Charles Rodrigues playbill collection, 1879/2009

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated. (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

Preferred citation:

Charles Rodrigues playbill collection, C0184, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
18 Linear Feet 38 boxes
Creator:
Rodrigues, Charles
Abstract:
The Charles Rodrigues playbill collection consists of playbills and programs from 1879-2009. The bulk of the collection material represents plays performed on and off Broadway, but it also includes programs from theatres in Philadelphia, Boston, Connecticut, Long Island, New Jersey, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Ohio, and Chicago. This collection represents a broad cross-section of programs with plays as the main source, as well as, programs from burlesque houses, vaudeville performances, and concerts. Playbills can be important documents for researchers in that they depict the world of theatre changing over time and often provide rich information about prevailing cultural and social attitudes of the moment through articles and advertisements.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Charles Rodrigues playbill collection, C0184, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

The Charles Rodrigues playbill collection consists of playbills and programs from 1879-2009. The bulk of the collection material represents plays performed on and off Broadway, as well as theatres in Philadelphia, Boston, Connecticut, Long Island, New Jersey, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Ohio, and Chicago. This collection represents a broad cross-section of programs with plays as the main source, but it also includes programs from burlesque houses, vaudeville performances, and concerts. Playbills can be important documents for researchers in that they depict the world of theatre changing over time and often provide rich information about prevailing cultural and social attitudes of the moment through articles and advertisements.

The collection consists of three series, two of which are based on geographic location, divided by date, and then arranged alphabetically by play title. Playbills from performances prior to 1934 are included at the beginning of each series in alphabetical order by play followed by playbills that date 1934 and onward. If the name of the play was not present the name of theatre is used instead. Series one consists of fourteen subseries each including playbills and programs from theatres outside of New York City. Subseries 1.1 to 1.14 consist of programs from Austria, Boston, California, Chicago, Connecticut, Florida, London, New York State, New Jersey, Ohio, Paris, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Washington D.C. respectively. Series two consists of programs from productions performed in New York City, on and off Broadway, and in Brooklyn. Plays are listed alphabetically within each series and often one play title represents more than one playbill. Many of the playbills have ticket stubs attached to the front cover or loose inside. Newspaper clippings relating to the play also accompany some of the programs. The final series includes programs from films, music scores, theatre advertisement mailings, and ticket stubs. Within this series music scores are listed first in alphabetical order followed by film programs and then mailings from theatres, newspaper and magazine clippings, pamphlets and advertisements, show announcements, and assorted ticket stubs.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Rodrigues was an avid theatre enthusiast who amassed a large collection of playbills and programs by attending shows, purchasing programs at yard sales and thrift stores, trading with other collectors, and inheriting collections from friends. Rodrigues began collecting playbills at performances he attended on and off Broadway in 1961. He would also attend performances around the United States and abroad and collect playbills from these shows. One sizable addition came from Richard W. Rowan who also collected playbills from shows he attended. Many of these playbills date from World War I to the 1930s. The oldest part of the Rodrigues collection dates to the late 19th century and is from a movie theatre that used the playbills as cushioning between the older vaudeville stage and the newer movie theatre stage.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Phil Rodrigues, brother of Charles Rodrigues, October 21, 2010.
Processing information:

Processed by Greta Kuriger in 2011. EAD markup completed by Greta Kuriger in 2011. Finding aid updated by Amanda Menjivar in April 2022.

Arrangement:

Arranged into three series, two of which are based on location, and a final series for film programs, music scores, ticket stubs, and advertisements.

Series
  1. Series 1: Outside New York City, 1879-2009 (boxes 1-5, 37)
  2. Series 2: New York City, 1885-2009 (boxes 6-34, 37-38)
  3. Series 3: Film Programs, music scores, and ticket stubs, 1909-2009 (boxes 34-38)
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard