Alan, Charles, b. 1908 d. 1975

Oral history interview with Charles Alan, 1970 Aug. 20-1970 Aug. 25

Sound recordings: 2 sound tape reels ; 5 in.
Transcript: 37 p.

An interview of Charles Alan conducted by Paul Cummings for the Archives of American Art.

Alan speaks of studying scene and stage design; attending Yale School of Drama; doing illustrations for various publications; traveling and studying in Europe; working as a set designer for MGM and Warner Brothers; his experiences working at the Downtown Gallery; his thoughts and recollections about Edith Halpert; leaving Downtown Gallery and starting his own gallery; his opinions on the future of small galleries in New York; museum purchases; Edith Halperts art collection; selling his gallery to Felix Landau; and various thoughts concerning the art world. He recalls Norman Bell Geddes, Edith Halpert, Stuart Davis, Julien Levy, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Kirk Askew, Raymond Breinin, Ben Shahn, George Washburn, Edward Root, Joe Hirshhorn, John Marin, John Marin Jr., Lawrence Allen, Georgia OKeeffe, William Harnett, Julian Levi, Jack Levine, Karl Zerbe, Bruce Conner, Richard Baker, Paul Sachs, and many others.

These interviews are part of the Archives' Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.

How to Use this Interview

• Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
• Transcript available on line at http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/Alan70.htm
• A transcript of this interview is available online.
• For more information on using resources at the Archives of American Art, please visit our Ask Us page

Also in the Archives:

• Charles Alan interview on Aline Saarinen, 1973 Feb. 17