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You Can't Beat Fun fonds: Home

You Can't Beat Fun fonds

You Can't Beat Fun fonds

Call Number: Mss 180 (A.03-59)

Title: You Can't Beat Fun fonds.

Dates: 1940-2003.

Extent: 0.34 m of textual records. -- 2 videocassettes.

Historical note: The musical You Can't Beat Fun was originally conceived and musically written by 19-year-old pianist Sam Seetner in 1939, a second-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 forty University of Manitoba music students, including future game show host Monty Hall (Halparin) on January 11-13, 15, 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 fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by Dr. Sam Seetner and the estates of  Earl Beattie and Edward Parker in 2003. Some material was transferred to Archives & Special Collections after remaining in the custody of Paul Paterson and the University of Manitoba Faculty of Music.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of material related to both the 1940 and 2002 performances, including lyric sheets, musical scores, publicity and press exposure. Two DVCam videocassettes contain recordings of the 2002 performances.

Restrictions: Users must abide by relevant royalty and copyright legislation.

Accruals: No further accruals are expected.

Finding aid: An on-line finding aid is available at the link below:

MSS 180 (A.03-59).