Skip to main content

Roger Edens papers

 Collection
Identifier: 2296

  • Staff Only
  • Select an item to initiate a request

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of the papers of American composer, arranger, and associate producer of film Roger Edens (1905-1970). The papers include scripts, production information, and music scores. Edens was associate producer for a number of musical films, including "On the Town" (1949), "Show Boat" (1951), "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), and "The Band Wagon" (1953).

Materials include correspondence, memos, and personal files relating to Edens' career at MGM and other studios. There are original arrangements for stars such as Judy Garland and Ethel Merman, sheet music from other composers, books, records, and transcriptions. There are scripts in various stages for many MGM musicals including Good News (1947), Easter Parade (1948), On the Town (1949), Show Boat (1951), An American in Paris (1951), and Funny Face (1957).

Dates

  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1930s-1960s

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Advance notice required for access.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Cinematic Arts Library at ctlibarc@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Cinematic Arts Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Biographical / Historical

Roger Edens (1905-1970) was an American composer, arranger, and associate producer of film. Edens was associate producer for a number of musical films, including "On the Town" (1949), "Show Boat" (1951), "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), and "The Band Wagon" (1953). He often worked with Judy Garland and composed music specifically for her. He won 3 Academy Awards for Best Score in 1948, 1949, and 1950.

Extent

64.25 Linear Feet (53 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection consists of scripts, production information, and music scores from American composer, arranger, and associate producer of film Roger Edens (1905-1970). Edens was associate producer for a number of musical films, including "On the Town" (1949), "Show Boat" (1951), "Singin' in the Rain" (1952), and "The Band Wagon" (1953).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Roger Edens, March 18, 1971.

Processing Information

This collection is not fully processed.

Title
Finding aid for the Roger Edens papers
Status
Minimally Processed
Author
Marissa Chavez & Brandon Werts for History Associates Incorporated. Addition description provided by Diann Benti based on an inventory created by Edward S. Comstock.
Date
2022 January
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the USC Libraries Cinematic Arts Library Repository

Contact:
Doheny Memorial Library G4
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0185 United States