Title and statement of responsibility area
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"You Can't Beat Fun" fonds
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- Textual record
- Moving images
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Fonds
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Physical description
34 cm textual records, 2 video tapes
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Administrative history
The musical “You Can’t Beat Fun” was originally conceived and musically written by 19-year-old pianist Sam Seetner in 1939, a 2nd year Science student at the University of Manitoba, with the help of two of his friends Earl J. Beattie (book), and Edward Parker (stage conception). Seetner and Beattie wrote the lyrics. The production was staged by over 40 University of Manitoba music students (including future game show host “Monty Hall”) on January 11th -13th, & 15th, 1940 at the Winnipeg Civic Auditorium. The story follows the love lives of four college freshmen who enter a university beset by cut backs and reduced to four faculties: Love, Rhythm, Home Economics and "Hotcha."
In 2002 the production was revived to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the University of Manitoba. It played February 20 - 22, 2002 at the Walker Theatre.
Custodial history
The collection was donated by Dr. Sam Seetner and the estates of the other two principals in 2003. Some material was transferred to Archives & Special Collections after remaining in the custody of Paul Patterson and the University of Manitoba Department of Music since 2002.
Scope and content
The collection consists of material related to both the 1940 and 2002 productions, including lyric sheets, musical scores, publicity and press exposure. Two video tapes record the 2002 performance.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
These records are organized into fourteen series:
- Original Song Manuscripts from Sam Seetner
- January, 1940 Libretto Script
- "You Can't Beat Fun" Complete Lyrics of 1940
- "1940 Material"
- Letter dated June 24, 1940 to Earle Beattie from C.L. Bouve
- Complete printed music folios of the original arrangements for 2002 Production
- "You Can't Beat Fun" - Act I and Act II
- Scripts, Lyrics, Musical Arrangements for 2002 Production
- Orchestrations (Piano/Drums)
- Orchestrations (Strings)
- Orchestrations (Woodwind/Brass)
- Typewritten Lyrics
- Material related to the 2002 Production
- Tapes - "You Can't Beat Fun" (2002 Production)
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There are no restrictions on access.
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No restrictions apply to viewing the material. Users must abide by relevant royalty and copyright legislation.
Finding aids
A finding aid can be downloaded by clicking on the “Download’ link under “Finding Aid” on the right hand side of the screen.
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Status
Draft
Level of detail
Partial
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Finding aid created by Brian Hubner (2003). Finding aid encoded by Vladimira Zvonik (February 2004). Revision History: July 26, 2005 - Mss 180 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Revised by N. Courrier (July 2019).