Series I. New York Theatre, 1924-1993, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Three photographers and studios are represented in the series: Florence Vandamm, of Vandamm Studio (in operation in New York from 1924 to 1964), has been posited as the "inventor" of the commercial head shot and noted for her use of lighting, costume and movement.
Leo Friedman and Joseph Abeles commenced their publicity photography parternship Friedman-Abeles in 1954 and produced documented the New York theatrical world using their handheld Rolleiflex camera.
Martha Swope, of Swope Associates, was a former dancer who also began her photographic career in the 1950s and, like Friedman-Abeles, shot backstage activities and the rehearsal process for publicity and documentary purposes.
Most productions depicted in the collection are from Broadway, though some national tours, international troupes such as France's Theatre National Populaire, and off-Broadway programming such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival appear. The collection documents the original runs of iconic musicals My Fair Lady, A Little Night Music, A Chorus Line, Oklahoma!, 1776, and Cats (the title most substantially represented in the collection), in addition to new plays, revivals, and multiple iterations of productions such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana. Notable subjects include theatre stalwarts such as Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt (in Quadrille) and a young Robert De Niro (in Last Stand, with Diane Ladd, and later Cuba and His Teddy Bear).
There are also portraits of Judy Holliday, Helen Hayes, and others, and a small selection of Swope's ballet and dance photography, including the New York City Ballet and its star ballerina Patricia McBride. Additionally, this series contains a small number of Playbill programs, press kit materials, clippings, and ticket stubs.
Friedman-Abeles Studio, 1955-1972, inclusive
Theatrical Productions: A-B, 1956-1963, inclusive
Scope and Contents
At the Drop of a Hat (1959);
The Bad Seed (1956);
Bells are Ringing (1957);
Beyond the Fringe (1963);
Bye Bye Birdie (1962);
The Boy Friend (1957)
Theatrical Productions: C, 1955-1963, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Can Can (1956);
Carnival (1962);
A Case of Libel (1963);
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955-56);
Catch a Star (1955);
Theatrical Productions: A Far Country, 1961
Theatrical Productions: E-L, 1957-1963, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Eugenia (1957);
A Far Country (1962);
Five Finger Exercise (1960);
Funny Girl (1963);
The Happiest Millionaire (1958);
Lil Abner (1957);
Theatrical Productions: Last of the Red Hot Lovers, 1970
Theatrical Productions: M, 1957-1972, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Major Barbara (1957);
A Man for All Seasons (1963);
Mary, Mary (1962);
Much Ado About Nothing (1972);
Music Man (1960);
My Fair Lady (1957);
Theatrical Productions: N-O, 1962-1971, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
No Time For Sergeants;
Never Too Late (1964);
No No Nannette (1971);
Night of the Iguana (1962);
The Odd Couple (1967)
Theatrical Productions: S-Z, 1957-1963, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Strange Interlude (1963);
Song of the Grasshopper;
Sunrise at Campobello (1958);
Tchin-Tchin (1962);
Zeigfield Follies (1957)
Theatrical Productions: Unidentified, undated, inclusive
Martha Swope Studio, 1952-1993, inclusive
Theatrical Productions: A, 1977-1993, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Ain't Misbehaving;
Anna Christie (1993);
Annie (1977);
Theatrical Productions: C, 1970-1986, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Castro Complex (1970);
A Chorus Line (1979);
Cuba and His Teddy Bear (1986)
Theatrical Productions: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1974, inclusive
Theatrical Productions: Cats, 1982, inclusive
Theatrical Productions: D-F, 1970-1990, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Dancin' (1983);
Dreyfus in Rehearsal (1974);
Endangered Species (1990);
Forty Carats (1970)
Theatrical Productions: G-L, 1970-1991, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The Good Doctor;
Good Evening;
Hair (1971, 1991);
Henry V (1984);
Irene (1973);
Last Stand (1970);
A Little Night Music (1973);
Theatrical Productions: M-N, 1974-1985, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Man and Superman;
Mary Tudor;
A Map of the World (1985);
A Moon for the Misbegotten (1974);
Monty Python;
Night of the Iguana (1976)
Theatrical Productions: O-Z, 1952-1990, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Oh, Kay! (1990);
On Your Toes (1983);
Pirates of Penzance (1981);
Rainbow (1972);
Suggs in the City (1972);
Venus Observed (1952);
1776 (1969)
Dance Productions: A-Z, 1978, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Don Quixote;
An Evening's Waltzes;
Prodigal Son;
Skater's Waltz [ice dancing];
A Sketch Book (1978);
Tricolore;
Trio [ice dancing];
Dance Portraits: A-Z, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
John Curry;
Patricia McBride;
Kathleen Moore;
Jimmy Tate;
Unidentified
Vandamm Studio, 1924-1959, inclusive
Theatrical Productions: A-B, 1926-1952, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Affairs of State (1951);
Amphitryon 38;
Angel in the Wings;
Arms and The Man (1926);
Bernadine (1952);
Biography;
Blithe Spirit (1944);
Boys and Girls Together (1940);
Theatrical Productions: C-D, 1933-1959, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Champagne Supper (1933);
The Comic Artist (1933);
The Constant Wife (1952);
Curtains Up (1959);
The Dark Tower (1933);
A Date with April (1953);
The Distaff Side (1934);
The Doctors Dilemma (1955);
Duel of Angels;
Theatrical Productions: A Clearing in the Woods, 1957
Theatrical Productions: The Dark is Light Enough, 1955
Theatrical Productions: E-G, 1926-1958, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
End Summer (1936);
Faithfully Yours;
The Farmer Takes a Wife (1935);
The Farmer's Wife;
The Firstborn (1958);
The Great Sebastians;
The Guardsman (1926);
Theatrical Productions: The Good Fairy, 1932
Theatrical Productions H-J, 1937-1957, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Hear That Trumpet;
Horses in Midstream (1953);
Idiot's Delight (1937);
The Importance of Being Earnest;
Interlock;
Janus (1957)
Theatrical Productions: L-O, 1932-1951, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The Late Christopher Bean (1932);
Leaf and Bough;
Life With Mother;
Lovers and Friends;
The Man with Blond Hair (1941);
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941);
Mary of Scotland;
Merrily We Roll Along;
The Middle Watch;
The Moon is Blue (1951);
My Name is Aquilon;
Olympia;
Theatrical Productions: The Little Hut, 1953
Theatrical Productions: Lo and Behold, 1951
Theatrical Productions: Oklahoma!, 1951-1954
Theatrical Productions: One Bright Day, 1952
Theatrical Productions: P-S, 1931-1954, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Parade;
The Play's the Thing;
Porgy;
Precedent (1931);
Rosalinda (1942);
Sabrina Flat (1953);
Showboat (1947);
Sing and Whistle (1934);
Sing Me No Lullaby (1954);
The Searching Wind (1944);
Set to Music;
Small Miracle (1935);
Spring Again;
Springtime for Henry (1932);
Star and Garter;
The Star Wagon (1938);
Storm Over Patsy (1937)
Theatrical Productions: Petticoat Influence, 1930, inclusive
Theatrical Productions: Quadrille, 1955
Theatrical Productions: T-Z, 1924-1948, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The Taming of the Shrew (1935);
There's Always Juliet;
They Knew What They Wanted (1924);
Three and One (1933);
Three Men On a Horse;
Time Remembered;
Tomorrow and Tomorrow (1931);
Washington Jitters;
Watch on the Rhine (1941);
The Winter's Tale (1945);
Whistling in the Dark (1932);
You Never Can Tell (1948);
You Touched Me!
The Third Little Show;
This Time Tomorrow;
Theatrical Productions: The Time of the Cuckoo, 1952
Theatrical Productions: Twilight Walk, 1951
Theatrical Productions: The Wisteria Trees, 1950
Theatrical Portraits: A-Z, 1931-1947, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Holbrook Blinn;
Kitty Carlisle;
Ina Claire;
Betty Compton;
Peggy Conklin;
Joe Cook;
Constance Cummings;
Ruth Draper;
Clare Eames;
Lynn Fontanne;
Rose Franken;
Ruth Gordon;
Helen Hayes;
Judy Holliday;
Sam Jaffe;
Nancy Kelly;
Earle Larimore;
Pauline Lord;
William Lynn;
Hugh Marlowe;
Burgess Meredith;
Gaby Monet;
Victor Moore;
Reginald Owen;
Mary Phillips;
Barbara Robbins;
June Walker;
Nydia Westman;
Bretaigne Windust;