1931 Katharine Cornell The Barretts of Wimpole Street Broadway Theatre Program Empire Theatre New York Art Deco Advertising Playbill

An outstanding piece of Broadway and American theatre history, this original 1931 Empire Theatre program documents Katharine Cornell's celebrated production of The Barretts of Wimpole Street, one of the defining dramatic successes of the early twentieth century. Produced by Chas. Frohman, Inc. and beginning Monday evening, August 31, 1931, the program features Cornell in her iconic portrayal of Elizabeth Barrett, with direction by Guthrie McClintic and scenic and costume designs by the legendary Jo Mielziner. Beyond its importance to theatre collectors, the program offers a remarkable snapshot of New York at the height of the Art Deco era, making it equally appealing to collectors of Broadway memorabilia, Depression-era Americana, graphic design, advertising, fashion history, and New York ephemera.

Measuring approximately 9½ by 7 inches, this oversized program contains an exceptional selection of period advertising that vividly captures the style and commercial culture of early 1930s Manhattan. Featured advertisements include Lucky Strike, Old Gold, Chesterfield, Childs Restaurants, Kayser hosiery, Fleischman's Flowers, Hotel Paramount Grill, Hollywood Restaurant, beauty and cosmetic advertising, fashion features, and numerous articles highlighting New York shopping, dining, and entertainment. The combination of editorial content, Art Deco typography, illustrations, and contemporary advertising makes the program as desirable for its visual appeal as for the theatrical production it documents.

The program remains complete and firmly bound with secure staples. It displays honest age-related wear, including scattered foxing and light staining visible on several pages, along with minor cover wear consistent with careful preservation over more than ninety years. These condition characteristics are shown in the photographs and do not diminish the program's strong display value or historical significance. Overall measurements are approximately 9½ inches by 7 inches.

Original Broadway programs from landmark productions starring Katharine Cornell continue to attract collectors worldwide, while complete examples featuring extensive Depression-era advertising are increasingly difficult to locate. Whether displayed alongside theatre memorabilia, Art Deco paper, vintage advertising, or New York historical collections, this original 1931 Empire Theatre program represents an attractive and increasingly scarce survivor from Broadway's golden age.