vihart00463A Guide to the Virginia Theatre Playbills, 1914-1952 SC 0366Tiffany ColeJames Madison University Libraries Special Collections

January 2024

820 Madison DriveMSC 1706Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807Telephone: (540) 568-3612library-special@jmu.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-08 07:07:45 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard James Madison University Libraries Special Collections Virginia Theatre playbills Virginia Theatre (Harrisonburg, Va.) New Virginia Theatre (Harrisonburg, Va.) Green Valley Auctions, Inc. Bowman, Douglas, 1948-2023 SC 0366 /repositories/4/resources/738 0.25 cubic feet 7 folders 1914-1952 Comprises playbills and programs for theatrical and musical performances, weekly schedules, and signage from Harrisonburg's Virginia Theatre. English Access Restrictions

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 Use Restrictions

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 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Virginia Theatre Playbills, 1914-1952, SC 0366, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

 Acquisition Information

Purchased at Green Valley Auctions December 5th, 2023 sale of the Doug Bowman Estate.

 Provenance

From the estate of Doug Bowman, local collector of Harrisonburg memorabilia.

 Administrative History

Harrisonburg's Virginia Theatre (variously New Virginia Theatre) opened to the public in January 1914. Located on S. Main St., the Virginia Theatre hosted live performances including minstrels, theatrical revues, musical shows, and eventually movies. It was open under various management until it was demolished in 1990.

 Scope and Contents

Comprises playbills and programs for theatrical and musical performances, minstrels, follies, musical comedies, and plays as well as weekly programming schedules and two identical signs from Harrisonburg's Virginia Theatre.

The playbills feature advertisements from local businesses including Friddle's Restaurant, Joseph Ney & Sons Company, The Dean Studio, The Kavanaugh, W.L. Figgatt, Harrisonburg, Grocery Company, Denton's, Rockingham Milling Company, Yager's Shoe Store, Valley Blox, Wetsel Seed Co., and others.

The Follies of 1952 playbill includes eight original portrait photographs of local women from whom the Follies Queen of 1952 was selected.

 Related Materials

Virginia Theatre and New Virginia Theatre Playbills, 1914-1924, SC 0080, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

 Playbills Photographs Playbills -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- 20th century Theater -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- 20th century Theater programs -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- 20th century Amusements -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- 20th century Minstrels -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg -- 20th century Harrisonburg (Va.) -- History Green Valley Auctions, Inc. Bowman, Douglas, 1948-2023 W. E. Friddle's Restaurant Assorted playbills/repositories/4/archival_objects/293281914-194711OV 11The Jollies of 1921 playbill/repositories/4/archival_objects/293301921 February 15-1612Scope and Contents

Presented by Harrisonburg Lodge No. 450 B.P.O.E. and described as "Everything from ragtime to grand opera."

Elks Follies of 1928 playbill/repositories/4/archival_objects/293291928 February 20-2113Scope and Contents

Also titled "The Elks Revue of 1928."

The Follies of 1952 playbill and photographs/repositories/4/archival_objects/293311952 February 2814Scope and Contents

Includes original portrait photographs of local women from whom the Follies Queen of 1952 was selected.

Weekly programming schedules/repositories/4/archival_objects/293321928-193515"Virginia Theatre - Coming Soon" signs/repositories/4/archival_objects/29333undated16