Mr. and Mrs. Coburn "THE BETTER 'OLE" Bruce Bairnsfather 1919 Newark Program

Description: This is a rare December 15th, 1919 program (playbill) from the one-week, Post-Broadway engagement of the Captain BRUCE BAIRNSFATHER and Captain ARTHUR ELIOT musical comedy extravaganza "THE BETTER 'OLE" (or "The Romance of Old Bill") at the Broad Street Theatre in Newark, New Jersey. (The American Premiere engagement opened October 19th, 1918 at New York's Greenwich Village Theatre where it played the first month before transferring on November 18th, 1918 to New York's Cort Theatre. The production later moved to the Booth Theatre on June 16th, 1919 and took a three-week hiatus from August 21st, 1919 before returning on September 8th, 1919 to the Booth Theatre, running for a combined 353 performances while simultaneously playing on the road.) ..... The musical starred Mr. CHARLES COBURN as "Old Bill" and Mrs. COBURN as "Victoire" and the cast included NEVIN CLARK, Miss GWEN LEWIS, CHARLES McNAUGHTON, COLIN CAMPBELL, MIss JUDITH WOOD, FRED FORREST, LARK TAYLOR, Miss MONA DESMOND, ROBERT RAYMOND, Miss ANNA BAKER, Miss LILLIAN SANGER, Miss MARJORIE BROWN, Miss ZOE DEAN, Miss LUCILLE HAMMILL, Miss RUTH URBAN, Miss FRANKIE SAVAGE, Miss HELEN TILDEN, LYNN STARLING, GUSTAVE PITTELAUD, Miss KENYON BISHOP and TRACY BARRON ..... Historical note: The Better 'Ole, also called The Romance of Old Bill, is an Edwardian Musical Comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliot, based on the cartoon character "Old Bill", and infantryman, drawn by Bairnsfather. On August 4th, 1917, The Better 'Ole opened in London at the Oxford Music Hall, where it ran for 811 performances, starring Arthur Bourchier as "Old Bill". After the success of the London production was apparent, producer Charles B. Cochran mounted a Provincial touring company led by Martin Adeson as "Old Bill". It later also ran successfully on Broadway, where Charles Coburn starred as "Old Bill" opposite his wife; the couple are also credited as the producers of the Broadway production. The production premiered at New York's Greenwich Village Theatre and played three different theaters from October 19th, 1918 to October 4th, 1919, lasting 353 performances. By 1919, five productions of the "smashing success" were running in North America (including the New York premiere). Besides Coburn in New York, these productions starred De Wolf Hopper, Maclyn Arbuckle, Edmund Gurney and James K. Hackett as "Old Bill" in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and Canada, respectively. (Wikipedia) ..... CREDITS: Book by Captain BRUCE BAIRNSFATHER and Captain ARTHUR ELLIOT; Music composed by HERMAN DAREWSKI and PERCIVAL KNIGHT; Lyrics by PERCIVAL KNIGHT and JAMES HEARD; Orchestra conducted by ELLIOTT SCHENCK; Sets designed by ERNEST ALBERT; Costumes designed by MADAME BROICH; Choreographed by Mlle. LILY LENORA; Staged by PERCIVAL KNIGHT; Produced by Mr. and Mrs. COBURN by arrangement withh CHARLES B. COCHRAN of London ..... DETAILS: The sixteen page program measures 5 3/4" X 9" inches and includes production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: (Please Note!) The date and a name are written at the top of the front cover, there is a small tear in the outside edge, a light vertical fold, minor creasing at the corners and moderate edge wear. Despite these flaws, this rare program will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.

Price: 47.99 USD

Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon

End Time: 2025-01-08T02:01:00.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.95 USD