Summary Information
Harry Ruby Papers
1926-1951
U.S. Mss 169AN
0.4 c.f. (1 archives box)
Wisconsin Historical Society Archives / Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research Contact Information
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Papers of Harry Ruby, a composer, lyricist, and writer of plays and motion pictures, consisting of scripts and music for motion pictures and Broadway musicals. Motion picture files contain scripts for Animal Crackers (Para., 1930), Horse Feathers (Para., 1932), Three Little Words (MGM, 1950), which was based on Ruby's long, successful collaboration with Bert Kalmar, and other films. Theater files include the books for The Five 0'Clock Girl (1927), High Kickers (1941), Lucky (1927), and The Ramblers (1926); and musicals and revues that Ruby wrote in association with Kalmar, Otto Harbach, Guy Bolton, and George Jessel. Also included are manuscript copies of six songs, including Groucho Marx's “Hooray for Captain Spaulding” from Animal Crackers, “Three Little Words,” and “Who's Sorry Now.”
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0169an ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Harry Ruby, composer, lyricist, and playwright, was born on January 27, 1895. He began his career as a pianist in silent film houses, nickelodeons, and cafes; he later became a song plugger, and appeared in the vaudeville act “Messenger Boy Trio.” The song “So Long So Long” was Ruby's first composition, later followed by such classics as “Who's Sorry Now?,” “I Wanna be Loved by You,” and “Three Little Words.” An early associate of the Marx Brothers, he wrote the words and music for Animal Crackers, including Groucho Marx's song, “Hooray for Captain Spaulding.” Ruby's partner, Bert Kalmar, collaborated with him on such Marx Brothers' productions as Horse Feathers and Duck Soup. The team of Ruby and Kalmar wrote many musical comedies and revues that enjoyed runs on Broadway, such as Helen of Troy, New York; The Ramblers; and The Five O'Clock Girl. They also composed music and lyrics for Eddie Cantor and Fannie Brice. Ruby and Kalmar also worked in films co-authoring the songs and screenplays for The Cuckoo, Check and Double Check, Top Speed, The Kid from Spain, Kentucky Kernels, and Bright Lights; and the songs for Wake Up and Dream, Happiness Ahead, Do You Love Me?, and The Strip.
Ruby died on February 23, 1974 at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
Scope and Content Note
The Harry Ruby Papers, 1926-1951, include many of his major works as both a playwright and composer. The collection is arranged into four small series: Biographical Information, Motion Pictures, Theater, and Music.
The Biographical Information file contains a fact sheet listing most of Ruby's theatrical and musical credits.
The Motion Picture and Theater files are composed entirely of scripts. Included are movie scripts for Animal Crackers; Hips, Hips, Hooray; Horse Feathers; The Kid from Spain; Lovely to Look At; and Three Little Words; plus playscripts for The Five O'Clock Girl; High Kickers; Lucky; and The Ramblers. Their arrangement is alphabetical by title.
Finally, the Music series contains manuscript copies of the music scores for “Hooray for Captain Spaulding,” “Her Petticoat Was Showing,” “Money Doesn't Grow on Trees,” “That's What I Like About Love,” “Three Little Words,” and “Who's Sorry Now?” They are arranged alphabetically by title.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by Harry Ruby, Los Angeles, California, December 29, 1967. Accession Number: MCHC67-146
Processed by Alice Siemering and Christine Rongone, January 20, 1977.
Contents List
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Series: Biographical Information
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Fact sheet, undated
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Series: Motion Pictures
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Animal Crackers (1930, Par)
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Script, 1930, August 1
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Music, “Hooray for Captain Spaulding,” See Music series below
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Hips, Hips, Hooray (1934, RKO)
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Script, 1933, October 17
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Horse Feathers (1932, Par)
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Script, 1932, March 7
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The Kid from Spain (1932, UA)
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Script, 1932, August 6
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Lovely to Look At (1952, MGM)
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Script, 1951, September 10
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Three Little Words (1950, MGM)
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Script, 1949, November 30
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Music, “Three Little Words,” See Music series below
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Series: Theater
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The Five O'Clock Girl (44th St. Theatre, 1927, October 10)
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Script, circa 1927
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High Kickers (Broadhurst, 1941, October 31)
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Script, circa 1941
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Lucky (New Amsterdam, 1927, March 27)
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Script, circa 1927
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The Ramblers (Lyric, 1926, September 20)
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Script, circa 1926
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Series: Music
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Box
1
Folder
12
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“Hooray for Captain Spaulding”
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Box
1
Folder
12
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“Her Petticoat Was Showing”
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Box
1
Folder
12
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“Money Doesn't Grow on Trees”
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Box
1
Folder
12
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“That's What I Like About Love”
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Box
1
Folder
12
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“Three Little Words” ;
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Box
1
Folder
12
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“Who's Sorry Now?”
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