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Richard Hoffman David Mamet collection
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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Richard Hoffman, the Brooklyn theater collector and book dealer, built the David Mamet Collection over the years. During his service in the United States Army, Hoffman's experience as an actor led to an assignment to create a television program titled "Your Army in View," which consisted of interviews and live drama.
After his discharge from the service in 1955, Hoffman taught in the drama department of The City College of New York. During this period he was awarded a Eugene O'Neill Fellowship for playwriting. He also seriously began to collect rare books and first editions of contemporary American dramatists, notably the playwrights Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, and David Mamet. Richard Hoffman's interest in collecting first editions led to his career as an antiquarian book dealer.
Biographical information derived from the collection.
American playwright, screenwriter, director and producer David Mamet was born November 30, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. Mamet attended Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theater in 1968 and 1969 and received a B.A. from Goddard College in 1969.
David Mamet began his career as an actor and director, founding and serving as the artistic director of St. Nicholas Theater Company in Chicago from 1973 to 1976. In 1976 three plays which Mamet had written,
American Buffalo, Duck Variations, and Sexual Perversity in Chicago, achieved success on Off-Off Broadway. American Buffalo and Sexual Perversity in Chicago won both Joseph Jefferson Awards and Obie Awards in 1975-1976.In 1984 Mamet's most acclaimed play,
Glengarry Glen Ross, received a Pulitzer Prize for drama and an Antoinette Perry ("Tony") nomination for best play. Mamet's play, Speed-the-Plow was awarded a "Tony" in 1988.In addition to playwriting, David Mamet is an accomplished screenwriter, adapting his own plays, such as
American Buffalo (1996) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), for the screen and writing original screenplays such as Hoffa (1992) and Heist (2001). Mamet has also successfully adapted the writing of others for the screen, for example James Cain's The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) and Larry Barnhart's novel, American Hero, which was titled Wag the Dog for film. Mamet has also written a number of television screenplays, novels, poetry, and children's books.David Mamet has directed for stage and screen. Some of the films directed by Mamet include
House of Games (1987), Homicide (1992), Oleanna (1994), and Heist (2001). He has also has taught at Goddard College, the Yale Drama School and New York University.As an acclaimed playwright and screenwriter, David Mamet has received numerous awards, including induction into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1994, an Academy Award in 1986, and the Pulitzer Prize in 1984
Literature Research Center Biographies retrieved on 11/2/2004 at http:/galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/LitRC
The Richard Hoffman David Mamet Collection spans the dates 1975 – 2002 and consists of 1.5 linear feet of letters, play scripts, screenplays, posters, theater programs, periodicals, photographs, presskits, and ephemera related to American playwright and screenwriter David Mamet. The collection was assembled by Brooklyn book dealer Richard Hoffman.
Most of the published works in the collection, such as published plays, screenplays, essays, poetry, novels, and children's books, as well as several volumes written about Mamet, have been cataloged individually for the printed collections.
The collection is organized into six series, the most substantial of which is Series I. Dramatic work, which includes play scripts, screenplays, poster, presskits, and other materials which represent Mamet's writing for dramatic presentation, both stage and screen. Material for twenty- five of Mamet's drama works are arranged in alphabetical order and embody a fine sample of Mamet's work.
In Series I. are remnants of Mamet's earliest successes, achieved in 1976 with the staging of three Off- Off Broadway plays, including a play script for
American Buffalod, programs and production photographs from Duck Variations, and a contract, program and photographs for Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Also represented in this series are Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Glengarry Glen Ross, the controversial stage and screenplay, Oleanna, his first screenplay, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and an episode for the television series Hill Street Blues titled "A Wasted Weekend."Series II. Poetry, comprises an issue of
Grand Street which includes Mamet's poem, "Hotel Atlantic." Series III. Letters includes five letters written by Mamet to various individuals between 1975 and 1992. In his 1975 letters he discusses the opening of American Buffalo and work left to complete it and his daily activities. A letter written in 1990 includes Mamet's whimsical drawings of a pig and panda, while in a 1992 letter Mamet refers to himself as an "underachiever" and says "I never found anything I was good in until I found writing, when I was in my 20's."Series IV. Interviews, consists of published or photocopied interviews and conversations with Mamet. Series V. Honors awarded Mamet includes an issue of
Proceeding of the American Academy of Arts and Letters which records Mamet's induction as a member in 1994. Series VI. Miscellaneous, consists of a George M. Cohan commemorative stamp and a 22kt. gold replica.Boxes 1-2: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center cartons
Removals: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize mapcases
Purchase, October 2004
Processed by Anita A. Wellner, October 2004.
People
Organization
Subject
- Screenwriters--United States--Biography
- Motion picture producers and directors--United States--History--20th century
- Actors--United States--20th century
- Literary prizes
- Theatrical posters
- Authors and theater--20th century
- American poetry--20th century
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Library Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Finding Aid Date
- 2019 November
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec
Collection Inventory
New York: Lansbury/Beruh Productions, 1977 Loose typescript copy pages for Mamet's first Broadway play that starred Robert Duvall.
New York: Circle in the Square Downtown, [1975] Theatre window poster in black and white with stylized portrait of Al Pacino. Removed to map case
New York: Booth Theatre, [1983] Theatre poster for the Broadway revival with Al Pacino, with stylized portrait of him. Removed to map case
Los Angeles, CA: The Samuel Goldwyn Company, 1996 Two presskit with 38 pages of publicity material for a film starring Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Franz, and Sean Nelson. The first page of one kit features Mamet's signature, a small drawing and Mamet's rubber stamp. Additionally, this kit includes 6 black and white stills of the play, an 8" x 10" color photograph portrait of Hoffman that is signed by him, and a bookmark. The second kit has 38 pages of publicity material, an 8"x10" color photograph of Mamet and a September 1987 issue of
American Theatre which features Mamet.Burbank, CA: Warner Bros., 1983 Typescript copy of the second draft of the screenplay which was never produced. Paper covers bear the Warner Brothers logo. *Death Defying Acts – see Lawyer in Hell (F18 and F19)
New York: Rosenstone/Wender Agency, 1983. Typescript copy of play script which bears the rubber stamp of The Goodman Theatre (Chicago) on the title page as is the agency address. The script is in a binder with a label for the Jewish Repertory Theatre (New York). The play was published by Samuel French in 1987 under the title
Three Jewish Plays.Radnor, Pa.: Chilton Book Co. Uncorrected galley proofs edited by Stanley Richards which include
The Duck Variations. The first published appearance of a play by Mamet.Two original 8" x 10" productions photographs taken by Rena Hansen of the first New York City production performed at St. Clement's Church. See also F29 for 1976 Cherry Lane Theatre (New York) programs
Provincetown, CT: The Provincetown Playhouse. Theater windo card illustrated with design by Donald Sultan in blue and black. Removed to map case.
Physical Description2 copies
Los Angeles, CA: Zupnik Enterprises, Inc. Typescript copy of the first draft of this screenplay. In paper covers with Creative Artists Agency logo on the front cover and the stamp of Zupnik Enterprises, Inc. on the title page. Labeled #10 on title page. Cast included Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, and Kevin Spacey.
New York: John Golden Theatre, 1981 Mar 25. Opening night program for a play starring Joe Mantegna, Robert Prosky, James Tolkan, Mike Nussbaum, Lane Smith, Jack Wallace, & J.T. Walsh.
New York: The Golden Theatre. Black and red theatre window poster illustrated with photographs of some of the cast and labeled "Winner Best American Play, 1984 Pulitzer Prize, 1984 New York Drama Critics Circle Award." Removed to mapcase
Physical Description2 copies
Los Angeles, CA: New Line Cinema Corp. Presskit with 20 pages of publicity material plus 6 photograph stills of the stars, Al Pacino, Jack Lemmon, Alec Baldwin, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, and Kevin Spacey.
New York: Morgan Creek Productions/ Warner Bros. Pictures. Sheet poster for the 2002 videocassette and DVD release of a film starring Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo and Rebecca Pidgeon. Illustrated in color with photographs of the cast. Removed to map case.
Beverly Hills, CA: Twentieth Century Fox. Folder with 41 pages of publicity and promotional material, plus 14 photographs with several stills per page. Film starred Jack Nicholson and Danny DeVito.
Cambridge, MA: Copyright 1990 by David Mamet. Typescript copy in black binder, dated May 1990.
Los Angeles, CA: Orion Pictures Corporation. Black and white still of Mamet on the Orion Pictures set with Joe Mantegna and Lindsay Crouse.
New York: Rosenstone/Wender. Typescript copy in black binder. A one act play which was titled "An Interview" when part of the evening of short parts titled "Death Defying Acts." A flyer for "Death Defying Acts" at the Variety Arts Theatre in New York (1995), starring Paul Guilfoyle and Gerry Becker, is laid in.
New York: Variety Arts Theatre. Playbill for an evening of short plays which includes Mamet's
An Interview, which stars Paul Guilfoyle and Gerry Becker.New York: Booth Theatre. Opening night production of Mamet's
The Old Neighborhood starring Peter Riegert, Patti Lupone, Vincent Guastaferro, Rebecca Pidgeon, and Jack Willis. See also F49 for copies of a press release regarding the Booth Theatre production.Booth Theatre, New York City. Removed to MAPCASE.
New York: Rosenstone/Wender Agency. Typescript copy of a draft manuscript dated June 23, 1992, with Rosenstone/Wender Agency on the title page. Titled has note: "Arthur Cantor's copy." Final page notes: "Draft, Revised June 26, 1992."
New York: Orpheum Theatre. Two Orpheum Theatre playbills with different covers. Production stars William H. Macy and Rebecca Pidgeon.
Privately printed copy of the screenplay from a novel by James M. Cain, leather bound with marbleized endsheets, which belonged to executive producer Merv Adelson, whose name is embossed on the cover.
Typescript mimeograph copy bound in black paper covers with title lettering.
New York: Paramount Pictures Corporation. Folder of publicity and promotional material including a 35 page book of production information, 26 additional pages of biographical other information and two photograph stills. The film starred Jack Nicholson, Jessica Lange, and Michael Lerner.
New York: Paramount Pictures Corporation. Black and white 8" x 10" still of Producer/Director Bob Rafelson, Jack Nicholson Jessica Lange, and Director of Photography, Sven Nykvist on the set, with a note from the Publicity Department of Paramount Pictures.
New York: Paramount Pictures Corporation, 1981 Half sheet full color poster for Mamet's first screenplay. Poster is illustrated with artwork of Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange. Removed to map case.
Carbon copy of the three- page contract for the production of
Sexual Perversity in Chicago at St. Clement's Church in New York City. Signed Mamet and Lawrence Goossen.New York: Cherry Lane Theatre. Includes two programs for a production of
Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Duck Variations, with one cast list laid in. The cast varied on each program.Two black and white 8" x10" production stills from a performance.
New York: Cinehaus, Inc. Offset typescript screenplay in bound paper covers which bear the Creative Artists Agency logo. The typescript has a memorandum explaining changes and revised pages have been added throughout the script and photocopied handwritten notes, possibly by Mamet.
Burbank, CA: Columbia Pictures. Includes 49 pages of publicity material and three photograph stills from the production in a folder. Film starred Don Ameche and Joe Mantegna.
Offset typescript revised script bound in brown binder, dated May 5, 1986.
New York: Paramount Pictures Corporation. Presskit includes a four-page fold-over preview brochure, a 32-page book of production information and 19 black and white photograph stills from the production starring Robert DeNiro, Charles Martin Smith, Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, and Andy Garcia.
New York: The Zanuck/Brown Company in association with Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. Original offset typescript of final draft with revisions made on blue pages. Bound in red paper covers with the studio logo. This copy is signed by Director Sidney Lumet on the title page.
New York: Fox-Zanuck/Brown Productions, 1981 Original offset typescript of final draft with revisions incorporated into the script. Bound in red fabricord binder, the copy is signed by Mamet with a small drawing and inscribed by Sidney Lumet "for Emily & Richard." Script also bears a few autograph pencil changes.
New York: Lucille Lortel Theatre. Program for
Orchards: Seven American Playwrights Present Stories by Chekhov, which includes Mamet's "Vint," adapted from the short story translated by Avrahm Yarmolinsky.New York: New Line Cinema Corporation. Presskit includes 41 pages of publicity and production information, plus 13 photograph stills in folder. Film stars Dustin Hoffman, Robert DeNiro, Anne Heche, Denis Leary and Willie Nelson.
Property of MTM Enterprises Inc. Typescript copy of a script for an episode of Hill Street Blues originally written in 1981. This copy is dated October 8, 1986 and has pink and blue revision pages for October 13 and October 14 of 1986. The script has paper covers with the Creative Artists Agency logo on the cover. Title page notes: "Script #11" and "Prod. #6401."
New York: The Atlantic Theater Company. Production of Mamet's
The Water Engine and his Mr. Happiness starring Steven Goldstein and Mary McCann.Beverly Hills, CA: William Morris Agency, Inc. Typescript copy of a Paramount Pictures film in paper covers with William Morris Agency logo on the cover. Labeled "First Draft" and dated December 1987. Title page notes: "Produced by Art Linson, Paramount Pictures."
Los Angeles, CA: Creative Artists Agency, Inc. Typescript copy of a Paramount Pictures film in paper covers with Creative Artists Agency logo on the cover. Labeled "First Draft" and dated December 1987. Title page notes: "Produced by Art Linson, Paramount Pictures."
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc. Black and white 8" x 10" photograph of David Mamet directing the production, with a mailing envelope from New York photographer Rena Hansen.
Sony Picture Entertainment, Inc. Set of eight full color photograph lobby cards for the film, starring Nigel Hawthorne, Jeremy Northam, Rebecca Pidgeon, and Gemma Jones.
New York: Grand Street Press. Issue No. 41 of
Grand Street contains Mamet's three-page poem, "Hotel Atlantic."Three typed and two handwritten letters written by David Mamet.
1975 September 29 type Letter signed 1p To "L", 1975 November 4 type Letter signed 1p To "Larry", 1990 January 12 autograph letter signed 1p To Mr. Cross (Note: Includes Mamet's drawings of a panda and a pig and his personal stamp.), 1992 October 23 autograph letter signed 1p w/envelope To Tom Callos, [undated] Friday TNS 1p To "L, J, J, G, et al."
New York: The Dramatist Guild. Issue (Vol. 17, No. 4) of
The Dramatist Guild Quarterly which includes a forum discussion in which Mamet participated with Eve Merriam, Albert Innaurato, and Terrence McNally.New York: The Dramatist Guild. Issue (Vol. 30, No. 1) of
The Dramatist Guild Quarterly which includes a piece titled "Mamet on Playwriting" which records Mamet's responses to a question and answer session in New York City.Also includes press releases for
The Old Neighborhood at the Booth Theatre.New York: American Academy of Arts and Letters. Issue No. 45 of the 2nd series of
Proceeding of the American Academy of Arts and Letters which records Mamet's induction as a member in 1994. Includes a brief biographical sketch and a photograph. A brief note is laid in.Stamp was issued July 3, 1978 and is mounted on a board with the 22 kt. gold replica. Also bears Mamet's personal stamp and signature.