Description
A lovely little gem of a Wizard of Oz collectible–an original program from the Chicago Grand Opera house, where the first Wizard of Oz musical play opened in 1902. L. Frank Baum was a theatre aficionado and wrote the play after the great success of his book in 1900. Composer Paul Tietjens wrote the music and Julian Mitchell directed. Heavily modified from Baum’s original work, the play premiered at the Grand Opera House in Chicago on June 16th, 1902. Very successful, it only played 14 weeks at the Grand, then toured in the midwest before moving to the Majestic Theatre in New York in Jan 1903 and playing for years. This April 28, 1902 program has three full-page ads for the upcoming “annual summer production” of the Wizard, with more detail than in the April 6th program I also have listed. This includes a feature on the “The World’s Greatest Eccentric Dancers” Montgeomery & Stone, who, of course, stole the show, and another on Anna Laughlin, “the most bewitching little comedienne seen in Chicago this season”. Original material from the Wizard of Oz stageplay is scarce.
About 50 pages, ~7″ by 9″ in size. In very good condition. Lots of great ads as well–including one for the Victor Talking Machine with dog Nipper.
