 14 1939 S, 2 15 1936

Smilin' Through; actor Scott Griffin

Twelfth Night, 2 16 March 31, 1937 Two years of WPA, 2 17 1937 UNIMA (l'Union Internationale de la Marionette) Congress and World Puppetry Festival, 2 18 1980 When Knighthood was in Flower, 2 19 1938 You and I, 2 20 July 1936 Series 3: Photographs, circa 1930s-1980s

Series 3 contains photographs both black and white and color and in a variety of sizes. Photographs consist of portraits of Molka Reich, and Scott Griffin, as well as production photographs, and photographs of the Jack and the Beanstalk marionette. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Engaged, 2 21 1936

1 production photograph featuring actors on stage. An actor in center is holding a gun to his head.

Jack and the Beanstalk, 2 22 1983

Color photographs of Jack and the beanstalk puppet.

Molka Reich portraits, 9 1 circa 1920s-1930s

12 oversize photographs, 10 of which are professional portraits taken by Charles Cooper in Miami, Florida.

Molka Reich portraits, 9 circa 1920s-1930s

2 oversize matted photographic portraits of Molka Reich.

Molka Reich puppet demonstration, 2 23 circa 1970s-1980s

14 color photographs of Reich leading a marionette demonstration.

Molka Reich with Bimbo, 2 24 circa 1930s; circa 1980s Portraits of Scott Griffin, Molka Reich, and an unidentified woman, 2 25 circa 1930s Puppets and stage productions, 2 26 circa 1930s

9 black and white photographs of Reich's marionettes, staged productions with actors, and includes two photographs of an audience of children watching Bimbo perform.

Series 4: Playscripts, 1920s-1953

Ambassador's Conference, 2 27 circa 1930s An Apple for Venus, 2 28 circa 1930s Anna Christie, 2 29 circa 1930s Another Language, 2 30 circa 1930s Anteroom, 2 31 circa 1930s Anything Could Happen, 2 32 circa 1930s Art - Where Art Thou? 2 33 circa 1930s The Baxters:The Baxters adopt a family, episode 24 by Ruth Moore, 2 34 circa 1940s Beachhead on the Campus by Milton Geiger, 2 35 October 1, 1945 Before and After by Edward Mann, 2 36 circa 1930s The Blase Mrs. Dade by Carl Glick, 2 37 circa 1920s Blockhead Hans photocopy, 2 38 undated Blood and Hoe Cake photocopy, 2 39 circa 1940s Blow East, Blow West, 2 40 circa 1930s Bruin's Inn by Ann Townsend, 2 41 circa 1930s Caesar Gets Crowned, 2 42 circa 1930s Celebration for Lincoln's Birthday, 2 43 circa 1930s Cinderella, 3 1 undated

Includes script and sheet music

Community Players, 3 2 1953 The Conflict, 3 3 undated Cousin Billy at the Circus, 3 4 undated

Abstract

The Case of the Empty Purse by Sol Barzman and Mel Waters, 3 5 1947 Dick Martin, 3 6 undated

Scott Griffin's copy

The Economist by Ben and Sol Barzman, 3 7 1947 El Cristo, 3 8 undated Emblem of Guatemala, 3 9 undated Exiles, 3 10 undated The Face, 3 11 undated Faith of a Child, 3 12 undated The Farce of Master Pierre Patelin, 3 13 undated Farewell Appearance, 3 14 undated

Photocopy

Farewell Appearance, undated

Felicia and the Pot of Pinks (children's story), 3 15 undated Fido the Clown, 3 16 undated The Flattering Word, 3 17 undated Flood Control, 3 18 undated Food, 3 19 undated Freud, 3 20 undated The Frog Prince (for marionettes), 3 21 undated Fumed Oak by Noel Coward; Bury the Dead, 3 22 undated Fumed Oak by Noel Coward, undated

Fumed Oak by Noel Coward, undated

The Game, 3 23 circa 1930s Gas, 3 24 circa 1930s-1940s Ghosts, 3 25 undated Ghosts (act 2), 3 26 undated The Glittering Gate, 3 27 circa 1930s Good Night, Caroline, 3 28 circa 1930s The Greatest of These, 3 29 undated

Director's copy

Hansel and Gretel, 4 1 undated Henny Penny, 4 2 undated From the Henry Morgan Show, 4 3 undated

Includes note from Syl to Helen: "Couldn't find the columns I mentioned to you, but in the search uncovered some old Morgan scripts I did for the Eversharp show. The enclosed is an excerpt, from about the only one that could be cut and still be effective. Probably would serve as a space filler and be good for a few laughs. Will try to find the other stuff for a later issue."

The Hiccuping Mr. Higgins, 4 4 1947 His Majesty the Microbe, 4 5 circa 1935-1939

Photocopy of Federal Theatre Project script

Holiday, 4 6 undated How to Tell a True Princess, 4 7 undated

Photocopy

A Husband for Breakfast, 4 8 undated I Have No Prayer by Arch Oboler for the National Conference of Christians and Jews, 4 9 1943 If This Be Reason by members of the local #20, 4 10 undated The Investigators, 4 11 undated The Investigators, 4 12 undated

Sheet music

The Irksome Beelzy, 4 13 undated J. P. Dropabomb by Amos Hull, 4 14 1947 Jack and the Beanstalk, 4 15 undated Jergens Journal, 4 16 February 11, 1940

Radio production with Andrew Jergens

Joe and Edna script, 4 17 undated A Joke on the Sun (marionette play), 4 18 1934

Photocopy

Kids Learn Fast, 4 19 undated Let Us Be Gay, 4 20 undated Liberty Skit, 4 21 undated Little Black Sambo, 4 22 undated Little Black Sambo, 4 23 undated Little Black Sambo, 4 24 undated

Photocopy of script and sheet music

Little Black Sambo, undated

Little Red Riding Hood, 4 25 undated The Londonderry Air; Where the Cross is Made by Eugene O'Neill, 4 26 undated The Marrying Kind, 4 27 undated Memo to the People by Sol Panitz for the World Security Workshop, 4 28 March 6, 1947 A Midsummer Night's Dream, 4 29 undated Miss Marlow at Play, 4 30 undated

Photocopy

Miss Marlow at Play, undated

Playscript Theater--United States. Miss Molbray's Big Moment, 4 31 undated Music for World Brotherhood by Jerome Bayer, 4 32 undated

Script for the American Brotherhood: The National Conference of Christians and Jews

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman, 4 33 undated

Photocopy. Includes four scripts, one for each actor.

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (Lemmer), undated

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (script 1), undated

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (Sarah), undated

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (script 2), undated

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (Tom), undated

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (script 3), undated

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (Abraham), undated

Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (script 4), undated

The Nightingale, 4 34 undated North Flies South (radio play), 4 35 undated One Sunday Afternoon, 4 36 undated Pan America's Reception Pageant, 4 37 April 14, 1931 Pageant on World Peace by Paul Harris, Jr., 5 1 undated Peace in Our Time, 5 2 circa 1939 Peace plays: The Soldier's Dream, The Plow of Peace, The Little Green Table, 5 3 circa 1930s Pierre Abelard, 5 4 1935 Pinocchio, 5 5 circa 1930s Pirates of Finance, 5 6 1940 Play for Children, 5 7 undated A Powerful Enemy, 5 8 circa 1930s Princess Chooses, 5 9 undated

Photocopy

Private Hicks, 5 10 undated The Quest, 5 11 undated Recreation Project, 5 12 undated

Multiple scripts with holiday themes

Red White and Blue Network (a satirical monologue), 5 13 1947 Right About Face, 5 14 untitled Recitation (an idea for an original radio program), 5 15 undated Room for a Crib by Lee Gilbert, 5 16 1947 Rumpelstiltskin, 5 17 undated Rust on the Iron Curtain by Abe Stone, 5 18 1947 Saturday's Children by Maxwell Anderson, 5 19 undated The Scarecrow Who Wished For the Moon, 5 20 undated Secrets, 5 21 undated Sham, 5 22 undated Sheet music and lyrics, 5 23 circa 1930s

Miscellaneous mostly handwritten pages of sheet music and lyrics, some for marionette productions

The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, 5 24 undated Sixth Column, 5 25 undated Sleeping Beauty, 5 26 undated

Photocopy

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 5 27 undated

Script and sheet music

So You Won't Talk?, 5 28 undated Somebody - Nothing, 5 29 undated The Soldier Who Became a Great Dane, 5 30 1946 Snow White and Rose Red, 5 31 undated The Stronger Woman, 6 1 undated Suppressed Desires, 6 2 undated Talk in Darkness, 6 3 undated Tarzan, 6 4 undated The Tender Elves, 6 5 undated There's Always Juliet, 6 6 undated This is Heaven, 6 7 undated This Thing Called Love, 6 8 undated Thorn in the Flesh, 6 9 undated Three Clever People, 6 10 undated Three Clever People, undated

Three Clever People, undated

Playscript Theater--United States. The Three Little Pigs (a marionette play), 6 11 undated

Includes script and music

The Three Wishes, 6 12 undated

Includes script and music

Three's a Crowd, 6 13 undated The Tinderbox, 6 14 undated

Photocopy

The Tinderbox, undated

Playscript Theater--United States. Tinsel, 6 15 undated Tolstoy (essay), 6 16 undated The Totem, 6 17 undated Treasure Island, 6 18 undated Two Birds with One Stone, 6 19 undated

Photocopy

Two Birds with One Stone, undated

Playscript Theater--United States. Unknown script, 6 20 undated

Pages 2 to 30. Characters include Mrs. Giles, Mrs. Adams, Harry, Miss Mobray, and Walter.

The Valiant, 6 21 undated The Valiant, 6 22 undated What's in a Name?, 6 23 undated Why am I a Bachelor, 6 24 undated Why the Chimes Rang, 6 25 1938 Wonder Town, 6 26 undated The Youngest, 6 27 undated

Scott Griffin's script

Series 5: Programs, 1928-1950s

A-F, 6 28 1936-1982

Altars of Steel; Ah, Wilderness!; The Bishop Misbehaves; The Bride the Sun Shines On; Criminal at Large; Coquette; Chalk Dust; Craig's Wife; A Classic Vaudeville; The Emperor's New Clothes; Engaged; Folk Music in the Roosevelt White House (produced by the Smithsonian Institution Office of Folklife programs)

G, 6 29 1930s-1957

The Ghost Train; The Gallows Gate; The Great Sebastians

H-L, 7 1 1931-1958

The Happiest Millionaire; If Ye Break Faith; Inherit the Wind; International Society for Contemporary Music; Lightnin (invitation and program); The Loud Red Patrick

The Marionette Unit, 7 2 circa 1938-1939

Double sided one page flyer for the Marionette Unit directed by Molka Reich. The front page features reviews from places the troop performed, the back features their repertoire.

M-P, 7 3 1936-1958

May Day; Margin for Error; The Mask and the Face; Mehitable Wing; The Matchmaker; The New York Idea; The 9th Guest; No Time for Sergeants; One More Spring; An Evening of Experimental One Act Plays; Post Road

The Molka Reich Studio, 7 4 1940

Two invitations for events at the Molka Reich Studio.

R-W, 7 5 1936-1958

The Starlight Theatre (1957 Summer calendar); Room Service; The Reluctant Debutante; Smilin' Through (includes ticket, programs, press release, for Jacksonville, Florida production); Separate Tables; Sabrina Fair; Twelfth Night; Visit to a Small Planet; Whom Dreams Possess; What a Life; What a Woman Wants; Witness for Prosecution

Their Annual Minstrel Show (Miami Business of Professional Women's Club), 7 6 April 1937

Their Annual Minstrel Show (Miami Business of Professional Women's Club),, 1937-04

Turnabout Theatre presents a repertory of puppet musical comedies and intimate revues, 7 7 circa 1952 The Winter's Tale, 7 8 March 1939 Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1920s-1950s

Scrapbook pages, 7 9 circa 1930s

Separated 8.25"x9.25" scrapbook pages with 5"x7" black and white photographs adhered to them. Photographs feature marionettes and Molka Reich.

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 covers, 7 10 1928-1948

1 of 5

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 pages, 7 11 1928-1948

2 of 5. Newspaper clippings, programs, telegrams, and handwritten notes to and about Scott Griffin regarding theatre productions including: Coquette, This Thing Called Love, two one act plays performed at the Little Theatre (Bereguisse and The Torch-Bearers), a calendar for plays at the Florida Forum and Assembly (1934), The Pretender, Broken Dishes, Hired Husbands, The Nervous Wreck, The Big Pond, Why Wives Worry, Smilin' Thru, Thank You, and The Love Critic.

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 newsclippings, 7 12 1930s-1940s

3 of 5

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 loose ephemera, 7 13 1930s

4 of 5. Includes programs for The Last of Mrs. Cheney, Our Town, Little Women, and Room Service. Includes playscripts for If Ye Break Faith and Two Crooks and a Lady, as well as handwritten and typewritten notes, a flyer for the production of Coquette, and an entry ticket for the Manhattan Repertory Theatre Co. at the Miami Playhouse.

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 Billy Griffin, 7 14 1928-1948

5 of 5. Material relating to Billy Griffin (later Scott Griffin). Includes negatives and portrait print as well as report cards and calling cards.

Marionettes scrapbook, 7 15 1930s-1950s

1 of 2. Contains primarily magazine and newspaper articles featuring marionettes. There is also a certificate for Mrs. Howard Fitch for completing the Cultural Olympics in Woodstown, New Jersey (May 5, 1938). Clippings and certificate are attached to scrapbook paper.

Marionettes scrapbook, 7 16 1930s-1950s

2 of 2. Contains loose newspaper and magazine clippings featuring articles on marionettes.

Loose materials, 7 19 circa 1938-1941

Includes newsclippings, newsclippings attached to paper, a program, and marionette patterns.

Loose scrapbook materials, 7 17 1930s

Includes programs for the West Florida Music and Arts Festival, International Society for Contemporary Music (1931), newspaper and magazine clippings featuring marionettes.

Marionettes by children loose scrapbook pages, 7 18 circa 1930s

Newspaper articles from the Monitor titled "Marionettes by Children" that illustrate how one can make their own marionette.

Miami scrapbook, 8 1 1936-1937

Oversize. Molka Reich scrapbook featuring newspaper clippings and programs from Miami Federal Theatre and non Federal Theatre productions. Pages have been separated.

Starlight Theater scrapbook, 8 2 circa 1955

Oversize. Scrapbook pages separated, featuring programs and newspaper clipping from productions performed at Starlight Theater in Pawling, New York.