Lew Leslie's "BLACKBIRDS" Harriett Calloway "THREE MUSKETEERS" 1929 Program

Description

This is a rare March 18th, 1929 "Plays and Players" program from the National Tour engagement of the Distinctive and Unique Entertainment "LEW LESLIE'S BLACKBIRDS" at the Garrick Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The production opened May 9th, 1928 at New York's Liberty Theatre, later moved to the Eltinge Theatre and ran for 519 performances while simultaneously playing on the road.) ..... With an "All-Star Cast of 100 Colored Artists", the musical starred HARRIETT CALLOWAY and featured HAMTREE HARRINGTON, BEEBEE JOYNER, CLARENCE FOSTER, EMMETT ANTHONY, JESSICA ZACKERY, JOHN WORTHY and ED THOMPSON, MARMETTA NEWTON, MYRTLE WATKINS, JESSICA ZACKERY, AUNT JEMIMA STROLL, AARON PALMER, WILLIS GREEN, MAMIE SAVOY, BARRINGTON GUY, ROY YATES, ERNEST BOYD, LLOYD MITCHELL, ROY WHITE, SHERMAN ROBINSON, MARY JONES, JAMES B. ROBINSON, J. T. RICKS, IDA ROLEY, MARIE JOHNSON, RUTH ROSTON, MURIEL RAHN, JEWEL JENNIFER, HENRIETTA DUNN, GENEVA WASHINGTON, SARAH MABREY, DOROTHY YOUNG, ROSE POINDEXTER, MARION JONES, MARGARET JACKSON, ETHEL MOSES, MIDGIE LAINE, CLARICE KNAPP, VIRGINIA GROVES, JULIA MOSES, WILHELMINA WADE, LEON DIGGS, the CECIL MACK BLACKBIRD BEAUTY CHOIR and the World Famous PLANTATION ORCHESTRA ..... CREDITS: Music by JIMMY McHUGH; Lyrics by DOROTHY FIELDS; Sets designed by PREMIER SCENIC STUDIOS; Costumes designed by KIVIETTE; Choreographed by BILL "Bojangles" ROBINSON; Produced and Directed by LEW LESLIE ..... The program also includes the credits for the
Pre-Broadway engagement of the HUGH A. ANDERSON and GEORGE BAMMAN romantic adventure "THE SUICIDE CLUB" at Philadelphia's Broad Street Theatre. (The production would be retitled "Mystery Square" before opening April 4th, 1929 and close after only 44 performances.) ..... CREDITS: Book by HUGH A. ANDERSON and GEORGE BAMMAN based on "New Arabian Nights" by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON; Sets designed by CLEON THROCKMORTON; Produced and Directed by MURRAY PHILLIPS .....
The program also includes the credits for the
Post-Broadway engagement of the
RUDOLF FRIML, CLIFFORD GREY and P. G. WODEHOUSE musical "THE THREE MUSKETEERS"
at Philadelphia's Erlanger Theatre
. (The production opened March 13th, 1928 at the Lyric Theatre in New York City and ran for 318 performances before going on the road.) ..... Produced by FLORENZ ZIEGFELD, the musical starred DENNIS KING and featured VIVIENNE SEGAL, ROBERT D. BURNS, LOUIS HECTOR, ANDY JOCHIM, MADELINE EHRHART, RUTH LYONS, DETMAR POPPEN, DOUGLASS R. DUMBRILLE, JOSEPH MACAULAY, LESTER ALLEN, YVONNE D' ARLE, JOHN M. KLINE, JOHN CLARKE, REGINALD OWEN, CLARENCE DERWENT, WILLIAM KERSHAW, HARRIET HOCTOR, DAGMAR, WILLIAM HAGEN and the ALBERTINA RASCH GIRLS ..... CREDITS: Music by RUDOLF FRIML; Lyrics by CLIFFORD GREY and P. G. WODEHOUSE; Book by WILLIAM ANTHONY McGUIRE based on the novel by ALEXANDRE DUMAS; Sets designed by JOSEPH URBAN; Costumes designed by JOHN W. HARKRIDER; Ballets and Dances staged by ALBERTINA RASCH; Ensembles staged by RICHARD BOLESLAVSKY; Directed by WILLIAM ANTHONY McGUIRE; Produced by FLORENZ ZIEGFELD, Jr.
..... DETAILS: The 32 page program measures 5 3/8" X 7 5/8" inches and includes full production credits, cast lists, scenes and musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of minor edge wear, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and 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.