| Creator: | De Russo, Rocco | |
| Dates: | 1938-1971 | |
| Quantity: | 1.5 linear ft. and 1 microfilm roll | |
| Language: | Italian, English | |
| Collection ID: | IHRC524 | |
The papers of Rocco De Russo were deposited in the Immigration History Research Center between November, 1971 and April, 1973. They were given as a gift by De Russo and secured through the efforts of Pietro Greco and Rudolph J. Vecoli, Director of the Immigration History Research Center. The Collection consists of 1.5 linear feet of De Russo’s plays and papers, primarily in Italian (much in Neopolitan dialect). It was processed during 1975-1976 by Philip F. Notarianni.
Comm. Rocco De Russo was born in Italy, and began writing plays in 1914. His life was dedicated to the work of a playwright and actor, with his company, “Arte Vera,” touring various cities of the United States presenting De Russo’s productions. The performances were presented in auditoriums and high school gyms, in the 1940s and 50s according to flyers in the collection (Folder 53). De Russo’s career in Italian-American theater was followed in Italian-American newspapers. Later in life the playwright turned poet and published some of his work in La Follia Di New York. Comm. De Russo also wrote musical compositions, some of which were made into recording. He died June 14, 1975.
The organization of the collection retains its original structure as deposited in the Center. However, De Russo’s plays have been placed in individual folders and arranged according to the type of play and in alphabetical order by title. The other materials have been divided according to their nature. The collection consists of seven categories: I. Autobiography (Folder 1) II. Plays (Folders 2-50) III. Poetry (Folder 51) IV. Music and Verse (Folder 52) V. Flyers (Folder 53) VI. Newspaper Clippings (Folder 54) VII. Publications
The De Russo, Rocco collection is available for public research.
The De Russo, Rocco collection is the physical property of the Immigration History Research Center, University of Minnesota.
For further information regarding the copyright, please contact the IHRC.
The De Russo, Rocco Papers, Italian American Collection, Immigration History Research Center, University of Minnesota
| Italian | |
| Artists | |
| Theater | |
| Music | |
| Language |
This section briefly describes each series in the collection. A more detailed description of the contents of each series may be found in the following section.
SERIES 1. Autobiographical |
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| A brief autobiography of De Russo written in October, 1971. | |||||||||||||
SERIES 2. Plays |
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| The plays of De Russo (including those adapted by him) have been organized into seven categories: Drammi Sacri (Folders 2-6); Drammi Musicali (Folders 7-15); Drammi (Folders 16-36); Commedie (Folders 37-40); Farse (Folders 41-46); Bozzetti (Folders 47-49); and Undescribed (Folder 50). These categories were taken from De Russo’s titles. | |||||||||||||
SERIES 3. Poetry |
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| This folder is poetry written by De Russo and dedicated to Professor Rudolph J. Vecoli for the Italian section of the Center’s Collection. | |||||||||||||
SERIES 4. Music and verse |
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| Included here are music and verses written by De Russo, and consisting of: “Tresa, Rosa e Mariù,” “Mariù,” and “Voglio Parti’ Pà Guerra.” | |||||||||||||
SERIES 5. Flyers |
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| Advertising flyers (ca. 1940s-50s) which illustrate where De Russo and his company presented their performances. These bulletins also present the actors and actresses who worked with Comm. De Russo. | |||||||||||||
SERIES 6. Newspaper clippings |
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| Newspaper clippings (1938-1940s) that described De Russo as an actor, and comment on his plays. | |||||||||||||
SERIES 7. Publications |
|||||||||||||
| These are the published works of other writers, which formed a part of De Russo’s collection. Four volumes were removed from the main collection and placed in the Center’s imprint collection. Of particular importance is Il Teatro, (Volume 1, No. 1, April 1943), a monthly magazine published in New York which was dedicated to the Italian-American theater. | |||||||||||||
SERIES 1. Autobiographical |
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| A brief autobiography of De Russo written in October, 1971. | |||||||||||||
| BOX 1. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 1. "Brani Della Carriera Artistica Del' Artista Comm. Rocco De Russo" October, 1971 | |||||||||||||
| This autobiography is also available on microfilm as part of the "American Immigrant Autobiographies" series produced by University Publications of America in 1988. Following is a summary of the autobiography: [Autobiography in Italian. English responses provided by Linda Watson.] 80pp. 1. Rocco De Russo was bom in 188S in Santo Arsenio, a province of Salerno, Italy. 2. De Russo worked from the age of six as a musician, composer, actor, and playwright. He was most famous as a macchiettista•one who creates humorous, often satirical, musical sketches usually based on the stock character types that make up Italian comic theater. De Russo worked both with traveling theatrical troupes and fear a number of theaters in Naples, with great success. 3. A cousin living in New York City, who had heard of De Russo's success in Italy and who knew someone in the Italian-American theatrical community in New York, urged him to come to America to seek his fortune. 4. De Russo immigrated to the United States in 190S. 5. Despite success in New York City's Italian-American theaters, De Russo returned to Santo Arsenio in 1908 and gave up the theater for a few years, becoming chief of police and opening a hotel and restaurant. He returned to New York City and the theater in 1911, after separating from his wife in Italy. 6. De Russo spent a great deal of time traveling throughout the United States with theatrical troupes or working on short-term contracts as a writer for Italian-American theaters. He settled for extended periods of time in New York City, Chicago, Illinois, St. Mary (Ontario), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Providence, Rhode Island. 7. De Russo was a macchiettista, actor, and director. He formed his own traveling company, which toured for twenty-six years, and owned two theaters while he lived in Chicago. In later life he wrote poetry. 8. There was no mention of politics in the autobiography. 9. There was no discussion of labor organizations. 10. De Russo stated more than once that this was the story of his artistic life, not his personal life. Some family relationships are discussed, because they affected his artistic life•his brother-in-law ran the first troupe he worked for in Italy. 11. There are only passing references to his wife and later female companions. 12. There is no information on the wider ethnic community beyond references to audience response. 13. There is no mention or hint of any discrimination or political persecution. 14. The autobiography included detailed information on the Italian and Italian-American theaters, including rates of pay, locations and names of theaters, contract arrangements, prominent figures in the Italian-American theater, and sketches and dramas that were presented and audience reaction to them. 15. De Russo names the ships on which he sailed, mentions aie fares, and includes some information on shipboard life. There is no mention of U.S. immigration officials or Ellis Island. |
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SERIES 2. Plays |
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| The plays of De Russo (including those adapted by him) have been organized into seven categories: Drammi Sacri (Folders 2-6); Drammi Musicali (Folders 7-15); Drammi (Folders 16-36); Commedie (Folders 37-40); Farse (Folders 41-46); Bozzetti (Folders 47-49); and Undescribed (Folder 50). These categories were taken from De Russo’s titles. | |||||||||||||
| BOX 1. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 2. "La Madonna Della Valle" April 4, 1952 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma Sacro in 5 Quadrie | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 3. "Maria S.S. Del Sacro Monte" Febuary 5, 1956 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma Sacro in 6 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 4. "Santa Lucia" | |||||||||||||
| Dramma Sacro in 5 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 5. "Sant Antonio Di Padova" | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in Sei Atti con Apoteosi | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 6. "Vita E Morte Di San Rocco Di Montpellier" | |||||||||||||
| Dramma Sacro in 7 Quadri | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 7. "A Mamma E Sempe Mamma ovvero I Due Rivali." March 19, 1954 | |||||||||||||
| Lavro Drammatico Musicale in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 8. "Le Due Madri ovvero Ritorno Zappatore." March 18, 1952 | |||||||||||||
| Sceneggiata in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 9. "L Eroe Della Guerra Italo Etiopica ovvero Un Dellitto in Famiglia." | |||||||||||||
| Tre Atti Drammatici Musicali | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 10. "Le Lagrime D Un Pagliaccio ovvero Laugh Clown Laugh." | |||||||||||||
| Lavoro Drammatico Musicale in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 11. "I Nostri Eroi ovvero La Madre Del Soldati." | |||||||||||||
| In 4 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 12. "Parlami D Amore Mariu" | |||||||||||||
| Tre Atti Musicali | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 13. "Tu..Cosa Ne Hai Fatto Del Mio Cuor." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma Musicale in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 14. "Violino Tzigano." | |||||||||||||
| Nel Capolavoro Drammatico Musicale in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 15. "Zappatore" | |||||||||||||
| 3 Atti Musicali | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 16. "Amore Calpevole ovvero Il Perdono D Una Morta!" January 11, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 5 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 17. "L Angelo Delle Campagne ovvero Un Calpo Di Fucile." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 18. "Il Calvario D Una Madre ovvero La Bestia Umama." August 23, 1944 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 19. "La Catena Del Forzato ovvero La Giustizia Di Dio." February 7, 1949 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in Un Prologo e 4 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 20. "Cuore Di Padre." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in Due Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 21. "I Disonesti ovvero Il Ritorno de Soldato." January 9, 1951 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| BOX 2. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 22. "La Giglia Del Condannato ovvero Il Trionfo Dell Innocenza." August 10, 1939 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in Tre Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 23. "Guiseppe Musolino Bandito Calabrese." 1930 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 6 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 24. "Il Gobbo Misterioso ovvero Lo Spoglia Cadaveri." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 25. "Mamma Rosaria ovvero Colui che Uccide." November 16, 1950 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 26. "La Maschera Nera ovvero Il Pungnale Insanguinato." January 16, 1950 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 4 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 27. "Notte Di Sangue ovvero Tragedia in Famiglia." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 28. "Sangue Calabrese ovvero Prete E Bandito." November 29, 1940 | |||||||||||||
| In Due Atti, from "Don Matteo" by Camillo Antona and Filippo Tonelli. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 29. "Lo Scemo ovvero Gliorfani Di Guerra." December 29, 1949 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 30. "Lo Scemo ovvero L Orfana Di Guerra." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma di 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 31. "Il Segreto Della Confessione." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 4 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 32. "La Sorella Dell Assassino ovvero Mamma Rosaria." September 6, 1951 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 33. "La Storia D Un Frate Ossia 'Offuco scott" 'a cennere." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in Tre Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 34. "La Terribile Notte Di Santa Rosalia ovvero Toto Malacondotta." | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 35. "L Uomo Misterioso ovvero Un Delitto Al Cimitero Del Carmine." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 4 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 36. "La Vita Dei Minatori ovvero La Povera Pazza." | |||||||||||||
| Dramma in 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 37. "A Serenata D' E Mbriache." | |||||||||||||
| Scherzo Comico Musicale | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 38. "I Cavalieri Della Fame." February 12, 1970 | |||||||||||||
| Un Atto Comico | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 39. "Pascariello Principe Di Danimarca." | |||||||||||||
| Commedia Musicale in Un Atto | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 40. "Pulcinella Medico A Forza Di Bastonate." | |||||||||||||
| Commedia in Due Atti | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 41. "Nu Conte Mbruglione." | |||||||||||||
| Farsetta con Pulcinella | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 42. "Un Duello Per Amore." April 14, 1970 | |||||||||||||
| Farsa | |||||||||||||
| BOX 3. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 43. "Pasca Si Puorco." | |||||||||||||
| Farsetta | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 44. "Pulcinella Scrivano Pubblico." | |||||||||||||
| Farsa in Un Atto | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 45. "Na Santarellina." | |||||||||||||
| Farsetta col Pulcinella | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 46. "Nu Sbaglio E Fidanzate." | |||||||||||||
| Farsetta | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 47. "Il Delatore." | |||||||||||||
| Bozzetto Drammatico in Un Atto | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 48. "Un Delitto in Mulberry Street." February 8, 1970 | |||||||||||||
| Bozzetto Drammatico | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 49. "I Due Fratelli." May 24, 1952 | |||||||||||||
| Bozzetto Abbozzatissimo | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 50. "I Martiri Del Lavoro ovvero Madre Dolente." | |||||||||||||
| In 3 Atti | |||||||||||||
SERIES 3. Poetry |
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| This folder is poetry written by De Russo and dedicated to Professor Rudolph J. Vecoli for the Italian section of the Center’s Collection. | |||||||||||||
| BOX 3. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 51. "Alcumi Poemi Dialettali- Scritti, Negli Ultimi Temp Dall Artista: Comm. Rocco De Russo." 1971 | |||||||||||||
| Poetry written by De Russo and Dedicated to Professor Rudolph J. Vecoli for the Italian section of the IHRC | |||||||||||||
SERIES 4. Music and verse |
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| Included here are music and verses written by De Russo, and consisting of: “Tresa, Rosa e Mariù,” “Mariù,” and “Voglio Parti’ Pà Guerra.” | |||||||||||||
| BOX 3. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 52. Music and Verse by De Russo 1930's | |||||||||||||
| Comprised of: "Tresa, Rosa e Mariu," and Voglio Parti P'a Guerra." | |||||||||||||
SERIES 5. Flyers |
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| Advertising flyers (ca. 1940s-50s) which illustrate where De Russo and his company presented their performances. These bulletins also present the actors and actresses who worked with Comm. De Russo. | |||||||||||||
| BOX 3. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 53. Advertising Flyers 1940's-50s | |||||||||||||
| Flyers circulated by De Russo and his company announcing performances | |||||||||||||
SERIES 6. Newspaper clippings |
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| Newspaper clippings (1938-1940s) that described De Russo as an actor, and comment on his plays. | |||||||||||||
| BOX 3. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 54. Newspaper Clippings 1938-1940s | |||||||||||||
| Clippings of De Russo, describing him as an actor and commenting on his plays. | |||||||||||||
SERIES 7. Publications |
|||||||||||||
| These are the published works of other writers, which formed a part of De Russo’s collection. Four volumes were removed from the main collection and placed in the Center’s imprint collection. Of particular importance is Il Teatro, (Volume 1, No. 1, April 1943), a monthly magazine published in New York which was dedicated to the Italian-American theater. | |||||||||||||
| BOX 3. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 55. Antona- Traversi, Camillo E Ribau, Adolfo. "In Pace!" 1913 | |||||||||||||
| Tradgedia In Due Atti In Prosa. Lugano, Casa Editrice "Risorgimento" | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 56. Bugamelli, Gustavo 1910 | |||||||||||||
| "Il Conte Dell' Isola onte-Cristo ossia Il Marinajo E Lo Scienziato." Produzione drammatica divisa in sei parti. Milano, Carlo Barbini | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 57. Giacometti, Paolo. | |||||||||||||
| "Cristoforo Colombo Alla Scoperta Dell America." New York, Societa Liberaria Italiana. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 58. Giacometti, Paolo. 1928 | |||||||||||||
| "La Morte Civile." Dramma in cinque atti. Milano, Casa Editrice Sonzogno. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 59. Ruggi, Lorenzo. 1914 | |||||||||||||
| "Cravata Nera." Scena drammatica. Bologna, G. Brugnoli e Figgli. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 60. Sartene, Jean. 1921 | |||||||||||||
| "L' Artiglio." Dramma in un Atto. Todotto per la scena italiana da Camillo Antona- Traversi. Bologna, G. Brugnoli e Figli. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 61. Scarpetta, Eduardo. 1900 | |||||||||||||
| "Miseria e Nobilta." Commedia in Tre Atti. Preceduta de una lettere di G. Bovio. Napoli, Luigi Pierro. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 62. Scognamiglio, Mario 1910 | |||||||||||||
| "Nu Nipote Fauzo." Commedia in 3 Atti. Napoli, Tommaso Pironti. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 63. Souvage, Signor 1909 | |||||||||||||
| "Il Lupo Di Mare ovvero Mastro Girgio Il Marinojo." Dramma in Due Atti. Firenze, Adriano Salani, Editore. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 64. "Cantata dei Patori." n.d. | |||||||||||||
| FOLDER 65. "S. Lorenzo ossia La Carita Cristiana." Majocchi, 1889 | |||||||||||||
| Dramma Sacro in Tre Atti. D'Un Sacerdote Ambrosiano. "L' Amicizia E La Giustizia." Dramma in Cinque Atti. Milano, Libreria Editrice Ditta Serafino. | |||||||||||||