Broadway Collections: Playbill Cards

Somewhere between the baseball card boom and the advent of Lights of Broadway cards, Playbill gave us their version to trade. 

Broadway Collections:

Playbill Cards

While cleaning off and rearranging my shelves the other day, I came across a huge 3-ring binder down in the lower corner. Hard to believe I kinda forgot it was even there. I opened the cover and there they were. Dozens and dozens of collector sleeves filled with Playbill Cards! It was like running into an old friend after many years - a chance encounter that made the memories come flooding back.

Oh, the days gone by when pre-matinee and between shows time was spent running from Broadway theater shop to shop and getting down on the floor to comb through baskets of the black, white and yellow treats. All four of the merch shops kept them in baskets on the floor in corners of the room, and somehow it felt like those of us who knew they were there were in a special secret club.

Who knew there would be so much history on these pages?

The Phantom of the Opera and Into the Woods?

Patti LuPone's triumphant return to Broadway in Anything Goes?

Joel Grey's final Broadway turn as the Emcee in Cabaret?

Each season of Playbills were in a separate bag - you got the whole season at once, not packs of 5 where you had to buy dozens to get the whole set (not to mention a zillion repeats!). I'm pretty sure there were 31 sets altogether, ending with the 2007-08 season, and it nagged at me for years that I didn't find them all!  For the record, I have the 1977-78 & 1983-84 sets, then every set from 1987 on.

This page brings me back to where it all started - Mame 1983!

Getting a new set brought me such joy. I'd carefully handle each card (no fingerprints or bent corners!!) and slide them into the special card pages. Then I'd devour each one, taking the cover art work, then turning them over to read and reread each and every credit on the Opening Night title page. I know some other collectors (we'd met on the floor of the old store that used to be at the Marriott) arranged their cards alphabetically, but I arranged mine by opening night date.

Playbill didn't discriminate - even flops got their due.

This page has 3 of my favorite flops are on this page: 

Side Show, Triumph of Love and The Scarlet Pimpernel!

Now that I have them out, I think I'll re-devour each one, and all of the memories I have of shows, seen, missed, loved, hated. Sure, I can see the same thing and more online at the Playbill Vault, and get the details from a number of sources. But there is something wonderful about the simplicity and tangible nature of each 2x3 inch cardboard gem.

I would love to hear from any of you that have these, too! Leave a comment or email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com.

#MyBroadwayThing - Souvenir Programs

They say confession is good for the soul. Sharing my struggles with collecting all things Broadway with you has, in fact, been very cathartic. Today, I bring you #MyBroadwayThing for souvenir programs. They used to be the only merchandise thing I'd buy every time there was one for sale.

Tours or Broadway, if there was a logo emblazoned booklet, my money was at the ready. It all started innocently with a tour of A Chorus Line back in the early 80's. It was a show that changed my life, so naturally, I had to buy a program. It had a centerfold that opened to show the whole line. Then I bought the Mame revival program to commemorate my first Broadway show. I still wasn't buying them at every show. And then...

About a year later, I saw A Chorus Line again. The lady next to me had a program and was thumbing through it before the show started. I glanced over a few times.  It looked just like the one I already had. Until she got to the centerfold. It wasn't the same people on the line as in my program! (Of course it wouldn't be... I was so naive back then.) Well, I had to get one. And thus a new collection began.

Inside the brochures of The Band's Visit and Disney's Frozen

Inside Sunset Boulevard

I have many more than a hundred of them packed away in a box. I do have a few on my bookcase, and I do actually look through those probably twice a year. I've long since stopped collecting them regularly. Between shows that don't have them at all, and shows I see before they come out, my collection wouldn't be complete, anyway. Now, I just buy them occasionally, for shows that mean something extra special to me. My most recent purchases include Frozen (it is a huge, beautifully photographed book), The Band's Visit and Fun Home (both have very interesting articles and great photos, too), and the revivals of Sunset Boulevard (I have every other one they made - Glenn, Betty and the tour!) and Spring Awakening (a stunning production I don't ever want to forget).

Which brings me to the impetus for today's blog - my most recent program purchase - the 30th Anniversary The Phantom of the Opera brochure. Frankly, I can't believe it was only $25.  It is a large, thick book full of articles and color photos of the current cast and several pages on the original cast and history of the show. Now that the show is in its 31st year, I wonder how much longer they'll even have it.

The 30th Anniversary Company

Original Phantom, Michael Crawford (left)
Original costumes sketches by Maria Bjornson

Phantom anniversary artwork through the years.

This weekend, I'm seeing Hamilton and Harry Potter. I've already budgeted for both. They are both special productions, right?

(Photos by J. Kyler)

#1995

#TBT: Damn Yankees Baseball Cards

So I was cleaning my bookcases the other day, and I pulled out a large 3-ring binder from the oft-forgotten bottom shelf. Inside were pages and pages of Broadway memories. The back pages included one of my favorite show-specific pieces of merch from the 1994 Broadway revival of Damn Yankees.

I loved that show so much, I saw it 6 times! I loved everything about it - the funny retro-ish book, the delightful score, the dancing, the performances - everything! I also really loved the merch they had - the window card hangs in my living room to this day. But my favorite by far was the set of Topp's baseball cards they sold. I had to have it!

It was a set of twenty, including "player cards," a "team" card, and a few "action" cards (they called them "showstoppers"). The fronts featured vintage-style set ups of cast photos, the curtain call, and some signature production shots. The backs included write-ups about the cards' subjects. Here they are - click to enlarge them!

 Plus! Here's a look at that terrific revival. I can't believe that was 24 years ago already!

Fun Facts about Damn Yankees (1994):

• The show played TWO preview periods and had TWO openings at the Marquis Theatre!
• The production was honored with 4 Tony Award nods, including Best Revival of a Musical. Jarrod Emick won for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
• The original cast began its 18 previews on February 14, 1994 and ran for 350 performances through December 31, 1994.
• The company went on hiatus from January 1 - February 28, 1995 to accommodate rehearsals for its new star, Jerry Lewis. 
• The production played a second preview period of 15 performances, officially re-opening on March 12, 1995.
• The show closed on August 6, 1996 after another 169 shows, for a total of 519 performances.

Bebe Neuwirth and Victor Garber
Lola and Applegate

Tony Award-winner Jarrod Emick and Bebe Neuwirth
"Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets)"

Joe Hardy meets the Washington Senators

Even though I haven't looked at them in years, the memories came flooding back. And the cards are in pristine shape - carefully encased in baseball card collector sleeves. (Thanks, Dad!)

#1899

#MyBroadwayThing: Playbill Merch 2: The Trays

If you read my blog with any frequency, you know that I have my Broadway "things." I'm pretty sure many of you do, too. And as many of you know, I have a particular affinity for anything Playbill-related. I'm not just talking about keeping the little magazines the ushers hand out, either. I have lots of stuff with that black and yellow logo on it.  Maybe the most unique thing I have in that collection is actually a pair - Playbill trays!

I'm not sure if there are/were more of these in the series, but I'll take what I can get! Thank you, eBay... There is a lot here to chew on, though.

Both seasons represented (1977-1978 and 1978-1979) are a few years before my first "on" Broadway shows. But I did see many of these shows on national tour, and later in revivals. In any case, I love the history these represent.  I think it is important to know about Broadway history from all different periods. These trays are a cool way to learn a little - and to serve drinks on Tony Awards night. (OK, so I have never done that...)

The 1977-1978 Tray

Front

June 1, 1977 - May 31, 1978

84 Productions

Back

Famous Shows: Ain't Misbehavin', Dancin', Deathtrap, Annie, Grease, A Chorus Line

Shows Then Playing Now/Recently: Hello, Dolly!, Chicago, On the Twentieth Century

Most Interesting Title: A Star Wars Laser Concert Live

The 1978-1979 Tray
Front

June 1, 1978 - May 31, 1979

69 Productions

 Back

Famous Shows: They're Playing Our Song, Sweeney Todd, Ballroom, Dracula

Shows Then Playing Now/Recently: The Elephant Man, The King and I 

Most Interesting Title: Murder at the Howard Johnson's

Can you imagine seasons with 85 and 69 shows? How awesome, right? And thank you, Sanka, for sponsoring these fun keepsakes! "Good Theatre, Good Dining, Good Coffee" is a philosophy I can really get behind.

(Photos by J. Kyler) Click the pictures to enlarge them!

The Friday 5: Broadway Merch I Don't Get

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE READER UPDATE BELOW!!

Loyal readers know I'm a Broadway hoarder collector. I have collected an embarrassing amount of things over the years, from a HUGE window card collection to an even HUGER Playbill collection. I also have a decent number of t-shirts, mugs, buttons, pins and scripts/theatre books.  I have even worked merch for both The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked national tours over the years.

I tell you all of this to show how much I love Broadway merch - probably too much, if I'm being honest with myself. And I judge no one for their collections (my best friends have magnet and key chain collections). I say good for all of us! So, if you collect any of these 5 things, more power to you.  I just don't understand why they are...

THE FRIDAY 5: 

BROADWAY MERCH 

I DON'T UNDERSTAND

5. KIDS STUFF FOR "ADULT" SHOWS

Looks like The Book of Mormon corners this market... I mean I understand the frog in the context of the show... but a stuffed animal of one?  And a bib/onesie? Really? (And, yes, I think it's funny. For a minute...)

4. SHOW COMPACTS

Nothing says Aladdin or Anastasia like a compact, I guess. Though I can't really picture Jasmine or Anya using one...

3. POP SOCKETS

I'm showing my age here, I guess.  I had to look up what these were... Useful, I guess. But you can't even see it when you use it...

2. SHOW JOURNALS

I'm all for writing.  By hand.  And keeping your thoughts in a safe, personal space.  I'm even willing to concede that it kinda goes with Dear Evan Hansen and their stans.  And I'm shocked Mean Girls doesn't have a Burn Book version. (Why not exploit the nasty teens that do that bullying crap every day?) But are you obligated to write fan fiction about the show on the cover?

1. THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO "HUH?"

To walk your dog to the clam bake?

You, too, can be
as self-absorbed as Evan Hansen

What were they thinking? Enough said.

READER UPDATE: THANKS TO MY TWITTER FRIEND, @amgreenberg (and my clever new friend @MisterJaredGray). After lamenting my lack of knowledge about pop sockets and what they have to do with The Band's Visit.  Within minutes he replied with this picture:

and this response:

I love it!  Thanks for the input guys!