New York Public Library Digital Gallery

Category Archives: New York Public Library Digital Gallery

November 21, 2011 · 4:55 pm

A Dramatic Shade of Rose.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has safeguarded the magical and immense moratorium of theatrical treasures that is the Billy Rose Theatre Collection. A glimpse of the imaginative and transporting world of early film has been captured in the lobby cards below. Lobby cards were smaller than movie posters (11 by 14 inches) and displayed in theater lobbies for promotional efforts. Typically these cards were created in a set of 6 to 8, capturing several scenes from the movie. Although this type of promotion is no longer in use, having emerged in the early 20^th century and reached extinction by the 1980s, their powers of persuasion are still as vital as ever. No trailer needed, I’m sold on seeing Blood and Sand, Salomé, and Her Gilded Cage.

Woman and couple. “Blood and sand” 1922. Lobby card. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts / Billy Rose Theatre Division. Courtesy of The New York Public Library, obtained from: http://www.nypl.org.

Nazimova in Salomé. “Salomé.” 1922. Lobby card. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts / Billy Rose Theatre Division. Courtesy of The New York Public Library, obtained from: http://www.nypl.org.

Gloria Swanson in Her gilded cage. “Her gilded cage.” 1922. Lobby card. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts / Billy Rose Theatre Division. Courtesy of The New York Public Library, obtained from: http://www.nypl.org.

Adonis: Death Does Not Become Him.

The ethereal, statuesque figure below is that of Ted Shawn, founding father of modern dance, in the 1923 play Death of Adonis. Adonis did not quite meet his demise. Rather, he transcended mortal deterioration by remaining ever youthful and luminescent in the public domain nearly 90 years on. Thanks to the New York Public Library for being generous with their supernatural powers.

The NYPL Digital Gallery is a heavenly collection of 700,000 photographs, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints, and more. Rejoice in it.

Hiller, Lejaren A. “Ted Shawn in Death of Adonis.” 1923. Photographic print. The Denishawn Collection. Courtesy of The New York Public Library, obtained from: http://www.nypl.org.