fORDS THEATER PLAYBILLS

[Dave Taylor]

(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