Bessie Breuer papers 1948

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Bessie Breuer papers 1948

http://archives.nypl.org/the/21682

Bessie Breuer (1893-1975) was a journalist, novelist, short story writer and playwright whose only produced play, SUNDOWN BEACH (1948), was one of the first efforts of the Actors Studio. After an early career in journalism as reporter and editor, Breuer began publishing short stories and, in 1935, her first novel, MEMORY OF LOVE. During World War II she wrote radio scripts for the Office of War Information. After the war a health crisis compelled Breuer to go south to recover, and in Florida she met the recuperating Air Force fliers who became the central figures of her play SUNDOWN BEACH. In later years Breuer continued to write novels. She died in New York City in September 1975 at the age of 81. The Bessie Breuer papers consist of documents concerning the Broadway run of Breuer's play SUNDOWN BEACH, which opened at the Belasco Theatre on Sep. 7, 1948, and closed on the 11th after seven performances. Directed by Elia Kazan, SUNDOWN BEACH marked the first Broadway venture of the newly-formed Actors' Studio. The cast featured several young actors who went on to notable careers, including Julie Harris, Cloris Leachman, Martin Balsam, Nehemiah Persoff, and Phyllis Thaxter. The play concerned the rehabilitation of World War II fliers suffering from combat trauma. Despite some public support, the play received mostly negative reviews and closed in less than a week. Much of the Bessie Breuer collection consists of letters offering emotional support in the wake of the production's failure. Among the correspondents are writers John Dos Passos and Stark Young, as well as Julie Harris. There are also several typed pages of notes from Breuer to director Elia Kazan, apparently written during the play's rehearsal process; Kazan's replies to Breuer are pencilled in the margins.

(1 portfolio)

The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.

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SNAC Resource ID: 6317933

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Breuer, Bessie, 1893--

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mp5whp (person)

Bessie Breuer nee Freedman was born October 19, 1893 in Cleveland, Ohio to Samuel and Julia Freedman. After graduating from the Missouri State University School of Journalism, she worked, first, as a reporter for the St. Louis Times, then as an editor for the New York Tribune. She left that position to become the national director of magazine publicity for the American Red Cross at the end of World War I, and subsequently joined the staff of the Ladies Home Journal. In 1925 she married her third...

Harris, Julie, 1925-2013

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6t43x56 (person)

American actress. From the description of Autograph letters signed (2) : [New York], to Seymour Peck, 1974 Jan. 17 and 1972 Aug. 23. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270870957 From the description of Autograph manuscript signed : [New York, 1972]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270870954 ...

Kazan, Elia

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k07gb1 (person)

American film director. From the description of Carbon copy of a typed letter : place not specified, to Darryl [Zanuck], undated [1952 Jan. or Feb.]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 778505876 American film producer. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to [John Steinbeck], undated [1948]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 777247890 From the description of Preservation photocopy of a typed letter : place not specified, to John Stein...

Actors Studio (New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j43j72 (corporateBody)

The Actors Studio was founded in October, 1947, by Cheryl Crawford, Elia Kazan and Robert Lewis. In 1948 Lee Strasberg joined the team and was the central teacher and figurehead until his death in 1982. Jan. 14-16, 1977 the Florida State University School of Theatre held "A Salute to the Actors Studio", an event hosted by Lee Strasberg and featuring lectures and panel-discussions from Strasberg and several of the premier members of the Mercury Theatre from 1950-1977. From the descrip...