Porgy and Bess poster collection

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:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Porgy and Bess poster collection, Collection #C0145, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Summary

Extent:
60 posters
Creator:
Brown, Lorraine, 1929-2010
Abstract:
This collection contains posters promoting the ANTA-sponsored production of Porgy and Bess as it toured various countries, mostly European, during the 1950s.
Language:
Multiple
Preferred citation:

Porgy and Bess poster collection, Collection #C0145, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains posters promoting the ANTA-sponsored production of Porgy and Bess as it toured various countries, mostly European, during the 1950s.

22"x14"; Vertical; black background with yellow lettering; white squares with black lettering; white border

34"x24"; Large black background with bright yellow lettering; white squares with black lettering; white border

31"x96"; Black background with white squares and black lettering; large bright yellow lettering in the middle of "Porgy and Bess".

32"x24"; Black background with white squares and black lettering; off white border; large lemon yellow letters in middle; yellow square at top with black lettering

60"x92"; Four pieces; bright red background with off white border and white lettering inside of it

34"x24"; Washed out off-white background; small black lettering, larger bold red lettering; on the left side there is a square with the words "Porgy and Bess".

42"x31"; Salmon colored fibrous paper with black charted lettering

33"x25"; White background in middle with lime-green lettering and black writing;black and white photographs taken from characters and scenes of the play act as the boder.

69"x36"; White background; blue border with white starts; blue and red lettering

12"x8"; Small washed out cream-color background; black border with red and black lettering; two star illustrations on either side

11"x8"; Washed out brown background; red and black lettering; four different versions

69"x36"; White background; blue star border; blue and red lettering; Egyptian lettering at top.

18"x12"; Off-white background;red and blue lettering

55"x36"; Large; bright purple with black lettering.

24"x16"; Green background with black and white lettering

64"x94",48"x34"; Large;green background with large black lettering

24"x16"; Vertical;dark green background with white border;large bold black lettering

59"x40",59"x37"; Green background; large black lettering

23"x33"; Off-white background with blue sketch-like illustration of village; magenta and black lettering through the center

24"x34"; Lemon yellow background with orange border on the top and bottom; orange and black lettering

24"x34"; White background with black lettering; blue patch with Porgy and Bess written in yellow in the middle

24"x33"; White background with black lettering; blue patch of color in middle with "Porgy and Bess" written in bright yellow

24"x34"; Lemon yellow background; black border on sides; orange border on top and bottom; black and orange lettering

23"x33"; Brick colored border surrounding off-white background; brick colored lettering

48"x33"; Black and white background with large yellow, black, and white lettering

48"x33"; Two pieces; bright red background with bright yellow lettering reading "Porgy and Bess" across the front

51"x34"; Two pieces; black background with large yellow lettering in the middle

37"x25"; White background with blue border; red and blue lettering; bigger letters in the middle than in the rest of poster

27"x13"; Vertical; off-white background with red and black lettering

48"x33";Mustard-yellow background with black lettering;red lettering in upper half; Two purple stamp-like pictures on lower left part; tear running through title. ("Porgy and Bess")

40"x14"; Vertical; beige background with brown and red lettering;has a shield-like emblem border at the top

28"x40"; Bright yellow background; lists names in black lettering with red lettering in the upper half.

15"x11",40"x28",80"x40"; Light brown background with dark brown lettering; red cross on shield at top; decorative leafy-style border

39"x28"; Bright blue background with a yellow and green illustration of village; white border; white lettering.

52"x38, 37"x26"; Bright yellow background; black lettering; red lettering at top; very simple.

22"x13"; Bright mustard yellow background; brown border; red and brown lettering.

10"x7"; Small white playbills with red and blue lettering; writing on front and back.

55"x40",78"x54"; Bright mustard-yellow background with black and red lettering

40"x14"; Vertical; blue background with black and red lettering

40"x14"; Vertical; yellow background with black and red lettering

80"x54"; Three pieces; green and bright yellow background fading into one another; large red lettering at top; black lettering at bottom; very bright and colorful

27"x13"; Vertical; off-white pink illustration of a lady in the background; large red lettering towards top

38"x26"; Pink and yellow illustration with black lettering

40"x28"; Vibrant red background with half facial photo of Gershwin in upper right, illustration of Porgy and Bess on left; black and white lettering.

40"x14"; A number of these in the background colors of: yellow, blue-green, blue, washed-out, white, and pink; black and red lettering;vertical

55"x39"; Large; off-white; red and black lettering.

49"x33"; White border; black lettering within white squares; yellow squares with black lettering; bright yellow lettering in very middle

52"x34"; Two pieces; washed-out white background with black lettering

40"x28";White background; blue and red lettering.

50"x35"; Large; off-white with brown and red lettering; branch style border with leaves on it.

28"x14", 50"x36"; Washed-out yellow background with black and red lettering; bold red lettering in the middle.

11"x8";Washed-out white with red and black lettering; bold red lettering in the middle.

50"x36";Light green background with painted color figures of Porgy and Bess; black sketch of village behind them; blue lettering at top; black lettering throughout the rest.

20"x12"; Black border with lettering surrounding light green background; painted color figures of Porgy and Bess; black line sketch of village behind them; blue lettering at top.

20"x14"; Two shades of orange background; black and white lettering; illustration of Porgy and Bess dancing in the middle

9"x6"; Small; off-white flyer with black border; stars on sides; black writing; illustration of village in black.

42"x28"; White background; blue and red lettering in upper half.

40"x27"; White background; blue and red lettering; blue lettering in bottom half

39"x28"; White background; purple and white lettering

12"x8"; White background; red and black lettering; writing on both sides.

Biographical / historical:

Porgy and Bess was a three act "folk opera" originally produced by The Theatre Guild at the Alvin Theatre, New York City, in 1927. It was taken directly from a book by Dubose Heyward titled Porgy, with lyrics and music by Ira and George Gershwin. Robert Breen, secretary for the American National Theatre and Academy (ANTA) was instrumental in bringing federal financing to the performing arts on the American scene and promoting artistic and cultural exchanges between the U.S. and Europe. Beginning in 1949 with a U.S. tour of Hamlet throughout Europe, ANTA sponsored such projects as the American National Ballet Theatre's tour of Europe, and American participation in the Berlin Arts Festival in 1951. Porgy and Bess, which showed a different side of life in America, was one of the productions chosen to be played before European audiences in 1952. Breen directed and co-produced it with Blevins Davis. This critically acclaimed revival of Porgy and Bess toured twenty-nine countries in North and South America and Europe for four years from 1952-1956.

Acquisition information:
Collection donated by Lorraine Brown in 1995.
Processing information:

Processed by Special Collections and Archives Staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty.

Arrangement:

The posters are arranged alphabetically according to the country in which the performances were produced.

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Theatrical posters.