Wiman, Dwight Deere, 1895-1951

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Theatrical producer, Dwight Deere Wiman produced 56 plays and musicals in 26 years on Broadway making his most distinctive imprint in the musical comedy and revue fields. He was born on August 8, 1895 in Moline, IL, a direct descendant of John Deere, inventor of the steel plow and founder of what became Deere and Co., the farm equipment company and family business in Moline. After World War I service, graduation from Yale, and two years in the family business, Wiman and friends organized an independent film production company, Film Guild, in Astoria (Queens), 1920-1924. When that dissolved due to marketing difficulties, he formed a partnership in 1925 with William A. Brady, Jr. presenting 23 plays in New York of which 5 or 6, including Road to Rome, were profitable. That partnership ended on friendly terms in 1929 as only Wiman was interested in musical theater. From 1930 until his death on January 20, 1951, Wiman produced and occasionally directed his own shows including works by Paul Osborn, John Van Druten, Clifford Odets and others, and had a long association with Rodgers and Hart. During World War II he was director of entertainment for the Red Cross in Britain.

From the guide to the Dwight Deere Wiman papers, [microform], 1922-1950, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Jo Mielziner, theatrical designer.

From the guide to the Stage designs, 1931-1968, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Osborn, Paul, 1901-. Papers, 1926-1964. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Mielziner, Jo, 1901-1976. Stage designs. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn American Ballet Theatre records, 1936-ca. 1967 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Wiman, Dwight Deere, 1895-1951. Papers, 1922-1950. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Stage designs, 1931-1968 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Souvenir programs for theatrical productions, 1906-2005. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Jo Mielziner papers, 1903-1976 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Ward Morehouse papers, 1877-1966, 1924-1966 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Papers, 1919-1938. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Vera Zorina papers Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Dwight Deere Wiman papers, [microform], 1922-1950 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn John Van Druten papers, 1901-1957 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
referencedIn Ward Morehouse papers, 1877-1966, 1924-1966 The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Ballet Theatre corporateBody
associatedWith Anderson, Robert, 1917-2009 person
associatedWith Büchner, Georg, 1813-1837 person
associatedWith Cormack, Bartlett, -1942 person
associatedWith Loewe, Frederick, 1901-1988. person
associatedWith Lothar, Rudolph, 1865-1943 person
associatedWith Mielziner, Jo, 1901-1976. person
associatedWith Morehouse, Ward, 1898-1966 person
associatedWith Osborn, Paul, 1901- person
associatedWith Porter, Cole, 1891-1964 person
associatedWith Rodgers, Richard, 1902-1979 person
associatedWith Rotter, Fritz person
associatedWith Schwartz, Arthur, 1900-1984. person
associatedWith Sherwood, Robert E. (Robert Emmet), 1896-1955 person
associatedWith Simonson, Lee, 1888- person
associatedWith Van Druten, John, 1901-1957 person
correspondedWith Zorina, Vera. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Theater
Dramatic music
Musicals
Musical theater
Revues
Theaters
Theatrical producers and directors
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1895-08-08

Death 1951-01-20

Information

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Ark ID: w6p00503

SNAC ID: 12352167