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Historical Society of Pennsylvania playbill collection [additions]
This is an artificial collection created by HSP staff, containing mainly playbills and performing arts programs, clippings, theatre scrapbooks, and related materials from many sources. The majority of the materials are from Philadelphia theatres and venues, with a lesser amount from the Philadelphia...
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| Collection: | Historical Society of Pennsylvania Playbill Collection [additions] |
| Collection Number: | 3131B |
| Format: | Manuscript |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects and Genres: | |
| Online Access: | Link to finding aid |
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| Item Description: |
Processing Information: Materials appropriate to the scope of the collection which were found during a hidden collections cataloging project have been incorporated into Series 8. |
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| Physical Description: |
20.7 Linear feet ; 52 boxes, 1 volumes |
| Summary: |
This is an artificial collection created by HSP staff, containing mainly playbills and performing arts programs, clippings, theatre scrapbooks, and related materials from many sources. The majority of the materials are from Philadelphia theatres and venues, with a lesser amount from the Philadelphia region, the United States, and Europe. The first seven series consist of discrete named acquisitions. Smaller accessions were combined and interfiled in Series 8. Within series, materials are organized geographically, alphabetically by theatre, and then by date. The bulk of the collection dates to the 20th century. There are a large number of Philadelphia Orchestra programs throughout the collection. These can be found filed under Academy of Music and Kimmel Center. Individual theatre companies are generally filed by performance venue.
Series 1, Joe Barker playbills and programs (1942-1988, undated), consists of playbills and programs mostly from Philadelphia and the East Coast. There is one program from California, one from Ohio, and a few from the United Kingdom. Two issues of Philadelphia theatre publications(The Dramateur andThe Playgoer) are also present. One notable item in the series is a playbill from the pre-Broadway tryout of Annie. Because this series is comprised of an entire collection, there is one folder of miscellaneous ephemera included at the end.
Series 2, N. Murray Hoffman playbills and programs (1901-1994, undated), consists of playbills and programs mostly from Philadelphia and the East Coast. There are a few programs from California and Florida and a small number from England. The series also includes a scrapbook of theatre clippings from Philadelphia(Volume 1).
Series 3, John Jordan playbills and programs (1971-2004, undated), contains playbills and programs collected by John Jordan. Most of the materials are from the Philadelphia area and New York, with a few programs from New Jersey, and Florida. Nearly one-quarter of the programs are from the Academy of Music.
Series 4, Rieder family playbills and programs (1902-1987, undated), contains playbills and programs collected by the Rieder family. Most of the materials are from Philadelphia and New York, with a number of programs from Europe. The series also includes a scrapbook of theatre clippings from Philadelphia in the early 20th century (Volume 2).
Series 5, Charles Kelly orchestra and other programs (1958-1963, undated), is a small series consisting of materials collected by Charles Kelly in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Charles Kelly enjoyed the cultural life of Philadelphia and other northeastern cities before moving from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. The collection mostly consists of programs from the Philadelphia Orchestra, but there are also programs from the Philadelphia Lyric Opera, the New York Philharmonic, and Carnegie Hall. In addition, there is a souvenir booklet from the Academy of Music's 106th Anniversary concert and ball held 26 January 1963, an informational booklet on the Atlantic City Convention Hall, and a guide magazine from Boston titledPanorama.
Series 6, Leland C. Warren theatre programs and magazines (1958-1963, undated), is a small series, from the Estate of Leland C. Warren of Penn Valley, Pennsylvania, dating from the early 1930s. It contains items from various plays, operas, concerts, and a commencement in Philadelphia. There are also a few issues ofThe Playgoer: The Magazine of the Theatre, and a publication from John Wanamaker titled "Around the Clock from Eight to Eight with a Cargo of Drowsyheads."
Series 7, Rochelle Popivchak performing arts programs (1968-2014), is comprised of approximately 150 playbills and programs from the 1970s and early 1980s that the donor collected as an avid playgoer and season ticket holder of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Various programs of the Philadelphia Orchestra make up the majority of the items in the collection, but there are also scattered ones from Robin Hood Dell; the Camden County Music Fair, Haddonfield, New Jersey; the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, Delaware; the Philadelphia Opera Company, and Lincoln Center in New York. There are also a few New York playbills, including productions ofJersey Boys,The Elephant Man, andCats.
Series 8, Playbills and programs (1850-2014, undated), contains playbills and programs of mostly Philadelphia institutions from many different accessions. While the materials represent the performing arts in the second half of the 19th century through the early 21st century, most date to the 20th century. Some programs have short reviews written on the front cover. The series also includes four late 19th century theatre and performing arts scrapbooks(Boxes 49-50), which contain programs, clippings, and a few photographs. Notable items include playbills for the pre-Broadway tour ofNude with Violin starring Noel Coward (Box 43 folder 11) andThe Amen Corner by James Baldwin, signed by the playwright (Box 41 folder 9). This is an artificial collection created by HSP staff, containing playbills, performing arts programs, clippings, theatre scrapbooks, and related items from many sources. The majority of the materials are from Philadelphia theatres and venues, with a lesser amount from the Philadelphia region, the United States, and Europe. The first seven series consist of discrete acquisitions, and the eighth series has been compiled from many sources. Within series, materials are organized geographically, alphabetically by theatre, and then by date. The bulk of the collection dates from the 20th century, though the late 19th century is also fairly well represented. |