Rudolph and Joseph Schildkraut Scrapbooks
Scope and Content Note
The four scrapbooks that comprise this collection document the personal and professional lives of Rudolph Schildkraut (1862-1930) and his son, Joseph (1895-1964). Joseph Schildkraut’s third wife, Leonora, compiled the volumes as a gift for her husband. The scrapbooks are numbered II-V; there is no volume I. The volumes contain photographs, clippings, programs, iconography, and sheet music.
Photographic material comprises the bulk of the contents. There are many family portraits of Rudolph alone and with his wife, Erna Weinstein, and Joseph as a child; the Weinstein and Schildkraut families; and the adult Joseph and his wives Elise Bartlett, Mary McKay Schildkraut and Leonora Rogers Schildkraut, as well as a succession of family chihuahuas. Friends and colleagues represented include: David Belasco, Charlie Chaplin, Cecil B. DeMille, Bob Hope, Gyula Hegedus, Al Jolson, Eva Le Gallienne, Peter Lorre, Alexander Moissi, Ferenc Molnár, Fritz Reiner, Edward Sloman, and Erich von Stroheim. Other figures represented are Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain), Otto Frank, Carl Sandburg, and Prince Ludwig Ferdinand of Bavaria. Most of these images are inscribed to either Rudolph or Joseph.
Publicity photographs and production stills document Rudolph and Joseph’s acting careers. Scenes from stage productions, including King Lear, (Rudolph) and Liliom, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Young Fritz, (Joseph), and films His People, (Rudolph), and The Diary of Anne Frank, King of Kings, The Life of Emile Zola, Marie Antoinette, Orphans of the Storm, and Show Boat, (Joseph) are depicted. There are also images created during make-up and costume tests.
The photographic materials are supplemented by newspaper clippings containing performance reviews and publicity pieces; programs from The Diary of Anne Frank, Liliom, Marie Antoinette, Orphans of the Storm, and Show Boat; sheet music for the Thieves’ Song from Liliom and Down South from Show Boat; and iconography of both men in the form of pencil sketches, silhouettes, and caricatures, as well as a charcoal drawing and a lithograph.
Dates
- Creation: 1867-1964
Language of Materials
Collection material predominantly in English with some early material in German
Access and Restrictions
The Rudolph and Joseph Schildkraut Scrapbooks are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Copyright Status
Materials from the Rudolph and Joseph Schildkraut Scrapbooks are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.
Biographical Note
Rudolph Schildkraut
- 1862, Apr. 27
- Born in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
- 1880s - 1893
- Performed in provincial Austrian theaters in such plays as, Der Goldmensch, Der Müller und sein Kind, Narzib, The Schmock, Uriel Acosta, and Der Veilchenfresser
- 1893 - 1895
- Performed in Vienna in various plays, including Imagination Handcuffed, and Once Upon a Time
- 1902 - 1905
- Appeared in Ghosts by Ibsen, The Joy of Living, Justice, King Lear, Merchant of Venice, The Parolees, The Robbers, St. John’s Fires, and Winter’s Tale in Hamburg
- 1905
- Joined the German Theatre in Berlin as part of Max Reinhardt’s company
- First portrayed Shylock in The Merchant of Venice
- 1905 - 1910
- As a member of the Reinhardt company, performed as Lear in King Lear, Mephisto in Faust, Muley Hassan in Schiller's Fiesco, the grave-digger in Hamlet, and Malvolio in Twelfth Night . Other plays in this period included: God of Vengeance, Der Herr Kommissar, Lysistrata, Mephistopheles, Merchant of Venice, The Shadow (a vaudeville one act), The Well of the Saints by Synge, and Winter’s Tale
- 1910 - 1913
- Performed in Flachsmann als Erzieher, Franz Moor, King Lear, and Kittschenbum at the Irving Place Theatre in New York City
- 1913
- Performed in The Prodigal Son with Joseph for Reinhardt in Berlin
- 1913 - 1920
- Acted in silent films in Europe: Der Shylock von Krakau, Ivan Koschula, The Fool of Fate, Demon and Human, The Eighth Commandment, Pool Pagliacci, The Schlemiel with Joseph, The Fortune Tellers, The Dancing Heart, The Lullaby, The Court Musician, Free Fighting, The Pasha, and Justice
- 1915
- Appeared as Caliban in The Tempest in Berlin
- 1920
- Moved permanently to the United States
- Appeared on stage in New York in Silent Forces
- 1921
- Appeared, with Joseph, in his last European film, the Austrian silent film Theodor Herzel (released in the United States as The Wandering Jew ) as Herb Schildt "The Struggling Israel"
- 1922
- Made his English-speaking debut in Sholem Asch’s God of Vengeance
- 1925
- Founded Yiddish-language Jewish Art Theatre in New York
- 1927
- Appeared as Caiaphas in Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings with Joseph as Judas Iscariot
- 1928
- Became, along with wife Erna, a United States citizen
- 1929
- Appeared in his last motion picture, the silent film Christina
- 1930, July 15
- Died, Los Angeles, California
Joseph Schildkraut
- 1895, Mar. 22
- Born to Rudolph and Erna Weinstein Schildkraut in Vienna, Austria
- 1907 - 1910
- Studied violin in Berlin
- 1911 - 1912
- Performed in Der Junge Fritz at Irving Place Theatre in New York City
- 1913
- Graduated from Junior Class of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts
- Performed in The Fawn at American Academy of Dramatic Arts
- Performed in The Prodigal Son with Rudolph for Reinhardt in Berlin
- 1915
- Performed in King Lear, Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Sea Gull in Berlin
- 1917 - 1918
- Served as Lieutenant in the 24th Imperial Dragoon Regiment of Austria
- 1918
- Appeared in European silent film For the Glory of Her Lover
- 1918 - 1919
- Performed in Children's Tragedy, and Ibsen’s Ghosts in Vienna
- 1918 - 1920
- Performed in The Green Cockatoo by Schnitzler in Vienna
- 1920
- Performed in Schiller’s Don Carlos in Vienna
- Returned to United States permanently
- 1921
- Performed in Pagans at the Plymouth Theatre in in New York City
- Originated the role of the Sparrow in the first American stage production of Liliom at the Theatre Guild with Eva Le Gallienne
- 1921 - 1928
- Appeared in Hollywood silent films: Orphans of the Storm, The Road to Yesterday, Meet the Prince, Shipwrecked, Young April, The Heart Thief, His Dog, The Forbidden Woman, and Tenth Avenue
- 1922
- Married actress Elise Bartlett (divorced 1930)
- 1927
- Appeared as Judas Iscariot in Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings with Rudolph as Caiaphas
- 1929
- Played the part of Gaylord Ravenal in semi-talkie version of Show Boat
- 1930 - 1965
- Appeared in numerous films, including Night Ride, Cock o' the Walk, Carnival, Viva Villa!, Cleopatra, The Crusades, The Garden of Allah, Slave Ship, Souls at Sea, Lancer Spy, Marie Antoinette, Suez, The Baroness and the Butler, Lady of the Tropics, Idiot's Delight, The Three Musketeers, The Man in the Iron Mask, Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation, The Rains Came, Rangers of Fortune, The Shop Around the Corner, The Tell-Tale Heart, Flame of Barbary Coast, The Cheaters, Monsieur Beaucaire, Northwest Outpost, The Big Bankroll, and The Greatest Story Ever Told
- 1932
- Married Mary McKay (died 1962)
- 1932 - 1933
- Reprised role of the Sparrow in revival of Liliom at the Civic Repertory Theatre
- Performed in Dear Jane, Camille, and Alice in Wonderland, (as the Queen of Hearts) at the Civic Repertory Theatre
- 1938
- Received Academy Award for best supporting actor for role of Alfred Dreyfus in The Life of Emile Zola
- 1941
- Performed in Clash by Night with Tallulah Bankhead at the Belasco Theatre
- 1942 - 1944
- Performed in Uncle Harry with Eva Le Gallienne
- 1944
- Performed in The Cherry Orchard with Eva Le Gallienne
- 1952 - 1953
- Appeared in two episodes in season one of Omnibus CBS television program: “The Last Night of Don Juan” and “Everyman”
- 1953 - 1954
- Hosted and starred in the anthology series Joseph Schildkraut Presents on the DuMont Television Network
- 1955 - 1957
- Originated the role of Otto Frank in Broadway production of The Diary of Anne Frank which ran for 717 performances
- 1957 - 1958
- Toured the United States in the role of Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank for some 381 performances
- 1959
- Appeared as Otto Frank in film version of The Diary of Anne Frank
- Published with Leo Lania My Father and I . New York: Viking Press
- 1960
- Received Golden Globe for best supporting actor for the role of Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank
- 1961 - 1962
- Appeared in two episodes of Twilight Zone , season three: "Deaths-Head Revisited" and "The Trade-Ins"
- 1962
- Appeared in an episode of Dr. Kildare , season one: “The Stepping Stone”
- 1963, Mar. 22
- Married Leonora Rogers
- 1963
- Nominated for a best actor Emmy Award for his guest-starring role on NBC's legal drama Sam Benedict
- 1964, Jan. 21
- Died, New York, New York
Extent
1,000 items in 4 volumes (around)
4 containers
4 linear feet
Abstract
Rudolph Schildkraut (1862-1930) and his son, Joseph Schildkraut (1895-1964), were Austrian-American stage and film actors. The collection documents their personal and professional lives on European and American stage and screen through photographs, clippings, programs, and iconography mounted in four scrapbooks.
Organization of the Rudolph and Joseph Schildkraut Scrapbooks
The materials are arranged in one series of four scrapbooks.
Catalog Record
Provenance
Gift, Leonora Schildkraut, 2006.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Other Repositories
The University of Southern California Libraries Special Collections holds the Leonora Schildkraut papers which includes some of Rudolph Schildkraut's annotated scripts.
The Anne Frank House holds a collection of Joseph Schildkraut materials, including correspondence with Otto Frank, photographs, and other documents.
Processing History
Anita M. Weber processed the Rudolph and Joseph Schildkraut scrapbooks in 2017. Ms. Weber coded the finding aid for EAD format in 2017.
Source
- Schildkraut, Rudolph (Creator, Person)
- Schildkraut, Joseph, 1895-1964 (Creator, Person)
- Schildkraut, Leonora (Collector, Person)
Subject
- Le Gallienne, Eva, 1899-1991--Performances. (Person)
- Le Gallienne, Eva, 1899-1991--Photographs. (Person)
- Le Gallienne, Eva, 1899-1991. (Person)
- Molnár, Ferenc, 1878-1952. Liliom. (Person)
- Schildkraut, Joseph, 1895-1964--Performances. (Person)
- Schildkraut, Joseph, 1895-1964--Photographs. (Person)
- Schildkraut, Joseph, 1895-1964. (Person)
- Schildkraut, Joseph, 1895-1964. Rudolph and Joseph Schildkraut scrapbooks. 1867-1964. (Person)
- Schildkraut, Leonora (Person)
- Schildkraut, Rudolph--Performances. (Person)
- Schildkraut, Rudolph--Photographs. (Person)
- Schildkraut, Rudolph. (Person)
- Schildkraut, Rudolph. (Person)
Genre / Form
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Photographic prints.
- Programs (Documents)
- Promotional materials.
- Scrapbooks.
Topical
- Actors--Photographs.
- Actors.
- Jewish actors.
- Motion picture actors and actresses--Photographs.
- Motion picture actors and actresses.
- Motion pictures.
- Theater.
Uniform Title
- Title
- Guides to Special Collections in the Music Division of the Library of Congress
- Author
- Processed by the Music Division of the Library of Congress
- Date
- 2017
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Music Division Repository
Performing Arts Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 113
Washington, DC 20540-4810
(202) 707-5507