Palace Theatre Program (1 results)
More imagesSeller: Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA), DeLand, FL, U.S.A.Blind-Horse-Books (ABAA)
Contact seller5-star sellerCondition: Used - Very good
US$ 65.00
US$ 6.00 shippingShips within U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
Condition: Very Good. WHEN THE PALACE WAS THE PINNACLE OF AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT: THE HOUSE EVERY PERFORMER DREAMED OF - A period program from B.F. Keith's Palace Theatre, the premier vaudeville house in America, documenting the height of New York's live entertainment culture between the wars. Programs from the Palace capture th…e transition moment between vaudeville dominance and the rise of Broadway and film. MORE THAN A PLAYBILL - Illustrated throughout with performer portraits, theatrical advertisements, and contemporary fashion promotions, the program offers a vivid cross-section of stage entertainment and commercial culture. Featured performers include Leonora Hughes and Mary Haynes, alongside theatrical promotions for productions such as The Firebrand and The Guardsman with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. Advertisements from Bonwit Teller, Milgrim, and other luxury retailers reinforce the close connection between theatre, fashion, and urban sophistication. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION +++ Stapled pictorial wraps. +++ Format: Theatre program. +++ Size: 5.5 by 7.75 inches. +++ Pagination: 32 pages. +++ Illustrations: Photographic plates and period advertising throughout. Cover: Illustrated by Archie Gunn. +++ Imprint:New York: B.F. Keith's Palace Theatre, [circa late 1920s-early 1930s]. CONDITION: Bindings are secure. Text is clean; light, even age-toning. Moderate handling wear; light soiling to wraps. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE FINAL FLOURISH OF VAUDEVILLE - +++ THE PALACE AS A CULTURAL BAROMETER - This program reflects the final flourishing of vaudeville at the Palace Theatre before its decline in the 1930s. It captures a moment when live performance, fashion, and consumer culture intersected in New York's entertainment capital. +++WHEN A PROGRAM WAS A SOUVENIR - The Palace Theatre stood at the center of American vaudeville, and its programs functioned as both souvenir and cultural document. This example reflects the layered experience of the era: performance, fashion, advertising, and social aspiration all contained within a compact format. The inclusion of national advertisers and Broadway promotions underscores how the Palace served as a bridge between touring acts and New York's theatrical establishment. THE ART OF ARCHIE GUNN - Archie Gunn (1863-1930) was a prominent American illustrator associated with Life magazine and known for his elegant depictions of fashionable women. His work helped define the visual language of early 20th-century American illustration. Cover with his 'signature'. SCHOLARLY FEATURES +++ THEATRE AS SOCIAL HISTORY - Documents the intersection of live entertainment, advertising, fashion, and urban leisure during the closing years of American vaudeville. +++ A WINDOW INTO NEW YORK'S ENTERTAINMENT WORLD - Preserves the programming, performers, commercial partnerships, and visual culture of the Palace Theatre during one of its most influential periods. +++ ILLUSTRATION MEETS PERFORMANCE - Combines an original Archie Gunn cover with period theatrical content, creating a desirable crossover artifact for collectors of illustration, theatre history, and American ephemera. SUBJECTS: Vaudeville programs, Palace Theatre New York, Broadway history, Archie Gunn illustration, theatrical advertising, 1920s entertainment culture, fashion advertising ephemera, Theatre Ephemera, Performing Arts, Illustrated Ephemera.
