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Richard Hoffman Woody Allen 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 Lee Hoffman, the Brooklyn-based theater collector and bookdealer, built a number of literary collections around American and British playwrights over a period of many years.
Hoffman has said that he entered the United States Army in the 1950s as an actor and left as a writer. His military experience 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 University 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, and Neil Simon. Richard Hoffman's interest in collecting first editions led to his career as an antiquarian bookdealer.
"Richard Hoffman." Literature Resource Center. http:/galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/LitRC (accessed February 2009).
Award-winning American film writer and director Woody Allen, born Allan Stewart Konigsberg on December 1, 1935 in New York City, has starred in many of the films he has written. Allen began writing gags for the agent David O. Albers in high school. By age nineteen, he was writing scripts for television shows, such as
The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, and Caesar's Hour. He was also writing plays and short stories, several of which appeared in The New Yorker. In 1960 he launched a career as a stand-up comedian and began writing for television's Candid Camera.Allen's first movie production, for which he wrote the initial screenplay and in which he made his acting debut, was
What's New, Pussycat? (1965). The production of Annie Hall (1977) marked the beginning a period of critically acclaimed and financially successful films for Allen, including Interiors (1978), Manhattan (1979), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), and Hannah and Her Sisters (1986).Woody Allen is the winner of numerous awards including the O. Henry Award, a Golden Globe for best screenplay, and several Academy awards.
Literature Research Center Biographies. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/LitRC (retrieved February 1, 2007).Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2007. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2007. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC (retrieved February 13, 2007).
The Richard Hoffman Woody Allen Collection, spanning the dates 1966-1995 and comprised of 1.3 linear feet of autograph, printed, and audio material, reflects Richard Hoffman's interest in the work of American playwright and film maker Woody Allen.
The collection is organized into five series. Series I. Material related to plays or screenplays written by Woody Allen, features posters, lobby cards, photograph stills and press kits for numerous films written and/or directed by Woody Allen, as well as several films in which he starred. Highlights include the pressbook and poster for
What's Up, Tiger Lily?, Allen's directorial debut; photograph stills for films such as Interiors, Manhattan, and Annie Hall; and three versions of the poster for Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid to Ask, several of which are signed by Allen. A number of other posters, lobby cards and photographs are also signed by Woody Allen.Allen's work in the theater is represented by photograph stills, a poster and a playscript for the Lincoln Center Theatre Company production of
The Floating Light Bulb. The stills include images of Allen, Bea Arthur, Danny Aiello and others. A photograph still for the Broadhurst Theatre production of Play It Again, Sam and Playbill programs for productions of Central Park West and Don't Drink the Water complete the theatrical material.Series II. consists of two letters written by Woody Allen to James-Daniel Rediches in 1998. In his letters Allen graciously declined Rediches's request to photograph Allen. Series III includes three phonograph recordings of performances of Woody Allen as a standup comedian in the 1960s. Series IV. is comprised of four photographs of Woody Allen, one of which also features Diane Keaton. Other photographs of Allen in films or plays are available in the first series.
Printed material containing articles by or about Woody Allen is the final series (V.). One highlight among the program, magazines, and journals is a 1969 issue of
Life featuring Woody Allen's "How Bogart Made Me the Superb Lover I Am Today."Boxes 1-2: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes
Box 3: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (17 inches)
Box 4: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (18 inches)
Box 5: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
Removals: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize mapcases
Purchase, December 2006
Processed by Anita A. Wellner, January 2007. Encoded by Jaime Margalotti, June 2021.
People
Subject
- Dramatists, American--20th century
- Motion picture producers and directors--United States--History--20th century
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Library Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Finding Aid Date
- 2021 June 15
- 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
One black and white still featuring Allen and Diane Keaton.
Incomplete set of nine color lobby cards for the film production of Annie Hall, one of which (#4) is signed by Woody Allen. Cards are numbered #1, #2, #3, #4, #6, #7, and #8 plus several duplicate cards, including two cards numbered #3 but with different images.
Original eight page United Artists pressbook, 1977
Complete set of eight color lobby cards for the film production of Bananas, plus a duplicate of lobby card #1.
Original full color re-release poster
One of three one-act plays which comprised Death Defying Acts
February 1995 issue of Playbill (volume 95, 32) for the Variety Arts Theatre containing the program for Death Defying Acts which includes Woody Allen's one act play, Central Park West. Laid in is a handbill for Death Defying Acts.
Original poster signed by Woody Allen
January 1967 issue of Playbill (volume 4, #1) for the Morosco Theatre containing the program for Don't Drink the Water
Original eight page United Artists pressbook
Original advance poster, illustrated with a photographic image of Allen.
Two original "style B" one sheet posters, each signed by Allen.
Full color re-release poster for the film.
Produced: New York: Vivian Beaumont Theater: The Lincoln Center Theatre Company, 1981
Typescript (photocopy) of the original playscript used in the New York production of the play. The script is in a yellow fabricord binder of the Studio Duplicating Service, Inc., with an embossed strip with the title attached to the spine. The title page bears the stamp of Johnson-Liff Casting Associates and in ink a circled "E" and a circled "8" which has been crossed through several times. The script varies from the published versions with pages of revisions marked with yellow post-it tabs, some of which bear brief penciled notes. The final page titled "Note to myself" was written by Allen and is not included in published editions of the play.
Collection of seven photographs taken by James Radiches, including one of Woody Allen on the set and the others being of the scenes from the Vivian Beaumont Theater production of the play. All seven are signed by Radiches and include images of Allen, Bea Arthur, Danny Aiello, Jack Weston, Brian Backer, and Eric Gurry. The photograph of Allen bears the signature and date (10 Apr 1981) on the front and on the verso: "On the set of "The Floating Light Bulb" – Vivian Beaumont Theatre 4-10-1981."
Poster (black with pink lettering) for the New York production at the Vivian Beaumont Theater by the Lincoln Center Theatre Company, which ran from April to June 1981. On the verso is penciled "1982" and bears the rubber stamp of "Bill Posters Local 3038."
One full color lobby card (numbered #5) which is signed by Woody Allen.
Two black and white stills featuring Michael Caine, Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, and Dianne Wiest
One black and white still featuring Diane Keaton and Richard Jordan
Original twenty page United Artists pressbook
Original Australian insert poster on thin paper with color photograph images of the cast
Black and white United Artists poster
One black and white still featuring Allen and unidentified young actor
Complete set of eight black and white lobby cards for Allen's "Russian" comedy Love and Death. Two duplicate cards are also included
Two color German lobby cards, one marked "FSK 13 Freigegeben."
Eight black and white stills from the film, including a portrait of Allen. Numbered "MH 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 14, and 15."
Five different black and white lobby cards (numbered 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8) for the film production of Manhattan
Original sixteen page United Artists pressbook
Original Australian insert poster on thin paper with image of Allen and Keaton on the bench by the bridge.
Complete set of eight color lobby cards for the film production of A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, plus duplicates of # 4 and #8.
Reprint of a black and white photograph of Diane Keaton, Woody Allen, Tony Roberts and an unidentified woman in a scene from the Broadhurst Theatre (NY) production of the play.
Paramount Pictures Corporation, 1972.
Three color stills (numbered 2, 7, and 8) from the film version of Play It Again, Sam, each is signed by Woody Allen and one is also signed by Tony Roberts. Includes scenes with Allen, Roberts, and Diane Keaton
Two black and white stills for the film, featuring Allen, Keaton, and Anthony Roberts
Complete set of eight color lobby cards for the film Play It Again, Sam.
Original American one sheet poster
Incomplete press kit for a film starring Woody Allen and Bette Midler which was directed by Paul Mazursky. Includes 10 small stills on four sheets of 8" x 10" photograph paper and two pages of color mailer captions, all in a pocket folder. Photographs include Midler, Allen, Bill Irwin, and director Paul Mazursky
Original one sheet poster, signed by Woody Allen. The verso bears the poster images in reverse and with "no. 016019" added
One black and white still, featuring Mia Farrow and Sam Waterson.
Full color scene card (numbered #1) which has been signed by Woody Allen. Plus a certificate of authenticity from "Star Shots."
Two copies of the original eight page United Artists pressbook. One of the pressbook has a film credit card laid in
Original full color re-release poster
Two black and white stills for the film (numbered SM-1 and 4), featuring Allen and Charlotte Rampling
Incomplete set of black and white cards (numbered 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8) for the film version of Stardust Memories. Number 1 of the set is signed by Woody Allen.
Original twelve page American International Pictures pressbook
Original poster which is illustrated with artwork.
Double record phonograph album of Allen's nightclub and concert performances from 1964 to 1968. Corners of the album are clipped suggesting this was a remainder copy.
Double record phonograph album of Allen's nightclub and concert performances from 1964 to 1968. Same material as the previous album, a different cover and packaging. Corners of the album are clipped suggesting this was a remainder copy.
Double record phonograph album which includes the same material found on the previous album by produced by a different recording company a year later. A promotional copy
See also the photograph stills related to films or plays in Series I.
Autographed by Allen
Autographed by Allen
Large dry-mounted candid portrait of Allen & Keaton in the street. The photograph is signed by the photographer Jere Hageman on the verso
Arranged chronologically
Article written by Allen about his new play, Play It Again, Sam, including photographs from the new Broadway production. The magazine includes Allen on the cover.
Includes two articles about Allen, an interview with Allen, and a filmography, as well as Woody Allen on the cover of the magazine.
Article about Allen and his new movie Annie Hall. Allen is pictured on the cover of the magazine.
Excerpt from Eric Lax's book on Allen
Kakutani's interview with Woody Allen for this "Humor Issue."