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Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
GUIDE
TO THE
NELSON EDDY/JEANETTE MACDONALD
COLLECTION
Housed in the American Music Research Center
University of Colorado
Music Library
Compiled by
Cassandra M. Volpe, Archivist
July, 2001
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University of Colorado at Boulder | University Libraries | AMRC
Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
BIOGRAPHY
OF
NELSON EDDY
Nelson Eddy, baritone singer and actor, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on June
29, 1901, to parents who traced their ancestry back to President Martin Van Buren. He
moved with his family to Philadelphia in 1915, where he had to leave school in order to
work. He worked as a telephone operator, classified ad salesman and an advertising
copywriter. He also studied singing with David Bispham. He made his debut in a
musical play at the Philadelphia Academy of Music in 1922, and also sang roles with the
Philadelphia Civic Opera and the Philadelphia Operatic Society before appearing at the
Metropolitan Opera House in 1924. He spent the years 1928 to 1933 giving concert tours
throughout the USA.
He discovered Hollywood, and Hollywood discovered him, when Ida Koverman, private
secretary to Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio. She persuaded Mr.
Mayer to give Mr. Eddy a nine-year contract. He made his first film in 1933 but didn’t
achieve fame until two years later when Mr. Mayer persuaded Hunt Strombert, producer,
to cast Mr. Eddy in the lead of “Naughty Marietta” opposite Jeanette MacDonald. From
that start in 1935, Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald went on to perform together in
seven more film musicals.
In 1939, Eddy married Ann Denitz Franklin, and they established a home in Brentwood,
Calif., near Hollywood, where his hobbies were sculpturing and collecting ancient pewter
and porcelain Tang horses. The studios feared that Eddy’s marriage would dampen his
female fans enthusiasm for him, but they were just as loyal and excited to see him as
before.
Nelson Eddy was a handsome blond, deep-throated baritone who thrilled a generation of
movie-goers in the 1930’s and 1940’s, singing the romantic songs of Sigmund Romberg
and Victor Herbert. He made several recordings and performed on radio, television, and
in concerts up until the time of his death. There are still fan clubs for both Nelson Eddy
and Jeanette MacDonald who meet, publish newsletters, and recently celebrated what
would have been Eddy’s 90th birthday. Nelson Eddy died, March 6, 1967, after being
stricken during a nightclub show at the Sans Souci Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla.
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Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
BIOGRAPHY
OF
JEANETTE MACDONALD
Jeanette MacDonald, soprano and actress, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., June 18, 1901.
She began her stage career in 1917 as a chorus girl at the Capitol Theater, New York. She
performed on Broadway for ten years in musicals by composers like Kear and Gershwin,
playing some minor parts in Broadway musicals during the 1920’s and her first starring
role in Yes, Yes, Yvette in 1927.
MacDonald arrived in Hollywood, Ca. in 1929 to star in film musicals with roles focused
primarily on saucy dialogue, gilded beds, and marble bathtubs. For the next six years,
her screen persona of a cool beauty awaiting ignition by a charming seducer was
established in her first film role as Queen Louise in The Love Parade. Many of her early
movies were comical sex farces, many which she performed with such stars and Maurice
Chevalier. Her last risque movie that portrayed strong sexual tension was The Merry
Widow where she starred with Chevalier. By 1933 the Hollywood studios censored
themselves by formulating a Code with a lengthy list of no-no’s.
Jeanette MacDonald’s first post-Code film was the Naughty Marietta, based on the 1910
operatta, where her new leading man was Nelson Eddy, the solid, trustworthy, big brother
type. MacDonald quickly discarded her old persona and took on a new screen image of
warmth and vulnerability. Although her voice lacked flexibility and warmth, MacDonald
projected an image of charm and beauty appropriate to the romantic heroines she now
portrayed. During the next eight years, she and Nelson Eddy starred in eight operettas
together.
She left film work in 1942 in order to make concert tours, radio appearances, and
recordings. She also began a brief career in opera in 1943, when she appeared with Ezio
Pinza in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette in Montreal; her only other role was a Marguerite in
Faust with the Chicago Civic Opera and Cincinnati Summer Opera the following year.
MacDonald married the actor and composer, Gene Raymond, whose songs she performed
on her concert tours. She died in Houston, Tx., January 14, 1965
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University of Colorado at Boulder | University Libraries | AMRC
Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald Collection is composed of materials donated
by several collectors:
Marion Conn, Akron, Ohio
Helen Sussman, Hatboro, Pennsylvania
Bea Musick, Kissimmee, Florida
Jean Hull Herman, Tallelyville, Deleware
In addition, a separate collection titled Mary Jean Lancaster Collection contains materials
on Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald.
All of these collections contain photographs, publicity materials, sheet music, audio and
visual materials that were collected by these avid fans.
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University of Colorado at Boulder | University Libraries | AMRC
Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
NELSON EDDY AND
JEANETTE MACDONALD
COLLECTION
GUIDE
Box 1
Fd 1
Fd 2
Fd 3
Fd 4
Fd 5
Fd 6
Fd 7
Fd 8
Fd 9
Fd 10
Fd 11
Fd 12
Fd 13
Fd 14
Biographical Information – Nelson Eddy
Biographical Information – Jeanette MacDonald
Hall of Fame Music Award 1988
Pen and Ink Drawings – Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald
Photographs – Nelson Eddy
Photographs – Nelson Eddy – Movie Shots
Balalaika
Chocolate Soldier
Rosalie
Photographs – Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald
Photographs – Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald – Movie Shots
Bittersweet
Girl of the Golden West
I Married an Angel
Maytime
Naughty Marietta
New Moon
Rose Marie
Smilin’ Through
Sweethearts
Photographs – Jeanette MacDonald
Photographs – Jeanette MacDonald– Movie Shots
Cairo
Love Parade
One Hour With You
Sun Comes Up
Three Daring Daughters
Two’s Company and Three’s a Crowd
Photographs – Fans
Photographs – Miscellaneous
Postcards – Philadelphia, Pa.
Posters
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Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 2
Fd 1
Fd 2
Fd 3
Fd 4
Fd 5
Fd 6
Fd 7
Publications – Films of the Golden Age, 1996
Publications – Nelson Eddy Fan Club - “Dear Eddyites”
Publications – Nelson Eddy Appreciation Society, Golden Star- 1982,
1987, 1988–1990
Publications – Nelson Eddy Appreciation Society, Golden Star, 1991-1992
Publications – Nelson Eddy Appreciation Society, Golden Star, 1993-1994
Publications – Nelson Eddy Appreciation Society, Golden Star, 1995-1997
Publications – Nelson Eddy Appreciation Society, Golden Star, 1998-2001
Box 3
Fd 1
Fd 2
Fd 3
Fd 4
Fd 5
Fd 6
Fd 7
Fd 8
Fd 9
Fd 10
Fd 11
Fd 12
Fd 13
Fd 14
Fd 15
Publications – Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald Appreciation
Society, Retrospect, 1980
Publications – Jeanette MacDonald International Fan Club – Beloved
Jeanette MacDonald, 1981, 1987
Publications – Jeanette MacDonald International Fan Club – Golden
Comet, 1993-2000
Publications – Jeanette MacDonald International Fan Club – La Petit
Comet, 1992
Publicity – Nelson Eddy
Publicity – Jeanette MacDonald
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Scholarship Awards, 1995-1996
Scrapbook – 90th Birthday Celebration, June 29, 1991 (Photocopy)
Scrapbook – 90th Birthday Celebration – Clippings
Scrapbook – 90th Birthday Celebration – Correspondence
Scrapbook – 90th Birthday Celebration – Photographs – Fans and Sights
Scrapbook – 90th Birthday Celebration – Program
Songbook – Nelson Eddy Songs, 1958
Song Lyrics
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Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 4
Books
Bk 1
Complete Films of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, by Philip
Castanza. New Jersey: Carol Publishing Company, 1990.
Bk 2
Films of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, by Philip Castanza. New
Jersey: Citadel Press, 1981.
Bk 3
Nelson Eddy: America’s Favorite Baritone, by Gail Lulay. Wheeling, Ill.:
Goldfleet Publishing, 1990.
Bk 4
Nelson Eddy: Opera Years, 1922-1935, by Sharon Rich. New York: Bell
Harbour Press, 2001.
Bk 5
Sweethearts, by Sharon Rich. New York: Bell Harbour Press, 2001.
Box 5
Books (cont.)
Bk 1
Nelson Eddy a bio-discography, by Larry F. Kiner. New Jersey:
Scarecrow Press, 1992.
Vinyl Recording Albums
Album 1
Twelve Beloved American Songs, Nelson Eddy, Baritone
‘Neath the Southern Moon/Ah! Sweet
Smilin’ Through/A Dream
The Hills of Home/Deep River
Oh Promise Me/ The Rosary
Thy Beaming Eyes/Sylvia
Album 2
Twelve Beloved American Songs, Nelson Eddy, Baritone
By the Waters of Minnetonka/Trees
Hills of Home/Deep River
Smilin’ Through/A Dream
Oh Promise Me/The Rosary
Thy Beaming Eyes/Sylvia
A Perfect Day/At Dawning
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Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 5 (cont.)
Cassette Tapes
Tape 1
Radio interview of Nelson Eddy with his mother, Mrs. Isabet, c. 1945
Tape 2
Spotlight on Jeanette MacDonald, BBC Radio Show
Tape 3
Nelson Eddy Opera and Song Recital (2 tapes)
Tape 4
Nelson Eddy Music from the Thirties
Tape 5
Nelson Eddy First 50 Years, narrator, Marty Robinson, Chicago
Box 6
Video Recordings of TV Movies
Video 1
Balalaika
Video 2
Bitter Sweet
Video 3
Desert Song (2 copies)
Video 4
Let Freedom Ring
Compact Discs
CD 1
Jeanette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy Interviews #1 (2001)
CD 2
Nelson Eddy: Nightclub Act (2001)
CD 3-4
Nelson Eddy: Operatic Years 1938-1948, Recital 1 and 2 (2001)
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University of Colorado at Boulder | University Libraries | AMRC
Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 7
Ephemera
Item 1
Bookmarks and Matchbook cover
Item 2
Stationery with Nelson Eddy photo
Item 3
Magnets, pins, stamps, pencils with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald
likeness.
Item 4-6
3 coffee mugs with photo of Nelson Eddy
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University of Colorado at Boulder | University Libraries | AMRC
Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 8
Sheet Music (From movies starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald)
Fd 1
Concert Songs sung by Nelson Eddy
“Alone”
“Night Is Young” (2 copies)
“When I Grow Too Old to Dream” (3 copies)
Fd 2
Bitter Sweet
“Bitter Sweet”
“Green Carnation”
“I’ll See You Again” (3 copies)
“If Love Were All”
“Kiss Me”
“What Is Love?”
“Zigeuner”
Fd 3
Girl of the Golden West
“Girl of the Golden West”
“Mariachie”
“Senorita” (2 copies)
“Shadows on the Moon” (3 copies)
“Soldiers of Fortune”
“Sun-Up to Sundown”
“West Ain’t Wild Anymore”
“Who Are We to Say” (2 copies)
Fd 4
I Married an Angel
“I’ll Tell the Man in the Street”
Fd 5
Maytime
“Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” (2 copies)
“Les Filles de Cadix”
“Will You Remember” (4 copies)
Fd 6
Naughty Marietta
“Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life (3 copies)
“I’m Falling in Love with Someone”
“Italian Street Song”
“ ‘Neath the Southern Moon”
“Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!”
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Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 8 cont.
Sheet Music (From movies starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald) cont.
Fd 7
New Moon
“Lover, Come Back to Me” (2 copies)
“One Kiss” (2 copies)
“Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”
“Stout-Hearted Men” (2 copies)
“Wanting You” (2 copies)
Fd 8
Rose Marie
“Indian Love Call” (2 copies)
“Mounties”
“Pardon Me Madame”
“Rose Marie” (3 copies)
Fd 9
Sweethearts
“Every Lover Must Meet His Fate”
“Farewell to Dreams” (2 copies)
“Mademoiselle”
“On Parade” (2 copies)
“Pretty as a Picture”
“Summer Serenade-Badinage” (2 copies)
“Sweethearts”
“Wooden Shoes”
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University of Colorado at Boulder | University Libraries | AMRC
Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 9
Sheet Music (From movies starring Nelson Eddy and various leading ladies)
Fd 1
Balalaika (with Ilona Massey)
“At the Balalaika” (7 copies)
“Dark Eyes”
“Magic of Your Love”
“Ride, Cossack, Ride!”
Fd 2
Chocolate Soldier (with Rise Stevens)
“My Hero” (2 copies)
“Sympathy”
“Tiralala”
“While My Lady Sleeps”
Fd 3
Knickerbocker Holiday (with Constance Dowling)
“One More Smile”
“September Song” (2 copies)
Fd 4
Let Freedom Ring (with Virginia Bruce)
“Dusty Road” (2 copies)
“Let Freedom Ring”
“Love Serenade”
“When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”
“Where Else But Here”
Fd 5
Phantom of the Opera (with Susanna Foster)
“Lullaby of the Bells” (2 copies)
Fd 6
Rosalie (with Eleanor Powell)
“In the Still of the Night” (4 copies)
“Rosalie” (2 copies)
Sheet Music (From movies starring Jeanette MacDonald and various leading men)
Fd 7
Broadway Serenade
“For Ev’ry Lonely Heart”
“One Look at You”
Fd 8
Firefly (with Allan Jones)
“Donkey Serenade” (4 copies)
“Giannina Mia”
“He Who Loves and Runs Away”
“Love Is Like a Firefly”
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Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 9 cont.
Sheet Music (From movies starring Jeanette MacDonald and various leading men) cont.
Fd 9
Love Parade (with Maurice Chevalier)
“Anything to Please the Queen”
“Dream Lover” (2 copies)
“Let’s Be Common”
“March of the Grenadiers”
“My Love Parade”
“Nobody’s Using It Now”
Fd 10 Merry Widow (with Maurice Chevalier)
“Girls, Girls, Girls!”
“Merry Widow Waltz”
“Vilia”
Fd 11 Monte Carlo (with Jack Buchanan)
“Always in All Ways”
“Beyond the Blue Horizon”
“Give Me a Moment Please”
“Trimmin’ the Women”
Fd 12 One Hour with You (with Maurice Chevalier)
“One Hour with You”
“We Will Always Be Sweethearts”
“What Would You Do”
Fd 13 San Francisco (with Clark Gable)
“San Francisco”
“Would You” (3 copies)
Fd 14 Three Daring Daughters (with Jose Iturbi)
“Dickey-Bird Song” (2 copies)
Fd 15 Vagabond King (with Dennis King)
“Only a Rose”
“Some Day”
“Song of the Vagabonds”
“Vagabond King Waltz”
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University of Colorado at Boulder | University Libraries | AMRC
Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
Box 10
Oversize
Fd 1
Photos – Nelson Eddy portraits (2)
Fd 2
Photo and Original Letter framed – Nelson Eddy
Fd 3
Posters – Chocolate Soldier
- Maytime
- Naughty Marietta
Oversize Folder
Poster – Bitter Sweet
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Guide to the Nelson Eddy / Jeanette MacDonald Collection
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