Conditions Governing Access
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Biographical note on Vivian Tobin
Historical note on "Alice in Wonderland"
Preferred Citation
Related Materials
Scope and Contents
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Conditions Governing Use
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Vivian Tobin papers
Creator:
Tobin, Vivian, 1902-2002
Creator:
Gerstenberg, Alice
Creator:
Georg, Victor
Identifier/Call Number: 6106
Physical Description:
2.29 Linear Feet
2 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1915-1971
Abstract: This collection contains photographs, correspondence, and ephemera related to Vivian Tobin's performance as Alice in the first
American theatrical production of "Alice in Wonderland" in 1915.
Language of Material:
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Advance notice required for access.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Vivian Thompson, 2014.
Biographical note on Vivian Tobin
Vivian Tobin (1902-2002) was an American actress who starred as the first Alice in an American theatrical production of Alice
in Wonderland in 1915. Tobin continued to perform in theater, vaudeville, and films through the 1930s. In 1935, Tobin married
Karl von Hagen, later chair of the University of Southern California Department of Neurology, and they had one daughter, Vivian
Thompson (USC Class of 1962), and a son.
Historical note on "Alice in Wonderland"
In 1915, "Alice in Wonderland" by Alice Gerstenberg (1885-1972) was published as the first American dramatization of Lewis
Carroll's novels "Alice in Wonderland" (1865) and "Through the Looking-Glass" (1871). Gerstenberg's play premiered on February
10, 1915, at the Fine Arts Theatre in Chicago, IL, before traveling to Broadway, to the Booth Theatre, on March 23, 1915.
Vivian Tobin (1902-2002) became the first actress to perform the role of Alice in the United States.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Vivian Tobin papers, Cassady Lewis Carroll Collection, Collection no. 6106, Special Collections,
USC Libraries, University of Southern California.
Related Materials
Scope and Contents
This collection contains photographs, correspondence, and ephemera related to Vivian Tobin's performance as Alice in the first
American theatrical production of "Alice in Wonderland" in 1915. The correspondence includes two letters from "Alice" playwright
Alice Gerstenberg to Tobin and cards from fans. There is also a permission release for a 1952 amateur performance of the play.
There are ten photographs including two photographs by photographer Victor Georg and a set by White, N.Y. from the 1915 production.
Ephemera includes an advertisement for the play at the Fine Arts Theatre in 1915. There are also clippings from newspapers
with reviews of the play.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
Finding aid description and metadata are licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special
Collections at specol@usc.edu. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Alice (Fictitious character: Carroll) -- Archival resources
Stage adaptations -- Archival resources
Theater -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Photographs
Theater programs
Tobin, Vivian, 1902-2002 -- Archives
Tobin, Vivian, 1902-2002 -- Photographs
Alice, (Fictitious character from Carroll) -- Photographs
Carroll, Lewis, 1832-1898 -- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland -- Drama
Carroll, Lewis, 1832-1898 -- Through the looking-glass -- Drama
