george_alexander_papers
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Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester Rush Rhees Library Second Floor, Room 225 Rochester, NY 14627-0055 [email protected] URL: https://www.library.rochester.edu/spaces/rbscp george_alexander_papers
Table of Contents
Summary Information ...... 3 Biographical/Historical note ...... 3 Scope and Contents note ...... 4 Administrative Information ...... 4 Related Materials ...... 5 Controlled Access Headings ...... 5 Collection Inventory ...... 5 Series I: Plays from known playrights ...... 5 Series II: Plays from playwrights unknown ...... 10
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Summary Information
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester Creator: Alexander, George, Sir, 1858-1918 Title: George Alexander papers ID: D.178 Date [inclusive]: 1892-1913 Physical Description: 34 Volumes Language of the English Material:
Preferred Citation
[Item title, item date], George Alexander papers, D.178, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
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Biographical/Historical note
The British actor-manager Sir George Alexander (1858-1918) was born in Reading, England. He began acting in amateur theatricals in 1875, and four years later embarked on a professional acting career, making his London debut in 1881. He played many roles in the leading companies, including Sir Henry Irving's Lyceum.
In 1890 he produced his first play at the Avenue Theatre and in 1891 he became the manager of St. James's Theatre. Here he produced several of the major plays of the day such as Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde (1892), The Second Mrs. Tanqueray by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero (1893), The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde (1895), and The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope (1896).
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Scope and Contents note
The collection consists of thirty-four typed, bound scripts used during the production of the plays at St. James's Theatre. Those having manuscript revisions, stage directions, and photographs of the production are noted in the following list of the plays.
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Administrative Information
Publication Statement Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Rush Rhees Library Second Floor, Room 225 Rochester, NY 14627-0055 [email protected] URL: https://www.library.rochester.edu/spaces/rbscp
Restrictions on Access The George Alexander Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note Purchased from George S. MacManus Co., March 18, 1983.
Restrictions on Use In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.
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Related Materials
Related Archival Materials note Pearl Mary Teresa Richards Craigie Papers
See also: Pinero, Sir Arthur Wing. The Second Mrs. Tanqueray (London, J. Miles, 1892). This copy belonged to Sir George Alexander and contains his notes, annotations, stage directions, etc. for the first production of the play in 1893. Rare Book Department call number: PR 5182 .S44
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Controlled Access Headings
• Theatrical producers and directors • England--London • Drama • Alexander, George, Sir, 1858-1918 • Saint James' Theatre (Organization : London, England)
Collection Inventory
Series I: Plays from known playrights Title/Description Instances Aide, Hamilton. Doctor Bill; a farcical comedy in three acts Volume 1 Scope and Contents
Adapted from the French of Albert Carre. Bound typescript, ca 70 pages. Sketch of set design for acts I and II. George Alexander's bookplate.
Beringer, Mrs. Oscar. The plot of his story; a play in one act Volume 2 Scope and Contents
Founded on the short story by Morley Roberts. Bound typescript, 22 pages. Sketch of set design. George
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Buchanan, Robert and Fred Horner. The struggle for life; modern Volume 3 drama in four acts Scope and Contents
Adapted by "La Lutte pour la Vie". Bound typescript with many manuscript annotations and revisions, ca 75 pages. George Alexander's bookplate.
Bulwer Lytton, Edward. Money Volume 4 Scope and Contents
Bound printed copy of the play interleaved with pages containing numerous manuscript revisions of the dialogue, drawings of the sets, stage directions, prompts, etc., ca 100 pages. Inscribed on front fly-leaf "To George Alexander with all sweetest remembrance from James Fernandez, Drury Lane Theat, May 9/11".
Calmour, Alfred C. The lady killer; a comedy in one act Volume 5 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, with few manuscript revisions, 21 pages. George Alexander's bookplate.
Carton, Richard Claude. Lorrimer Sabiston--dramatist Volume 6 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with manuscript stage directions, ca 110 pages. George Alexander's bookplate. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 9 November 1909.
Chambers, C. Haddon. The awakening Volume 7 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript interleaved with blank pages; occasional revisions; ca 100 pages. Program laid in. George Alexander's bookplate. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 6 February 1901.
Chambers, C. Haddon. The idler; a play in four acts Volume 8 Scope and Contents
Typescript, ca 60 pages
Fagan, James Bernard. Bella donna; a play in four acts Volume 9
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Scope and Contents
Adapted from the novel by Robert Hichens. Bound typescript with five mounted photographs of the sets, ca 120 pages. George Alexander's bookplate. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 9 December 1911.
[Field, Julian]. Too happy by half Volume 10 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with manuscript revisions, 34 pages. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 5 January 1895. George Alexander's bookplate.
Frith, Walter. Midsummer day; a new and original comedy in one Volume 11 act Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with numerous manuscript revisions, 31 pages. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 30 March 1892. George Alexander's bookplate.
Forbes, Athol. Lord Danby's affair; a society play Volume 12 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript interleaved with blank pages; a few manuscript revisions, ca 100 pages
Godfrey, G.W. The woman-hater Volume 13 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with numerous manuscript revisions, 22 pages
Grundy, Sydney. A debt of honour; an original play in five acts Volume 14 and an epilogue Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, with photographs of the scenery, drawings of the stage sets, manuscript corrections, printed program, 109 pages. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 1 September 1900
Hamilton, Cosmo. The fortune of war Volume 15 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, 13 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
Hobbes, John Oliver [Mrs. Pearl Craigie]. The ambassador; a Volume 16 comedy in four acts
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Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, ca 100 pages. Printed program laid in. George Alexander's bookplate. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 2 June 1898
Hobbes, John Oliver [Mrs. Pearl Craigie]. The wisdom of the Volume 17 wise; a comedy in three acts Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with numerous manuscript revisions, ca 90 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
Hope, Anthony [Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins]. Rupert of Hentzau; Volume 18 a play in four acts Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, diagrams of stage settings, some manuscript revisions, ca 120 pages. Opened at St. James's Theatre 1 February 1900. George Alexander's bookplate.
[Jones, Henry Arthur]. The ogre Volume 19 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with numerous revisions, stage directions, etc., ca 100 pages. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 11 September 1911. George Alexander's bookplate.
[Le Marchant, P.] The turning point. English translation of the Volume 20 play La Flambee by Henry Hubert Alexandre Kistemaeckers Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with two photographs of the sets, ca 110 pages. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 1 October 1912. George Alexander's bookplate
McCarthy, Justin Huntly. The will and the way; a dialogue Volume 21 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with manuscript revisions, 20 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
Mason, A.E.W. Open windows; a play in three acts Volume 22 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, ca 90 pages; with two photographs of the sets. George Alexander's bookplate. Opened at St. James's Theatre, 11 March 1913
Mitchell, Langdon. In the season; a one-act play Volume 23
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Scope and Contents
Bound printed copy of the play as it was published in The Theatre (1 May 1893), pages 260-270; with pencilled notes. George Alexander's bookplate
[Musset, Alfred de] Lorenzaccio. Translated from the French Volume 24 Scope and Contents
Bound transcript with detailed drawings of the staging, ca 80 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
Potter, Paul M. The conquerors; a drama in four acts Volume 25 Scope and Contents
Bound typescricpt with interleaved pages; numerous manuscript stage directions and revisions, ca 100 pages. Opened at St. James's Theatre 14 April 1898. Program laid in.
Rose, Edward. In days of old, a story of the Wars of the Roses; a Volume 26 romance in four acts Scope and Contents
Bound typescripts, with a few pencilled notes regarding the music, ca 110 pages. Opened at St. James's Theatre 26 April 1899
Rose, Edward. The prisoner of Zenda; a play in a prologue and Volume 27 four acts Scope and Contents
Based on the novel by Anthony Hope [Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins]. Bound typescript, ca 120 pages, with manuscript stage directions and revisions; small mounted photographs of the cast in costume. Opened at St. James's Theatre 7 January 1896. Program laid in
Walkes, W. R. Gentlemen Jim; dramatic sketch Volume 28 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, 15 pages; manuscript revisions in George Alexander's hand. George Alexander's bookplate
Warden, Florence [Florence Alice Price]. Grey dawn; a play in Volume 29 one act
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Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, 33 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
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Series II: Plays from playwrights unknown Title/Description Instances The Grandsire Volume 30 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with numerous manuscript revisions, ca 40 pages. George Alexander's bookplate.
The Humedens; a play in three acts Volume 31 Scope and Contents
In manuscript, the title "The Divided Way" is written on the title-page. Bound manuscript with numerous revisions, 81 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
A lesson in harmony Volume 32 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript, 21 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
Kit Marlowe Volume 33 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with manuscript revisions, 16 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
The storm; a theme in one act Volume 34 Scope and Contents
Bound typescript with manuscript revisions, 22 pages. George Alexander's bookplate
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