Original 1902 American Playhouse Poster

About the Item

This was an estate find and part of a beautiful collection of rare excellent turn of the century posters. They were hidden away for over a 100 years. About the poster: You'd think that a play called 'The New Baby' might feature said child in its promotional material. But here's the thing, there really isn't a baby at the center of the comedy, and that's the crux of this entertainment. The plot concerns a husband who is so bored with country life that he dreams up the idea of having an illegitimate son in London as a way to get into town for an occasional 'night off'. When his wife decides that the child should be adopted, the expected comic tissue of falsehoods and misunderstandings frays and hilarity ensues. Adapted from German by A. Bourchier, the farce opened in London in 1896 to what a local critic termed 'much mirth'. Several years later, when the play had crossed the Atlantic and entered the repertory of David de Wolf - cleverly called the Baby's 'chaperone' on the poster - and his troupe of travelling players, that understated review was translated into the more American howling success'. The cast and director would've been totally unfamiliar with the British hinterlands, so this splendid design concentrates on the hi-jinks of the characters and their situation.' At the start of the 20th century, America was in the full glory of its cultural adolescence, bursting with energy and optimism. In 1900 in New York there were 33 legitimate Broadway theatres, and many more would be built within the next decade to meet growing audience demand. New York's exploding population was also enjoying increased mobility. In 1904, the city opened its first underground commuter railroad lines. Thanks to these 'subways,' tens of thousands living far from the theatre district could catch a Broadway show and still sleep in their own beds. Add in the ever-increasing numbers of tourists who came into the city by rail and steamship, and it was easy to see why Broadway could now support more productions and longer runs than ever before.' We believe this magnificent and awe inspiring poster typifies the best of musical history and musical posters. Printed by the Russell & Morgan company, this ginormous (a very technical term) poster for what we think was a musical revue is a masterpiece, look at the golf bags! – In excellent condition and full of color! The striking graphics and of illustrated art and quality of the stone litho make this impressive poster a real standout.

Attributed to:

U.S. Litho Company (Manufacturer)

Dimensions:

Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Width: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)

Style:

Art Nouveau (In the Style Of)

Materials and Techniques:

Paper

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

Early 20th Century