Scope and content:

The Center Theatre Group files range in date from 1732-2010 and contain Mark Taper Forum programs, season files, season binders, season photographs, and season index cards; Ahmanson Theatre season index cards, season files, photograph index cards, photographs, negatives, slides, window cards, and press files; Ahmanson Theatre at the UCLA James A. Doolittle Theater window cards; Walter Douglas scrapbooks; Mark Taper Forum renovation brochures, agreement, book, and correspondence, pins, reports, and photographs; Mark Taper Forum ephemera, window cards, and architectural blueprints; Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre dedication week files; Center Theatre Group audio and audiovisual materials; Kenn Randall early LA theater survey, prompt books, theatre programs, and photographs; Raymond F. Barnes theatre history index cards, LA, NY, and Chicago Legit records, LA vaudeville records, LA theatre programs, Biltmore Theatre programs, Pasadena Playhouse programs, Shrine Auditorium programs, Greek Theatre programs and reviews, Huntington Hartford Theatre programs and reviews, theatre playbill scrapbooks, photographs, and posters; George Zoritch Playbill magazines, photographs, correspondence, programs, and posters; Olga Rosenthal correspondence and New York City Opera photographs; Leiland A. Irish Overture magazines, sheet music, and LA theatre history data; Charles Coburn drama publications and sheet music; and music manuscripts.

Biographical / historical:

On March 20, 1966, Dorothy Buffum Chandler, president of the Performing Arts Council of the Music Center, announced the Center Theatre Group (CTG) as the resident professional dramatic company of the Music Center. This announcement followed an agreement that the Theatre Group under managing director Gordon Davidson would move from UCLA to the Music Center. The formation of the Theatre Group under the auspices of the University of California Extension grew out of a conference of 100 academics and theater professionals from across the country held at Lake Arrowhead in 1958. The CTG presents performances at the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre, both of which were dedicated on April 12, 1967. The Mark Taper Forum opened on April 9, 1967 with "The Devils," starring Frank Langella and Ed Flanders. The Ahmanson Theatre opened on September 12, 1967 with "More Stately Mansions" starring Ingrid Bergman, Arthur Hill, and Colleen Dewhurst.

Sources: "Theater Group Named Resident of Music Center," Los Angeles Times, March 20, 1966, Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theatre dedication week files, Box 1,623, Music Center records (Collection 3261). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles. The Music Center Fact Sheet, August 1, 1990.

Physical / technical requirements:

CONTAINS UNPROCESSED AUDIO AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audio and audiovisual materials are not currently available for access and will require further processing and assessment. If you have questions about this material please email spec-coll@library.ucla.edu.

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