Finding Aid of the Theater playbills 0104

Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Hirsch and Sarah Guidas
The processing of this collection and the creation of this finding aid was funded by the generous support of the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California, 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
2010


Title: Theater playbills
Collection number: 0104
Contributing Institution: USC Libraries Special Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 14.67 Linear feet 15 boxes
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1890-1980
Date (inclusive): 1866-1999
Language of Materials: Most of the materials in this collection are in English; however, there are also programs in Spanish, German and French.
Abstract: This collection primarily consists of twentieth century theater programs from New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. However, it also includes nineteenth century prompt books, souvenir programs, and theater programs from the Midwest (especially Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota).

Historical Note

The programs and playbills in the Theater playbills demonstrate the evolution of one-sheet playbills into modern, multi-page theater programs.

Scope and Content

The Theater playbills consists primarily of theater programs and other printed ephemera from twentieth century New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. Also included are late nineteenth and early twentieth century theater programs from the Midwestern United States, scrapbooks of playbills and annotated prompt books from the same time period, and souvenir programs. A few miscellaneous publications (mostly related to the theater) are also present in this collection. It appears as though the collection was created through the combination of a number of smaller collections with differing provenances, including ones put together by Constance McCormick, Milton Lewis, and William J. Williams.

Conditions Governing Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.

Preferred Citation

[Box/folder# or item name], Theater playbills, Collection no. 0104, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern California.

Conditions Governing Use

The collection contains published materials; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers on reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers when reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Related Archival Materials

Other special collections at USC that contain theater materials include Collection no. 0242, the Robert Richardson collection on Southern California Theater, and Collection no. 0116, the Federal Theatre Project scripts.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Los Angeles (Calif.)--Social life and customs--Archival resources
Playbills
Playbills--Collections
Printed ephemera
Programs
Prompt books
Scrapbooks
Souvenir programs
Theater--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Theater--England--London--Archival resources
Theater--Illinois--Chicago--Archival resources
Theater--New York (State)--New York--Archival resources
Theaters--California--Los Angeles--Archival resources
Theaters--England--London--Archival resources
Theaters--Illinois--Chicago--Archival resources
Theaters--New York (State)--New York--Archival resources

 

Theater Programs and Ephemera

Arrangement

The programs in this series are arranged by state and then alphabetically by the name of the theater. Miscellaneous files are found at the end of a subseries.
Box 1-3

California

Box 4

Illinois

Box 4-5

New York

Box 5

Washington

Box 5

United States (Other than CA, WA, IL or NY)

Box 5-8

London and Great Britain

Box 8

Foreign (Other than Great Britain)

Box 9

Periodical and Book Publications

Scope and Content

Series contains a few miscellaneous issues of theater periodicals and an assortment of small books, most of which are on subjects related to the theater.
Box 9, Box 9

Other Printed Ephemera and Clippings

Scope and Content

Series contains magazine and newspaper clippings and printed ephemera not directly related to a specific theater.
Box 10

Souvenir Programs

Scope and Content

Series contains oversized souvenir programs for twentieth century musicals, plays, and ballets.
Box 10, 12-13

William J. Williams

Scope and Content

Series contains scrapbooks, photographs, and programs collected by William J. Williams, a musical theater and play actor, over the course of his career.
Box 11

Scrapbooks

Scope and Content

Series contains seven scrapbooks of programs, playbills, and clippings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
 

Prompt Books

Scope and Content

The prompt books in this series were published in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Arrangement Note

These prompt books are arranged in alphabetical order by the title of the play.
Box 14, Volume 1

Stirling, E. Aline or the Rose of Killarney (Clyde: A.D Ames).

Box 14, Volume 2

Shakespeare, William. As You Like It (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 3

Archer, Thomas. Asmodeus or The Little Devil's Share (Chicago: McNally & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 4

Archer, Thomas. Asmodeus or The Little Devil's Share (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 5

Jerrold, Douglas. Black Ey'd Susan or All in the Downs (London: Thomas Hailes Lacy).

Box 14, Volume 6

Byron, Henry J. Blow for Blow (Chicago: M.J McGrath & Co's Western Dramatic Agency).

Box 14, Volume 7

Harvey, Frank. Bought (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 8

Almar, George. Charcoal Burner or Dropping Well of Knaresborough (Chicago: McNally & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 9

Payne, John Howard. Charles II or The Merry Monarch (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 10

Box 14, Volume 11

Craven, H.T. The Chimney-Corner (Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company).

Box 14, Volume 12

Bouicacult, Dion. The Colleen Bawn or The Brides of Garryowen (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 13

Stedman, W. Ellsworth. The Confederate Spy (Chicago: M.J. McGrath & Co.'s Western Dramatic Agency).

Box 14, Volume 14

Danvers, H. A Conjugal Lesson (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 15

Banim, John. Damon And Pytheas (New York: Samuel French & Son). (3 copies)

Box 14, Volume 16

Brougham, John. David Copperfield (Chicago: W.J. McGrath).

Box 14, Volume 17

Kemble, Charles. The Day after the Wedding (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 18

Smith, W.H. The Drunkard (Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company). (4 Copies)

Box 14, Volume 19

Wood, Henry. East Lynne (Boston: Charles H. Spencer).

Box 14, Volume 20

Wood, Henry. East Lynne (Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company). (7 Copies)

Box 14, Volume 21

Falconer, Edmund. Eileen Oge or Dark's the Hour before the Dawn (New York: Robert M. De Witt).

Box 14, Volume 22

Brown, Charles. Elfins and Mermaids or The Red Sock Wave Cruiser (New York: A.S. Seer's Engraving and Printing Establishment).

Box 14, Volume 23

Baker, Geo. M. Enlisted for the War or The Home-Guard (Boston: Geo. M. Baker & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 24

Coyne, J. Stirling. Everybody's Friend (London: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 25

Waldauer, Aug. Fanchon. The Cricket (Chicago: M.J. McGrath & Co.'s Western Dramatic Agency).

Box 14, Volume 26

Brougham, John. Flies in the Web (London: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 27

Buckstone, John Baldwin. The Flowers of the Forest (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 28

Webster, Benjamin. Giralda or The Miller's Wife (New York: Burton & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 29

Buckstone, John Baldwin. Good for Nothing (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 30

Buckstone, John Baldwin. The Green Bushes (New York: Burnton & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 31

Floyd, W.R. Handy Andy (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 32

Emden, W.S. The Head of Tthe Family (London: Thomas Hailes Lacy).

Box 14, Volume 33

Taylor, Tom. Henry Dunbar (London: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 34

Townsend, Charles. Higbee of Harvard (Boston: Walter H. Baker & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 35

White, Charles. Hippotheatron or Burlesque Circus (Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company).

Box 14, Volume 36

Knowles, James Sheridan. The Hunchback (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 37

Merivale, H.C. A Husband in Clover (London: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 38

Haines, J.T. The Idiot Witness (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 39

Lovell, Maria. Ingomar, the Barbarian (Chicago: M.J. McGrath & Co.'s Western Dramatic Agency).

Box 14, Volume 40

Lovell, Maria. Ingomar, the Barbarian (New York: William Taylor & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 41

Lovell, Maria. Ingomar, the Barbarian (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 42

Buckstone, John Baldwin. The Irish Lion (Chicago: M.J. McGrath & Co.'s Western Dramatic Agency).

Box 14, Volume 43

Shakespeare, William. Julius Caesar (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 44

Travers, William. Kathleen Mavourneen or St. Patrick's Eve (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 45

Higgie, Thomas. Laid up in Port! or Sharks Along Shore! (New York: Burton & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 46

Planche, J.R. The Loan of a Lover (New York: Clinton T. De Witt).

Box 14, Volume 47

Bouricacault, Dion L. London Assurance (New York: Samuel French & Son)

Box 14, Volume 48

Phillips, Watts. Lost in London (Chicago: T.S. Denison).

Box 14, Volume 49

Brougham, John. The Lottery of Life, A Story of New York (London: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 50

Westeon, J.M. Lucretia Borgia (Chicago: M.J. McGrath & Co.'s Western Dramatic Agency).

Box 14, Volume 51

Weston, J.M. Lucretia Borgia (New York: Samuel French & Son). (2 Copies)

Box 14, Volume 52

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 53

Shelby, Charles. The Marble Heart of the Sculptor's Dream (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 54

Taylor, Tom and Reade, Charles. Masks and Faces or Before and Behind the Curtain (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 55

Craven, H.T. Meg's Diversion (New York: Samuel French & Son). (2 copies)

Box 14, Volume 56

Wilks, Egerton. Michael Erle or The Maniac Lover (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 57

Fitzball, Edward. The Monentous Question (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 58

Dumas, Alexandre. Monte Cristo (London: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 59

Dance, Charles. Naval Engagements (London: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 60

Raymond, R.J. Mr. & Mrs. Peter White (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 61

Bunn, Alfred. My Neighbor's Wife (Chicago: M.J. McGrath & Co.'s Western Dramatic Agency).

Box 14, Volume 62

Smith, S. Theyre. My Uncle's Will (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 63

Dalrymple, J.S. The Naiad Queen or The Revolt of the Naiads (New York: Burnton & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 64

Pettitt, Henry and Conquest, Geo. Neck or Nothing (New York: Burnton & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 65

Phillips, Watts. Not Guilty (New York: Robert M. De Witt).

Box 14, Volume 66

Leslie, Henry and Rowe, Nicholas. The Orange Girl (London: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 67

Robertson, T.W. Ours (New York: T.H. French).

Box 14, Volume 68

Cook, S.N. Out in the Streets (New York: Harold Roorbach).

Box 14, Volume 69

Falconer, Edward. Peep O' Day or Savoureen Deelish (New York:Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 70

Jones, J.S. The People's Lawyer (New York: Samuel French & Son). (2 Copies)

Box 14, Volume 71

Kemble, Charles. Personatino or Fairly Taken In (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 72

Taylor, Tom. Plot and Passion (New York: Robert M. De Witt).

Box 14, Volume 73

Planche, J.R. The Pride of the Market (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 74

Suter, William. A Quiet Family (New York: Samuel French).

Box 14, Volume 75

Shakespeare, William. Richard III (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 14, Volume 76

Pocock, I. Rob Roy or Auld Lang Syne (New York: Burnton & Co.).

Box 14, Volume 77

Lover, Samuel. Rory O'More (New York: Burnton & Co.).

Box 15, Volume 1

Johnstone, J.B. The Sailor France or The Republicans of Brest (Chicago: McNally & Co.).

Box 15, Volume 2

Simpson, J. Palgrave. A Scrap of Paper or Adventures of a Love Letter (Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company).

Box 15, Volume 3

Robertson, T.W. The Sea of Ice or A Thirst for Gold and the Wild Flower of Mexico (New York: Burton & Co.).

Box 15, Volume 4

Barnett, Morris. The Serious Family (Chicago: The Dramatic Publishing Company).

Box 15, Volume 5

Barnett, Morris. The Serious Family (New York: Samuel French) (2 copies)

Box 15, Volume 6

Hill, F.S. The Shoemaker of Toulous or The Avenger of Humble Life (Boston: William V. Spencer).

Box 15, Volume 7

Buckstone, John Baldwin. The Snapping Turtles or Matrimonial Masquerading (London: Samuel French).

Box 15, Volume 8

Mercer, S.C. The Star of Empire or Blue and Gray (Louisville: John P. Morton and Company).

Box 15, Volume 9

Frederic Ferdinand Von Kotzeube, Augustus. The Stranger (New York: Samuel French).

Box 15, Volume 10

Brougham, John. Temptation or The Irish Emigrant (New York: Samuel French).

Box 15, Volume 11

Pratt, William W. Ten Nights in a Bar-room (New York: Samuel French). (2 copies)

Box 15, Volume 12

Rice, Charles. The Three Guardsmen or The Queen, the Cardinal, and the Adventurer (New York: Burnton & Co.).

Box 15, Volume 13

Rice, Charles. The Three Guardsmen or The Queen, the Cardinal, and the Adventurer (New York: Samuel French).

Box 15, Volume 14

Rice, Charles. The Three Guardsmen or The Queen, the Cardinal, and the Adventurer (Chicago: Pierce & Snyder's Periodical Agency).

Box 15, Volume 15

Wemyss, F.C. The Toodles (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 15, Volume 16

Furlong, J.R. Tried and True (New York: Harold Roorbach).

Box 15, Volume 17

Williams, Thomas J. Turn Him Out (New York: De Witt).

Box 15, Volume 18

Williams, Thomas J. Turn Him Out (Chicago: T.S. Denison).

Box 15, Volume 19

Oxenford, John. The Two Orphans (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 15, Volume 20

Morton, J.M. The Two Puddifoots (Boston: Charles H. Spencer).

Box 15, Volume 21

Townsend, Charles. Uncle Josh (Chicago: T.S. Denison).

Box 15, Volume 22

Aiken, Geroge L. Uncle Tom's Cabin or Life Among the Lowly (New York: Samuel French & Son). (2 Copies)

Box 15, Volume 23

Whalen, E.C. Under the Spell (Chicago: T.S. Denison). (4 copies)

Box 15, Volume 24

Soane, George. Undine or The Spirit of the Waters (New York: Burnton Bookseller).

Box 15, Volume 25

Woodward, T. Trask. The Veteran of 1812 or Kesiah and the Scout. (New York: De Witt).

Box 15, Volume 26

Buckstone, John Baldwin. Victorine or "I'll Sleep On It" (New York: Burnton's).

Box 15, Volume 27

Williams, T.J. Who is Who? or All in a Fog! (Clyde: A.D. Ames).

Box 15, Volume 28

Knowles, James Sheridan. William Tell (Chicago: M.J. McGrath & Co.'s Western Dramatic Agency). (3 Copies)

Box 15, Volume 29

Boucicault, Dion. The Willow Copse (New York: Samuel French & Son).

Box 15, Volume 30

Reeve, Wybert. Won at Last. (Clyde: A.D. Ames).