Research Catalog

Howard Dietz papers

Title
Howard Dietz papers, 1915-1976.
Author
Dietz, Howard, 1896-1983
Supplementary Content
Finding Aid

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StatusContainerFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
Box 9Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 9Offsite
Box 8Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 8Offsite
Box 7Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 7Offsite
Box 6Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 6Offsite
Box 5Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 5Offsite
Box 4Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 4Offsite
Box 3Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 3Offsite
Box 2Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 2Offsite
Box 1Mixed materialSupervised use JPB 06-31 Box 1Offsite

Details

Additional Authors
  • Ballard, Lucinda
  • Gershwin, Ira, 1896-1983
  • Kaufman, George S. (George Simon), 1889-1961
  • Parker, Dorothy, 1893-1967
  • Porter, Cole, 1891-1964
  • Webb, Clifton, 1889-1966
  • Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville), 1881-1975
  • Woollcott, Alexander, 1887-1943
  • Schwartz, Arthur, 1900-1984
Description
5 linear feet (9 boxes )
Summary
The Howard Dietz papers mainly consist of materials from his autobiography, Dancing in the Dark: Words by Howard Dietz, (1974).
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Correspondence.
  • Galley proofs.
  • Manuscripts for publication.
Biography (note)
  • Howard Dietz (1896-1983) was an important musical theater lyricist and motion picture publicist, who is well-known for his professional partnership with composer Arthur Schwartz, as well as for his long association with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio.
Indexes/Finding Aids (note)
  • Collection guide available in repository and on internet.
Call Number
JPB 06-31
OCLC
86107908
Author
Dietz, Howard, 1896-1983.
Title
Howard Dietz papers, 1915-1976.
Biography
Howard Dietz (1896-1983) was an important musical theater lyricist and motion picture publicist, who is well-known for his professional partnership with composer Arthur Schwartz, as well as for his long association with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio. Born in New York City, Dietz was educated in public schools and attended Columbia University's School of Journalism. He worked as a contributing journalist and writer for various publications while at Columbia and simultaneously was an assistant at Phillip Goodman's advertising agency. During World War I, Dietz left Columbia to enlist in the United States Navy and edited the magazine Navy Life. After the war, Dietz worked as a motion picture promoter and publicist, joining M-G-M in 1924, where he would remain for thirty years and serve in many capacities, including stints as director of advertising and publicity and as a vice-president of the company. Dietz's second career as a lyricist developed and thrived in tandem with his publicity work. His first major Broadway hit came with the revue, The Little Show (1929), which also was his first show with Arthur Schwartz, who would become his most frequent collaborator. Throughout the early 1930s, Dietz and Schwartz continued to write hit revues, including Three's A Crowd (1930), The Band Wagon (1931), Flying Colors (1932), and At Home Abroad (1935) as well as book shows, such as Revenge with Music (1934) and Between the Devil (1937). In later years, Dietz devoted more of his time to his career as a publicist, taking occasional breaks to work on book shows, including Sadie Thompson (1944) with Vernon Duke, as well as The Gay Life (1961) and Jennie (1963) with Schwartz. Dietz was married three times; to Elizabeth Bigelow Hall, Tanis Guines, and costume designer Lucinda Ballard. He also was involved with various other administrative positions throughout his career, including serving a term as director of the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) from 1959-1961. In addition to his many other accomplishments, Dietz also was a painter, whose works received various exhibitions. In 1974, he published an autobiography, Dancing in the Dark: Words by Howard Dietz.
Indexes
Collection guide available in repository and on internet.
Connect to:
Request Access to Music & Recorded Sound Division Special Collections material
Finding Aid
Occupation
Lyricists.
Press agents.
Added Author
Ballard, Lucinda.
Gershwin, Ira, 1896-1983.
Kaufman, George S. (George Simon), 1889-1961.
Parker, Dorothy, 1893-1967.
Porter, Cole, 1891-1964.
Webb, Clifton, 1889-1966.
Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville), 1881-1975.
Woollcott, Alexander, 1887-1943.
Schwartz, Arthur, 1900-1984.
Research Call Number
JPB 06-31
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