IRVING BERLIN's First Musical "WATCH YOUR STEP" Automobile Ads 1916 Playbill

Description

This is a rare January 3rd, 1916 "Plays and Players" playbill from the Post-Broadway engagement of the IRVING BERLIN and HARRY B. SMITH musical 'WATCH YOUR STEP" at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The production opened December 8th, 1914 at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City and ran for 175 performances before going on the road.) ..... This was IRVING BERLIN's first complete score for a book musical, having contributed songs to a number of other shows and revues beginning in 1910. The musical starred VERNON CASTLE and the cast included FRANK TINNEY, SAM BURBANK, IRVING CARPENTER, BUNNY WENDELL, HARRY KELLY, EDNA BATES, BERNARD GRANVILLE, GERTRUDE RUTLAND, CHARLES KING, MABEL CALLAHAN, ELIZABETH BRICE, Mrs. VERNON CASTLE, ETHEL CALLAHAN, HARRY ELLIS, GUS MINTON, IONA SUMMERS, LULU EVERETT, NATALIE DANA, MAY ELLISON, PETER SWIFT, ROKEY JOHNSON and W. H. HOLBROOK ..... CREDITS: Music and Lyrics by IRVING BERLIN ("Music Box Revues", the Marx Brothers' "The Cocoanuts", "Louisiana Purchase", "This is the Army", "Miss Liberty", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Call Me Madam", "Mr. President"); Book by HARRY B. SMITH; Sets and Costumes designed by HELEN DRYDEN and ROBERT McQUINN; Staged by R. H. BURNSIDE; Produced by CHARLES DILLINGHAM ..... DETAILS: The 32 page playbill measures 6" X 9" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes, musical numbers, schedule of upcoming engagements and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... BONUS: The playbill includes promotional text for the Philadelphia Auto Show and several advertisements promoting the new 1916 editions of Cadillac, Jeffrey Motor Car, Mercer, Grant Six, Overland Willys Knight, Apperson Motor Cars, Marmon, Studebaker, Haynes Saxon Six, Paige-Detroit Motor Cars and the Hudson Super Six automobiles ..... CONDITION: With the exception of minor edge wear, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
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