Guide to the Molka Reich papers, 1904-1986 Molka Reich C0229


Descriptive Summary
Repository	George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Creator	Reich, Molka
Title	Molka Reich papers
Date	1904-1986
Physical Characteristics	6.0 linear feet (9 boxes)
Abstract	The Molka Reich papers includes playscripts, programs, puppetry newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks with most of it dating from the 1930s to the 1950s. About half of the material directly relates to the Federal Theatre Project, especially the newspaper clippings, programs, and scrapbooks. Many of the puppetry newsletters and playscripts are from after the 1930s. Some of the material relates to the actor Scott Griffin who acted with the Federal Theatre Project in Miami, Florida, alongside Reich.
Collection Number	C0229
Language	English

Biographical note

Molka Reich studied puppetry under Remo Bufano in New York during the 1920s. She and her husband moved to Miami, Florida, in 1930. While there, she joined the Federal Writers Project, and then the Federal Theatre Project. She started with the FTP as an actress but soon was working with the marionette unit where she made puppets, wrote and adapted scripts, and built sets. As an actress she appeared in the Federal Theatre production Engaged that was performed in August of 1936. She stayed with the Federal Theatre Project until 1939, after which she continued to be a proponent for puppetry. In Miami, she served as president of the Business and Professional Women's Club.

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Scope and Content

The Molka Reich papers includes playscripts, programs, puppetry newsletters, newspaper clippings, photographs, and scrapbooks with most of it dating from the 1930s to the 1950s. About half of the material directly relates to the Federal Theatre project, especially the newspaper clippings, programs, and scrapbooks. Many of the puppetry newsletters and playscripts are from after the 1930s. Some of the material relates to the actor Scott Griffin who acted with the Federal Theatre Project in Miami, Florida, alongside Reich.

Series 1 contains many different types of materials including essays, puppetry newsletters, play synopses, published plays, vaudeville sketches, marionette patterns in various sizes, and original artwork by Ken Bare. Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Series 2 contains newspaper clippings from Miami, Florida, newspapers. Many of the newsclippings are reviews for plays that Molka Reich or Scott Griffin were involved in. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 3 contains photographs both black and white and color and in a variety of sizes. Photographs consist of portraits of Molka Reich, and Scott Griffin, as well as production photographs, and photographs of a Jack and the Beanstalk marionette. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 4 is the largest series and contains scripts for plays and some radio productions. Some of the scripts have accompanying music, mostly handwritten. This series is arranged alphabetically by title.

Series 5 contains programs for Federal Theatre productions and non Federal Theatre productions that were performed in Miami and Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Long Island and Pawling, New York; and The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 6 contains scrapbooks that have been disassembled and foldered. The Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 contains mostly material relating to Scott Griffin. There is also a scrapbook for marionette newspaper and magazine clippings, a scrapbook with clippings and programs from productions in Miami, and a scrapbook containing calendar programs for the Starlight Theater in Pawling, New York. This series is arranged by size of material.

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Arrangement

Series 1: Essays, newsletters, published works, and miscellany, 1904-1950 (Boxes 1-2, 9)

Series 2: Newspaper clippings, 1936-1986 (Box 2)

Series 3: Photographs, circa 1930s-1940s (Boxes 2, 9)

Series 4: Playscripts, 1920s-1953 (Boxes 2-6)

Series 5: Programs, 1928-1950s (Boxes 6-7)

Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1920s-1950s (Boxes 7-8)

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no use restrictions.

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Related Material

Special Collections Research Center also holds the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers.

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Index Terms

Corporate Names:

Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)

Subjects:

New Deal, 1933-1939.

Theater--United States.

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Administrative Information

Alternative Form Available

There are scripts from this collection and other FTP collections online in the Federal Theatre Project collection.

Preferred Citation note

Molka Reich papers, Collection #C0229, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Molka Reich in 1980 and 1981. Scott Griffin material presented by Molka Reich for the Scott Griffin estate on June 25, 1979.

Processing Information

Processed in December 2012 by Greta Kuriger Suiter. EAD completed in January 2013 by Greta Kuriger Suiter.

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Contents List

Series 1: Essays, newsletters, published works, and miscellany, 1904-1980s

Series 1 contains many different types of materials including essays, puppetry newsletters, play synopses and published plays and vaudeville sketches, marionette patterns in various sizes, and original artwork by Ken Bare. Materials are arranged alphabetically.

Box

Folder

A & B Booksellers theatre catalog, undated

Bare, Ken, 1930s

Blueprint for portable stage

Bare, Ken, 1930s

Original artwork for set and other designs - watercolors, pencil drawings

Denison's Vaudeville Sketches, 1904-1934

Dolls and puppets, 1930s-1940s

Newsletters, catalogs, pamphlets related to dolls, marionettes, and puppets

Fairy Tales for Workers Children, 1925

Federal Theatre Project at George Mason University, circa 1970s-1980s

Pamphlets and newsletters related to George Mason events revolving around puppetry and the Federal Theatre Project

History of the Drama 20th century, circa 1935-1939

History of the Drama series, outline for class study, 1937-1939

Letter, March 3, 1940

"Dear Charlotte", possibly from Scott Griffin

Marionette pattern for a 18" cloth marionette, undated

Marionette pattern for a 15" marionette, undated

Marionette pattern for a 9" marionette, undated

Box

Folder

Marionette patterns for larger marionettes, undated

Box

Folder

Marionette patterns (oversize), circa 1930s

Box

Folder

Newsletters, 1980s

Newsletters from The Puppetry Guild of Greater New York, The Puppeteers of America, The Puppeteers of America Regional Reporter for the Southeast Region, D. C. Puppetimes, George Mason University Golden Anniversary Puppetry Festival, The Puppet Guild of Greater Miami, Barry University Department of Theatre, The Puppet Masters calendar featuring famous puppeteers, itinerary for trip to Japan (UNIMA XV 1988)

Notes on the Soviet Theatre, February 1946

Play synopses (article from magazine?), circa 1920s

Box

Folder

Published plays, 1918; 1935

12 Plays for Boys and Girls edited by Ben Blake with pictures by Bill Siegel; The Slave with Two Faces by Mary Carolyn Davies

Shakespeare: Actor and Critic by George Henry Lewes, undated

Theatre Workshop, 1936-1937

Three issues: Art of Acting Issue (1936), Second Art of Acting Issue (1937), Fall Issue (1937)


Series 2: Newspaper clippings, 1936-1986

Series 2 contains newspaper clippings from Miami, Florida newspapers. Many of the newsclippings are reviews for plays that Molka Reich or Scott Griffin were involved in. This series is arranged alphabetically.



Box	Folder
2	4	Newsclippings, 1981-1987
	5	A, 1938
			Ah, Wilderness; Altars of Steel
	6	B, 1937-1938
			Boy Meets Girl; The Bride the Sun Shines On
	7	C, 1936-1937
			Candle Light; Chalk Dust; Coquette; Criminal at Large
	8	Engaged, 1936
	9	Gallows Gate, 1937
	10	If Ye Break Faith, 1938
	11	M, 1938
			Miami Federal Theatre; Molka Reich; Mystery of the Boardwalk Asylum
	12	N, September 25, 1936
			"New Director Named for Theatre Project", article about Dorothea Lynch becoming state director for the Federal Theatre.
	13	One More Spring, 1937
	14	Room Service, 1939
	15	S, 1936
			Smilin' Through; actor Scott Griffin
	16	Twelfth Night, March 31, 1937
	17	Two years of WPA, 1937
	18	UNIMA (l'Union Internationale de la Marionette) Congress and World Puppetry Festival, 1980
	19	When Knighthood was in Flower, 1938
	20	You and I, July 1936

Series 3: Photographs, circa 1930s-1980s

Series 3 contains photographs both black and white and color and in a variety of sizes. Photographs consist of portraits of Molka Reich, and Scott Griffin, as well as production photographs, and photographs of the Jack and the Beanstalk marionette. This series is arranged alphabetically.

Box

Folder

Engaged, 1936

1 production photograph featuring actors on stage. An actor in center is holding a gun to his head.

Jack and the Beanstalk, 1983

Color photographs of Jack and the beanstalk puppet.

Box

Folder

Molka Reich portraits, circa 1920s-1930s

12 oversize photographs, 10 of which are professional portraits taken by Charles Cooper in Miami, Florida.

Molka Reich portraits, circa 1920s-1930s

2 oversize matted photographic portraits of Molka Reich.

Box

Folder

Molka Reich puppet demonstration, circa 1970s-1980s

14 color photographs of Reich leading a marionette demonstration.

Molka Reich with Bimbo, circa 1930s; circa 1980s

Portraits of Scott Griffin, Molka Reich, and an unidentified woman, circa 1930s

Puppets and stage productions, circa 1930s

9 black and white photographs of Reich's marionettes, staged productions with actors, and includes two photographs of an audience of children watching Bimbo perform.


Series 4: Playscripts, 1920s-1953

Series 4 is the largest series and contains scripts for plays and some radio productions. Some of the scripts have accompanying music, mostly handwritten. This series is arranged alphabetically by title.



Box	Folder
2	27	Ambassador's Conference, circa 1930s
	28	An Apple for Venus, circa 1930s
	29	Anna Christie, circa 1930s
	30	Another Language, circa 1930s
	31	Anteroom, circa 1930s
	32	Anything Could Happen, circa 1930s
	33	Art - Where Art Thou? circa 1930s
	34	The Baxters:The Baxters adopt a family, episode 24 by Ruth Moore, circa 1940s
	35	Beachhead on the Campus by Milton Geiger, October 1, 1945
	36	Before and After by Edward Mann, circa 1930s
	37	The Blase Mrs. Dade by Carl Glick, circa 1920s
	38	Blockhead Hans photocopy, undated
	39	Blood and Hoe Cake photocopy, circa 1940s
	40	Blow East, Blow West, circa 1930s
	41	Bruin's Inn by Ann Townsend, circa 1930s
	42	Caesar Gets Crowned, circa 1930s
	43	Celebration for Lincoln's Birthday, circa 1930s
Box	Folder
3	1	Cinderella, undated
			Includes script and sheet music
	2	Community Players, 1953
	3	The Conflict, undated
	4	Cousin Billy at the Circus, undated
			Abstract
	5	The Case of the Empty Purse by Sol Barzman and Mel Waters, 1947
	6	Dick Martin, undated
			Scott Griffin's copy
	7	The Economist by Ben and Sol Barzman, 1947
	8	El Cristo, undated
	9	Emblem of Guatemala, undated
	10	Exiles, undated
	11	The Face, undated
	12	Faith of a Child, undated
	13	The Farce of Master Pierre Patelin, undated
	14	Farewell Appearance, undated
			Photocopy
			Farewell Appearance, undated
	15	Felicia and the Pot of Pinks (children's story), undated
	16	Fido the Clown, undated
	17	The Flattering Word, undated
	18	Flood Control, undated
	19	Food, undated
	20	Freud, undated
	21	The Frog Prince (for marionettes), undated
	22	Fumed Oak by Noel Coward; Bury the Dead, undated

		Fumed Oak by Noel Coward, undated
			Fumed Oak by Noel Coward, undated
Box	Folder
3	23	The Game, circa 1930s
	24	Gas, circa 1930s-1940s
	25	Ghosts, undated
	26	Ghosts (act 2), undated
	27	The Glittering Gate, circa 1930s
	28	Good Night, Caroline, circa 1930s
	29	The Greatest of These, undated
			Director's copy
Box	Folder
4	1	Hansel and Gretel, undated
	2	Henny Penny, undated
	3	From the Henry Morgan Show, undated
			Includes note from Syl to Helen: "Couldn't find the columns I mentioned to you, but in the search uncovered some old Morgan scripts I did for the Eversharp show. The enclosed is an excerpt, from about the only one that could be cut and still be effective. Probably would serve as a space filler and be good for a few laughs. Will try to find the other stuff for a later issue."
	4	The Hiccuping Mr. Higgins, 1947
	5	His Majesty the Microbe, circa 1935-1939
			Photocopy of Federal Theatre Project script
	6	Holiday, undated
	7	How to Tell a True Princess, undated
			Photocopy
	8	A Husband for Breakfast, undated
	9	I Have No Prayer by Arch Oboler for the National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1943
	10	If This Be Reason by members of the local #20, undated
	11	The Investigators, undated
	12	The Investigators, undated
			Sheet music
	13	The Irksome Beelzy, undated
	14	J. P. Dropabomb by Amos Hull, 1947
	15	Jack and the Beanstalk, undated
	16	Jergens Journal, February 11, 1940
			Radio production with Andrew Jergens
	17	Joe and Edna script, undated
	18	A Joke on the Sun (marionette play), 1934
			Photocopy
	19	Kids Learn Fast, undated
	20	Let Us Be Gay, undated
	21	Liberty Skit, undated
	22	Little Black Sambo, undated
	23	Little Black Sambo, undated
	24	Little Black Sambo, undated
			Photocopy of script and sheet music

		Little Black Sambo, undated
			Little Black Sambo, undated
Box	Folder
4	25	Little Red Riding Hood, undated
	26	The Londonderry Air; Where the Cross is Made by Eugene O'Neill, undated
	27	The Marrying Kind, undated
	28	Memo to the People by Sol Panitz for the World Security Workshop, March 6, 1947
	29	A Midsummer Night's Dream, undated
	30	Miss Marlow at Play, undated
			Photocopy

		Miss Marlow at Play, undated
			Miss Marlow at Play, undated
Box	Folder
4	31	Miss Molbray's Big Moment, undated
	32	Music for World Brotherhood by Jerome Bayer, undated
			Script for the American Brotherhood: The National Conference of Christians and Jews
	33	Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman, undated
			Photocopy. Includes four scripts, one for each actor.

		Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (Lemmer), undated
			Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (script 1), undated

		Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (Sarah), undated
			Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (script 2), undated

		Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (Tom), undated
			Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (script 3), undated

		Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (Abraham), undated
			Nancy Hanks, Bondswoman (script 4), undated
Box	Folder
4	34	The Nightingale, undated
	35	North Flies South (radio play), undated
	36	One Sunday Afternoon, undated
	37	Pan America's Reception Pageant, April 14, 1931
Box	Folder
5	1	Pageant on World Peace by Paul Harris, Jr., undated
	2	Peace in Our Time, circa 1939
	3	Peace plays: The Soldier's Dream, The Plow of Peace, The Little Green Table, circa 1930s
	4	Pierre Abelard, 1935
	5	Pinocchio, circa 1930s
	6	Pirates of Finance, 1940
	7	Play for Children, undated
	8	A Powerful Enemy, circa 1930s
	9	Princess Chooses, undated
			Photocopy
	10	Private Hicks, undated
	11	The Quest, undated
	12	Recreation Project, undated
			Multiple scripts with holiday themes
	13	Red White and Blue Network (a satirical monologue), 1947
	14	Right About Face, untitled
	15	Recitation (an idea for an original radio program), undated
	16	Room for a Crib by Lee Gilbert, 1947
	17	Rumpelstiltskin, undated
	18	Rust on the Iron Curtain by Abe Stone, 1947
	19	Saturday's Children by Maxwell Anderson, undated
	20	The Scarecrow Who Wished For the Moon, undated
	21	Secrets, undated
	22	Sham, undated
	23	Sheet music and lyrics, circa 1930s
			Miscellaneous mostly handwritten pages of sheet music and lyrics, some for marionette productions
	24	The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, undated
	25	Sixth Column, undated
	26	Sleeping Beauty, undated
			Photocopy
	27	Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, undated
			Script and sheet music
	28	So You Won't Talk?, undated
	29	Somebody - Nothing, undated
	30	The Soldier Who Became a Great Dane, 1946
	31	Snow White and Rose Red, undated
Box	Folder
6	1	The Stronger Woman, undated
	2	Suppressed Desires, undated
	3	Talk in Darkness, undated
	4	Tarzan, undated
	5	The Tender Elves, undated
	6	There's Always Juliet, undated
	7	This is Heaven, undated
	8	This Thing Called Love, undated
	9	Thorn in the Flesh, undated
	10	Three Clever People, undated

		Three Clever People, undated
			Three Clever People, undated
Box	Folder
6	11	The Three Little Pigs (a marionette play), undated
			Includes script and music
	12	The Three Wishes, undated
			Includes script and music
	13	Three's a Crowd, undated
	14	The Tinderbox, undated
			Photocopy

		The Tinderbox, undated
			The Tinderbox, undated
Box	Folder
6	15	Tinsel, undated
	16	Tolstoy (essay), undated
	17	The Totem, undated
	18	Treasure Island, undated
	19	Two Birds with One Stone, undated
			Photocopy

		Two Birds with One Stone, undated
			Two Birds with One Stone, undated
Box	Folder
6	20	Unknown script, undated
			Pages 2 to 30. Characters include Mrs. Giles, Mrs. Adams, Harry, Miss Mobray, and Walter.
	21	The Valiant, undated
	22	The Valiant, undated
	23	What's in a Name?, undated
	24	Why am I a Bachelor, undated
	25	Why the Chimes Rang, 1938
	26	Wonder Town, undated
	27	The Youngest, undated
			Scott Griffin's script

Series 5: Programs, 1928-1950s

Box

Folder

A-F, 1936-1982

Altars of Steel; Ah, Wilderness!; The Bishop Misbehaves; The Bride the Sun Shines On; Criminal at Large; Coquette; Chalk Dust; Craig's Wife; A Classic Vaudeville; The Emperor's New Clothes; Engaged; Folk Music in the Roosevelt White House (produced by the Smithsonian Institution Office of Folklife programs)

G, 1930s-1957

The Ghost Train; The Gallows Gate; The Great Sebastians

Box

Folder

H-L, 1931-1958

The Happiest Millionaire; If Ye Break Faith; Inherit the Wind; International Society for Contemporary Music; Lightnin (invitation and program); The Loud Red Patrick

The Marionette Unit, circa 1938-1939

Double sided one page flyer for the Marionette Unit directed by Molka Reich. The front page features reviews from places the troop performed, the back features their repertoire.

M-P, 1936-1958

May Day; Margin for Error; The Mask and the Face; Mehitable Wing; The Matchmaker; The New York Idea; The 9th Guest; No Time for Sergeants; One More Spring; An Evening of Experimental One Act Plays; Post Road

The Molka Reich Studio, 1940

Two invitations for events at the Molka Reich Studio.

R-W, 1936-1958

The Starlight Theatre (1957 Summer calendar); Room Service; The Reluctant Debutante; Smilin' Through (includes ticket, programs, press release, for Jacksonville, Florida production); Separate Tables; Sabrina Fair; Twelfth Night; Visit to a Small Planet; Whom Dreams Possess; What a Life; What a Woman Wants; Witness for Prosecution

Their Annual Minstrel Show (Miami Business of Professional Women's Club), April 1937

Their Annual Minstrel Show (Miami Business of Professional Women's Club),, 1937-04

Turnabout Theatre presents a repertory of puppet musical comedies and intimate revues, circa 1952

The Winter's Tale, March 1939

Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1920s-1950s

Box

Folder

Scrapbook pages, circa 1930s

Separated 8.25"x9.25" scrapbook pages with 5"x7" black and white photographs adhered to them. Photographs feature marionettes and Molka Reich.

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 covers, 1928-1948

1 of 5

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 pages, 1928-1948

2 of 5. Newspaper clippings, programs, telegrams, and handwritten notes to and about Scott Griffin regarding theatre productions including: Coquette, This Thing Called Love, two one act plays performed at the Little Theatre (Bereguisse and The Torch-Bearers), a calendar for plays at the Florida Forum and Assembly (1934), The Pretender, Broken Dishes, Hired Husbands, The Nervous Wreck, The Big Pond, Why Wives Worry, Smilin' Thru, Thank You, and The Love Critic.

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 newsclippings, 1930s-1940s

3 of 5

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 loose ephemera, 1930s

4 of 5. Includes programs for The Last of Mrs. Cheney, Our Town, Little Women, and Room Service. Includes playscripts for If Ye Break Faith and Two Crooks and a Lady, as well as handwritten and typewritten notes, a flyer for the production of Coquette, and an entry ticket for the Manhattan Repertory Theatre Co. at the Miami Playhouse.

Molka Reich scrapbook 1928-1948 Billy Griffin, 1928-1948

5 of 5. Material relating to Billy Griffin (later Scott Griffin). Includes negatives and portrait print as well as report cards and calling cards.

Marionettes scrapbook, 1930s-1950s

1 of 2. Contains primarily magazine and newspaper articles featuring marionettes. There is also a certificate for Mrs. Howard Fitch for completing the Cultural Olympics in Woodstown, New Jersey (May 5, 1938). Clippings and certificate are attached to scrapbook paper.

Marionettes scrapbook, 1930s-1950s

2 of 2. Contains loose newspaper and magazine clippings featuring articles on marionettes.

Loose materials, circa 1938-1941

Includes newsclippings, newsclippings attached to paper, a program, and marionette patterns.

Loose scrapbook materials, 1930s

Includes programs for the West Florida Music and Arts Festival, International Society for Contemporary Music (1931), newspaper and magazine clippings featuring marionettes.

Marionettes by children loose scrapbook pages, circa 1930s

Newspaper articles from the Monitor titled "Marionettes by Children" that illustrate how one can make their own marionette.

Box

Folder

Miami scrapbook, 1936-1937

Oversize. Molka Reich scrapbook featuring newspaper clippings and programs from Miami Federal Theatre and non Federal Theatre productions. Pages have been separated.

Starlight Theater scrapbook, circa 1955

Oversize. Scrapbook pages separated, featuring programs and newspaper clipping from productions performed at Starlight Theater in Pawling, New York.

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