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Porgy and Bess poster collection, C0145, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Collection donated by Lorraine Brown in 1995.
Processed by Special Collections Research Center Staff. EAD markup completed in February 2009 by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty. Finding aid updated by Amanda Brent in April 2020.
Reprocessed by Amanda Brent from October 2021 - February 2022. Finding aid completed by Amanda Brent in February 2022. Inventory updated September 2023.
"Porgy and Bess" is a 1934 American "folk opera" by George and Ira Gershwin, based on the play "Porgy" by Dorothy Heyward, which was itself an adaptation of the novel "Porgy and Bess" by DuBose Heyward. The opera tells the story of Porgy, a disabled Black man living in Catfish Row, a slum of Charleston, South Carolina. Porgy encounters Bess, a Black woman wishing to escape an abusive relationship with her lover, Crown, and her drug dealer, Sportin' Life. The two eventually begin living together and fall in love, with many consequences ensuing. "Porgy and Bess" is considered a classic of American opera and is performed to this day.
From its premiere, "Porgy and Bess" was controversial, mostly for the story's treatment of Black characters and perpetuating racial stereotypes. It was overall a commercial failure and met with little critical success. In 1942 a Broadway revival brought it back to the American public's attention, and the opera begin to receive success, which cemented it as a cultural touchstone. Eventually a large European tour was undertaken by Robert Breen and Blevins Davis of ANTA, which lasted from 1952 - 1956, to monumental success. The tour visited 89 cities and 29 countries. The opera's performance in the Soviet Union was considered the first cultural exchange post-World War II between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The production eventually toured the United States, also to great success.
Content warning: Racist imagery. This collection contains posters promoting the ANTA-sponsored production of "Porgy and Bess" as it toured various countries, mostly European, during the mid-1950s. It also includes poster mock-ups, drawings, and art related to the production.
The Special Collections Research Center also holds the
The New York Public Library, Archives and Manuscripts Division holds the
The posters are arranged alphabetically by country and city where they were performed.
This posters in this collection were digitized by Kelsey Kim from May-June 2024 and are available to access upon request.
German. Large ad page, brown background, middle ad for "Porgy and Bess." Size: 33.75" x 48".
German. Large ad page, brown background, middle right ad for "Porgy and Bess." Size: 34" x 48".
English. White background, blue and red lettering with musical and star design at top. Seemingly made for Americans abroad. Size: 27.5" x 39.5".
German. Mounted poster, white (now brown) with black lettering. Size: 17" x 23.75" (small).
Flemish. Vertical; black background with yellow lettering; white squares with black lettering; white border. Size: 22" x 14.25" (small). Two copies.
Flemish. Black background with white squares and black lettering; large bright yellow lettering in the middle of "Porgy and Bess." Size: 31" x 96". Two copies.
French. Black background with white squares and black lettering; off white border; large lemon yellow letters in middle; yellow square at top with black lettering. Size: 23.5" x 32.5".
French. Black background, white boxes with black text, bright yellow letters. Size: 14.5" x 22" (small). Two copies.
French. Black background, white boxes with black text, bright green letters. Size: 23.5" x 32.5".
French. Black background, white boxes with black text, bright green letters. Size: 14.5" x 22" (small).
French. Large horizontal, black background, white boxes with black text, bright green letters. Size: 30.5" x 93".
Brazilian Portuguese. Four pieces; bright red background with off white border and white lettering inside of it. Size: 60" x 92". Two copies.
Czech. Wash out off-white background' small black lettering, larger bold red lettering; on left side square with words "Porgy and Bess.'" Size: 24" x 34". Two copies.
Danish. 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 border. Size: 24" x 33.25". Two copies.
French. White background; blue border with white stars, blue and red letters. Size: 36" x 47". Two copies.
French, Egyptian Arabic. White background, blue star border, blue and red lettering, Egyptian Arabic words at top. Size: 35" x 44.5".
French. Off-white background, red and blue lettering. Size: 12" x 18". Three copies.
French. Purple background with white lettering. Size: 36'' x 53''. Two copies.
French. Horizontal black with white lettering, introductory text only. Size: 13" x 47". Two copies.
French. Green background with black and white lettering. Size: 16" x 24" (small). Two copies.
French. Vertical, dark green background with white border, large bold black letters. Size: 16" x 23" (small). Two copies.
French. Vertical, dark green background with white border, large bold black letters. Size: 5.25" x 8.25" (small).
French. Horizontal, dark green background with white border, large bold black letters. Size: 31.5" x 47.
French. Large, vertical dark green background with black and white lettering. Size: 37.5" x 59". Two copies.
French. Large, horizontal dark green background with black and white lettering, white border. Size: 46" x 92".
German. Off-white background, with blue sketch-like illustration of village; magenta and black lettering through the center. Size: 24" x 33". Two copies.
German. Beige background, black and red lettering. Size: 23.5" x 33". Middle bottom "Porgy and Bess" ad for Titania Palast performance.
German. Lemon yellow background with orange border on the top and bottom; orange and black lettering. Size: 23.5" x 33.5". Two copies.
German. White background with black lettering; blue patch with Porgy and Bess written in yellow in the middle. Size: 23.5" x 33.5". Two copies.
German. White background with black lettering, blue patch of color in middle with "Porgy and Bess" written in yellow.
German. Beige background, gold/beige lettering top and bottom, blue bars with white lettering at top and middle. Size: 16" x 23".
German. Light yellow background; black border on sides; red border on top and bottom and orange lettering. Size: 24.25" x 33.5". Two copies.
German. Brick colored border surrounding off-white background; brick colored lettering. Size: 23" x 33".
German. Black and white background with large neon yellow, black, and white lettering. Size: 33.5" x 47". Three copies.
German. Two pieces, bright red background with neon yellow lettering reading "Porgy and Bess" across the front. Size: 33.5" x 47". Two copies.
German. Two pieces, black background with large neon yellow lettering in the middle. Size: 33.5" x 47". Two copies.
Greek. Mounted poster, illustrating in blue, yellow, green, with white lettering. Size: 14" x 19" (small). Two copies.
Hebrew. White background, red and blue lettering. Size: 25" x 37.25". Two copies.
Italian. Vertical, off white background with red and black lettering. Size: 13" x 27" (small). Three copies.
Italian. Mustard yellow background with black lettering, red lettering in upper half, two purple stamp like pictures on lower left part. Size: 27.5" x 39.5". Two copies.
Italian. Vertical, beige background with brown and red lettering, has a shield like emblem border at top. Size: 14" x 40". Two copies.
Italian. Vertical, beige background with black lettering, has a shield like emblem border at top. Size: 14" x 40".
Italian. Light brown, emblem decoration at top border. Size: 27.5" x 39.5". Two copies.
Italian. Light brown, emblem decoration at top border, in three pieces. Size: 39.5" x 79".
Italian. Light brown, emblem decoration at top border. Size: 10.5" x 15" (small). Three copies.
Italian. Bright blue background with a yellow and green illustration of village, white border, white lettering. Size: 27.5" x 39.5". Two copies.
Italian. Bright yellow background, black and red lettering. Size: 38" x 52". Two copies.
Italian. Bright yellow background, black lettering, red lettering at top. Size: 26" x 38". Two copies.
Italian. Black background yellow lettering and drawing. Size: 24.5" x 37".
Italian. Bright mustard yellow background, brown border, red and brown lettering. Size: 13" x 22" (small). Three copies.
Italian. Bright yellow background, black and red lettering. Size: 40" x 55". Two copies.
Italian. Bright yellow background, black and red lettering. Size: 53" x 80".
Italian. Vertical, blue background with black and red lettering. Size: 14" x 39.5". Two copies.
Italian. Brown and red lettering, yellow background. Size: 28" x 39.5".
Italian. Bright yellow with black and red lettering. Size: 39.5" x 55". Duplicate of second panel.
Italian. Vertical, yellow background with black and red lettering. Size: 14" x 39.5". Two copies.
Italian. Four panels, one duplicate of last panel. Green and bright yellow ombre background, large red lettering, black lettering at bottom. Size: 55" x 79".
Italian. Vertical, off white, pink illustration of a lady in the background. Size: 13" x 28" (small). Two copies.
Italian. Pink and yellow illustration with black lettering. Size: 26" x 38". Two copies.
Italian. Red background with half facial photo of George Gershwin in upper right, racist caricature illustration on left. Size: 28" x 40". Two copies.
Italian. Long, vertical, yellow background with red lettering. Size: 14" x 40".
Italian. Long, vertical, blue background, with red and black lettering. Size: 14" x 40". Two copies.
Italian. Long, vertical, white background, with red and black lettering. Size: 14" x 40". Two copies.
Italian. Large, off white, red and black lettering. Size: 40" x 52".
Italian. Long, vertical, pink background, with red and black lettering. Size: 14" x 40".
Dutch. White border, black lettering within white squares, yellow squares with black lettering, bright yellow lettering in middle. Size: 33.5" x 47". Two copies.
Dutch. Black background and yellow lettering. Size: 23" x 34".
Spanish. Brown background, black lettering. Size: 33.5" x 50". Two copies.
Polish. White background, blue and red lettering. Size: 28" x 40". Two copies.
Polish. Purple background, multicolored swuares, with drawn figure. Size: 26" x 39".
Spanish. Large, off white with brown and red lettering, branch style border with leaves on it. Size: 34.5" x 49.5". Two copies.
French. Washed out yellow background with black and red lettering, bold red lettering in middle. Size: 36"x 50". Two copies.
French. Washed out yellow background with black and red lettering, bold red lettering in middle. Size: 14" x 28" (small). Three copies.
German. Light green background with painted color figures of Porgy and Bess, black sketch of village, blue lettering on top. Size: 35.5" x 50". Two copies.
German. Light green background with painted color figures of Porgy and Bess, black sketch of village, blue lettering on top. Size: 11.5" x 20" (small). Three copies.
French. White background, red border, white and red lettering. Possible produced by newspaper Hebdomadaire Romand. Size: 13.75" x 20" (small).
English. Two shades of orange background, black and white lettering, illustration of couple dancing in middle, both posters mounted on board. Size: 14" x 20" (small). Two copies.
English. Red background, black and red lettering, mounted on board. Size: 14" x 22" (small).
English. Red background, black and red lettering (same design as previous poster), only bottom panel available. Size: 29" x 41".
Russia. White background, blue and red lettering. Size: 28.5" x 42.5". Two copies.
Russian. Ad poster, salmon pink, black lettering. Size: 30.5" x 44.5".
Russian. Light brown background, red and black lettering with "Porgy and Bess" on schedule. Size: 11.75" x 16.5" (small).
Croatian. Beige background, purple and white lettering. Size: 28" x 39.5". Two copies.
Croatian. Beige background, black and red lettering. Size: 8.25" x 11.5" (small).
French, English Egyptian Arabic (?). Tan background, red and black text. Size: 7.5" x 11" (small). Two copies.
Multiple "Porgy and Bess" poster mock-ups, set/scene drawings, and copies of drawings. Included is a program for a Federal Theatre Project "Negro Unit" production of Macbeth.