Robert Heide Theatrical Papers

Robert Heide was born in 1939 in Irvington, New Jersey. After taking his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, in 1962, he moved to New York. There Heide began working with the avant-garde company The Living Theatre (led by Julian Beck and Judith Malina); his first two plays, "Hector" and "West of the Moon," were subsequently produced at the New Playwrights' Theatre. "West of the Moon," perhaps because it broke ground in its depiction of an encounter between a male hustler and a young religious fanatic, was panned by the critical establishment. Heide, however, was befriended by Joe Cino, owner of Caffe Cino and one of the dominant figures of the early Off-Off-Broadway movement, who encouraged him to continue his work. Heide's first play for Cino was "The Bed," performed at a benefit for the Caffe Cino, which had been damaged by fire.

"The Bed," a drama without action in which two men sit in a bed and argue without purpose, immediately became a cult classic, and was included by Andy Warhol in his film Chelsea Girls. Heide continued to produce plays at Caffe Cino and elsewhere, His most successful work, "Moon," in 1967, was published in acting editions and anthologies and came to be produced at many local theaters and college campuses. Other notable plays include "Why Tuesday Never has a Blue Monday" (1966), which won a National Catholic Theatre Award in 1969, "At War with the Mongols" (1970), which premiered at Brecht West in New Brunswick, New Jersey, "Suburban Tremens" (1978) and "Crisis of Identity" (1986).

Robert Heide's plays are characteristic of Off-Off-Broadway in their spareness and their reliance on direct visual and emotional effect rather than plot. Always short, they could be bleak, absurd, comical or despairing. They are also remarkable for their early presentation of gay relationships on stage, although they did not so much explore gay themes as such, as they did present existential dilemmas common to modern life.

Concurrent to his career in the theater, Heide has also had success as a chronicler of modern culture. With John Gilman, he has written books on popular decorative arts and nostalgia collectibles: Dime-Store Dream Parade: Popular Culture, 1925-1955; Cowboy Collectibles, Cartoon Collectibles; and Starstruck. In addition, books on the state of New Jersey include Greetings from New Jersey and O! New Jersey!

1964

"Hector," "West of the Moon," at New Playwrights Theatre, New York.

1965

"The Bed" at Caffe Cino benefit, April 26 (produced by Ron Link) and then at Caffe Cino in July.

1965

"Mother Suck," a skit, at a Caffe Cino benefit [no production material in collection].

1966

"Why Tuesday Never Has a Blue Monday" at Cafe La Mama in August.

1967

"Moon"at Caffe Cino in February.

1970

"At War with the Mongols"at the Cubiculo, NY.

1972

"Split Level" at the Playwrights' Workshop Club.

1976

"American Hamburger" at the Theater for the New City, NY (TNC), in November.

1978

"Suburban Tremens," with "Increased Occupancy," at the New York Theater Strategy in February.

1982

"Mr. Nobody"at the TNC in June.

1983

In December, "Tropical Fever in Key West" at the TNC.

1986

"Crisis of Identity" at the TNC in January.