Raoul Pene Du Bois "Sugar Babies" Collection, 1959-1984 | Historical Collections

By Cheyenne Thorne-Felton, GWHF Intern

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Collection Overview

Title: Raoul Pene Du Bois "Sugar Babies" Collection, 1959-1984

Predominant Dates:1978-1984

Primary Creator: Du Bois, Raoul Pene, 1914-1985 (1914-1985)

Extent: 2.0 Boxes

Subjects: Allen, Ralph G., Costume designers, Du Bois, Raoul Pene, Malvin, Arthur, Musical theater, Rooney, Mickey, Set designers, Stage designers, Theater

Languages: English

Abstract

The Raoul Pene Du Bois "Sugar Babies" Collection contains original scripts for the musical “Sugar Babies” and original costume and set designs that were put into the play. Various letters to Raoul Pene Du Bois are within the collection that mention the production of costumes and scenery. Also included are some clippings from newspapers and other media pertaining to the production.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Raoul Pene Du Bois "Sugar Babies" Collection includes various paintings and drawings of costumes and set designs done by Du Bois, primarily for the musical “Sugar Babies”. It also includes scripts from the play and newspaper articles advertising the play, as well as various documents including paystubs and letters addressed to DuBois.

All items were purchased from Swann Auction Galleries for the Green-Wood Historic Fund Collections. Du Bois was interred in the Green-Wood Cemetery in 1985. The Cemetery, established in 1838 and designated a National Historical Landmark in 2006, is continuously acquiring historical and cultural documents, materials and ephemera about its noted permanent residents.

Collection Historical Note

Raoul Pene Du Bois was a costume designer and scenic designer for plays and films, including several Broadway productions. Du Bois was born in Staten Island, New York on November 29, 1914. He started his career as a costume designer at the age of 14 by designing showgirl costumes for the Ziegfeld Follies. He then went on to design the costumes for the Broadway revues Ziegfeld Follies of 1934 and 1936. Raoul Pene Du Bois later designed ice shows, ballets, costumes for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall and the Casa Manana in Fort Worth.

The musical “Sugar Babies” is a tribute to the old burlesque era. Burlesque is a dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter. It opened on Broadway on October 8, 1979 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, with scenic and costume designs by Raoul Pene Du Bois. In 1980, DuBois was nominated for a Tony Award for his costume design for the production. The original cast included actor Mickey Rooney in his Broadway debut. The show closed on Broadway in 1982.

In 1953, Du Bois won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for the production “Wonderful Town.” In 1971, DuBois won both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Costume Design for the production “No, No Nanette.” The plays “Sugar Babies” and “Gypsy” were also some productions Du Bois participated in that were nominated for Tony awards. After creating visual excitement and masterpieces for dozens of Broadway shows, Raoul Pene Du Bois died of a stroke on January 1, 1985 at the age of 71. He is interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Lot 16054, Section 164.

Biographical Note

Scenic and Costume Designer interred at Green-Wood Cemetery

Subject/Index Terms

Allen, Ralph G.
Costume designers
Du Bois, Raoul Pene
Malvin, Arthur
Musical theater
Rooney, Mickey
Set designers
Stage designers
Theater

Administrative Information

Repository: Historical Collections

Processing Information: Accession #: 007-2016

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Documents, 1978-1984],
[Box 2: Paintings and Designs],
[All]

Box 1: Documents, 1978-1984

Raoul Pene Du Bois "Sugar Babies" Collection, documents and other materials

Folder 1: "Sugar Babies" script, June 8, 1980

“Book & Sketches for Sugar Babies II,” National Company 1, bound typewritten draft of "Sugar Babies," by Ralph G. Allen, June 8, 1980

Folder 2: "Sugar Babies" partial script, August 7, 1978

Bound typed “Extra Scenes for the Sugar Babies,” partial script by Ralph G. Allen, August 7, 1978 version

Folder 3: "Sugar Babies" partial script

Bound typed Scenes (5-11) for “Sugar Babies,” partial script (n.d.)

Folder 4: "Sugar Babies" partial script

Script for “Flat Hunters Blackout” scene from “Sugar Babies”

Folder 5: "Sugar Babies" partial script, December 2, 1978

“Extra Scenes for the Sugar Babies,” typewritten partial script, December 2, 1978 version

Folder 6: "Sugar Babies" lyrics

Typewritten lyrics for 10 songs from “Sugar Babies” by Arthur Malvin (622 North Linden Drive. Beverly Hills, CA 90210)

Folder 7: Sketchbook

Sketchbook of Raoul Pene Du Bois with drawings, set designs, and notes in pen, ink, and pencil.

Folder 8: Notebook

6”x9” Stenographer’s notebook of Raoul Pene Du Bois containing pencil drawings of women and written phone numbers

Folder 9: Sketchbook

Charcoal paper sketchbook with watercolor, paint, and ink drawings of set designs, props, and portraits

Folder 10: "Sugar Babies" documents, ca. 1979-1984

Clipped top of letter (Sugar Babies company)

7 paystubs to Raoul Pene Du Bois for “Sugar Babies” (January 8, 1984 – March 11, 1984)

List of scenic requirements for “Sugar Babies”

Contract for Permission to Film or Tape Theatrical Productions signed by Du Bois (March 31, 1980)

Folder 11: Newspaper articles, 1979-1984

“A 'Sugar' That Shticks to the Rib,” clipped newspaper article

“To Spice up a Long Run, Add a Dash of Mickey Rooney,” newspaper article (The New York Times, April 12, 1981)

Photocopies of various newspaper articles - May 14,1979 - February 2, 1984

Folder 12: Letters, 1979-1980

Letter from Count Leif Argo to Du Bois (July 18,1979)

Letter from Marton L. Leavy to Du Bois (October 3, 1979)

Letter from Marshall, Lassman & Company to Du Bois (November 10, 1979)

Letter from Betty L. Corwin to Du Bois (March 31, 1980)

Letter from Betty L. Corwin to Du Bois (May 13, 1980)

Letter from Beverly Sills to Du Bois (August 22, 1980)

Folder 13: "Sugar Babies" ephemera

Ticket stub for “Sugar Babies,” June 7, 1983

Playbill for “Sugar Babies”

Clipped newspaper ad for tickets on sale for “Sugar Babies”

Newspaper clipping of an image from “Sugar Babies”

Folder 14: Miscellaneous

5 blank greeting cards printed with costume designs by Du Bois

Printed image by Du Bois, bearing his initials

French Driving Permit issued to Du Bois, June 18, 1959

Folder 15: Drawings

Five 4” x 6” ink sketches for set designs by Du Bois

Small set design painting by Du Bois

Ink drawing of a mermaid

Folder 16: Set designs

Painted set design drawing with cutout

Six small set sketches mounted on two pages

“R. P. B. Drawings for the Stage,” drawing

Folder 17: Set designs

Seven painted stage designs with cutouts

Folder 18: Drawings

Four varied drawings by Du Bois

Box 2: Paintings and Designs

Folder 1: Newspaper ad, ca. 1983-4: Newspaper with advertisement for “Sugar Babies” at the Orpheum Theatre, ca. 1983-4
Folder 2: Set design: Painted cutout of a stage design
Folder 3: Painting: Two nude watercolor paintings of a woman, on front and back of single sheet
Folder 4: Costume design: Watercolor costume design for a woman in a pink dress
Folder 5: Costume design: Watercolor costume design for a woman in a purple dress
Folder 6: Costume design: Watercolor costume design for a woman in a white/gray dress
Folder 7: Drawing: Ink drawing of a set design
Folder 8: Painting, 1965: Watercolor painting of religious men, dated August 20, 1965 from Paris, France
Folder 9: Painting: Two watercolor paintings of a woman in a blue dress, on front and back of single sheet
Folder 10: Painting: Watercolor painting of a dancer
Folder 11: Painting: Two black and gray watercolor portraits of a man, on front and back of single sheet
Folder 12: Painting: Two black and gray watercolor portraits of a man, on front and back of single sheet
Folder 13: Costume design: Costume design painting of a man in a suit
Folder 14: Costume design: Costume design painting of a man in a purple suit
Folder 15: Costume design: Costume design painting of a lady in a purple dress
Folder 16: Costume design: Costume design painting of a woman with armor and pink and red feathers
Folder 17: Costume design: Costume design painting of two women holding fans and wearing capes
Folder 18: Painting: Watercolor painting of a couple with the text “OH KAY!”

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Documents, 1978-1984],
[Box 2: Paintings and Designs],
[All]