The Official Theatre Guide of London [EPHEMERA]

Author: 
[LONDON THEATRE 1939; BROCHURE-cum-POSTER]
Publication details: 
Complete run from 2 January to 9 September 1939, issued weekly.
£180.00
SKU: 6460

Thirty-six weekly issues. As poster, c.29 x 39cm, fold marks indicate possible use as a brochure, good condition. Information given on verso: Theatre, Nearest Tube, Eves. & Mats, Play, Description of Play. At the bottom information about "Official Ticket Agents for All London Theatres" and a line encouraging smoking (especially Abdullas). Information given on recto: Garges in Theatreland, Contractors to West End Theatres, the title "page", and two columns of "Theatre Notes". The only MS. annotations are: Issue for 2-7 Jan. lines through "Hansel & Gretel" (presumably cancelled) AND, more importantly and evocatively a note at the top of the last issue present (4-9 Sept.) "All places of entertainment closed Sept.4." A comparisdon of the first and last ussues produces the following information. Productions at 51 theatres listed in the first (Palladium, Playhouse and Savoy twice), but 23 listed in the last (one addition to the first, the "Open Air Theatre" doing "Twelfth Night"). Only three productions have runs prolonged over the period: "The Corn is Green" (Duchess), "Under Your Hat" (Palace), "Dear Octopus" (Queens). The Windmill, which became a national symbol of defiance, changed the "Edition" of its "Revudeville". Mainly West End Theatres but also Golders Green and Streatham Hill. This publication is not mentioned in COPAC or BLC (and Google failed on the title!)..