NEWSLETTER OF THE THEATRE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 4 SPRING 1975 NEW SERIES

AMERICAN POPULAR HARVARD THEATRE TLA TO MEET WITH ALA ENTERTAINMENT CONFERENCE COLLECTION MOVING TO IN SAN FRANCISCO NEW QUARTERS The Theatre Library Association Theatre Collections in the Bay and the American Society for Theatre On 15 April 1975 the Harvard Area is the theme of this year's Research are formulating plans for a The atre C olleaion will suspend the TL A Summer meeting held in con- Conference on the History of American reading room, photographic and mail junction with the annual A L A Con- Popular Entertainment to be held in reference services for a number of ference in San Francisco on Thurs- the fall of 1977 at ~inwlnGnta for the months. : The staff will devote full day, July 3d. The day's activities Performing Arts in conjunction with time to the final stages of the mas- will begin at eleven am. with tours the annual ASTR meeting. The pro- sive reorganization and packing re- of San Francisco's War Memorid ject will center around long neglected quired to move the entire Theatre Opera House and the Paramount aspects of theatrical performance Collection to new quarters now under Theatre in Oakland. Tickets for both which are currently generating much construction. The actual shifting is tours are limited to 75 each and may interest among theatre students and expected to take place over the fall be purchased for one dollar each and winter months. Miss Jeanne T. scholars. Some indication of that in- from Hobart F. Berolzheimer, Free Newlin, ,Curator, expresses regret for terest is suggested by last year's Library of Philadelphia, Logan this temporary inconvenience to conference on popular entertainment Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania readers and researchers. at the University of Manchester, 19103. England and by recent issues of The afternoon program will consist Theatre Quarterly, Journal of Popular of a panel discussion in the Lurie Culture, The Drama Review and Edu- Roan of the San Francisco Public cational Theatre Journal devoted to Library chaired by Norman Philbrick the discussion of theatre as a popular art form. on he Philbrick Library with opening remarks by Kevin Starr, Librarian of The term "popular entertainment" NEW APPOINTMENTS the San Francisco Public Library. is difficult to define. Throughout Panelists scheduled to appear are history popular forms have appeared, Grenville Cuyler, Assistant Cura- merged, and disappeared, almost un- tor of the Theatre and Music Collec- Robert Sarlos on the University of California at Davis Theatre Collec- noticed by scholars and historians, tion of the Museum of the City of tion; Dunbar Ogden and/or Lesiie so that it has become difficult to New York, has accepted an offer to Clarke on Theatre Materials at the sort out individual forms and to head the drama and theatre activities University of California, Berkeley, trace the relationship of one to an- at Concord Academy in Concord, Samuel Stark on the Stark Index in other. But a basic definition is at Massachusetts this fall. The coed least possible. Traditional popular college preparatory school has just the Stanford University Theatre Col- entertainments consist simply of live completed and fully equipped a new lection; and Celeste Ashley on recent acquisitions in the Stmford amusements aimed at a broad, rela- 400-seat theatre. tively "unsophisticatedw audience. Ted Perry assumes his new posi- Theatre Collection. Unlike folk forms, to which they are tion as Director of the Department of Following the panel program and related, popular entertainments are Film at The Museum of Modern Art discussion period a representative created not by amateurs, but for profit July 1st. Mr. Perry, Professor and from the Am e r i c an Conservatory by professional showmen. Typical Chairman of the Department of Theatre (ACT) will inform members examples of traditional popular en- Cinema Studies, School of the Arts/ and guests of ACTS procluctians, tertainments from various periods Graduate School of Arts and Sciences plans and activities, and Steve in c 1 u d e the circus, cornmedia at New York Universify since 1971, Baffrey of KRON-'A7 will spak on dell'arte, vaudeville, pantomimes, the succeeds Willard Van Dyke. The new the current theatrical scene in SUI b u r 1e s qu e show, Grand Guignol, director is editor of TLA's Perform- Francisco. A champagne reception Continued on page 3) ing Arts Reaowcea just off the press. will conclude the day's events. GEORGE FREEDLEY MEMORIAL WORKS IN PROGRESS GRANDMOTHER TYLER'S BOOK AND THEATRE LIBRARY BYNNER, Witter (Author, Poet and ASSOCIATION AWARDS A memoir written by Mrs. Royall Playwright, 1881-1968) James Kraft, Tyler in Brattleboro, Vermont between Winner of the 1974 George Freed- Executive Editor, The Witter Bynner 1858 and 1863 and the last known ley Memorial Award is Robert C. Foundation, Inc., 2816 0 Street, N.W., privately owned Royall Tyler item, Toll for his Blacking Up: the Min- Washington, D. C. 20007 was donated to the Vermont Histori- strel Show in Nineteenth-century JEWISH THEATRE (World History cal Society by William Royall Tyler America (Oxford University Press). with Emphasis on the Yiddish Stage ) in January 1974. The ceremony oc- Honorable mentipn goes to John F. Book. Professor Herbert Marshall, curred in Mr. Tyler's office at the Wharton for his Life Among the Play- Center for Soviet and East European wrights: Being Mostly the Sto Research, Southern Illinois Univer- Dumbarton Oaks Research Library The Playwrights Producing Comp"a: ny sity, Carbondale 62301 and Collection, located in Washing- ton, D. C. Inc. (Qu adr ang 1 e/The, New , York OAKES, James (Theatre Critic, Times Book Company). Established c1820-1878. Pen name: Acorn) Mr. Tyler, Director of Dumbarton in 1968 by the Theatre Library Asso- Thesis. Eric R. Marshall (UCLA) Oaks, was Assistant Secretary of ciation the George Freedley Award 5021 Oakdale Avenue, Woodland State for European Affairs, 1962- is made annually to that book on the Hills, California 91364 1965 and U. S. Ambassador to the live theatre which best demonstrates OSBORNE AND AFTER (Bibliog- Netherlands, 1965-1969. He is the outstaking scholarship, readability raphy of Works By and About and a great-great-grandson of Mary Palmer and contribution to knowledge during List of Production Data on Nineteen Tyler, who married Royall Tyler in the preceding year. Contemporary British Playwrights) 1794 and was widowed from him in ne Theatre Library Association Dr. Letitia Dace, Associate Profes- 1826. Mrs. Tyler wrote her memoir Award for the outstanding, book deal- sor of Speech, Drama and English, for her children and grandchildren. ing with recorded performance in- John Jay College of Criminal Justice, She delved into her own family his- cluding motion pictures and tele- The City University of New York, tory back to the mid-18th century vision was presented to Gerald S. 444 West 56 Street, New York, N.Y. and concluded with the War of 1812. Lesser for his Children and Tele- 10019 Ambassador Tyler donated this vision: Lessons from Sesame Street STREET MAGICIANS. Book. Ed- memoir to the Vermont Historical ward B. Claflin, 64 West 85 Street, (Random House). The TLA Award Society because it is the major de- New York, N. Y. 10024 was first given in 1974. pository for Royall Tyler manu- The presentation awards were VAUDEVILLE (Dramatic History) Book. Mari Lyn Henry, 115 West scripts. The Royall Tyler Collection made at a cocktzil reception May 2d was a gift to the Society from Miss at The Walter Hampden Memorial 71 Street, New York, N. Y. 10023 Helen Tyler Brown, great-grand- Library at The Players. Members and daughter of the playwright, poet and guests present included former award winner Louis Sheaffer; drama essayist. critics John Beaufort of The Christian A jurist as well as a literary fig- Science Monitor and Hobe Morrison ure, Royall Tyler is best remem- of Variety; Rosamond . Gilder and bered as the author of The Contrast author Robert Kimball. (1887), the first comedy to be written by a native American and profession - GALE INFORMATION ally staged in this country. Grand- mother Tyler's Book is the name GUIDE LIBRARY FOR THE ASKING given to Mrs. Tyler's manuscript PLUS POSTAGE Richard Stoddard has signed to because a volume bearing. that title --- compile a bibliography entitled Stage was edited by Frederick Tupper and In appreciation for the "valued Scenery, Machinery and Lighting; a Helen Tyler Brown and published in services of TL A" Dr. Joseph Mer- Guide to Information Sources as part 1925 by G. P. Putnam's Sons. That sand is making available to members of the "Gale Information Guide Li- volume revised the sequence of some of the Theatre Library Association brary" series published by Gale of Mrs. Tyler's reminiscences and for the asking his Index to Plays Research Company of Detroit. The omitted others. The original is now S with ug g e s tio n s for Teaching bibliography will include source ma- available for research in the library (Scarecrow Press, 1966). To receive terials on Medieval Europe, Renais- of the Vermont Historical Society. a complimentary copy write Dr. sance and Baroque, the 19th and Mersand at the Department ofTeacher 20th-centuries as well as general Preparation, York College of CUNY, histories and manuals of contem- CHAMBERLAIN BROWN 150-14- Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, porary practice in staging and light- COLLECTION N. Y. 11432. Each request must be ing methods. Mr. Stoddard was for- accompanied by a self-addressed merly with the Department of Drama Offers are still open for the pur- @/ix 9% oak tag clasped envelope and Theatre at the University of chase of the "William Kranz Theatri- complete with eighteen cents (184) Georgia in Athens. cal Scrap Book Memorabilia Collec- postage. The first volume in the perform- tion of Chamberlain Brown" as de- A reprint of Dr. Mersand's article ing arts series, Performing Arts scribed in the Summa 1974 Broad- 'Contemporary Plays for the Eng- Research: a Guide jo Library Use, by side. Particulars may be obtained lish Classroomw is also available Marion K. Whalon, is slated to appear from Alan C. Gershwin, Gershwin upon request accompanied by a 7 x 10 by the end of the year. Louis A. Associates, P. 0. Box 623, Radio clasped self-addressed envelope Rachow is Series Editor of the City. Station, New York, N. Y. plus ten cents (104) postqge. bibliographic project. 10019. AMERICAN POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTCONFERENCE PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED (Continued from pqe 1) Brecht, B ertolt. Collected Plays. popular melodtama and farce, the Vol. 7. Ed. by Ralph Manheim and traveling carniaal, the minstrel show, John Willett. (The Visions of Simone the amusement park, blackface min - Machard, Schweyk in the Second strelsy, the dime museum and the World War, The Caucasian Chalk medicine show. There are dozens of Circle, the Duchess of Malfi) N. Y. : otha less well-known forms. Today, Random House, 1974 $1 5 many of these traditional popular forms have been absorbed into or re- Cole, David. The Theatrical Event: placed by radio, films and television, a Mythos, a Vocabulary. a Perspec- the media of contemporary mass tive. Middletown, Gnu. :. Weskyan culture. University Press, 1975. f 10 Although there is much overlapping, Edson, Russell. The Falling Sick- it is possible to divide popular en- ness: a Book of Plays. N.Y.: New tertainments into three categories: Directions, 1975. $7.95; pap. $3.75 the variety entertainment, popular Halporn, Louisa. The Benefit Per- theatre and the entcrtBnment en- formance and Other ,Stories of the vironment. Variety entertainments Yiddish Theater. N.Y.: Bloch Pub. are basically collections of inde- Co., 1974. pap. $1.50 pendent acts, such as circus, bur- lesque shows, minstrel shows, Wild Hartnoll, Phyllis. Who's Who in West shows and vaudeville. As Show. N. Y.: Taplinger Pub. Co., Michael Kirby has pointed out, variety 1975. $8.95 entertainments, like Happenings, are fantasy and absurdity are accepted Helbling, Robert E. The Major compartmented - that is, they are as commonplace to an extentunknown Works of Heinrich von Kleist. N. Y.: made up of separate acts or "com- on the regular stage. New Directions, 1975. $13.50; pap. partments" with no transfer of in- A final category i s the entertain- $3.7 5 formation from one to another. Thus, ment environment. Basically, these King, Phil. The Play's the Thing. on a vaudeville bill, a comedy sketch may be divided into two major types: N. Y.: Carlton Press, 1975. $4 might be followed by an acrobatic those that redefine for a short time Medoff, Mark. When You Comin act, which is in turn followed by a an already existing area - such as Back, Red Ryder? Clifton, N. J.: song-and-dance routine. We do not a street fair - and those that con- James T. White Pub., 1974. $6.95; need to see the comedy sketch, how- stitute a temporary or permanent self- Pap. $3.95 ever, in order to understand the per- contained environment such as the - Moore, Edward J. The Sea Horse: formance of the acrobat or the song- "glass houses" and "dark ridesw at a Play. Clifton, N. J.: James T. and-dance routine. These compart- carnivals. More complex self-con- ments may be sequential, as in the tained environments include the White Pub. Co., 1975. $6.95; pap. vmdeville bill mentioned above, or traveling carnival and the amusement $3.95 they may even be simultaneous - as park. Such environments are made up Newton, Stella Mary. Renaissance in the American three-ring circus, of i ndependently housed attractions, Theatre Costume and the Sense of in which focus shifts from one ring including rides, food stan&- and a the Historic Past. N. Y.: Theatre to another, sometimes encompassing mixture of booths that usually con- Arts Books, 1975. $29.95 action in two or three rings at the tain simple shows and other enter- Southern, Richard. The Medieval same time. tainments. All these attractions T heatre in the Round. Rev. and ex- operate simultaneously, with the panded ed. N.Y.: Theatre Arts Books, "Popular theatrew includes ten- spectator creating his own organiza- 1975. $ 16.95 twenty-thirty m e 1o dram a, Grand tion by his personal choice, in a Viesel, Elie. Zalmen, or the Mad- Guignol, Toby Shows, Tom Shows, specific order, of particular rides, fairbooth plays, commedia dell'arte, ness of God. Adapt4 for the stage staads and booths. The *&ape of by Marion Viesel. N. Y.: Random vaudeville and burlesque sketches the event" for the spectator is the House, 1974. $6.95 and the sort of spectacle dramasonce result of the way in which he com- performed at amusements parks. All bines different elements from the Williams, Tennessee. ,Cat on a Hot of these draw from the tradition of environment. Tin Roof. (American Shakespeare legitimate theatre to one extent or The conference - the first of its Theatre Production) N. Y. :: New Di- another. However, they possess few kind in America - will focus on many rections, 1975. $7.50; pap. $2.45 of the artistic and intellectual pre- of these aspects of popular enter- tensions common to the regular stage. tainment through a combination of - Subtlety and conventional good taste papers, demonstrations and films, as The Editor respectfully requests are usually secondary to action, well as a number of exhibits mounted fantasy and physicality. The script hat publishers send all review by tbe Lincoln Center Libkary and of a popular theatre piece is often copies of heir respective publica- Museum of the Performing Arts. little more than a scenario or frame- tions to Mr. Louis A. Racbow, The (Portions of this article appeared work for improvisation, comic busi- Valter Hampdea Memorid Library, originally in The Drama Review, ness and spectacular effects. 16 Grsmercy Park, New York, N. Y. Ultipately, as Ralph Allen has sug- ~-61,and are reproduced here with 10003. Thank you. gested about burlesque sketches, the permi ssion) - Brooks McNomora result is alogicd - a play in which PUBLICATIONS OF NOTE The National Directory for the Voices of the Black Theatre, by Performing Arts and Civic Centers. Loften Mitchell. Clifton, N. J.: James Adaptable Stage Costume for 1975 ed. Dallas: Handel & Co., 1975. T. White & Co., 1975. 238p. pors. Women, by Elizabeth Russell. , New 972~.$35. The National Directory for index. $1 2.50 Yo*: Theatre Arts Books, 1974. the Performing Atfts/Educational. Playwright Loften Mitchell has 94p. illus. $10.75 1975 ed. Dallas: Handel & Co., 1975. garnered a series of conversations Putting to use her experience as 821p. $40. (Exclusive distributors for with Eddie Hunter, Regina Andrews, a student in two Paris couturier kth volumes: The Baker & Taylor Dick Campbell, Abram Hill, Frederick houses and as a professional theatri- Companies, Dept. 1000, Drawer 2, O'Neal, Vinnette Carroll and Ruby cal costumer. British E 1i z a b e t h '~omence,Ill. 609 548 Dee to create a forceful and impres- Russell rereds how a company can The precedent that was set with sionistic portrait of the black ex- have a versatile and economical the publicatipa of the first National perience in the American theatre. To repertoire of costume changes pri- DireEtory for the Ptrforming Arts and support the voices of these artists marily upon a basic dress and bodice Civic Centers had been topped only he has provided biographical com- design. A variety of period sleeves, by the 'appearance of the revised and mentaries and explanatory notes ruffs, collars, fissues, aprons and expanded 1975 edition and an entirely including a reprint of his touching bustles can msform the basic dress new comp,anion tolume centered on tribute to Paul Robeson. Ossie Davis, from something correct to the eye of perfoni~in~arts opportunities and in a brief forward, calls the book a Henry VIII into number that nould facilities in l ducational institutions "a treasury, a precious repository, do in the time of George 111 or any of throughout the country. Over 8,000 a catalogue of our common gifts and the three Victorian eras. The author organizations and facilities in all talents". A handsome full-page photo- suppons hadirections with practical fifty states are listed alphabetically, graph of each contributor enhances hints as to materials (plastic table state by state, by city under the state the book which must be considered cloths are first-rate for ruffs, easy to and by category. Specific facilities an important contribution to the pleat,, clean and buy at a rummage; for performing arts are cited by name, literature and study of the Black sheeting and bedspreads suit many

qddress + and phone number along the atre. needq newspapers at skirt hems pro - with information on date built, vide a convincing silken rustle); and architect, seating capacity, rentals as to the effect of stage lighting on and facility management. Information colors of cloth. Cutting instructions on performing arts groups and spon- are shown on graph paper designs. soring organizations includes date THEATRE ANNUAL Though very British in terminology of founding, officers, category this manual translates readily for Theatre Annual, originally pub- (theatre, dance, vocal and instru- lished by the Theatre Library Asso- American convenience and is a handy ment a1 wueic, performing series), reference to learn differences in ciation, is alive and well and living season, bdgets, purpose of organi- in Rome - and Ohio! Edited and periods. zation, use of guest artists and ad- ---Sarah Chokla Gross, formerly copyrighted by John V. Falconieri ministrative staff. A list of current (John Cabot International College, Editor of BROADSIDE Broadway producers has been added Viale Pola, 12 - 00198 Rome, Italy) to this edition. the 1974 edition (Vol. XXX) is just The new Educational directory off the press with the following in- Creative Intention: about Audio- lists approximately 2,000 institutions visual Communication from Holly- with entries for over 5,000 separate formative articles: "The Theme of wood to John Doe, by Ben R. Parker schools with training in the perform- Reincarnation i n Yeats's Purgatoryn and Patricia Drabik. New York: Law- ing arts. It details all accredited by Uma Bhowani-Sethi and Lewis T. Arts Publishers, 1974. 292p. bibliog. schools for special training including Cetta; "Yeats as the Grand Inquisitor index. $14.50 high schools of performing arts, in Calvary" by S. Hirshberg; "Arche- At the outset the +thprs define clown schools, schools of country typal Patterns in Oedipus the King, "creative intention" as "the purpose- and western music, of electronic Oedipus at Colonus, and King Learn ful planning of the elements of story music, sacred music, of mime and by C. Himiak Rakowsky; "Identity and techniques of production to con- many others. The entries are organ- and Action in the Revolutionary vey the creative- individual's own ized by state and include names, Worlds of The Balcony and of Marat/ interpretation to an audience" and address-es, degrees, financial assis- Sade" by Norman A. Rasulis; "Mary then proceed to define "the ways by tance, workshops and festivals, Anderson's Stratford Production of which an audience of the audio- speci a1 technical training and num- As YOULike Itm by John Shaw; 'Some visual media discovers the creative bers of students and faculty. The Outstanding Events: Festivals 1974" intent of the originator and inter- volume contains three indices: city/ by Richard Sogliuzzo. preter through what it sees, hears . state, categorical and alphabetical. Copies are available for two dollars and feels". Film making dilettantes The unique combination of both from THEATRE ANNUAL, Depart- and collections devoted to film pro- directories makes for an even more ment of Theatre Arts, Hiram College, duction technique materials will find indispensable work of reference than Hiram, Ohio 44234. Permanent sub- it of use and interest. hitherto realized or imagined. scriptions are encouraged.

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