Iglesias, A.J. Esta finding aid assignment
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Aubrey Iglesias
07/08/2008
A.J. Esta finding aid assignment
LI818
Guide to the A.J. Esta Papers
1928-2003
Overview of the Collection
Creator: Esta, Albert Joseph
Title: A.J. Esta Papers
Dates: 1928-2003 (inclusive), 1958-1987 (bulk)
Quantity: 6 cubic feet (10 boxes)
Location of Collection: Special Collections
Collection number: OLPb019EST
Summary: The collection contains materials relating to Esta’s professional career as an actor,
theater critic, and director from the 1950s through early 1990s in addition to providing
information about his personal life behind the scenes, which was also highly influenced by his
theatrical pursuits. Journals, correspondence, photographs, production posters, reviews,
newspaper clippings, manuscripts, and sheet music are among the sources that document the life
of this longtime San Francisco resident.
Repository:
Lewis & Clark College
Special Collections and Archives
Lewis & Clark College Special Collections and Archives
Aubrey R. Watzek Library
0615 SW Palatine Hill Rd.
Portland, OR 97219
archives@lclark.edu
503-768-7254
Languages: English
Biographical Note
A.J. Esta was born in Butte, Montana in 1930 and earned his master’s degree from the University
of Montana before moving to the East Coast to pursue an acting career. He later moved in the
1950s to San Francisco where he initially worked as an actor with Jules Irving and Herbert
Blau’s Actor’s Workshop, a regional repertory company. Esta was eventually employed as a
director for several local companies including the Playhouse, the Sons of Art, Theatre Artists of
Iglesias, A.J. Esta finding aid assignment
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Marin, the Ross Valley Players, and the East Bay Children’s Theater. He additionally reviewed
local theater productions for Drama-Logue, Back Stage, and Bay Times. A one-time member of
the Critics Circle, Esta’s innovative works include the first all-male productions of “Hello Dolly”
and “The Women.” His original musicals include “Saddle the Unicorn” and “COLEcuts” among
others. Esta died at the age of 73 in Wheeler, Oregon while visiting family and friends.
Content Description
Large portions of this collection consist of journals dating from 1976-2003 (although not every
year in this range is included) and descriptions of productions—reviews, programs, and photos—
mainly during the years 1953-1991. The videotapes (2) and computer disks (6) have not been
viewed to date. Among the oversized items in the collection are posters and playbills that are of
exhibition quality.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access:
This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.
Restrictions on Use:
Permission to publish, exhibit, broadcast, or quote from materials in the Watzek Library
Archives & Special Collections requires written permission of the Head of Archives & Special
Collections.
Preferred Citation:
The Papers of A.J. Esta, OLPb019EST, Lewis & Clark College Aubrey Watzek Library
Archives & Special Collections, Portland, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Arrangement:
Arranged in two series—personal and professional—with journals arranged chronologically by
date and productions alphabetically by title.
Processing Note:
Processed in 2008.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Personal
Subseries A: Biographical and Personal
Box 1, Folder
1
Biographical
2
Correspondence
3
Personal Memorabilia
4
General Events
5
Greeting Cards
6
Poetry
7
Stationary
Iglesias, A.J. Esta finding aid assignment
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Misc. cats in general
Subseries B: Obituaries and Memorials
Box 2, Folder
1
Obituaries
2
Memorials
3
Correspondence re: death
4
Funeral Guest Book
5
Memorial Services
Subseries C: Journals
Box 3, Folder
1
3/31/76- 4/10/76
2
1/1/87-9/4/87
3
9/5/87-4/12/87
4
9/5/87-4/2/93
5
4/13/93-12/23/93
6
12/24/93-7/13/94
7
7/14/94-2/9/95
8
2/10/95-10/22/95
Box 4, Folder
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
10/23/95-4/23/96
4/24/96-9/27/96
9/28/96-1/25/97
1/26/97-6/11/97
6/12/97-10/28/97
10/29/97-4/3/98
4/4/98-10/6/98
Box 5, Folder
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
10/27/98-12/27/98
12/26/98-6/26/00
6/27/00-1/23/01
1/24/01-8/25/01
8/26/01-9/2/02
9/3/02-4/11/03
4/12/03-9/26/03
Undated journals
Subseries D: Oversized Box Personal Photos/Identified and Unidentified
Box 6, Folder
1
Video tapes (2)
2
Computer discs (6)
3
Personal Photo
4
Watercolor Greeting Cards
3
Iglesias, A.J. Esta finding aid assignment
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Personal Photos
Personal Photos unidentified
Josephine Eska, Chills Studio Missoula Mont. (n.d.)
Painting, Bridgeman Ranch, The Yellow Bit (n.d.)
Series 2: Professional
Subseries A: Productions
Box 7, Folder
1
“Absalom” (Feb 1961); “Caine Mutiny” (1958)
2
“Affair Exchange” (May 1966)
3
Angel Street (1983)
4
Brouhaha (1962)
5
Carousel (1982), (1955.hphoto)
6
Chicken Little (May 1991)
7
“Cole Cuts” (Apr 1991)
8
(An) Evening of Edna St. Vincent Millay (Jan 1979)
9
“(The) Fantasticks” – script (1959), program
10
(The) Fifth Season (1953)
11
Hay Fever (1966)
12
“He Who Gets Slapped” (Mar 1966)
13
Program: “It’s Me Again!” (Jun 1969)
14
“(The) Ladys Not for Burning” (Apr 1963)
15
Last of the Red Hot Lovers (n.d.)
16
“Light Up the Sky” (May 1965)
17
“Listen to My Song” (1996)
18
A Little Night Music
Box 8, Folder
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Box 9, Folder
Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Aug 1973)
Lysistrata (Nov 1965)
Misanthrope (Aug 1976)
“Musicians of Bremen” (1991)
“Nashional Anthem” (Dec 1983)
Othello
Program: “Ready or Not, It’s Me” (Jul 1967)
“Royal Family” (1980); Ross Valley Players
“Saddle the Unicorn” (Apr 1964)
“Seesaw” (Aug 1965)
“Shakespeare the Review” (c. May 1987) F1
“Shakespeare the Review” (c. May 1987) F2
(The) Sprayer and Essay on Friendship
“Syncopated Justice” (n.d.)
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Iglesias, A.J. Esta finding aid assignment
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4
5
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7
8
“There’s Language in Her Eye” (Aug 1982)
Thurber & Friends (Mar 1987)
Thurber & Friends Photo Album
“Tin Types” (1984)
Total Eclipse (1974)
“Turn of the Screw” Adaptation (Undated)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)
“(The) Women” (1967)
Subseries B: Production Companies
Box 9, Folder
9
East Bay Children’s Theatre Association (c. 1985-87) (Oversized Item)
10
Creative Artists Theatre, Inc. [Newsletter, By-laws, Mission statement,
Invitation (ca. 1987)]
11
Reviews of Interplayers’ plays, [(c. 1965) +1 program]
12
Lone Mt. Productions [(c. 1967) Photos, Reviews]
13
Mill Valley Center for Performing Arts [Reviews of Plays (c. 1968),
Newspaper clippings, program, balance sheet]
14
“Sons of Art” Festival [programs, photos, reviews, scripts (n.d.)]
15
Informal Theater Information
16
Unidentified Manuscripts (n.d.)
Subseries C: Oversized Box/Unidentified Professional Photos
Box 10, Folder
1
Oversized Posters and Playbills
2
Sheet music
3
Unidentified Professional Photos
4
Carousel Posters (n.d.)
5
Chicken Little
6
A Little Night Music
7
Lysistrata
8
Saddle the Unicorn
Subjects
Personal Names:
Esta, A.J., 1930-2003
Ciceri, Leo
Corporate Names:
East Bay Children’s Theatre Association
Creative Artists Theatre, Inc.
Interplayers
Lone Mt. Productions
Mill Valley Center for Performing Arts
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Iglesias, A.J. Esta finding aid assignment
Subject Terms:
Absalom
Caine Mutiny
Affair Exchange
Angel Street
Brouhaha
Carousel
Chicken Little
Cole Cuts
(An) Evening of Edna St. Vincent Millay
(The) Fantasticks
(The) Fifth Season
Hay Fever
He Who Gets Slapped
It’s Me Again!
(The) Ladys Not for Burning
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
Light Up the Sky
Listen to My Song
A Little Night Music
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Lysistrata
Misanthrope
Musicians of Bremen
Nashional Anthem
Othello
Ready or Not, It’s Me
Royal Family
Saddle the Unicorn
Seesaw
Shakespeare the Review
(The) Sprayer and Essay on Friendship
Syncopated Justice
There’s Language in Her Eye
Thurber & Friends
Tin Types
Total Eclipse
Turn of the Screw
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf
(The) Women
Finding Aid by Aubrey R. Iglesias
© 2008
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