Performance and Entertainment

Digital collections that fall within the John Hay Library’s Performance and Entertainment STRATEGIC COLLECTING DIRECTION. Here you will find digitized materials that document the history and creative process of performing arts and provides a window into public life and popular entertainment in the Americas through plays, dance, film, music, photography, and pornography.
This collection is part of Brown University Library, hosted by Brown University.

Items in this collection

California's hymn

California's hymn

Brown University

by Amelia Woodward Truesdall. Leafy vine border in upper left corner. To be sung to the tune: Battle hymn of the republic. Poem in four four-line stanzas with four-line chorus beginning: Glory, glory hallelujah. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

California: a greeting from the land of the "Afternoon," where the golden poppies bloom

According to the "Editorial" the poem is "an elysian cantare of expressions, epigrams and emotional sayings, gathered from different notables who have visited California." Mentioned are: Bret Harte, Eliza Otis, W.F. White, Presidents McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt and others. According to the "Editorial" the poem is "an elysian cantare of expressions, epigrams and emotional sayings, gathered from different notables who have visited California." Mentioned are: Bret Harte, Eliza Otis, W.F. White, Presidents McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt and others. Poetry and prose. Broadside folded to create [3] panels; pink ribbon bow attached to page [1] Cover title. Printed in green on heavy cream paper. On page [1] below title rectangular colored illustration of baby chick and basket of flowers on silver ground captioned: A joyful Eastertide. Date suggested from inscription on Brown University copy.

California comics: Married a poor man

Between title and subtitle wood-engraving of woman wearing hooped skirt and holding purse. Comic valentine poem in eight lines. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

Calendar of love

Calendar of love

Brown University

Margaret Dole McCall. Printed on heavy white paper in postcard format. Two poems. At end of text: Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all.

Caïn, qu'as-tu fait de ton frère?: dédié au fin lettré Duncan par le peuple de Montréal

On page 4, drawing of uniformed man holding revolver and shooting another man, captioned: La véité sur l'affaire de l'Autobus; at right front of vehicle inscribed: L'autobus fantôme; at upper left street plan captioned: Topographie de l'endroit où le crime a été commis; at upper right building inscribed: Théatre Concordia grand drama Caïin, qu'as-tu fait de ton frère? 3 avril 1916 Cover title Poem in 34 lines Suggested publication date from inscription on building in illustration

Cafe

Cafe

Brown University

Poetry. Printed in black, green and red on blue-gray paper. Type-signed at end of poem, between double red rules: Barbara Szerlip. Originally issued by printer/publisher Sam Hamill as part of a portfolio "Portfolio 1976 (Copper Canyon Press)" of poems from the press; imprint information from dealer.

Cacoethes scribendi

Cacoethes scribendi

Brown University

by Oliver Wendell Holmes ; wood engraving by Fritz Eichenberg. French-fold; printed on double page. Issued sewn into blank french-folded wrapper and printed illustrated outer wrapper decorated in colors. Printed in red and black. On page [2] wood-engraving of man writing, below three horsemen. "This first item of the Brayers Club of Madison, New Jersey, was hand-set in Bulmer type & printed for distribution by the Members. Autumn: mcmxlvj."

C'était un joli champignon

Paul-Marcel Gauthier, ptre. Broadsheet printed in pink on gray paper in three columns. At head of text illustration of two mushrooms with human faces and limbs on golf course. First line same as title. "Paroles: Abbé Paul Marcel Gauthier (Jean-Baptiste Purlenne)" Text of song in 13 four-line stanzas with two-line refrain beginning: En roulant ma boule, roulant. To be sung to the tune: En roulant ma boule. Date from publication date of Gauthier's Les chansons nettes in which Brown University copy was found.

C.T. Brock & Co.'s Crystal Palace Fireworks: gouache paintings

A collection of 32 gouache paintings on white paper, all with deep blue or black painted background color, depicting various fireworks set pieces and aerial displays; most include the figure of an operator with a lighter. About half are variously lettered or numbered on the back, but none are otherwise identified, though this presumably constitutes a catalog of effects available from C.T. Brock & Co. A collection of 32 gouache paintings on white paper, all with deep blue or black painted background color, depicting various fireworks set pieces and aerial displays; most include the figure of an operator with a lighter. About half are variously lettered or numbered on the back, but none are otherwise identified, though this presumably constitutes a catalog of effects available from C.T. Brock & Co. Title from album front cover. All paintings are unsigned; the artist is identified as Phil George in A. St. H. Brock's A history of fireworks (1949), in which 5 of the paintings (nos. 7, 8, 22, 26, and 29) are reproduced in color plates facing p. 120, 121, and 209 (nos. 7, 8, and 22 having been reproduced in black and white in Brock's Pyrotechny, 1927). Of the 32, 27 measure ca. 50 x 36 cm., and 5 measure ca. 73 x 38 cm. (folded to 37 x 38 cm.). Those of the smaller size are on the same stock of handmade cartridge paper, about half with "J. Whatman" watermark, which in 7 sheets includes a date, either 1888 or 1889, the date in the others having been trimmed away. Of the folded sheets, 1 (no. 21, clearly by the same artist) seems to be of the same paper; 3 (nos. 30-32) are on similar but slightly smoother paper (without watermarks) and 1 (no. 20) is on much smoother, possibly machine-made paper, these 4 possibly the work of some other artist and bearing the numbers 1-4 on their versos. For further details see the "Supplemental description of individual paintings" shelved with the paintings. At time of acquisition, laid loose in blind-stamped leather album with "C.T. Brock & Co.'s Crystal Palace Fireworks" in gold on front cover, the album sewn into a burgundy polished sheep chemise, lettered in gold on the front "C.T.B. & Co." Printed label on front pastedown, "Bradstock & Caslake, printers and account book manufacturers, 80, Lower Thames Street, London, E.C." (the firm was at that address from 1883 to past the turn of the century). Paintings now removed and placed in individual folders in clamshell case, with the original album. From the Chris Philip Firework Collection, without his bookplate.

Bye bye Belinda:: a darktown triumph

written & composed by H.Y. Leavitt For voice and piano Cover title Introduced by: Josephine Sabel Advertisement for other songs: p. [6] Cover illustration: photograph of Josephine Sabel[?]; floral border design Library's copy has retailer's stamp on cover: Texas Music Supply House, Beaumont, Texas

By the shores of blue Atlantic

Processed copy. Title from first line. Poem in seven stanzas of varying length parodying Longfellow's Hiawatha. Invites to meeting at convention in Bar Harbour, Miami, Fla. Place and date of publication from accompanying letter on club letterhead signed by Paul M. Slattery describing planned meeting at National Microfilm Association convention in April, 1967.

By the lake

By the lake

Brown University

Printed on heavy glossy white paper in postcard format. At left and above text four reproductions of black-and-white landscape photographs captioned: Pine grove, Jordan's River and Looking southeast from post office, with overall caption: Raymond. Poem in four stanzas of varying length. Suggested range of publication dates from internal evidence.

By Swancoote Pool

By Swancoote Pool

Brown University

At head of title vignette of fish in waves. At head of text prose quotation about Swancoote Pool from Confessions of a carp fisher, by "B.B." Initial block. Poem in two seven-line stanzas. Type-signed at end: D. McC.

Buzzers unit

Buzzers unit

Brown University

John M. Bennett. Printed on white paper within wide black border. "Wild buzzers attacking" printed vertically at right. Place of publication and publisher information from donor.