Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Cambria, Sophie T.
2. Minnelli, Vincente
3. Balaban & Katz.

Description

1. 1.5 linear feet (3 boxes)

Summary

1. This collection includes original drawings and renderings for costume designs for various theatrical productions created by Vincente Minnelli for the Balaban & Katz and Paramount-Publix theatre companies, under the art direction of Frank Cambria. All designs are works on paper, in a variety of media. More than half the collection are finished drawings; the remainder are unfinished sketches. Only two productions are clearly identified: Alice in Wonderland (Chicago, 1925) and Oliver Twist. Additionally, there are two portrait photographs taken by Minnelli of Cambria family members and a 1928 letter from Minnelli to Cambria describing his proposed designs for a Paramount-Publix production. This collection was compiled by Cambria and passed down to his daughter, Sophie T. Cambria, who was the aunt of the seller.

Subject

1. Balaban & Katz
2. Paramount Publix Corporation
3. Costume design > 20th century.
4. Costume designers.
5. Theater > United States.

Genre/Form

1. Costume design drawings.
2. Correspondence.
3. Photographic prints.

Call number

1. *T-Vim 2014-180

Source (note)

1. NYPL

Author

1. Cambria, Frank, 1883-1966, collector.

Title

1. Frank Cambria and Sophie T. Cambria collection of Vincente Minnelli costume designs, circa 1925-1928 and undated.

Biography

1. In 1916, A.J. and Barney Balaban joined their brother-in-law Sam Katz to create the theatrical management firm Balaban & Katz. With increasing success and larger capitalization, Balaban & Katz began more than a decade of developing new and architecturally significant movie theatres in which they developed innovative connections between motion pictures and elaborately-designed vaudeville and stage performances featuring many of the leading entertainers of the day. By 1924, Balaban & Katz was the most successful chain of movie theatres in the United States. Frank Cambria was the art director for Balaban & Katz in Chicago, later transferring to the New York offices of Paramount-Publix after it acquired Balaban & Katz in 1926.
2. American film and stage director, Vincente Minnelli began his theatrical career as a costume and set designer in Chicago. Seeking even more dominance in film distribution and exhibition, in 1926 Paramount/Publix, a rival chain of movie theatres connected with Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, acquired Balaban & Katz. As a result, A.J. Balaban moved to New York City in 1929 to serve as vice-president of Paramount/Publix's presentation unit, which maintained creative control over the elaborate stage shows made famous by Balaban & Katz. Between 1929 and 1931, Minnelli split his time between Chicago and New York, but moved to New York to design for Paramount theatres full time in 1931.

Note

1. Purchase: NYPL, 2014.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Theatre Division Special Collections material

Added author

1. Cambria, Sophie T., collector.
2. Minnelli, Vincente, artist.
3. Balaban & Katz.

Research call number

1. *T-Vim 2014-180