Gilbert Miller Collection
Catalog Record: http://lccn.loc.gov/2006560744
General International Standard for Archival Description
Music Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C.
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Music Division, 2009
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Gilbert Miller Collection 1921-1967 (bulk 1932-1955)
Miller, Gilbert
Biographical History for: Gilbert Miller Collection 1921-1967 (bulk 1932-1955)
Biographical Note Date Event 1884 July 3 Born in New York to actor-manager Henry Miller and actress Bijou Heron 1907 Begins theater management career as company manager of Henry Miller’s touring production of The Great Divide 1910-1915 Manages all of Henry Miller’s American productions 1916 Debuts as producer in London with Daddy Long-Legs [ca. 1914-1918] Serves for three years in intelligence as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and becomes part of the American Expeditionary Force during the First World War 1919 Opens first New York show, Monsieur Beacuaire 1921 June Takes over operation of the Empire Theatre and the Frohman Corporation 1932 Apr. Leaves Frohman Inc. [ca. 1939-1944] Serves as an aircraft technician aboard the aircraft carrier Shangri-La during the Second World War 1950 The Cocktail Party wins Tony Award for Best Play 1958 The Rope Dancer nominated for Tony Award for Best Play 1962 The Caretaker nominated for Tony Award for Best Play 1965 Receives special Tony Award “For having produced 88 plays and musicals and for his perseverance which has helped to keep New York and theatre alive” 1968 Sells Henry Miller’s Theatre 1969 Jan. 2 Dies and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York PRODUCTIONS: Polly with a past (1921), The nervous wreck (1924), The captive (1926), Dantons Tod (1927), Her cardboard lover (1927), Interference (1927), Midsummer night’s dream (1927), Jedermann (1927), Er ist an allem Schuld [He is to blame for everything] (1928), Diener zweier Herren [Servant of two masters] (1928), Kabale und Liebe (1928), The patriot (1928, Jan. 20, Jan. 29), Der lebende Leichnam [The living corpse] (1928), Olympia (1928), The sacred flame (1928), Our betters (1928), Peripherie (1928), Happy husband (1928), Paris (1928), The age of innocence (1928), Candle-light (1929), Love duel (1929), The skyrocket (1929), Journey’s end (1929), Hundred years old (1929), Berkeley Square (1929), Marseilles (1930, Nov. 9, Nov. 18), Petticoat influence (1930), Journey’s end (1930, Aug. 5, Aug. 24), The violet (1930), Tomorrow and tomorrow (1931), The sex fable (1931, Nov. 15, Nov. 25), The good fairy (1931), The animal kingdom (1932, Jan. 3, Jan. 13), Behold we live (1932), The late Christopher Bean (1932), Firebird (1932, Sept. 25, Nov. 22), This side idolatry (1933), Reunion in Vienna (1934), Bride of Torozko (1934, July 10, Sept. 14), Ode to liberty (1934 Dec. 11, Dec. 22), The petrified forest (1934), The petrified forest (1935), Laburnum grove (1935), The ringmaster (1935), Tovarich (1935), Libel! (1935, Dec. 3, Dec. 8, Dec. 21), Victoria Regina (1935, Dec. 13, Dec. 27), The country wife (1936, Oct. 7, Dec. 2), Pride and prejudice (1936), Tovarich (1936, Oct. 16, Oct. 25), Promise (1936), The amazing Dr. Clitterhouse (1937), Yes, my darling daughter (1937), Old music (1937), French without tears (1937, Sept. 26, Sept. 29), Victoria Regina (1937), Silent knight (1937), Murder in the cathedral (1938), Once is enough (1938), Victoria Regina (1938), I have been here before (1938), Ladies and gentlemen (1939), Geneva (1940), Ladies in retirement (1940), Delicate story (1940), Twelfth night (1940, Oct. 18, Oct. 27), Anne of England (1941), Lily of the valley (1942), Heart of a city (1942), Lifeline (1942), Flare path (1942), Harriet (1943, Mar. 4, Mar. 14), For keeps (1944), Harriet (1944), The rich full life (1945), Antigone (1946), Dear Ruth (1946), Candida (1946), Play’s the thing (1948, Apr. 29, May 9), Edward, my son (1948), Montserrat (1949), Cocktail party (1950), Ring around the moon (1950), Caesar and Cleopatra (1951), Antony and Cleopatra (1951), Horses in midstream (1953), The living room (1954), Witness for the prosecution (1954), The reluctant debutante (1956), The sleeping prince (1956), Under Milk Wood (1957), The rope dancer (1957), Look after Lulu (1959), Golden fleecing (1959), The caretaker (1961), The White House (1964), Diamond orchid (1965)
Scope and Content Note The Gilbert Miller Collection spans the period 1921-1967. The bulk of the materials date from 1932-1955. The collection includes correspondence, contracts, scripts, speeches, scenic floor plans, scenic and costume renderings, clippings, programs, and other materials related to Gilbert Miller’s life and career. As a representation of Miller’s distinguished career, the materials provide insights into his work as a manager, producer, and advocate for the theater.
series
Correspondence, 1921-1967
The Correspondence series consists of business and personal correspondence to and from Miller. It includes contracts, telegraphs, and intra-office memos pertinent to Miller’s endeavors. Prominent correspondents include Jean Anouilh, Helen Hayes, Elia Kazan, Laurence Olivier, Gregory Ratoff, and Lee Shubert.
file
Undated
Speeches, 1931, 1955
The Speeches series consists of an annotated draft of a 1931 speech on the history of the Empire Theatre as well as a draft of an autobiographical speech commemorating the twentieth anniversary of Cue magazine in 1955.
Annotated drafts of "Talk on the history of the Empire Theatre, 1921-1925"
Autobiographical speech commemorating the twentieth anniversary of Cue magazine, 1955
Scripts
The Scripts series contains five script synopses and one draft.
Brighton rock
Linvitation au chateau [Ring round the moon] by Jean Anouilh
Photographs
The Photographs series provides images and information that contextualize the written records of Miller’s life and career. It includes production and candid photos.
subseries
Productions by or related to G. Miller
Anne of England, 1941
Caesar and Cleopatra, 1951
The cocktail party, 1950
Delicate story, 1940
Edward, my son, 1948
16 black and white photographs and 36 black and white proof sheets
Flare path, 1942
Gigi, 1951
Harriet, 1943/1944
1 color and 18 black and white photographs
Ladies in retirement, 1940
Old music, 1937
Ring round the moon, 1950
30 black and white photographs and one page from Theatre World, 1950 Mar.
30 black and white photographs and one page from theatre world, 1950 mar.
The sleeping prince, 1953
Victoria Regina, 1951
1 color and 1 black and white photograph
The voice of the turtle, 1947
Gilbert Miller, individually or with others
1 color and 3 black and white photographs
Miscellaneous
14 black and white photographs and 1 clipping from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1944 Mar. 5
14 black and white photographs and 1 clipping from the cleveland plain dealer, 1944 mar. 5
Productions not related to G. Miller
An ideal husband, 1944
My fair lady, 1981
Technical-related Materials, 1937-1953
The Technical-related materials series provides images and information that contextualize the written records of Miller’s life and career. It includes floor plans, paint and fabric samples, and scenic and costume renderings.
Gigi, 1953
Unidentified scenic rendering
Programs
The Programs series consists of 183 programs and playbills, chiefly from Miller productions, that highlight his unique professional relationships with various collaborators, casts, and sponsors.
Productions by or related to G. Miller, 1929-1954
A-B
D-E
F-G
H-K
M-Q
R-T
U-V
W-Z
A-D
E-L
M-R
S-Z
The Miscellaneous series is a collection of diverse items that are largely tied to Miller’s theatrical career and business endeavors. It also contains positive and negative correspondence from various individuals concerning the one-year anniversary party for producer Michael Todd’s film Around the World in 80 Days. It is unclear how this material relates directly to Miller.
Around the world in 80 days
Caricature on back of restaurant placemat
Dramatist Guild handbook
The Empire Tatler, No. 4, 1929 Aug.
Harriet, annotated advertisement
Lily of the valley “Sonnet to the cast”
Louis Jouvet program, ca. 1951
Make it last long (from For Keeps) sheet music
My Lord, what a mornin’ sheet music
Over land and over sea sheet music
Passport, ca. 1922
Passport, ca. 1924
Pocket calendar, 1939 Jan.-Feb.
Victoria Regina tour booklet
While parents sleep souvenir handkerchief