The Hal Holbrook Papers, 1942-1969, mainly relate to the development of his Mark Twain material, from its early use in the Holbrook's tours in the late 1940's through the one-person show on Broadway to the night club routines he is working on in the early 1970's. Included are general correspondence; personal papers; material on Holbrook's Mark Twain impersonations on the stage, film, and records as well as his published book of selections from Twain; and scrapbooks concerning the careers of Hal and Ruby Holbrook. As far as possible, the final arrangement reflects the way Holbrook maintained his papers.
The general correspondence, A-W, is arranged alphabetically then chronologically thereunder. The letters concern both personal and professional aspects of Holbrook's life, including his family and friends, research and financial and legal matters concerning the Twain impersonation over the years, invitations, and his dealings with the William Morris Agency.
The personal papers are comprised of a wide variety of records, including contracts for Abe Lincoln in Illinois and other productions Holbrook acted in from 1958 to 1963; diaries and trip notes reflecting the transiency and uncertainty of life for a struggling actor on tour; an account book; and a file of clippings on current events, his second marriage, and various live and filmed productions he appeared in, 1961-1968, and several professional associates. There is also one folder containing papers originally in an alphabetically arranged ring binder; they are a ready reference file re his personal and professional, financial, and legal obligations, 1957-1961. They provide sketchy documentation of Holbrook's personal insurance coverage; itineraries for the Twain show; and contractual obligations with his agencies, clipping service, and lecture bureau. There is also one folder of research on Abraham Lincoln.
The rest of the collection, boxes 4-16, relates specifically to his Mark Twain performances. Following the correspondence, 1956-1967, there is an alphabetical subject file of Twain memorabilia from which was separated a holograph poem manuscript by Twain that was annotated and signed by Holbrook (U.S./Mss/93AN/8). A chronological file, 1947-1969, shows how Hal and Ruby Holbrook developed their performances of scenes from the classics and how Hal Holbrook gradually worked on the Twain material to the exclusion of all else. The file includes clippings , programs, accounts, itineraries, schedules of engagements, budgets, other production material, and a folder of television fan mail. The engagement contracts in box 11 show how Holbrook's fee per
Mark Twain performance rose from 500 dollars to as much as 2500 dollars between 1958 and 1963.
Folders 1-8 in box 12 briefly document the Mark Productions Company, formed by Holbrook and several associates. Correspondence and financial and legal papers illustrate how the Mark Twain act was adapted for disc recordings, motion pictures, and live performances.
In 1959 Holbrook edited and arranged a book of selections from Twain, with a lengthy autobiographical prologue. The collection includes notes, drafts, a book jacket, and a review of Mark Twain Tonight! An Actor's Portrait.
Box 13 contains Holbrook's file of Twain stories he edited for performance; these are arranged alphabetically and are generally undated. Scripts for three acts of the production Mark Twain Tonight! are followed by restricted notes and scripts for nightclub routines Holbrook is still developing. Notes, casting material, scripts, and other material relate to the Holbrook television special on Twain, Roughing It, circa 1960. Miscellaneous material on Twain includes a playscript, a speech before the National Federation of Women's Clubs, a New York Times article, and routines done on several television shows.
There is now one scrapbook, 1942-1947, providing a season by season view of the careers of Hal and Ruby Holbrook. (Six other scrapbooks once in the collection were returned to Ruby Holbrook at her request.)
