fORDS THEATER PLAYBILLS

[ReignetteC]

(11-04-2015 10:00 PM)Dave Taylor Wrote:  

(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

Dave,

Thanks for the very clear explanation. Great info!

Reignette

[Carolyn Mitchell]

Second listing that just sold on eBay a couple days ago for $257.

Description: An early reproduction of the famous Ford's theatre playbill - broadside of "Our American Cousin" at which President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, April 14, 1865. A lot of these were rushed into print as souvenirs of that tragic night right after Abraham Lincoln was shot.. Of course the originals did not have "This Evening The Performance will be honored by the presence of President Lincoln" printed on them. This one was done by "L. Brown, Printer, Washington, D.C." Research shows he did make up some of the first reproductions of this poster shortly after the event of Lincoln's death. I leave up to the experts. The paper it's printed is a tannish brown and has the markings that at one time it was folded in quarters. Inside is a white cardboard type material with the name W. (F.?) Roach written in pencil. I do not know who he was. It is housed in an old ebony frame with four holes to imply that it was attached in this manner to a wall. There is also a wire hanger attached. Overall with frame it measures approx. 6-1/4"x13-7/8", Playbill measures approx. 4-3/4"x12-1/2".

[ReignetteC]

(11-04-2015 11:02 PM)Carolyn Mitchell Wrote:  Second listing that just sold on eBay a couple days ago for $257.

Description: An early reproduction of the famous Ford's theatre playbill - broadside of "Our American Cousin" at which President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, April 14, 1865. A lot of these were rushed into print as souvenirs of that tragic night right after Abraham Lincoln was shot.. Of course the originals did not have "This Evening The Performance will be honored by the presence of President Lincoln" printed on them. This one was done by "L. Brown, Printer, Washington, D.C." Research shows he did make up some of the first reproductions of this poster shortly after the event of Lincoln's death. I leave up to the experts. The paper it's printed is a tannish brown and has the markings that at one time it was folded in quarters. Inside is a white cardboard type material with the name W. (F.?) Roach written in pencil. I do not know who he was. It is housed in an old ebony frame with four holes to imply that it was attached in this manner to a wall. There is also a wire hanger attached. Overall with frame it measures approx. 6-1/4"x13-7/8", Playbill measures approx. 4-3/4"x12-1/2".

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(11-04-2015 11:02 PM)Carolyn Mitchell Wrote:  Second listing that just sold on eBay a couple days ago for $257.

Description: An early reproduction of the famous Ford's theatre playbill - broadside of "Our American Cousin" at which President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, April 14, 1865. A lot of these were rushed into print as souvenirs of that tragic night right after Abraham Lincoln was shot.. Of course the originals did not have "This Evening The Performance will be honored by the presence of President Lincoln" printed on them. This one was done by "L. Brown, Printer, Washington, D.C." Research shows he did make up some of the first reproductions of this poster shortly after the event of Lincoln's death. I leave up to the experts. The paper it's printed is a tannish brown and has the markings that at one time it was folded in quarters. Inside is a white cardboard type material with the name W. (F.?) Roach written in pencil. I do not know who he was. It is housed in an old ebony frame with four holes to imply that it was attached in this manner to a wall. There is also a wire hanger attached. Overall with frame it measures approx. 6-1/4"x13-7/8", Playbill measures approx. 4-3/4"x12-1/2".

Interesting, thanks!

[PaigeBooth]

Hi Reignette,

There is also an original Ford's Theatre playbill currently on display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. I recently visited the museum and saw the playbill.

After some research, I learned that this particular playbill had a very interesting history behind it.

If you would like to see a photo of the playbill and the man who preserved it, please visit my Twitter page to learn more, just click below:

https://twitter.com/April14th1865