Guide to the Porgy and Bess poster collection, 1952-1956
Porgy and Bess poster C0145
Published by George Mason University Libraries
Contact Information:
Fenwick Library (2FL)
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444
USA
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-8911
Email: speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: http://sca.gmu.edu
Descriptive Summary |
|
| Repository | George Mason University. Special Collections Research Center. |
| Creator | Brown, Lorraine, 1929-2010 |
| Title | Porgy and Bess poster collection |
| Date | 1952-1956 |
| Physical Characteristics | 60 posters |
| Abstract | This collection contains posters promoting the ANTA-sponsored production of the Gershwin opera "Porgy and Bess" as it toured various countries, mostly European, during the 1950s. |
| Collection number | C0145 |
| Language | Multiple |
Biographical Information
"Porgy and Bess" was a three act "folk opera" originally produced by The Theatre Guild at the Alvin Theatre, New York City, in 1927. It was taken directly from a book by Dubose Heyward titled "Porgy," with lyrics and music by Ira and George Gershwin. Robert Breen, secretary for the American National Theatre and Academy (ANTA) was instrumental in bringing federal financing to the performing arts on the American scene and promoting artistic and cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Europe. Beginning in 1949 with a U.S. tour of Hamlet throughout Europe, ANTA sponsored such projects as the American National Ballet Theatre's tour of Europe, and American participation in the Berlin Arts Festival in 1951. "Porgy and Bess," which showed a different side of life in America, was one of the productions chosen to be played before European audiences in 1952. Breen directed and co-produced it with Blevins Davis. The revivial was critically acclaimed and toured twenty-nine countries in North America, South America, and Europe from 1952-1956.
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Scope and Content
This collection contains posters promoting the ANTA-sponsored production of "Porgy and Bess" as it toured various countries, mostly European, during the 1950s.
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Arrangement
The posters are arranged alphabetically according to the country in which the performances were produced.
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Restrictions
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Porgy and Bess poster collection must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
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Related Material
Special Collections Research Center also holds the Robert and Wilva Breen papers and the Porgy and Bess letter from James Tipton.
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Index Terms
Persons:
Gershwin, George, 1898-1937. Porgy and Bess--Posters.
Document Types:
Theatrical posters.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Porgy and Bess poster collection, C0145, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Collection donated by Lorraine Brown in 1995.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections Research Center Staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. Finding aid updated by Amanda Brent in April 2020.
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Contents List
| Porgy and Bess poster collection | |||||||||||||
| Oversize | |||||||||||||
| MC | Antwerp, Belgium: Hippodrome Theatre June 23-30, 1955 | ||||||||||||
| 22"x14"; Vertical; black background with yellow lettering; white squares with black lettering; white border | |||||||||||||
| Antwerp, Belgium: Hippodrome Theater June 23-30,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 34"x24"; Large black background with bright yellow lettering; white squares with black lettering; white border | |||||||||||||
| Antwerp, Belgium: Hippodrome Theater June 23-30,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 31"x96"; Black background with white squares and black lettering; large bright yellow lettering in the middle of "Porgy and Bess". | |||||||||||||
| Brussels, Belgium: Theatre de la Monnaie June 23-30,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 32"x24"; Black background with white squares and black lettering; off white border; large lemon yellow letters in middle; yellow square at top with black lettering | |||||||||||||
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Brazil Teatro Municipal July 7-13,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 60"x92"; Four pieces; bright red background with off white border and white lettering inside of it | |||||||||||||
| Prague, Czechoslovakia: Kerlin Theatre February 11-19,1956 | |||||||||||||
| 34"x24"; Washed out off-white background; small black lettering, larger bold red lettering; on the left side there is a square with the words "Porgy and Bess". | |||||||||||||
| Prague, Czechoslovakia: Kerlin Theatre February 11-19,1956 | |||||||||||||
| 42"x31"; Salmon colored fibrous paper with black charted lettering | |||||||||||||
| Arhus, Denmark: Aarhushallen May 9-16,1956 | |||||||||||||
| 33"x25"; White background in middle with lime-green lettering and black writing;black and white photographs taken from characters and scenes of the play act as the boder. | |||||||||||||
| Alexandria, Egypt: Theatre Mohamad Aly December 31,1954-January 2, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 69"x36"; White background; blue border with white starts; blue and red lettering | |||||||||||||
| Alexandria, Egypt: Theatre Mohamad Aly December 31,1954-January 2, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 12"x8"; Small washed out cream-color background; black border with red and black lettering; two star illustrations on either side | |||||||||||||
| Cairo, Egypt: Theatre De'L Opera January 7-12,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 11"x8"; Washed out brown background; red and black lettering; four different versions | |||||||||||||
| Cairo, Egypt: Theatre De'L Opera January 7-12, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 69"x36"; White background; blue star border; blue and red lettering; Egyptian lettering at top. | |||||||||||||
| Marseilles, France: Opera Municipal March 26-April 4,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 18"x12"; Off-white background;red and blue lettering | |||||||||||||
| Marseilles, France: Opera Municpal March 26-April 4,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 55"x36"; Large; bright purple with black lettering. | |||||||||||||
| Paris, France: Theatre De'L Empire February 16-March 1,1953 | |||||||||||||
| 24"x16"; Green background with black and white lettering | |||||||||||||
| Paris, France: Theatre De'L Empire September 30-December 4,1954 | |||||||||||||
| 64"x94",48"x34"; Large;green background with large black lettering | |||||||||||||
| Paris, France: Theatre De'L Empire September 30-December 4,1954 | |||||||||||||
| 24"x16"; Vertical;dark green background with white border;large bold black lettering | |||||||||||||
| Paris, France: Theatre De'L Empire September 30-December 4,1954 | |||||||||||||
| 59"x40",59"x37"; Green background; large black lettering | |||||||||||||
| Berlin, Germany: Titania Palast September 18-27,1952 | |||||||||||||
| 23"x33"; Off-white background with blue sketch-like illustration of village; magenta and black lettering through the center | |||||||||||||
| Dusseldorf, Germany: Apolla Theatre November 18-22,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 24"x34"; Lemon yellow background with orange border on the top and bottom; orange and black lettering | |||||||||||||
| Dusseldorf, Germany: Apolla Theatre November 18-22,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 24"x34"; White background with black lettering; blue patch with Porgy and Bess written in yellow in the middle | |||||||||||||
| Frankfurt, Germany: Stadtischen Buhnen November 25-27,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 24"x33"; White background with black lettering; blue patch of color in middle with "Porgy and Bess" written in bright yellow | |||||||||||||
| Frankfurt,Germany: Stadtischen Buhnen November 25-27,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 24"x34"; Lemon yellow background; black border on sides; orange border on top and bottom; black and orange lettering | |||||||||||||
| Hamburg, Germany: Opera House March 7-11,1956 | |||||||||||||
| 23"x33"; Brick colored border surrounding off-white background; brick colored lettering | |||||||||||||
| Munich, Germany: Deutsches Theatre December 1-6,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 48"x33"; Black and white background with large yellow, black, and white lettering | |||||||||||||
| Munich,Germany: Deutsches Theatre February 22-29,1956 | |||||||||||||
| 48"x33"; Two pieces; bright red background with bright yellow lettering reading "Porgy and Bess" across the front | |||||||||||||
| Stuttgart, Germany: Staats Theatre March 1-4,1956 | |||||||||||||
| 51"x34"; Two pieces; black background with large yellow lettering in the middle | |||||||||||||
| Tel Aviv, Israel: Habimah Theatre January 26-30,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 37"x25"; White background with blue border; red and blue lettering; bigger letters in the middle than in the rest of poster | |||||||||||||
| Florence, Italy: Teatro Comunale March 9-13,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 27"x13"; Vertical; off-white background with red and black lettering | |||||||||||||
| Florence, Italy: Teatro Comunale March 9-13,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 48"x33";Mustard-yellow background with black lettering;red lettering in upper half; Two purple stamp-like pictures on lower left part; tear running through title. ("Porgy and Bess") | |||||||||||||
| Genoa, Italy: Teatro Carlo Felice March 1-6,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 40"x14"; Vertical; beige background with brown and red lettering;has a shield-like emblem border at the top | |||||||||||||
| Milan, Italy: Teatro Alla Scala February 23-27,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 28"x40"; Bright yellow background; lists names in black lettering with red lettering in the upper half. | |||||||||||||
| Milan, Italy: Teatro Allo Scala February 23-27,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 15"x11",40"x28",80"x40"; Light brown background with dark brown lettering; red cross on shield at top; decorative leafy-style border | |||||||||||||
| Naples, Italy: Teatro Di San Carlo February 15-17,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 39"x28"; Bright blue background with a yellow and green illustration of village; white border; white lettering. | |||||||||||||
| Naples, Italy: Teatro Di San Carlo February 15-17,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 52"x38, 37"x26"; Bright yellow background; black lettering; red lettering at top; very simple. | |||||||||||||
| Naples, Italy: Teatro Di San Carlo February 15-17,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 22"x13"; Bright mustard yellow background; brown border; red and brown lettering. | |||||||||||||
| Rome, Italy: Teatro Quattro Fontane April 21-May 14,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 10"x7"; Small white playbills with red and blue lettering; writing on front and back. | |||||||||||||
| Rome, Italy: Teatro Quattro Fontane April 21-May 14,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 55"x40",78"x54"; Bright mustard-yellow background with black and red lettering | |||||||||||||
| Rome, Italy: Teatro Quattro Fontane April 21-May 14,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 40"x14"; Vertical; blue background with black and red lettering | |||||||||||||
| Rome, Italy: Teatro Quattro Fontane April 21-May 14,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 40"x14"; Vertical; yellow background with black and red lettering | |||||||||||||
| Rome, Italy: Teatro Quattro Fontane April 21-May 14,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 80"x54"; Three pieces; green and bright yellow background fading into one another; large red lettering at top; black lettering at bottom; very bright and colorful | |||||||||||||
| Turin, Italy: Teatro Alfieri April 9-17,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 27"x13"; Vertical; off-white pink illustration of a lady in the background; large red lettering towards top | |||||||||||||
| Turin, Italy: Teatro Alfieri April 9-17,1955 | |||||||||||||
| 38"x26"; Pink and yellow illustration with black lettering | |||||||||||||
| Venice, Italy: Teatro La Fenice September 22-25, 1954 | |||||||||||||
| 40"x28"; Vibrant red background with half facial photo of Gershwin in upper right, illustration of Porgy and Bess on left; black and white lettering. | |||||||||||||
| Venice, Italy: Teatro La Fenice September 22-25, 1954 | |||||||||||||
| 40"x14"; A number of these in the background colors of: yellow, blue-green, blue, washed-out, white, and pink; black and red lettering;vertical | |||||||||||||
| Venice, Italy: Teatro La Fenice September 22-25, 1954 | |||||||||||||
| 55"x39"; Large; off-white; red and black lettering. | |||||||||||||
| Amsterdam, Netherlands: Teatre Carre May 19-June 3, 1956 | |||||||||||||
| 49"x33"; White border; black lettering within white squares; yellow squares with black lettering; bright yellow lettering in very middle | |||||||||||||
| Lima, Peru: Teatro Municipal September 3-7, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 52"x34"; Two pieces; washed-out white background with black lettering | |||||||||||||
| Warsaw, Poland: National Opera House January 24-February 1, 1954 | |||||||||||||
| 40"x28";White background; blue and red lettering. | |||||||||||||
| Barcelona, Spain: Gran Teatro Del Liceo February 3-13, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 50"x35"; Large; off-white with brown and red lettering; branch style border with leaves on it. | |||||||||||||
| Lausanne, Switzerland: Theatre De Beaulieu March 16-23, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 28"x14", 50"x36"; Washed-out yellow background with black and red lettering; bold red lettering in the middle. | |||||||||||||
| Lausanne, Switzerland: Teatre De Beaulieu March 16-23, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 11"x8";Washed-out white with red and black lettering; bold red lettering in the middle. | |||||||||||||
| Zurich, Switzerland: Hallenstadion June 3-12, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 50"x36";Light green background with painted color figures of Porgy and Bess; black sketch of village behind them; blue lettering at top; black lettering throughout the rest. | |||||||||||||
| Zurich, Switzerland: Hallenstadion June 3-12, 1955 | |||||||||||||
| 20"x12"; Black border with lettering surrounding light green background; painted color figures of Porgy and Bess; black line sketch of village behind them; blue lettering at top. | |||||||||||||
| Chicago, USA: Civic Opera House June 25, 1952 | |||||||||||||
| 20"x14"; Two shades of orange background; black and white lettering; illustration of Porgy and Bess dancing in the middle | |||||||||||||
| New York, USA: Ziegfeld Theatre March 10-November 28,1953 | |||||||||||||
| 9"x6"; Small; off-white flyer with black border; stars on sides; black writing; illustration of village in black. | |||||||||||||
| Leningrad, USSR: Palace of Culture December 26-January 5,1956 | |||||||||||||
| 42"x28"; White background; blue and red lettering in upper half. | |||||||||||||
| Moscow, USSR: Stanilavsky Theatre January 10-17, 1956 | |||||||||||||
| 40"x27"; White background; blue and red lettering; blue lettering in bottom half | |||||||||||||
| Zagreb, Yugoslavia: Theatre De'L Opera December 11-14, 1954 | |||||||||||||
| 39"x28"; White background; purple and white lettering | |||||||||||||
| Zagreb, Yugoslavia: Theatre De'L Opera Dec 11-14, 1954 | |||||||||||||
| 12"x8"; White background; red and black lettering; writing on both sides. | |||||||||||||