One of the rarerest relics of the assassination are the Fords Theater playbills from April 14th 1865. These playbills were posted all over town announcing the upcomming play "Our American Cousin." In probablility there were numerous people associated with Fords that posted these bills but one stands out. He worked for Fords for 9 years posting bills. In fact his tombstone reads "Well known bill-poster." He was also working at Fords the night Lincoln was shot. Who is this person?

Peanut John Burroughs

Good guess Joe but "no."

I will say Sessford, Houck, or Lamb. I suppose I might lean to Sessford if really pushed, but I'll still guess it's one of those three gents.

You got it Roger. Alfonso T. Houck (1840-1886) began working for Ford in 1856 at the age of 14 in Baltimore. He moved to Washington and was working at Fords the night of the assassination. He is buried in Baltimore’s Greenmount Cemetry. His tombstone reads “well known bill-poster.”

Dave Taylor recently posted a piece on his BoothieBarn.com about the printer named Polkinhorn who furnished these playbills. Another Six Degrees of Separation for me - my grandmother was treated in the early-20th century by Polkinhorn's grandson, who was a very well-known ENT doctor in Washington, DC -- and also a wife abuser according to the papers!

Are there any of the original playbills left-and if so-where?

Bill, you can find lot's of them on ebay...Probably more original copies than they even printed

Gene. You got that right!

There are very few "originals" with most being in instututions, although a few are in "private collections." Famed collector William Lambert had a leather bound portfolio with examples of all of them but 2 years after his death (1916) they were parcelled out and auctioned off by Anderson Galleries of NYC. Likewise collector Oliver Barrett had a couple which are now circulating. Read Dave Taylors blog on the playbills which gives you a lot of great info. There were two different originals plus a Buckingham reprint on the same press as the originals and one printed by L. Brown Printers, Washington, DC including a host of contemporary forgeries.
Cornell Univ. has one, as does the Mass Historical Society. Library of Congress with the Rosenback Museum (Phila.) having a Buckingham reprint, which by the way is also rare and worth something.
If anyone else knows of one please let me know. Thanks.

Rsmyth: most informative. Thank you.

The TV show Pawn Stars recently featured the Playbill on the show. Turned out that it was not one of the originals but was still very old and worth some money.

Hello, Everyone:

I have a couple questions about the Ford's Theatre playbill re: April 14, 1865.

1.Admission Prices
On the Petersen House home page (nps.gov site), it notes there were "three different ticket prices" for the "Our American Cousin" performance on April 14, 1865. It lists them as: Orchestra $1, Dress Circle $.75, and Family Circle @ $.50. See: http://www.nps.gov/foth/the-petersen-house.htm
Yet on the Ford Theatre website, its image of the playbill (the one announcing Lincoln's attendance) lists five different prices as
Orchestra $1; Dress Circle and Parquet $.75; Family Circle $.25; and Private Boxes for $6 and $10.

Each site agrees on the pricing for the orchestra and dress circle, but what about ticket prices for the family circle and private boxes?

2. The playbill announcing Lincoln's expected attendance: This evening, the performance will be honored by the presence of President Lincoln.
Was this playbill printed after the Ford brothers confirmed that AL would attend the evening performance? That is, this playbill is not the “original” announcement?

I know - and appreciate - that this forum understands the importance of getting it right, so thanks!

(11-04-2015 08:43 PM)ReignetteC Wrote:  Hello, Everyone:

I have a couple questions about the Ford's Theatre playbill re: April 14, 1865.

1.Admission Prices
On the Petersen House home page (nps.gov site), it notes there were "three different ticket prices" for the "Our American Cousin" performance on April 14, 1865. It lists them as: Orchestra $1, Dress Circle $.75, and Family Circle @ $.50. See: http://www.nps.gov/foth/the-petersen-house.htm
Yet on the Ford Theatre website, its image of the playbill (the one announcing Lincoln's attendance) lists five different prices as
Orchestra $1; Dress Circle and Parquet $.75; Family Circle $.25; and Private Boxes for $6 and $10.

Each site agrees on the pricing for the orchestra and dress circle, but what about ticket prices for the family circle and private boxes?

2. The playbill announcing Lincoln's expected attendance: This evening, the performance will be honored by the presence of President Lincoln.
Was this playbill printed after the Ford brothers confirmed that AL would attend the evening performance? That is, this playbill is not the “original” announcement?

I know - and appreciate - that this forum understands the importance of getting it right, so thanks!

Reignette,

I would trust what is actually printed on the playbills regarding the correct price of the tickets. The playbills themselves are more reliable than the NPS website for that detail.

Regarding the playbills that announce the attendance of President Lincoln, however, they are all reprints. Only two versions of the playbill for Our American Cousin were produced on April 14th, and neither of them contained any mention of President Lincoln. All the playbills that mention Lincoln are later reprints and souvenirs printed after the assassination.

I hope this helps.

Dave

I found two Ford theatre playbills that recently sold on eBay.

This one sold for $495. DESCRIPTION: Here with glass measuring 6" x 19" is this FORD'S THEATRE broadside for Friday Evening April 14th, 1865 performance when John Wilkes Booth shot / assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. The broadside measuring approx. 5 1/2" x 18 1/2". Research points this to being what is called a "Buckingham reprint" and could date to 1860's or later 1800's. John Buckingham was the door keeper at Ford’s on the night of the assassination as it states in the site below. *** A Reprint, but a Good Early One ***