432. STEINBECK, John (1902-1968). The Bear Flag Cafe/Sweet Thursday Archive Steinbeck's abandonment of his libretto for a stage musical based on his book "Cannery Row" yielded instead a sequel to that novel, published as "Sweet Thursday…."
an extraordinary collection of primary material from May to September 1953 including two manuscripts relating to the development and writing of the work originally begun as the stage production "Bear Flag/Cannery Row" and transformed by Steinbeck into "Sweet Thursday."
Containing two manuscripts of major importance, including a virtually complete original typescript of the novel chapters 1-28 and 33-40, and an earlier, substantially complete holograph manuscript of either complete chapters or major portions of 29 of the published novel's 40 chapters, the archive represents a fascinating insight into Steinbeck's composition and revision of a work from its initial outline to its final completion. Writing in a self-imposed seclusion in Sag Harbor, the author's struggle with the work's major transformation is evident from letters within the archive as is his sadness and depression at finally finishing the manuscript, ending his relationship with the characters.
Major character and plot changes are represented in both the typescript and the manuscript with 35 pp. of original or carbon typescript of unused material including an unpublished introduction to the novel, a another involving illegal Mexican immigrant workers, a different version on Joseph and Mary's run-in with the Los Angeles police and lengthy scene with most of the major characters in Doc's laboratory
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Steinbeck's initial vision of the work, begun as the play "The Bear Flag Café" is extensively represented with over 120 pp. of the initial plot outlines and characters for the play in two titled versions (as "Bear Flag" and as "Cannery Row") and includes both original holograph manuscripts and original or carbon typescripts as well as untitled or unassigned material originally meant for the stage production, the dialogue from some of which appears in the published novel. Included also are Steinbeck's sketches for the stage design.
Adding to the depth of material are 12 letters written towards the novels completion to a variety of correspondents providing further insights to Steinbeck's emotional connection to the work and its characters as well partial fragments and notes unrelated to the novel or play.
Given the institutional holdings of original manuscripts of Steinbeck's major works, the present represents the most comprehensive and important archive of any remaining in private hands and provides remarkable opportunities for research into the author's process.
bear flag cafe - play
7pp. carbon copy typescript (3 copies), characters include Doc, Mac, Lee Chong and Millicent. Some of the scenes and dialogue reappear, almost verbatim, in the published book; 3pp. typescript (+ 4 carbon copy typescripts) "Story Line - Bear Flag Café / Cast, as projected". Confusing: includes Prof Oregon, but not Doc (see 1. above), also includes Millicent Mulighan and her father Sean O'Brien Muligan, the Martinez family (Spanish gypsies who are American citizens), Fauna Flag; 9pp. typescript (+ 4 carbon copy typescripts) "The Bear Flag Café / Story Line - Inconclusive". 3 scenes in some detail, complete up to the end of the first act: characters are as in 2, see above, i.e. Prof, Millicent, etc.
bear flag cafe book
Intro. Version 144pp. carbon copy typescript (2 copies; 1 complete, 1 complete from pp.1-30). An introduction to the book: told from the point of view of Mickey Espinosa Ryan, starts with the death of Ed Ricketts, includes Professor Oregon, Susy, Millicent Muligan, Joseph and Mary Rivas, Fauna Flag. Mentions the death of Dora Flood and Lee Chong leaving; 4pp. m/s, see typescript p.1, line 1 - p.5, line 8; 9pp. m/s, see typescript p.11, line 2 - p.17, line 17 (end of page); 25pp. m/s, see typescript p.18, line 1 - p.43, line 8; 1p. m/s. see typescript p.43, line 10 - p.44, line 8 (end of page); Adding up to m/s of all of typescript except pages p.5., line 9 - p.11, line 1.
Intro. Version 2
5pp. carbon copy typescript (2 copies) "Bear Flag Café / Introduction". Told from the point of view of Mickey Espinosa Ryan, starts: " Some years ago there was a man named Steinbeck who wrote a book about Cannery Row…;" 2pp. m/s, see typescript p.4, line 1 - page 5, line 15 (end of page).
cannery row, play 2 typescript fragments: A). act 1, scene 1, pp.1-5 (incomplete); B). act 1, scene 2, pp.16-21 and scene 3, pp.22-30. Characters include Doc, Susy (sic.), Lee Chong, Mack; 10pp. carbon copy typescript (2 copies), both with ¼ p. drawing in pencil and green ink (by Steinbeck?) of the proposed lay out of the props/scenery on stage, titled and dated: "Cannery Row May 11, 1953". Intro. notes and act 1, scenes 1-3 in some detail.; 4pp. m/s, see typescript 2. above, p.1, line 20 - p.5, line 4; 2pp. m/s, see typescript 2. above , p.8, line 20 - p.10, line 8 (end)
CANNERY ROW or BEAR FLAG CAFÉ, play
1.1 typescript (pp.1-16 fragment, with pp.1, 3 and 4 carbon copies), together with 2 carbon copy typescripts (pp.1-16 and pp.2,3,6-16). Titled: Cannery Row / or / Bear Flag Café / by / Don Swift. Characters include Millicent Mulligan, Doc, "Susy".
Plus over 200 additional fragments and notes for the book/play
the bear flag/sweet thursday holograph manuscript:
8 pp. holograph untitled. Published in Chapters 2 and 4: "The Troubled Life of Joseph and Mary" and "There Would Be No Game." Differs from published text.
13 pp. holograph untitled. Published in Chapters 5,9, 10: "Enter Suzy;" "Whom the Gods Love They Drive Nuts;" There's a Hole in Reality through which We Can Look if We Wish." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
1 pp. holograph untitled, published in Chapter 8: "The Great Roque War." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
7 pp. holograph titled "Hazel's Brooding" published in Chapter 11: "Hazel's Brooding." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
4 pp. holograph untitled ["July 13"] published in Chapter 15: "The Playing Fields of Harrow." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
7 pp. holograph titled ["stuv8"] published in Chapter 16: "The Little Flowers of Saint Mack." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
7 pp. holograph untitled ["July 21"] published in Chapter 17: "Suzy Binds the Cheese." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
8 pp. holograph untitled published as Chapter 18: "A Pause in the Day's Occupation." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
7 pp. holograph untitled [July 28] published in Chapter 19: "Sweet Thursday (1)." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
6 pp. holograph untitled published as Chapter 20: "Sweet Thursday (2)." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
6 pp. holograph untitled Chapter 21: "Sweet Thursday Was One Hell of a Day." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
1 pp. holograph titled "One Night of Love." Published in Chapter 22: "The Arming." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
7 pp. holograph untitled published as Chapter 23: "One Night of Love." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
6 pp. holograph titled "Beer Flag Waiting Friday" published as Chapter 24: "Waiting Friday." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
11 pp. holograph titled "Old Jingleballicks" as Chapter 25: ""Old Jingleballicks" Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
4 pp. holograph titled "The Developing Storm" published as chapter 26. Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
12 pp. holograph titled "Bear Flag" published in Chapter 27: "O Frabjous Day!" Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
11 pp. holograph titled "Chapter" published as Chapter 28 : "Where Alfred the Sacred River Ran." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text
8 pp. holograph titled "Act II of Bear Flag" published as Chapter 29: "Oh, Woe, Woe, Woe!"
7 pp. holograph titled "E" dated Aug. 25 published as second portion of Chapter 29: "Hazel's Quest." Numerous manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
9 pp. holograph titled "Bear Flag Sag Harbour Material" published in Chapters 33-34 "The Distant Drum" and "The Deep-Dish Set-Down." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
12 pp; holograph titled "Sag Harbor Material. Bear Flag. 'No Soap'" published as Chapter 35 "Il, n'y a pas de mouches sur la Grandmere." Manuscript revisions.
4 pp. holograph titled "Chapter Lamack Sabakthani" published as Chapter 36: "Lama Sbachthani." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
1 pg. holograph titled "Little Chapter" published as Chapter 37: "Little Chapter"
10 pp. holograph titled "Bear Flag. Sag Harbor. Last two Chapters. Sweet Thursday Revisited." Published as Chapter 39: "Sweet Thursday Revisited."
4 pp. holograph untitled. Published as Chapter 40: "We Should all be Happy as Kings." Manuscript revisions/differs from published text.
also, the substationally complete typescript manuscript as transcribed from dictatapes, includes early, unused material
Complete chapters 1-28, 33-40, includes major character and/or plot changes: the introduction of the Rivas in place of Lee Chong and a chapter on their biography including the discovery of a marijuana scam, etc.
An additional listing of the dictapes used in the composition, the revealing 12 letters from Sag Harbor, etc. is available on request. A reamrkable archive.
est. $200000 – $300000
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