Guide to the Porgy and Bess poster collection, 1952-1956
A Collection in
Special Collections and Archives
Collection Number C0145
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George Mason University Libraries
2006 By George Mason University Libraries. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Special Collections and Archives Staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Porgy and Bess poster collection, Collection #C0145, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.
Acquisition Information
Collection donated by Lorraine Brown in 1995.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections and Archives Staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty.
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. This critically acclaimed revival of Porgy and Bess toured twenty-nine countries in North and South America and Europe for four years from 1952-1956.
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.
Arrangement
The posters are arranged alphabetically according to the country in which the performances were produced.
Related Material
Special Collections and Archives also holds many other theatre collections .
Index Terms
- Gershwin, George, 1898-1937. Porgy and Bess--Posters.
- Theatrical posters.
Persons:
Document Types:
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Brown, Lorraine, 1929-2010
- Gershwin, George, 1898-1937. Porgy and Bess--Posters.
Contents List
- Oversize: MC
Antwerp, Belgium: Hippodrome TheatreJune 23-30, 1955
22"x14"; Vertical; black background with yellow lettering; white squares with black lettering; white border
- Oversize: MC
Antwerp, Belgium: Hippodrome TheaterJune 23-30,1955
34"x24"; Large black background with bright yellow lettering; white squares with black lettering; white border
- Oversize: MC
Antwerp, Belgium: Hippodrome TheaterJune 23-30,1955
31"x96"; Black background with white squares and black lettering; large bright yellow lettering in the middle of "Porgy and Bess".
- Oversize: MC
Brussels, Belgium: Theatre de la MonnaieJune 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
- Oversize: MC
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Brazil Teatro MunicipalJuly 7-13,1955
60"x92"; Four pieces; bright red background with off white border and white lettering inside of it
- Oversize: MC
Prague, Czechoslovakia: Kerlin TheatreFebruary 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".
- Oversize: MC
Prague, Czechoslovakia: Kerlin TheatreFebruary 11-19,1956
42"x31"; Salmon colored fibrous paper with black charted lettering
- Oversize: MC
Arhus, Denmark: AarhushallenMay 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.
- Oversize: MC
Alexandria, Egypt: Theatre Mohamad Aly December 31,1954-January 2, 1955
69"x36"; White background; blue border with white starts; blue and red lettering
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
Cairo, Egypt: Theatre De'L Opera January 7-12,1955
11"x8"; Washed out brown background; red and black lettering; four different versions
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
Marseilles, France: Opera Municpal March 26-April 4,1955
18"x12"; Off-white background;red and blue lettering
- Oversize: MC
Marseilles, France: Opera Municpal March 26-April 4,1955
55"x36"; Large; bright purple with black lettering.
- Oversize: MC
Paris, France: Theatre De'L Empire February 16-March 1,1953
24"x16"; Green background with black and white lettering
- Oversize: MC
Paris, France: Theatre De'L Empire September 30-December 4,1954
64"x94",48"x34"; Large;green background with large black lettering
- Oversize: MC
Paris, France: Theatre De'L Empire September 30-December 4,1954
24"x16"; Vertical;dark green background with white border;large bold black lettering
- Oversize: MC
Paris, France: Theatre De'L Empire September 30-December 4,1954
59"x40",59"x37"; Green background; large black lettering
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
Frankfort,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
- Oversize: MC
Frankfort,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
- Oversize: MC
Hamburg,Germany: Opera House March 7-11,1956
23"x33"; Brick colored border surrounding off-white background; brick colored lettering
- Oversize: MC
Munich,Germany: Deutsches Theatre December 1-6,1955
48"x33"; Black and white background with large yellow, black, and white lettering
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
Stuttgart,Germany: Staats Theatre March 1-4,1956
51"x34"; Two pieces; black background with large yellow lettering in the middle
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
Florence,Italy: Teatro Comunale March 9-13,1955
27"x13"; Vertical; off-white background with red and black lettering
- Oversize: MC
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")
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
Naples, Italy: Teatro Di San Carlo February 15-17,1955
22"x13"; Bright mustard yellow background; brown border; red and brown lettering.
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
Rome, Italy: Teatro Quattro Fontane April 21-May 14,1955
55"x40",78"x54"; Bright mustard-yellow background with black and red lettering
- Oversize: MC
Rome, Italy: Teatro Quattro Fontane April 21-May 14,1955
40"x14"; Vertical; blue background with black and red lettering
- Oversize: MC
Rome, Italy: Teatro Quattro Fontane April 21-May 14,1955
40"x14"; Vertical; yellow background with black and red lettering
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
Turin, Italy: Teatro Alfieri April 9-17,1955
38"x26"; Pink and yellow illustration with black lettering
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
Venice, Italy: Teatro La Fenice September 22-25, 1954
55"x39"; Large; off-white; red and black lettering.
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
Lima, Peru: Teatro Municipal September 3-7, 1955
52"x34"; Two pieces; washed-out white background with black lettering
- Oversize: MC
Warsaw, Poland: National Opera House January 24-February 1, 1954
40"x28";White background; blue and red lettering.
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
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
- Oversize: MC
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.
- Oversize: MC
Leningrad, USSR: Palace of Culture December 26-January 5,1956
42"x28"; White background; blue and red lettering in upper half.
- Oversize: MC
Moscow, USSR: Stanilavsky Theatre January 10-17, 1956
40"x27"; White background; blue and red lettering; blue lettering in bottom half
- Oversize: MC
Zagreb, Yugoslavia: Theatre De'L Opera December 11-14, 1954
39"x28"; White background; purple and white lettering
- Oversize: MC
Zagreb, Yugoslavia: Theatre De'L Opera Dec 11-14, 1954
12"x8"; White background; red and black lettering; writing on both sides.