FeaturesFlorence Reed starring inThe Shanghai Gesture byJohn Colton, directed byLee Elmore. Eleanor Reed . Extensive interior cast and production information including Entertainers’ Club. Paul Whiteman (“The King of Jazz”) appearing with his orchestra at theRitz Garden .
Original Florence Reed “SHANGHAI GESTURE” at the Apollo Theatre 1925 Program #3 Read Post »
This is a rare May 20th, 1929 program (playbill) from the Post-Broadway engagement of the classic JEROME KERN and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II musical comedy “SHOW BOAT” at the Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. (The production opened December 27th, 1927 at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City and ran for 575 performances before going on the road.) ….. This masterwork by JEROME KERN and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II remains one of the most popular musicals of all time and possibly the greatest musical theatre score to date. The story starts in the 1880’s on one of the many American riverboats that featured traveling shows. The musical starred most of the Original Broadway Cast including HELEN MORGAN as “Julie”, CHARLES WINNINGER as “Cap’n Andy”, NORMA TERRIS as “Magnolia”, AUNT JEMIMA as “Queenie”, EDNA MAY OLIVER as “Parthy Ann Hawks”, SAMMY WHITE as “Frank”, EVA PUCK as “Ellie”, HOWARD MARSH as “Gaylord Ravenal” and JULES BLEDSOE as “Joe” and included ALLAN CAMPBELL, CHARLES ELLIS, BERT CHAPMAN, FRANCIS X. MAHONEY, THOMAS GUNN, JACK WYNN, PHIL SHERIDAN, JACK DALEY, DOROTHY DENESE, ANNIE HART, ALICE PALMER, ANNETTE HARDING, MILDRED SCHWENKE, ROBERT FARICY, J. LEWIS JOHNSON, DAGMAR OAKLAND, MAURINE HOLMES, TANA KAMP, LAURA CLAIRON and the JUBILEE SINGERS (including JUANITA HALL) ….. CREDITS: Music by JEROME KERN (“Roberta”, “Very Good Eddie”, “Leave It To Jane”, “Sally”); Book and Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN 2nd (“Oklahoma!”, “Carousel”, “The King and I”, “Flower Drum Song”, “South Pacific”, “The Sound of Music”) adapted from the novel by EDNA FERBER; Sets designed by JOSEPH URBAN; Costumes designed by JOHN HARKRIDER; Choreographed by SAMMY LEE; Directed by ZEKE COLVAN; Produced by FLORENZ ZIEGFELD ….. DETAILS: The 44 page playbill measures 5 1/4″ X 7 7/8″ inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ….. CONDITION: With the exception of the year “1929” written at the top of the front cover, staple holes in all four corners of the back cover and light edge wear, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
Jerome Kern “SHOW BOAT” Helen Morgan / Oscar Hammerstein 1929 Boston Playbill Read Post »
This is a rare March 7th, 1926 broadside (single page playbill) from the one-week, Post-Broadway engagement of the Seventh Annual edition of the musical revue “GEORGE WHITE’S SCANDALS” at the American Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri. (The production opened June 22nd, 1925 at the Apollo Theatre in New York City and ran for 169 performances before going on the road.) ….. This series of musical revues, produced by White from 1919 through 1939, were given to elaborate show numbers much like the “Ziegfeld Follies”, but less ornate and cumbersome. Their comedy tended to be far more topical and, because White had been a dancer, the productions were fast paced and featured better choreography and music than similar revues. This edition featured the songs of DE SYLVA, HENDERSON and BROWN and included Costumes and Curtains designed by ERTE ….. The cast included HELEN MORGAN (in what had been her Broadway debut), FLOURNOY MILLER and AUBREY LYLES, NORMAN PHILLIPS, Jr., DOROTHY McCARTHY, NORMAN PHILLIPS, HARRY FOX, HARRY MORRISSEY, Mrs. NORMAN PHILLIPS, TOM PATRICOLA, CHRIS CRANE, MARJORIE SHAW, HELEN TITUS, PEGGY GALLIMORE, JAMES MILLER, ARTHUR BALL, ALICE WEAVER, JIM CARTY, GORDON DOOLEY, FRED LYON, HELEN HUDSON, JOE SULLIVAN, DOLLY DONNELLY, MYRTLE HAMMERSTEAD, ADELE SMITH, ALICE WILKIE, CATHERINE CHAPMAN, CLARE CARROLL, LOUISE WALTON, MURIEL LE COUNT, NORMA CLOOS, MARJORIE CRAMER, GEORGIA LERCH, CLARE and JEAN SCOTT, JEANETTE FLYNN, EDNA BOWMAN, JANE SELS, MARY PARSONS, HELEN BROWN, MILDRED TURNER, RUTH GORDON, ALICE THALMAN, DORIS BRYANT, HELEN WEHRLE, SALLY STARR, MARTHA MORTON, SIXTY GEORGE WHITE GIRLS and the ALBERTINA RASCH GIRLS ….. CREDITS: Music by RAY HENDERSON; Lyrics by B. G. DeSYLVA and LEW BROWN; Book by GEORGE WHITE and WILLIAM K. WELLS; Scenery designed by GUSTAVE WEIDHAUS; Costumes and Curtains designed by ERTE; Orchestra conducted by ALBERT BERTIN; Conceived, Choreographed and Staged by GEORGE WHITE ….. DETAILS: The single page, two-sided playbill measures 4 1/2″ X 12 1/2″ inches, is printed on a newsprint stock and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes and list of musical numbers, but no cast photos or bios ….. CONDITION: With the exception of three horizontal folds, this rare broadside is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
Helen Morgan (Debut) “GEORGE WHITE SCANDALS” Miller and Lyles 1926 Broadside Read Post »
(The production opened December 31st, 1923 and ran for 489 performances.).
Eddie Cantor “KID BOOTS” Mary Eaton / Florenz Ziegfeld 1924 Broadway Program Read Post »
This is a rare single page program from the February 1921 engagement of Russian Premiere Ballerina ANNA PAVLOWA and her Ballet Russe at the Manhattan Opera House in New York City ….. The engagement starred the legendary ANNA PAVLOWA who was assisted by HILDA BUTSOVA, ALEXANDRE VOLININE, MARIE OLENEVA, N. PIANOWSKI, FR. VAJINSKI, J. ZALEWSKI, A. DOMOSLAWSKI, Messrs. STOWITTS, BARTE and GLENN and Mlles. STUART, LAFRANCHI, BARTLETT, COURTNEY, LINDOVSKA, COLES and PRICE. The repertoire included “THAIS”, “SNOWFLAKES”, “MEXICAN FOLK DANCES” and several Divertissements ….. Biographical Note: Mlle. ANNA PAVLOVA (1881-1931) is widely regarded as one of the finest classical ballet dancers in history and was most noted as a Principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and the Ballets Russes of Serge Diaghilev. Pavlova is most recognized for the creation of the rôle “The Dying Swan” and with her own company, would become the first ballerina to tour ballet around the world. Pavlova’s passion for the art of ballet was realized when her mother took her to a performance of Marius Petipa’s original production of The Sleeping Beauty at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre. The lavish spectacle made an impression on the young Pavlova, and at the age of eight her mother took her to audition for the renowned Imperial Ballet School where she was finally accepted at age ten. Upon graduating, she began to perform at the Mariinsky Theatre, debuting on September 19th, 1899. In 1907, Anna Pavlova began her first tour, to Moscow, and by 1910 was appearing at the Metropolitan Opera House in America, making her debut in “Coppelia” in March 1910. In 1914, she was traveling through Germany on her way to England when Germany declared war on Russia. At that time, her connection to Russia was for all intents broken. For the rest of her life, Anna Pavlova toured the world with her own company and kept a home in London, where her exotic pets were constant company when she was there. While her contemporary, Isadora Duncan, introduced revolutionary innovations to dance, Anna Pavlova remained largely committed to the classic style. She was known for her daintiness, frailness, lightness and both wittiness and pathos. Her last world tour was in 1928-29 and her last performance in England in 1930. Anna Pavlova appeared in a few silent films: one, The Immortal Swan, she shot in 1924 but it was not shown until after her death. Anna Pavlova died of pleurisy in the Netherlands in 1931. (Reprinted in part from the website About.com.) ….. PROGRAM DETAILS: The single page, one-sided program measures 10 1/8″ X 8 1/2″ inches, is printed on a newsprint stock and includes production credits, the performance repertoire and the names of the dancers, but no photos or bios. The backside is blank ….. CONDITION: This rare program is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any classical music aficionado or dance historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
Mlle. ANNA PAVLOWA (Pavlova) and Ballet Russe 1921 Manhattan Opera House Program Read Post »
(This revival opened April 20th, 1976 and ran for 324 performances.). Lording over all is the sadistic matron and her tough-as-nails sidekick. Despite these flaws, this rare playbill will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian.
Divine “WOMEN BEHIND BARS” Tom Eyen / Sweet William / Ellie Schadt 1976 Playbill Read Post »
(The revival opened December 30th, 1982 at the Kings Head Theatre Club and transferred on April 27th, 1983 to the West End’s Fortune Theatre. ).
Denis Lawson “MR. CINDERS” Julia Josephs / Clifford Grey 1982 London Playbill Read Post »
This is a rare May 12th, 1930 programme (playbill) from the two-week, Provincial Tour engagement of the CLIFFORD GREY, GREATREX NEWMAN, VIVIAN ELLIS and RICHARD MYERS musical comedy “MR. CINDERS” at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in Liverpool, England. (The Original West End production opened February 11th, 1929 at London’s Adelphi Theatre, transferred on July 15th, 1929 to the London Hippodrome and ran for 529 performances while simultaneously playing on the road.) ….. The musical starred LESLIE FRENCH and MARJERY WYN and featured GEORGE MORGAN, JESS SWEET, MABEL TREVOR, GERALD SEYMOUR, IRENE STOCKER, BELLENDEN POWELL, HARRY PRINGLE, REITA NUGENT, MIGNON MORENZA, GEORGE COOPER, PEGGY BUTCHER, FRED STONE and FRED ROGERS ….. CREDITS: Book by CLIFFORD GREY and GREATREX NEWMAN; Music by VIVIAN ELLIS and RICHARD MYERS; Additional Lyrics by LEO ROBIN; Sets designed by MARC HENRI; Orchestra conducted by CAMILLE ESCUDER; Music Staging by FRED A. LESLIE and CHARLES BROOKS; Choreographed by MAX RIVERS; Staged by HARRY B. BURCHER; Directed by JULIAN WYLIE; Produced by J. C. WILLIAMSON, LTD. ….. DETAILS: The eight page playbill measures 7 3/8″ X 9 3/4″ inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers, a photo of MARJERY WYN and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast bios ….. CONDITION: With the exception of moderate to heavy creasing, light soiling, the start of a seam split at the top and minor edge wear, this rare program is in very good condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
Leslie French “MR. CINDERS” Clifford Grey / Vivian Ellis 1930 Liverpool Program Read Post »