Diane Fruitman – Motion Picture Costume Designer, Returns to Tucson

Upon her graduation from the University of Arizona in 1935, Diane Fruitman moved from Tucson, Arizona to Hollywood, California to work in costume design for several motion picture studios. Miss Fruitman returned to Tucson in September, 1939 and accepted the position of costume director for the Tucson Little Theatre.

Miss Fruitman worked as costumer with Western Costume for United Artist 1938 release of “The Adventures of Marco Polo”

Miss Fruitman worked as Sketch Artist at Republic Studios on the 1937 release of “Manhattan Merry-Go-Round”, with a most interesting cast

Diane worked as costumer with Western Costume company on the 1938 release of Paramount’s film, “If I were King”, staring Starring Ronald Colman Basil Rathbone Frances Dee.

Miss Fruitman worked in association with Ernest Dreyden on 1937 release of “The Prisoner of Zenda”, starring Ronald Colman Madeleine Carroll and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Diane Fruitman worked as a Sketch Artist at Republic Studios on the 1938 release of “Call of the Yukon”, starring Richard Arlen and Beverly Roberts.

Diane worked as costumer with Western Costume on Warner Brothers 1938 release of “The Adventures of Robin Hood”, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, and Alan Hale.

Diane was sketch artist for the 1938 release of Republic Studio’s production of “Lady Behave”, starring Sally Eilers Neil Hamilton. The film began with the title *The Lady Misbehaves*, but in “those times” ladies do not misbehave; the dropping of “mis” would still give the desired undesirable impression.

Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, Arizona, Sun, Sept 24, 1939, Page 18

Costumer is New Worker
Diane Fruitman Will Head Little Theatre’s Costumers

Diane Fruitman, profession costumer, fashion designer and commercial artist, has accepted the voluntary position of costume director for the Tucson Little Theatre.

Miss Fruitman will institute in the Tucson Little Theatre the methods she employed while associated with John Harkrider at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and later at Universal, as research head, designer and sketch artist. Later, in association with Ernest Dryden, Miss Fruitman worked on “Prisoner of Zenda.” Among the pictures Miss Fruitman has been associated with as costumer with Western Costume company are “Robin Hood,” and “The Adventures of Marco Polo” and “If I were King.” She was sketch artist for Republic Studios on a great number of pictures, including “Call of the Yukon,” “Manhattan Merry-Go-Round” and “Lady Misbehaves.”

Bringing with her a full knowledge of costume procedure, Miss Fruitman will instruct workshoppers in the making of costume breakdowns, tracings, designs, sketches, fittings and general wardrobe management. She is especially interested in keeping a research file of costumes through the ages, would like, for this purpose, to have all old magazines available from which bygone styles may be clipped and mounted for future reference.

Miss Fruitman will lecture to the workshop at their first meeting, Sunday, October 1, at 8pm at the workshop headquarters, 40 West Ochoa Street, Tucson, Arizona.

Costume Design