James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
820 Madison DriveTiffany Cole
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From the estate of Doug Bowman, local collector of Harrisonburg memorabilia.
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Virginia Theatre Playbills, 1914-1952, SC 0366, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Purchased at Green Valley Auctions December 5th, 2023 sale of the Doug Bowman Estate.
Harrisonburg's Virginia Theatre (variously New Virginia Theatre) opened to the public in January 1914. Located on S. Main St., the Virginia Theatre hosted live performances including minstrels, theatrical revues, musical shows, and eventually movies. It was open under various management until it was demolished in 1990.
Comprises playbills and programs for theatrical and musical performances, minstrels, follies, musical comedies, and plays as well as weekly programming schedules and two identical signs from Harrisonburg's Virginia Theatre.
The playbills feature advertisements from local businesses including Friddle's Restaurant, Joseph Ney & Sons Company, The Dean Studio, The Kavanaugh, W.L. Figgatt, Harrisonburg, Grocery Company, Denton's, Rockingham Milling Company, Yager's Shoe Store, Valley Blox, Wetsel Seed Co., and others.
The Follies of 1952 playbill includes eight original portrait photographs of local women from whom the Follies Queen of 1952 was selected.
Virginia Theatre and New Virginia Theatre Playbills, 1914-1924, SC 0080, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Presented by Harrisonburg Lodge No. 450 B.P.O.E. and described as "Everything from ragtime to grand opera."
Also titled "The Elks Revue of 1928."
Includes original portrait photographs of local women from whom the Follies Queen of 1952 was selected.