Shakespearean Plays

Edwin Booth “RICHARD III” Bella Pateman / Samuel W. Piercy 1881 Boston Program

This is a rare oversized December 19th, 1881 programme (playbill) from the Limited Engagement of EDWIN BOOTH presenting the WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE tragedy “RICHARD III” at the Park Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts ….. The play starred EDWIN BOOTH as “Richard” and featured BELLA PATEMAN as “Queen Margaret” and SAMUEL W. PIERCY as “Richmond”. Others in the cast included EDWIN CLEARY, F. C. HEUBNER, W. A. WHITECAR, J. H. FITZPATRICK, D. C. ANDERSON, MASON MITCHELL, GEORGE CONWAY, L. H. EVERETT, JOHN DAILEY, HENRY BRISTOL, ROBERT WILSON, CHARLES LOGAN, EDWARD MILLER, NELSON WILLETT, FRED G. ROSS, NEWTON CHISNELL, C. W. KIDDER, ROBERT PATEMAN, GEORGE ALLEN, Mrs. CHARLES CALVERT, EVA GARRICK and LOUISA ELDRIDGE ….. CREDITS: Book by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE; Orchestra conducted by Mr. E. N. CATLIN; Stage Manager for Mr. Booth: EDWIN CLEARY; Produced by EDWIN BOOTH ….. DETAILS: The oversized four page program measures 10″ X 13″ inches, is printed on a newsprint stock and includes production credits, cast list and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ….. CONDITION: (Please Note!) There are tears on both sides of the center fold, ink scribbles in the top margin of the front cover, edge chipping at the top of the back cover and considerable edge wear. Despite these flaws, this rare program will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.

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Daly Brothers “HARVARD vs. YALE” Edwin Booth “HAMLET” 1884 Boston Museum Program

This is a rare oversized November 3rd, 1884 programme (playbill) from the original production of the new THOMAS A. DALY and FRED G. MEADER Athletic Comedy “VACATION” (or, “HARVARD vs. YALE”) at the Boston Museum Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts ….. The play starred THOMAS A. DALY, WILLIAM DALY, Jr., ROBERT DALY, DANIEL DALY and Miss LIZZIE DERIOUS and featured Miss ADA STANHOPE, Miss LIZZIE DALY, Mr. R. S. LYLE and GEORGE W. DERIOUS …. CREDITS: Book by THOMAS A. DALY and FRED G. MEADER; Orchestra conducted by GEORGE PURDY; Stage Manager: IAN ROBERTSON ….. The program also promotes the upcoming engagement of EDWIN BOOTH with a full Boston Museum Company in the WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE classic “HAMLET” beginning November 17th, 1884 ….. The play starred EDWIN BOOTH in the title role and featured the Messrs. CHARLES BARRON, GEORGE W. WILSON, SOL SMITH RUSSELL, ALFRED HUDSON, GEORGE R. PARKS, EDWIN ARDEN, IAN ROBERTSON, CHARLES KENT, JAMES BURROWS, JAMES NOLAN, H. MEERY, A. R. EHYTAL, GEORGE H. COHILL, ALBERT LANG, C. S. ABBE, H. JAMES, C. E. BOARDMAN and J. M. EATON and Miss ANNIE M. CLARKE, Mrs. J. R. VINCENT, Miss BLANCHE THOMPSON, Miss MIRIAM O’LEARY, Miss ELIZABETH ROBINS, Miss REGINA DACE, Miss KATE RYAN, Miss HELEN DAYNE, Miss LOUISE JORDAN, Miss AGNES CHASE, Miss MAY RUSSELL and Miss EVELYN SHAW ….. DETAILS: The oversized four page program measures 9 1/2″ X 12″ inches and includes production credits, cast lists, musical programme and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ….. CONDITION: With the exception of creasing from having been folded into quarters and moderate edge wear, this rare program is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.

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Norma Shearer “ROMEO and JULIET” Leslie Howard 1936 World Premiere Movie Program

This is a rare souvenir program from the World Premiere engagement of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film “ROMEO and JULIET” at the Astor Theatre in New York City. (The film premiered on August 20th, 1936 at the Astor Theatre and was released nationwide on September 3rd, 1936.) ….. The “Greatest Romance of All Time!” starred LESLIE HOWARD as “Romeo” and NORMA SHEARER as “Juliet” and featured JOHN BARRYMORE, EDNA MAY OLIVER, BASIL RATHBONE, C. AUBREY SMITH, ANDY DEVINE, CONWAY TEARLE, RALPH FORBES, HENRY KOLKER, ROBERT WARWICK, VIRGINIA HAMMOND, REGINALD DENNY and VIOLET KEMBLE-COOPER ….. CREDITS: Screenplay by TALBOT JENNINGS based on the play by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE; Music composed by HERBERT STOTHART; Directed by GEORGE CUKOR; Produced by IRVING THALBERG ….. DETAILS: The four page program measures 6″ X 12″ inches, is printed on a textured stock and includes beautiful graphics, production credits, cast list and a brief synopsis of the story ….. CONDITION: With the exception of moderate edge wear, this rare program is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or classic film historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.

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Edwin Booth “HAMLET” Lester Wallack Testimonial / Helena Modjeska 1888 Program

This is a rare May 21st, 1888 program (playbill) from the one-night performance of the William Shakespeare tragedy “HAMLET” at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City ….. Presented as a tribute to LESTER WALLACK who passed away later that year, the play starred EDWIN BOOTH in the title role and featured HELENA MODJESKA as “Ophelia”. The remaining cast included LAWRENCE BARRETT, FRANK MAYO, JOHN GILBERT, EBEN PLYMPTON, JOHN A. LANE, CHARLES HANFORD, LAWRENCE HANLEY, CHARLES KOEHLER, EDWIN H. VANDERFELT, HERBERT KELCEY, FRANK MARDAUNT, JOSEPH WHEELOCK, MILNES LEVICK, JOSEPH JEFFERSON, W. J. FLORENCE, HARRY EDWARDS, GERTRUDE KELLOGG and ROSE COGHLAN ….. CREDITS: Book by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE; The Symphony Society Orchestra of New York conducted by WALTER DAMROSCH; Produced and Directed by AUGUSTIN DALY and A. M. PALMER ….. DETAILS: The eight page program measures approx. 6″ X 9 5/8″ inches, is bound by the original cord and includes production credits, cast list, musical program, reprinted correspondence between the producers and Lester Wallack, Edwin Booth and Lawrence Barrett and a list of the members of four Honorary Committees. Also includes two inserts, one an engraving of Lester Wallack (sixth scanned image) and the other a list of ladies and gentlemen who had volunteered to appear as auxiliaries for the performance (including May Robson and Minnie Maddern) ….. CONDITION: With the exception of slight soiling and moderate edge wear, this rare program is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard. Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal!

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Edwin Booth “MERCHANT OF VENICE” William Shakespeare 1884 Boston Museum Program

This is a rare oversized Thursday evening, December 4th, 1884 programme (playbill) from the EDWIN BOOTH 1884-85 SEASON, presenting for one-night, the WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE classic “MERCHANT OF VENICE” followed by the DAVID GARRICK play “KATHARINE and PETRUCHIO” at the Boston Museum Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. (During the four-week engagement, the company’s repertoire also included performances of Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s “Richelieu”, Tom Taylor’s “The Fool’s Revenge” and William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and “Macbeth”.) ….. “The Merchant of Venice” starred EDWIN BOOTH as “Shylock” and featured GEORGE R. PARKS, IAN ROBERTSON, EDWIN ARDEN, GEORGE W. WILSON, CHARLES KENT, JAMES BURROWS, Mr. A. R. WHYTAL, Mr. C. S. ABBE, GEORGE H. COHILL, ALBERT LANG, Mr. C. E. BOARDMAN, HORATIO JAMES, Mr. J. M. EATON, Mr. H. P. WHITTEMORE, Miss ANNIE CLARKE, Miss BLANCHE THOMPSON and Miss ELIZABETH ROBINS ….. CREDITS: Book by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE; Produced and Directed by EDWIN BOOTH ….. “Katharine and Petruchio” starred EDWIN BOOTH as “Petruchio” and Miss ANNIE CLARKE as “Katharine” and featured GEORGE W. WILSON, JAMES BURROWS, Mr. A. R. WHYTAL, Mr. C. E. BOARDMAN, Mr. C. S. ABBE, GEORGE H. COHILL, Mr. H. P. WHITTEMORE, Mr. G. B. BATES, HORATIO JAMES, Mr. J. M. EATON, Mr. E. E. ROSE, WILLIAM WHEELER, HERBERT M. COLBY and Miss REGINA DACE ….. CREDITS: Book by DAVID GARRICK based on “The Taming of the Shrew” by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE; Produced and Directed by EDWIN BOOTH ….. DETAILS: The oversized four page program measures 9 1/2″ X 12″ inches and includes production credits, cast lists, schedule of upcoming productions and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ….. CONDITION: With the exception of creasing from having been folded into quarters, several small edge tears and moderate edge wear, this rare program is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.

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