Joseph Urban Papers, 1893-1998

Series 1: Vienna, 1897-1911

This series contains the records of the architecture and design projects from Urban's career in Vienna. It is arranged chronologically divided into five sections: General files-dated, General files-undated, Illustrations, Exhibits and Unidentified. It contains watercolor drawings, rough drawings, technical drawings, photographs, post cards, clippings, playbooks and exhibit catalogs. Of note are the catalogs from the 1902-1908 Hagenbund exhibits and the photographs of the 1908 Kaiserfest.

Subseries I.1: General Files

Bicycle tournament, May 26, 1897 :

Urban built a canopy for the tournament festival and made contributions to the program

Kaiser Jubilee Bridge, 1898 :

Urban won a competition to design this bridge between the Musikverein and the Künstlerhaus for the celebration of the emperor's 50th year of rule.

Bosnian Pavilion, 1898 :

Also built for the Kaiserfest, the celebration of the emperor's 50th year of rule. See also postcard at Avery Library

Rathauskeller, 1899 :

With Heinrich Lefler.

Esterházy Estates, 1899, 1903 :

Count Karl Esterházy saw Urban and Lefler's Lady's Room in the Winter Exhibit of 1897/98 at the Austrian museum and commissioned them to design an addition for his country chateau in St. Abraham in Hungary. In 1903 Urban designed a fountain for another Esterházy estate.

Memorial Chapel for Empress Elizabeth, 1901 :

Kaiserin-Elizabeth-Kapelle at Baden bei Wien

Wähner House, 1900 :

Theodor Wähner was the Commissioner in charge of the Rathauskeller renovation and the editor of Deutschen Zeitung.

Goltz House, Alexander, 1902 :

Urban built and furnished an addition to the house of artist and Hagenbund member, Alexander Goltz on Granzinger Street 87.

Von Wiener House and Office, 1902-1903 :

Baron Ritter von Wiener was Minister of Art, director of the Museum for Culture and Teaching and director of the Museum of Arts and Crafts. Von Wiener was a major patron of Urban and Lefler who provided them with government projects. Baron von Wiener took Urban as a delegate to represent Austria at the 1900 Paris World's Fair.

Spiesejaal Hotel Restaurant, 1905 :

Katowice, Poland (formerly, Kattowitz, Prussia)

Zwischenspiel, 1905

Burgtheater comedy in 3 acts by Arthur Schnitzler

Hopfner Restaurant, Paul, 1906

Hölle Cabaret, 1906 :

With Heinrich Lefler. Cabaret in the cellar of the Theater an der Wien

Urban Home, Nibelungengasse 8, 1906 :

Donated by Robert Cole in 1995

Landau Villa, Dr. Max, 1906 :

Villa am Semmering, Südbahnstr. 83

Redlich Villa, Carl, 1906-1907 :

Country house of the owner of the construction contracting firm Redlich and Berger

Faust I, II, 1906-07 :

Directed by Paul Schlenther with Josef Kainz at the Burgtheater

Aschenbrödel (Cinderella), Vienna Hofoper, 1907 :

Kaiser Jubilee Festzug, June 12, 1908 :

Celebrating the 60th year of rule of the Emperor Franz Josef.

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, 1908, Vienna Hofoper :

Suburbs, 1909 :

Tombstones and Chapels, 1909 :

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), 1909, Leipzig Opernhaus :

Der Fliegende Holländer, 1909, Vienna Volksoper, and Budapest :

Tannhäuser, 1909 :

Faust, 1909-11, Gounod, Brunswick :

Quo Vadis?, 1909-11, Budapest, written by J. Nougués :

Oberon, 1909-11, Charlottenburg :

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, 1909-11, Budapest :

Die Fledermaus, 1909-11, Cologne Opernhaus, written by Johann Strauss :

Der Rosenkavalier, 1909-11, Cologne Opernhaus, written by Richard Strauss :

Salome, 1909-11, Stuttgart Hofoper, written by Richard Strauss :

Der Ring Des Nibelungen, 1909-11, Budapest :

Das Rheingold, Budapest, Brunswick :

Die Walküre, Budapest, Mannheim National Theater, 1911 :

Siegfried :

Tristan und Isolde, 1909-11 :

Lohengrin, 1909-11, Stuttgart Hofoper :

Zigeunerbaron (Gypsy Baron), 1910 :

By Johan Strauss conducted at the Hofoper by Felix Weingartner.

Der Junge Medardus, 1910 :

Mair House, Dr. Bartl, 1910 :

Dr. Mair was the local doctor for Scheiblingkirchen in lower Austria.

Eisenstein House, Viktor, 1910 :

Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 6. Eisenstein was the Vienna representative for the New York Life Insurance Company.

Benvenuto Cellini, 1911, Hofoper :

Götterdämmerung, 1911, Mannheim Nationaltheater :

Lanval, 1911 :

Play by Eduard Stucken, Burgtheater

Gudrun, 1912 :

Opera by Ernst Hardt, Burgtheater

Subseries I.2: General Files-Undated

Freytag Library and Salon :

Subseries I.3: Theater

Blaue Vogel (The Blue Bird) by Maurice Maeterlink :

Czar und Zimmermann, by Albert Lortzing, comic opera :

Eisenhammer, Der, music by Benito Bersa, book by A. M. Willner :

Erasmus Montanus, Ludwig Holberg, play :

Förster-Christel (The Girl and the Kaiser), operetta by Bernhard Buchbinder :

Frau ohne Schatten, by Richard Strauss :

Freischütz, Der, see also Met 1923 :

Garde Officier :

Graf von Luxemburg (The Count of Luxemburg), Franz Lehar :

Iphigenie auf Tauris, by Christoph Gluck :

Jongleur de Notre Dame, (Der Gaukler unserer lieben frauen), by Massenet :

Königskinder, by Engelbert Humperdinck :

Landschaft :

Love's Labor Lost :

Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (The Merry Wives of Windsor) Opera by Otto Nikolai :

Nozze de Figaro (Marriage of Figaro) :

Pariser Leben, by Jacques Offenbach :

Puppenmädel, operetta by Leo Fall, Leo Stein and Alfred Maria Willner :

Rienzi, by Richard Wagner :

Roméo et Juliette :

Rose vom Liebesgarten, opera by Hans Pfitzner :

Schneemann, Der, Erich Wolfgang Korngold :

Sirene, Die, by Leo Fall, Leo Stein and Alfred Maria Willner :

Sister Beatrice and Sumurün :

Tiefland, opera by Eugen d'Albert :

Die Tote Stadt, Erich Wolfgang Korngold :

Verborgte Schloss :

Waffenschmied, Der, comic opera by Albert Lortzing :

Wallenstein's Lager, play by Friedrich Schiller :

Xantho, operetta by Jacques Richepin and Xavier Leroux :

Zerbrochene Krug (The Broken Jug), comedy by Heinrich von Kleist :

Zigeunerliebe, (Gypsy Love), music by Franz Lehar, book by A. M. Willner and Robert Bodanzky :

Subseries I.4: Illustrations

Chronika der drei Schwestern, 1899 :

Grimm's Fairy Tales, 1904 :

Kling Klang Gloria, 1906 :

Undated :

Subseries I.5: Exhibits

Jubiläums-kunst exhibit 1898 :

Hagenbund Exhibition Hall, 1901-1902 :

Art show catalogs :

Hagenbund Exhibits :

Subseries I.6: Unidentified

Series II: Boston Opera, 1910-1914

Joseph Urban was made artistic director of the Boston Opera Company beginning with the 1912-1913 season. The previous season, he had designed four operas for the Boston Opera while working in Vienna with Heinrich Lefler. This series contains files on all the productions from the repertory in chronological order. Each production is listed by title, opening date and production information. The production information is based on contemporary reviews taken from microfilm readings of the Boston Transcript and the Boston Herald. Those sets that Urban redesigned or retouched are so noted in parentheses after the title information. In addition to the drawings, plans, and photographs, the files contain production records--light plots, cast lists, set lists, line drops, etc

La Scala invoice for operas Mefistofele, Faust, Lakmé, Manon and Roméo et Juliette :

Pelléas et Mélisande, January 10, 1912 (New)

Opera in 5 acts by Claude Debussy, adapted from the play by Maurice Maeterlinck, conducted by André Caplet with Vanni Marcoux as Golaud, Georgette LeBlanc as Mélisande and Jean Riddez as Pelléas.

Hänsel und Gretel, January 27,1912 (New)

Opera by Engelbert Humperdinck, libretto by Adelheid Wette, after a fairy tale by the Grimm Brothers, conducted by Wallace Goodrich with Bernice Fisher as Gretel, Jeska Swartz as Hänsel, Maria Claessens as the Witch, Otto Goritz as Peter and Florence De Courcy as the Sandman.

Tristan und Isolde, February 12, 1912 (New)

Opera in 3 acts by Richard Wagner, conducted by Felix Weingartner, with Johanna Gadski as Isolde, Jacques Urlus as Tristan, Pasquale Amato as Kurvenal and Edward Lankow as King Marke

Werther, March 1, 1912

Opera by Jules Massenet, conducted by André Caplet

Germania, March 9, 1912

Opera by Alberto Franchetti, conducted by Arnaldo Conti with Bernice Fisher as Jane, Ramon Blanchart as Crisogono, Madeleine D'Olige as Jebbel, Pasquale Amato as Carlo Worms, Carmen Melis as Ricke and Giovanni Zenatello as Loewe.

Le Martyre de Sebastien, March 30, 1912

Music by Claude Debussy, conducted by André Caplet with Evelyn Scotney and Jeska Swartz.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann, November 25, 1912 (New)

Opera by Jacques Offenbach, libretto & book by Jules Barbier, after a play by Barbier & Michel Carré based on the stories of the poet E.T.A. Hoffmann, conducted by André Caplet with Edmond Clément as Hoffmann, Vanni Marcoux as Lindorf, Coppélius, Dappertutto and Dr. Miracle, Elvira Leveroni as Niklausse, Bernice Fisher as Olympia and Louise Edvina as Antonia.

La Bohême, November 27,1912 (retouched)

Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Signori Giocosa and Illica, adapted from a novel by Henri Murger, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Lucrezia Bori as Mimì, Léon Laffitte as Rodolfo, Giovanni Polese as Marcello and Fely Dereyne as Musetta.

Madama Butterfly, November 29, 1912 (New)

Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica, after a play by David Belasco, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Riccardo Martin as Pinkerton, Emmy Destinn as Cio-Cio-San and Giovanni Polese as Sharpless.

Il Trovatore, November 30, 1912

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Gertrude Rennyson as Leonora, Léon Laffitte as Manrico, Ramon Blanchart as Di Luna and Maria Claessens as Azucena.

Tosca, December 2, 1912 (retouched)

Opera by Giacomo Puccini, book by V. Sardou, L. Illica and G. Giacosa, after Victorien Sardou's play La Tosca, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Mary Garden as Tosca, Vanni Marcoux as Scarpia, Charles Dalmorès as Cavaradossi, and Aristodemo Sillich as Angelotti.

Thaïs, December 7, 1912 (retouched)

Opera by Jules Massenet, libretto by Louis Gallet, after a novel by Anatole France, conducted by André Caplet with Mary Garden as Thaïs, Vanni Marcoux as Athanael and Charles Dalmorés as Nicias.

Lucia di Lammermoor, December 14, 1912

Opera by Gaetano Donizetti, conducted by Ralph Lyford with Evelyn Scotney as Lucia, Umberto Sacchetti as Edgardo, Rodolfo Fornari as Enrico and Ernesto Giaccone as Arturo.

Louise, December 18,1912 (New)

Opera by Gustave Charpentier, conducted by André Caplet with Louise Edvina as Louise, Edmond Clément as Julien, Maria Gay as La Mère and Vanni Marcoux as Le Père.

La Traviata, December 21, 1912

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on the story by Alexandre Dumas La Dame Aux Camelias, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Evelyn Scotney as Violetta, Alfredo Ramella as Alfredo, Ramon Blanchart as Germont and Attilio Pulcini as Baron Douphol.

Aïda, December 27, 1912 (Retouched)

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, after a scenario by Auguste Mariette, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Giovanni Zenatello as Radames, Anafesto Rossi as Amonasro, Maria Gay as Amneris and Carmen Melis as Aïda.

Coppélia, December 28, 1912

Ballet by Léo Delibes, conducted by Charles Strony with Dolores Galli as Swanilda. Attilio Pulcini as Burgomaster and Cronan as Frantz.

Cavalleria Rusticana, December 30, 1912

Opera by Pietro Mascagni, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Maria Gay as Santuzza, Umberto Sacchetti as Turiddu, Anafesto Rossi as Alfio.

Curtain and Concerts, 1912-13

I Pagliacci, January 4, 1913

Opera by Leoncavallo, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edith Barnes as Nedda, Ramon Blanchart as Tonio, Giuseppe Gaudenzi as Canio and George Everett as Silvio.

Carmen, January 15, 1913 (retouched)

Opera by Georges Bizet, libretto by Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy, after a novel by Prosper Mérimée, conducted by Charles Strony with Giovanni Zenatello as Don Jose, Maria Gay as Carmen and José Mardones as Escamillo.

I Gioielli della Madonna, January 17, 1913 (New)

Opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, libretto by Carlo Zangarini & Enrico Golisciani, with Giovanni Zenatello as Gennaro, Maria Gay as Carmela, Louise Edvina as Maliella and Vanni Marcoux as Raffaele.

Rigoletto, January 25, 1913

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, after the play by Victor Hugo Le roi s'amuse, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Evelyn Scotney as Gilda, Michele Sampieri as Monterone, Rodolfo Fornari as Rigoletto and Alfredo Ramella as the Duke.

Don Giovanni, February 7, 1913 (New)

Opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Vanni Marcoux as Don Giovanni, Adamo Didur as Leporello, John McCormack as Don Ottavio, Emmy Destinn as Donna Anna and Elizabet Amsden as Donna Elvira.

La Fanciulla del West, February 21, 1913

Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Guelfo Civinini & Carlo Zangorini, based on the play by David Belasco The Girl of the Golden West, with Carmen Melis as Minnie, Giovanni Polese as Jack Rance and Giovanni Zenatello as Dick Johnson.

Djamileh, February 24, 1913 (New)

American premiere of opera by Georges Bizet, libretto by Louis Gallet, after the story by Alfred de Musset Namouna, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Lucille Marcel as Djamileh, Léon Laffitte as Haroun and Ernesto Giaccone as Spendiano.

Faust, February 26,1913 (redesigned costumes, retouched)

Opera by Charles Gounod, libretto by Jules Barbier & Michel Carré, adapted from the dramatic poem by Goethe, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Giovanni Zenatello as Faust, Lucille Marcel as Marguerite and Vanni Marcoux as Méphistophélès.

La Forêt Bleue, March 8, 1913 (American premiere) (New)

Opera by Louis Aubert, conducted by André Caplet with Fernand De Potter as Prince Charming, Jean Riddez as the Orge, Carmen Melis as the Princess, Jeska Swartz as Tom Thumb and Bernice Fisher as Little Red Riding -Hood.

Samson et Dalila, March 12, 1913 (retouched)

Opera by Camille Saint-Saëns, libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire, conducted by André Caplet with Maria Gay as Dalila, Giovanni Zenatello as Samson and Jean Riddez as the High Priest.

Il Segreto di Susanna, March 17,1913 (New)

Opera by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, libretto by Max Kalbeck, adapted from a book by Enrico Golisciani, conducted by André Caplet with Antonio Scotti as Count Gil, Alice Nielsen as Countess Gil and Luigi Tavecchia as Sante.

Martha, March 24, 1913

Opera by Friedrich von Flotow, libretto W. Friedrich, after an idea by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Alice Nielsen as Lady Harriet, Maria Gay as Nancy, Max Lipmann as Lionel and Edward Lankow as Plunkett.

Monna Vanna, December 5, 1913 (New)

Opera by Henri Février, based on a play by Maurice Maeterlinck, conducted by André Caplet with Vanni Marcoux as Guido, Mary Garden as Monna Vanna and Lucien Muratore as Prinzivalle.

Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), December 13, 1913

Opera by Gioachino Rossini, libretto by Cesare Sterbini, adapted from the play by Pierre-Augustin Beaumarchais, conducted by Arnaldo Schiavoni with Hazel Sanborn as Rosina, Rodolfo Fornari as Figaro, Luigi Tavecchia as Dr. Bartolo and Alfredo Ramella as Il Conte D'Almaviva.

Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg, January 23, 1914 (New)

Opera by Richard Wagner, conducted by André Caplet with Johanna Gadski as Eva, Robert Leonhardt as Beckmesser, Paolo Ludikar as Hans Sachs and Carl Jörn as Walther.

La Gioconda, February 6, 1914

Opera by Amilcare Ponchielli, libretto by Tobia Gorrio, after the play by Victor Hugo Angélo, tyran de Padoue, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Emmy Destinn as La Gioconda, Florencio Constantino as Enzo, Marguerite D'Alvarez as Laura and Mario Ancona as Barnaba.

L'Amore dei Tre Re, February 9, 1914 (New)

Opera in three acts by Italo Montemezzi, adapted from poem by Sem Benelli, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edoardo Ferrari-Fontana as Avito, Lucrezia Bori as Fiora and Pasquale Amato as Manfredo.

Manon, March 18, 1914

Opera by Jules Massenet, libretto by Henri Meilhac & Philippe Gille, after the novel by Antoine-Francois Prevost, L'histoire du chevalier de Grieux et de Manon Lescaut, conducted by Edouard Tournon with Jenny Dufau as Manon, Lucien Muratore as Des Grieux and Alban Grand as De Brétigny.

Otello, Paris Tour, May 5, 1914 (New)

Opera by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Berio di Salsa, based on the play by William Shakespeare, conducted by Roberto Moranzoni with Edoardo Ferrari-Fontana as Otello, Vanni Marcoux as Iago and Nellie Melba as Desdemona.

Parsifal, Paris Tour, June 3, 1914 (New)

Opera by Richard Wagner, conducted by Felix Weingartner with Johannes Sembach as Parsifal, Margarete Matzenauer as Kundry and August Kiess as Klingsor.

Francesca Da Rimini, 1914

Louse Edvina, Musical America, 1/29/16

La Muette de Portici, (Dumb Girl of Portici) November 23, 1915 (New)

Opera by Daniel Auber, libretto by Eugene Scribe, conducted by Agide Jacchia with Anna Pavlowa as Fenella, Giovanni Zenatello as Masaniello and Giori Michailoff as Alfonso.

Undated Articles

Boston Office

Don Pasquale, Donizetti

Performed in the 1909-10, 1910-11 seasons

Elijah, Oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn

Erste Walpurgisnacht, Die, Mendelssohn

Habañera, Raoul La Parra

Performed in the 1909-1910, 1911-12 season

Hippodamia, Andre Campra

Lakmé, Léo Delibes

Performed in the 1909-10 season

Librettos

Loeffler's Opera, Charles Martin Loeffler

Mignon, Abroise Thomas

Performed in the 1911-12 season.

Parisina, Pietro Mascagni

Pipe of Desire, Frank S. Converse

Sacrifice, Frank S. Converse

Performed in the 1910-11 season

Series III: New York

This series is arranged chronologically within five subseries: Theater, Ziegfeld, Met, Film, and Architecture and Design. The series are preceded by a listing of general files in which photograph scrapbooks, clippings scrapbooks and Square Yard Books are followed by undated and unidentified files. The clippings scrapbooks are the major source for Urban's New York career and document some projects and activities not found in the archive. The square yard books contain drawings and measurements of set pieces for opera, theater and film sets. There is very little documentation in the form of letters, contracts, and financial accounts. Numerous photographs of sets and set models are to be found but production photographs are rare.

Subseries III.1: General Files

Subseries III.2: Undated

Studio-Yonkers :

Unidentified drawings :

Subseries III.3: Theater, 1914-1933

This subseries records the productions that Urban designed for producers other than Florenz Ziegfeld. It contains reference material, scripts, watercolor drawings, technical drawings, photographs and programs, and is arranged chronologically. Each production is listed by title, followed by the opening date and production information. The production information is from Bordman, Gerald M. American Theatre, New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Leiter, Samuel. The Encyclopedia of the New York Stage. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1989 Mantle, Burns, ed. The Best Plays Series. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co.

Twelfth Night, November 23, 1914 :

Play by William Shakespeare, revived by Liebler and Co. (George C. Tyler) at the Liberty Theater with Eben Plympton, Walter Creighton, Henry E. Dixey, Edith Campbell Walker, Jessie Busley and Phyllis Neilson-Terry. 8 performances.

Garden of Paradise, November 28, 1914 :

Play in nine scenes by Edward Sheldon based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, directed by O. P. Heggie, produced by Liebler and Co. (George C. Tyler) at the Park Theater. 17 performances.

Behold Thy Wife,1915 :

The show opened and closed in Washington DC

Yesterday or Tomorrow, October 8, 1915 :

Fashion extravaganza in 4 acts, written by Pierre de Lanux, directed by Julian Mitchell, sponsored by the International Fashion Show Association and the New York Globe at Carnegie Hall to aid the Actors' Fund of America.

Around the Map (Here Comes Tootsie), November 1, 1915 :

Musical revue in 3 acts, book and lyrics by C. M. S. McLellan, music by Herman Finck, musical numbers staged by Julian Mitchell, directed by Herbert Gresham, produced by Klaw and Erlanger at the New Amsterdam Theater with Hazel Cox, Else Adler, William Norris and Robert Pitkin. 104 performances.

Pavlowa Ballet, 1915-1917 :

Urban designed sets for Giselle, Orpheo, and "Snowflakes" from Act I of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker.

Macbeth, February 7, 1916 :

Tragedy by William Shakespeare, directed by James K. Hackett at the Criterion Theater with Mr. Hackett as Macbeth and Viola Allen as Lady Macbeth. 40 performances.

The Greatest Nation, February 28, 1916 :

Play in 3 acts by Marion Creighton and William Elliott, directed by Cyril Scot, produced by William Elliott at the Booth theater. 16 performances.

Pom-Pom, February 28, 1916 :

Comic opera in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Anne Caldwell, music by Hugo Felix, directed by George Marion, produced by Henry W. Savage at the Cohan Theater. 128 performances.

Merry Wives of Windsor, March 20, 1916 :

Comedy by William Shakespeare, produced by James K. Hackett at the Criterion Theater for the Shakespeare tercentenary, directed by Richard Ordynski with Thomas A.Wise, Orrin Johnson, Viola Allen and Henrietta Crosman.

Caliban of the Yellow Sands, May 24, 1916 :

Masque based on works of Shakespeare by Percy MacKaye, produced by Joseph Urban and Richard Ordynski, inner settings designed by Robert Edmond Jones, with John Drew and Margaret Wycherly at the Lewisohn Stadium of City College of New York.

Flora Bella, September 11, 1916 :

Operetta in 3 acts, book by Felix Doermann, revised and adapted by Cosmo Hamilton, music by Charles Cuvillier and Milton Schwarzwald, produced by John Cort, dances by Carl Randall, directed by Richard Ordynski at the Casino Theater. Moved to the 44th Street Theater on November 27, 1916. 112 performances.

Miss Springtime, September 25, 1916. :

Musical comedy in 3 acts, book by Guy Bolton, music by Emmerich Kalman, ensembles by Julian Mitchell, directed by Herbert Gresham, produced by Klaw and Erlanger at the New Amsterdam Theater. 224 performances.

Othello, 1916 :

Interstate Opera Company, 1916 :

Urban was contracted to do 8 sets for this company which was made up of interests from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit and Cincinnati, joined together as a corporation to bring opera to the interior. The corporation collapsed after the United States entry into the First World War.

Lakmé :

Tristan Und Isolde :

Studio Accounts, 1916-1919, 38 p. :

Nju, March 22, 1917 :

Written by Ossip Dymow, translated by Rosallind Ivin, produced by Joseph Urban and Richard Ordynski at the Bandbox Theater with Ann Andrews, Henry Stanford and Thomas Mitchell. 44 performances.

Riviera Girl, September 24, 1917 :

Musical comedy in 3 acts, music by Emmerich Kalman based on his Czardasfürstin, book and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, with songs by Jerome Kern, produced by Klaw and Erlanger at the New Amsterdam with Louis Cassavant and Wilda Bennett. 78 performances.

Jack O'Lantern, October 16, 1917 :

Musical extravaganza in 2 acts by Anne Caldwell and R. H. Burnside, music by Ivan Caryll, directed by R. H. Burnside, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Globe Theater with Fred Stone. Included sets by Homer Ewens and Ernest Albert. 265 performances.

Glorianna, October 28, 1918 :

Play with music in 3 acts, book and lyrics by Catherine Chisholm Cushing, music by Rudolf Friml, directed by Clifford Brooke, produced by John Cort at the Liberty Theater. 96 performances.

The Invisible Foe, December 30, 1918. :

Play in 3 acts by Walter Hackett, produced and directed by Thomas Dixon at the Harris Theater with Daisy Vivian and Frank Andrews. 112 performances.

London Revue, 1918-1920 :

Albert DeCourville commissioned Urban to make sets for a Follies-style revue in London.

Belle Hélène,1919, unrealized :

Operetta in 3 acts, music by Jacques Offenbach, director-Richard Ordynski

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall, Detroit symphony, 1919 :

Hitchy Koo, October 6, 1919. :

A revue in 2 parts, book by George V. Hobart, music and lyrics by Cole Porter, produced by Raymond Hitchcock at the Liberty Theater with Raymond Hitchcock, Florence O'Denishawn and Princess White Deer.

Apple Blossoms, (Marriage Knot), October 7, 1919. :

Operetta in prologue and 2 acts, music by Fritz Kreisler and Victor Jacobi, book and lyrics by William Le Baron, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Globe with Adele and Fred Astaire in supporting roles. 236 performances.

A Young Man's Fancy, October 15, 1919 :

A comedy in 3 acts by John T. McIntyre, produced by George C. Tyler at The Playhouse with Philip Merivale and Jeanne Eagels.

Rose of China, November 25, 1919 :

Musical comedy by Guy Bolton, lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse, music by Armand Vecsey, produced by F. Ray Comstock and Morris Gest at the Lyric Theater with Oscar Shaw, Jane Richardson and Edna May Oliver. 6 weeks.

Smilin' Through, December 30, 1919 :

Play in prolog and 3 acts by Allan Langdon Martin, directed by Priestly Morrison, produced by the Selwyns at the Broadhurst Theater with Jane Cowl, Henry Stephenson and Orme Caldara.

Singer Midgets, 1920-1923 :

Merry Widow, September 5, 1921 :

Operetta in 3 acts, music by Franz Lehar, lyrics by Adrian Ross, produced by Henry W. Savage, directed by George Marion at the Knickerbocker Theater with Lydia Lipkowska, Reginald Pasch and Jefferson De Angelis. 56 performances. Urban designed the sets but asked to have his name removed from the production due to a disagreement with Savage over the design of the 3rd act.

The Love Letter, October 4, 1921 :

Musical comedy in 3 acts adapted from The Phantom Rival by Ferenc Molnar, book and lyrics by William Le Baron, music by Victor Jacobi, directed by Edward Royce, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Globe Theater with John Charles Thomas, and Fred and Adele Astaire. 31 performances.

Blaue Mazur, 1921 :

Urban had agreed to design the Lehar operetta for Henry W. Savage. The project was canceled after Urban and Savage had a disagreement regarding the sets for The Merry Widow.

Yankee Princess, October 2, 1922 :

Musical comedy adapted from the Viennese operetta Die Bajadere by Julius Brammer and Alfred Grünwald, with book by William Le Baron, lyrics by B. G. De Sylva, music by Emmerich Kalman, choreographed by Julian Mitchell, directed by Fred G. Latham, produced by A. L. Erlanger at the Knickerbocker Theater with Vivienne Segal and Thorpe Bates. 80 performances.

Dream Girl, August 20, 1924 :

The premiere of this musical, produced by Lee and J. J. Shubert at the Ambassador Theater and starring Fay Bainter was designed by Watson Barratt.

Orpheum Circuit, 1925 :

Mayflower Hotel Stage Setting, 1925 :

Human Nature (Gun Powder), September 24, 1925 :

Comedy in 3 acts by J. C. and Elliott Nugent, produced by Gene Buck, directed by J. C. Nugent and Frederick Stanhope with Mary Duncan, Brandon Tynan, John Marston and Frank Conroy at the Liberty Theater. 4 performances

Tale of the Wolf, October 7, 1925 :

Comedy in 3 acts by Ferenc Molnar, produced by Charles Frohman Inc., directed by Frank Reicher at the Empire Theater with Phyllis Povah, Roland Young and Wallace Eddinger. 13 performances.

Antonia, October 20, 1925 :

Written by Melchior Lengyel, adapted by Arthur Richman, directed by George Cukor, produced by Charles Frohman, Inc. with Marjorie Rambeau at the Empire Theater. 55 performances.

Song of the Flame, December 30, 1925 :

Romantic opera in prologue, two acts and epilogue, book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Herbert Stothart and George Gershwin, costumes by Mark Mooring, choreographed by Jack Haskell, produced by Arthur Hammerstein, directed by Frank Reicher at the Forty-fourth Street Theater with Tessa Kosta as Aniuta and Guy Robertson as Volodya. 224 performances.

Duchess of Elba, 1925-1926 :

Written by Rudolph Lothar.

Wild Rose (Hawthorne of the USA), October 20, 1926 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Rudolf Friml, choreographed by Busby Berkeley, costumes by Mark Mooring, directed by William J. Wilson, produced by Arthur Hammerstein at the Martin Beck Theater with Joseph Santley, Desiree Ellinger and William Collier. 61 performances.

Yours Truly (Lotus Flower), January 25, 1927 :

Musical play in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Clyde North and Anne Caldwell, music by Raymond Hubbell, choreographed by Ralph Reader, produced by Gene Buck, directed by Paul Dickey at the Shubert Theater with Leon Errol, Marion Harris, Ina Williams and Irene Dunne. 129 performances. Restaged at the Century Theater for 16 performances March 12, 1928.

Golden Dawn, November 30, 1927. :

Musical drama in 2 acts by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein, II, music by Emmerich Kalman and Herbert Stothart, choreographed by Dave Bennett, costumes by Mark Mooring, directed by Reginald Hammerstein, produced by Arthur Hammerstein at Hammerstein Theater with Louise Hunter, Robert Chisholm, Paul Gregory and Archie Leach (Cary Grant). 184 performances.

Big Parade, MGM, 1925 :

Art direction by James Basevi and Cedric Gibbons. In 1928 plans were made to make a musical for which Urban was to design the set.

Treasure Girl, November 8, 1928 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book by Fred Thompson and Vincent Lawrence, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin, directed by Bertram Harrison, choreographed by Bobby Connolly, produced by Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley at the Alvin Theater with Gertrude Lawrence, Walter Catlett, Clifton Webb and Mary Hay. 68 performances.

Polly, January 8, 1929 :

Musical in 2 acts by Guy Bolton and George Middleton of the 1917 comedy Polly with a Past, music and lyrics by Herbert Stothart, Philip Charig and Irving Caesar, directed by John Harwood, choreographed by Jack Haskell, produced by Arthur Hammerstein at the Lyric Theater with June, Charles Esdale and Fred Allen. 15 performances.

Sons O' Guns (Tin Hats), November 26, 1929 :

Musical comedy by Fred Thompson and Jack Donahue, music and lyrics by Arthur Swanstrom, Benny Davis and J. Fred Coots, choreographed by Bobby Connolly and Albertina Rasch, costumes by Charles Le Maire, directed by Bobby Connolly, produced by Connolly and Swanstrom at the Imperial Theater with Jack Donahue, William Frawley and Lily Damita. 295 performances

Ripples, February 11, 1930 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts by William Anthony McGuire, music by Oscar Levant and Albert Sirmay, lyrics by Irving Caesar and Graham John, costumes by Charles LeMaire choreographed by William Holbrook, directed by William Anthony McGuire, produced by Charles Dillingham at the New Amsterdam with Fred Stone, Dorothy Stone, Paula Stone, Charles Collins, and Eddie Foy, Jr. 55 performances.

Flying High, March 3, 1930 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book and lyrics by B. G. DeSylva, Lew Brown and John McGowan, music by DeSylva, Brown and Ray Henderson, costumes by Charles LeMaire, choreographed by Bobby Connolly, directed by Edward Clark Lilley, produced by George White at the Apollo Theater with Bert Lahr, Kate Smith, Grace Brinkley and Oscar Shaw. 357 performances.

Princess Charming, October 13, 1930 :

Romantic opera in 2 acts adapted by Jack Donahue from the original by Franz Martos, Arthur Wimperis and Laurie Wylie, music by Albert Sirmay and Arthur Swartz, lyrics by Arthur Swanstrom, choreographed by Albertina Rasch and Bobby Connolly, costumes by Charles LeMaire, directed by Edward Clark, produced by Bobby Connolly and Arthur Swanstrom at the Imperial Theater with Victor Moore, Evelyn Herbert, George Grossmith and Robert Halliday. 56 performances

George White's Scandals, September 14, 1931 :

Revue in 2 acts, sketches by George White, Lew Brown and Irving Caesar; music by Lew Brown and Ray Henderson, costumes by Charles LeMaire, produced and directed by George White at the Apollo Theater with Edward Everett Marshall, Rudy Vallee, Ray Bolger, Ethel Merman, Alice Faye and Ethel Barrymore Colt. 202 performances.

The Good Fairy, November 24, 1931 :

Comedy in 3 acts by Ferenc Molnar, English text by Jane Hinton, music by Alexander Haas, staged and produced by Gilbert Miller at the Henry Miller Theater with Helen Hayes, Paul McGrath and Walter Connolly. 151 performances. Revived with a different cast November 17, 1932 for 72 performances.

Mad Hopes, May, 1932 :

Pre-Broadway tryout of Romney Brent play produced by Curran and Belasco at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles with Billie Burke, Peg Entwhistle and Humphrey Bogart.

Music in the Air, November 8, 1932 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern, costumes by John Harkrider, directed by Hammerstein and Kern, produced by Peggy Fears at the Alvin Theater with Al Shean, Walter Slezak and Katherine Carrington. 144 performances, return performance at the Forty Fourth Street Theater, 196 performances.

The Light, 1932-1933. :

Ottis Lucas had written this pageant to be produced at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933. It was never produced but Urban won a prize for his set model at the 48th Annual Exhibition of the Architectural League of New York.

Musician's Emergency Fund, February 14, 1933 :

Urban designed the setting for a concert of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony conducted by Walter Damrosch in Madison Square Garden for the benefit of unemployed musicians in New York.

Melody, February 14, 1933 :

Operetta composed by Sigmund Romberg, book by Edward Childs Carpenter, lyrics by Irving Caesar, choreographed by Bobby Connolly, costumes by Charles LeMaire, produced and directed by George White at the Casino Theater with Jeanne Aubert and Everett Marshall, Walter Woolf, Evelyn Herbert and Hal Skelly. 80 performances.

Subseries III.4: Ziegfeld Productions, 1915-1932

This subseries documents Joseph Urban's designs for the producer Florenz Ziegfeld. Ziegfeld never staged a show since their collaboration began in 1915 without some input from Joseph Urban. He designed all the subsequent Ziegfeld Follies and the Ziegfeld Frolics as well as the hit book shows such as Sally (1921), Show Boat (1927) and Whoopee (1928). The subseries contains drawings, research material, technical drawings, photographs of sets and some programs. There are comparatively few watercolor renderings probably because they were given away as gifts by Urban. The productions are arranged in chronological order listed by title, opening date and production information. Production information was pulled from the sources cited in the Theater subseries and from The Ziegfeld Touch cited in the biography.

New Amsterdam Roof Garden, 1915, 1917, 1921 :

Midnight Frolic, 1917 :

Nine O'clock Frolic, February 8, 1921 :

Midnight Frolic, November 17, 1921 :

Ziegfeld Follies, June 21, 1915 :

Revue in 2 acts, lines and lyrics by Channing Pollock, Rennold Wolf and Gene Buck, music by Louis Hirsch and David Stamper, costumes by Lucile, choreographed by Julian Mitchell, staged by Mitchell and Leon Errol at the New Amsterdam Theater with Ed Wynn, Ann Pennington, Justine Johnstone, Kay Laurell, Olive Thomas, Mae Murray, W. C. Fields, Bert Williams, Bernard Granville, George White, Ina Claire, Lucille Cavanaugh and Leon Errol. 104 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies, June 16, 1916 :

Revue in 2 acts, book and lyrics by George V. Hobart and Gene Buck, music by Louis Hirsch, Jerome Kern and Dave Stamper, costumes by Lucile et al., staged and choreographed by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater with Bernard Granville, Ina Claire, Justine Johnstone, Bert Williams, Allyn King, Marion Davies, Ann Pennington, Lilyan Tashman, W. C. Fields, Fannie Brice and Will Rogers. 112 performances.

Century Girl, November 6, 1916 :

Music by Victor Herbert and Irving Berlin, produced by Charles Dillingham at the Century Theater with Marie Dressler, Hazel Lewis, Hazel Dawn, Irving Fisher, Leon Errol, Elsie Janis, Gus Van, Joe Schenk, Vera Maxwell, Frank Tinney and Lilyan Tashman. 200 performances.

Century Roof Garden, January 18, 1917 :

The producers, Ziegfeld and Dillingham, named the roof garden the Cocoanut Grove and staged a Midnight Revue entitled Dance and Grow Thin, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin and Blanche Merrill, staging by Leon Errol and Gertrude Hoffman, with Will Richie, Rita Boland, Hattie Burks, Leon Errol, Irving Fisher, Dolly Hackett, and Van and Schenck.

Ziegfeld Follies 1917, June 12, 1917 :

Revue in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Gene Buck and George V. Hobart, music by Raymond Hubbell, Dave Stamper and Victor Herbert, costumes by Lucile et al., staged and choreographed by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater, with Walter Catlett, Lilyan Tashman, W. C. Fields, Bert Williams, the Fairbanks Twins, Eddie Cantor, Fannie Brice, Will Rogers, Allyn King, Delores and Peggy Hopkins. 111 performances.

Miss 1917, November 5, 1917 :

Revue in 2 acts, book and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, music by Victor Herbert, staged by Ned Wayburn, produced by Charles Dillingham and Florenz Ziegfeld at the Century Theater with Lew Fields, Andrew Tombs, Elizabeth Brice, Marion Davies, Charles King, Bessie McCoy Davis, Vivienne Segal, Vera Maxwell, Van & Schenk, Irene Castle, Bert Savoy, Joe Brennan, Lilyan Tashman, Dolores, George White and Ann Pennington and others. 48 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies 1918, June 18, 1918 :

Revue in two acts, lines and lyrics by Rennold Wolf and Gene Buck, music by Louis A. Hirsch and Dave Stamper, interpolations by Irving Berlin and Victor Jacobi, costumes by Lucile et al., staged by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater with Eddie Cantor, Frank Carter, Gus Minton, Marilyn Miller, Will Rogers, Allyn King, Dolores, Ann Pennington, Kay Laurell, the Fairbanks Twins, W. C. Fields, and Lillian Lorraine. 151 performances.

By Pigeon Post, November 25, 1918 :

Play in three acts by Austin Page at the Cohan Theater with Jerome Patrick, Frank Kemble Cooper, John Sainpolis, Phoebe Foster and Peggy O'Neil. 24 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies of 1919, June 16, 1919 :

Written by Irving Berlin, Gene Buck, Rennold Wolf and Dave Stamper, ballet by Victor Herbert, costumes by Lucile et al., directed by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater with Eddie Cantor, Johnny and Ray Dooley, Eddie Dowling, Phil Dwyer, the Fairbanks Twins, Mary Hay, George LeMaire, Marilyn Miller, John Steele, Van and Schenck, Hazel Washburn and Bert Williams. 171 performances

Caesar's Wife, November 24, 1919 :

Drama in 3 acts by W. Somerset Maugham, directed by B. Iden Payne, starring Billie Burke, Norman Trevor, and Ernest Glendenning at the Liberty Theater. 81 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies of 1920, June 22, 1920 :

Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, Dave Stamper, Gene Buck, Joseph McCarthy, Harry Tierney and Victor Herbert, costumes by Lucile et al., directed by Edward Royce at the New Amsterdam Theater with Ray Dooley, Fannie Brice, W. C. Fields, Charles Winninger, Bernard Granville, John Steel, Mary Eaton, Jack Donahue, Van and Schenck and Moran and Mack. 123 performances.

James Theater, Columbus, Ohio, 1920-1921 :

Sally, December 21, 1920 :

Musical comedy in three acts, book by Guy Bolton, lyrics by Clifford Grey, music by Jerome Kern and Victor Herbert, directed and choreographed by Edward Royce at the New Amsterdam Theater with Marilyn Miller, Leon Errol, Mary Hay, Walter Catlett, and Dolores. 570 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies of 1921, June 21, 1921 :

Lines and lyrics by Channing Pollock, Gene Buck, Willard Mack, Ralph Spence and Bud De Silva, music by Victor Herbert, Rudolf Friml and Dave Stamper, costumes by James Reynolds, directed by Edward Royce at the Globe Theater with Raymond Hitchcock, Fannie Brice, Van and Schenk, Ray Dooley, Florence O'Denishawn, Charles O'Donnell, W. C. Fields, Mary Eaton and Mitti and Tillio. 119 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies of 1922, June 5, 1922 :

Music by Victor Herbert, Louis A. Hirsch and Dave Stamper, book and lyrics by Ring Lardner, Gene Buck and Ralph Spence, sets by Urban, James Reynolds and Herman Rosse, costumes by James Reynolds, Charles LeMaire, et al., directed and choreographed by Ned Wayburn at the New Amsterdam Theater, with Will Rogers, Michael Fokine, Gallagher and Shean, Lulu McConnell, Andrew Tombes, Evelyn Law, Gilda Gray, Mary Eaton and Jessie Reed. 541 performances.

Rose Briar, December 25, 1922 :

Comedy in 3 acts by Booth Tarkington with Billie Burke, Frank Conroy, Allan Dinehart, Julia Hoyt and Florence O'Denishawn at the Empire Theater. 89 performances. 17

Ziegfeld Follies of 1923, October 20 :

Musical revue in 2 acts, lyrics by Gene Buck, music by Victor Herbert, Rudolph Friml and Dave Stamper, costumes by Ben-Ali Haggin, Tappé, Alice O'Neill, Erté, and James Reynolds, et al., directed and choreographed by Ned Wayburn with Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, Bert and Betty Wheeler, Lina Basquette, Ann Pennington, Paul Whiteman Orchestra and Dave Stamper at the New Amsterdam Theater. 333 performances

Kid Boots, December 31, 1923 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts by William Anthony McGuire and Otto Harbach, music by Harry Tierney, lyrics by Joseph McCarthy, directed by Edward Royce at the Earl Carroll Theater with Eddie Cantor, Mary Eaton and Jobyna Howland. 479 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies of 1924, June 24, 1924 :

Musical revue with lyrics by Gene Buck and Joseph J. McCarthy, music by Victor Herbert, Raymond Hubbell, Dave Stamper, Harry Tierney and Dr. Albert Szirmai, dialog by William Anthony McGuire and Will Rogers, costumes by James Reynolds, Charles LeMaire, et al., sets by Joseph Urban and Ludwig Kainer, staged by Julian Mitchell at the New Amsterdam Theater with Will Rogers, Vivienne Segal, Ann Pennington, Lina Basquette, Evelyn Law, Mae Daw and the Tiller Girls. c. 401 performances.

Annie Dear, November 4, 1924 :

Musical comedy in 3 acts from the original Good Gracious, Annabelle (1916), book, music and lyrics by Clare Kummer, interpolations by Sigmund Romberg and Harry Tierney, staged by Edward Royce at the Times Square Theater, with Billie Burke, Marion Green and Ernest Truex. 103 performances.

Louie the 14th, March 3, 1925 :

Musical play from the German, adaptation and lyrics by Arthur Wimperis, music by Sigmund Romberg, sets in collaboration with Gretl Urban and Karl Koeck, directed by Edward Royce with Leon Errol, Ethel Shutta, Doris Patson, and Henry Fender at the Cosmopolitan Theater. 79 performances.

Palm Beach Girl, January 14, 1926 :

Opened as Ziegfeld's Palm Beach Nights, book by Gene Buck and Irving Caesar, music by Rudolph Friml, staged by Ned Wayburn at the Club de Montmartre in Palm Beach with Harry Fender, Mort Downey, Ray Dooley, Claire Luce, Polly Walker, and Paulette Goddard.

No Foolin', June 24, 1926 :

Revue in two acts, a revised version of Ziegfeld's Palm Beach Girl, music by Rudolf Friml, written by Gene Buck, Irving Caesar, Ballard MacDonald, J. P. McEvoy and James Hanley, tableaux by Ben Ali Haggin, costumes by John Harkrider, sets by Urban and John Wenger, dances by John Boyle, staged by Walter Wilson and Ed Royce at the Globe Theater with James Barton, Ray Dooley, Polly Walker, Peggy Fears, Paulette Goddard, and Claire Luce. This was essentially the Follies for 1926 but went by several titles including Ziegfeld's American Revue due to a legal dispute with the Erlanger estate over the use of the name. 108 performances.

Betsy, December 28, 1926. :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, book by Irving Caesar & David Freedman, choreographed by Sammy Lee, directed by William Anthony McGuire at the New Amsterdam Theater, with Belle Baker. 39 performances.

Rio Rita, February 2, 1927 :

Musical comedy in two acts, book by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson, music and lyrics by Harry Tierney and Joseph McCarthy, choreographed by Albertina Rasch and Sammy Lee, costumes by John Harkrider, directed by John Harwood at the Ziegfeld Theatre with J. Harold Murray, Ethelind Terry, Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey and the Albertina Rasch Girls. 494 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies of 1927, August 16, 1927 :

Musical revue in 2 acts, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, sketches by Harold Atteridge and Eddie Cantor, costumes by John Harkrider, choreographed by Sammy Lee and Albertina Rasch, produced by Abe Erlanger and Florenz Ziegfeld, directed by Ziegfeld and Zeke Colvan at the New Amsterdam Theater with Eddie Cantor, Andrew Tombes, Claire Luce, Ruth Etting and the Albertina Rasch Girls. 167 performances.

Show Boat, December 27, 1927 :

Musical adapted from Edna Ferber's novel, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern, costumes by John Harkrider, choreographed by Sammy Lee, directed by Zeke Cohan at the Ziegfeld Theatre with Charles Winninger, Edna May Oliver, Howard Marsh, Norma Terriss, Helen Morgan, Aunt Jemima (Tess Gardell) and Jules Bledsoe. 572 performances.

Rosalie, January 10, 1928 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts, book by William Anthony McGuire and Guy Bolton, lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse and Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin and Sigmund Romberg, costumes by John Harkrider, choreographed by Seymour Felix, directed by McGuire and Florenz Ziegfeld at the New Amsterdam Theater with Frank Morgan, Marilyn Miller, Oliver McLennan, Jack Donahue, Gladys Glad and Helen Forbes. 335 performances.

The Three Musketeers, March 13, 1928 :

Musical version in 2 acts of novel by Alexandre Dumas, adapted by William Anthony McGuire, music by Rudolph Friml, lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse and Clifford Grey, choreographed by Albertina Rasch, costumes by John Harkrider, directed by McGuire and Richard Boleslavsky at the Lyric Theater with Vivienne Segal and Dennis King. 318 performances.

Whoopee, December 4, 1928 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts and 12 scenes by William Anthony McGuire, based on The Nervous Wreck by Owen Davis, music by Walter Donaldson, lyrics by Gus Kahn, choreographed by Seymour Felix and Tamara Geva, costumes by John Harkrider, directed by McGuire at the New Amsterdam Theater with Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting, Gladys Glad, Ethel Shutta, Jack Rutherford and Frances Upton. 379 performances.

Show Girl, July 2, 1929 :

Musical comedy revue by William Anthony McGuire based on the novel by J. P. McEvoy, music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Gus Kahn, costumes by John Harkrider, choreographed by Bobby Connolly and Albertina Rasch, directed by Zeke Colvan at the Ziegfeld Theater with Ruby Keeler, Jimmie Durante, Lou Clayton, Eddie Jackson, Eddie Foy, Jr. and Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra. 111 performances.

Simple Simon, February 18, 1930 :

Musical comedy by Ed Wynn and Guy Bolton, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, dances by Seymour Felix, directed by Zeke Colvan at the Ziegfeld Theatre with Ed Wynn, Ruth Etting and Harriet Hoctor. 101 performances.

Smiles, November 18, 1930 :

A musical comedy in 2 acts by William Anthony McGuire, music by Vincent Youmans, lyrics by Clifford Grey, Harold Adamson and Ring Lardner, choreographed by Ned Wayburn, directed by William Anthony McGuire at the Ziegfeld Theater with Paul Gregory, Fred and Adele Astaire, Larry Adler, Marilyn Miller, and Eddie Foy, Jr. 63 performances.

Ziegfeld Follies of 1931, July 1, 1931 :

Music by Harry Revel, Ben Oakland, Dave Stamper, Dimitri Tiomkin, Noel Coward, Nora Bayes, Jimmy Monaco, Chick Endor, Walter Donaldson, and Jay Gorney, sketches by Gene Buck, Mark Hellinger, and J. P. Murray, lyrics by Gene Buck, Joseph McCarthy, Charles Farrell, Mack Gordon, J. P. Murray, Barry Trivers, E. Y. Harburg, Jack Norworth, and Noel Coward, costumes by John Harkrider, dances by Bobby Connolly and Albertina Rasch, directed by Edward C. Lilley at the Ziegfeld Theater with Buck and Bubbles, Ruth Etting, Gladys Glad, Grace Moore, Helen Morgan, Jack Pearl, Albertina Rasch Dancers, Albert Carroll, Hal Leroy, Mitzi Mayfair, and Harry Richman. 164 performances

Hot-Cha! (Laid in Mexico), March 8, 1932 :

Musical comedy in 2 acts by Lew Brown, Ray Henderson, Mark Hellinger and H. S. Kraft, music by Brown and Henderson, staged by Edgar McGregor, dances by Bobby Connolly, directed by Edward Lilley at the Ziegfeld Theater with Bert Lahr, Lupe Velez, Marjorie White, and Buddy Rogers. 119 performances

Show Boat, May 23 1932 :

See Show Boat, December 27, 1927. Revival at the Casino Theater with Charles Winninger, Edna May Oliver, Dennis King, Norma Terriss, Helen Morgan, Tess Gardell (Aunt Jemima) and Paul Robeson. 36 performances

Subseries III.5: Metropolitan Opera, 1917-1933

Urban designed several operas a year for the Metropolitan Opera Company during the time when the financier philanthropist Otto Kahn was Chairman of the Board of Directors and Giulio Gatti-Cassazza was the manager. Urban's good friend and fellow Austrian Artur Bodanzky was a conductor, and major singers such as Enrico Caruso, Rosa Ponselle, Maria Jeritza, Giuseppe De Luca, Beniamino Giglio, Ezio Pinza and Fiodr Chaliapin performed on his sets. The productions are arranged in chronological order listed by title, opening date and production information. The last year the set was used is shown in parentheses. The files contain drawings, research material, technical drawings, photographs of sets and some programs. The production information is from the Metropolitan Opera Archives and Seltsam, William H. Metropolitan Opera Annals . New York: W. W. Wilson Co., 1947.

Faust, November 17, 1917 (1951) :

Opera in 4 acts and 6 scenes based on the dramatic poem by Goethe, music by Charles Gounod, book by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, costumes by Joseph Urban, conducted by Pierre Monteux with Giovanni Martinelli as Faust, Geraldine Farrar as Marguerite and Leon Rothier as Mephistopheles.

Saint Elizabeth (Die Legende von der Heiligen Elisabeth), January 3, 1918 :

First American performance of oratorio in a prologue and 4 tableaux, sung in English, music by Franz Liszt, book by Otto Roquette, translated by Constance Bache, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Richard Ordynski, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Florence Easton as St. Elizabeth, Clarence Whitehill as Ludwig and Margarete Matzenauer as Sophie.

Le Prophète, February 7, 1918 (1928) :

Opera in 4 acts and 9 scenes, book by Eugene Scribe, music by Giacomo Meyerbeer, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Richard Ordynski, conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Enrico Caruso as Jean of Leyden, Margarete Matzenauer as Fidès, Claudia Muzio as Bertha and Adamo Didur as Count Oberthal.

Oberon, December 18, 1918 (1921) :

First Metropolitan Opera performance in English of opera in 3 acts and 9 tableaux, music by Carl Maria von Weber, book by J. R. Planché, costumes by Joseph Urban, directed by Richard Ordynski, revised and conducted by Artur Bodanzky with Rosa Ponselle as Rezia, Giovanni Martinelli as Huon and Paul Althouse as Oberon.