Various (Isaacs, Edith J.R. (Editor); Bell, Monta; Chaplin, Charles; Griffith, D.W.; Jannings, Emil; Lubitsch, Ernst; Murnau, F.W.; Vidor, King et al.)

Theatre Arts Monthly Vol. XIII No. 9 (September 1929)

New York, NY, USA: Theatre Arts Inc., 1929. First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. Presented here is a special issue of the American theater periodical Theatre Arts Monthly also known as Theatre Arts Magazine before 1924 and Theatre Arts after 1939. Running from 1916 to 1964, Theatre Arts Monthly was established by author and critic Sheldon Warren Cheney (1886-1980) in Detroit, MI with financial support from the Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts. Cheney was one of the most significant pro-modernist theatre and art critics of the early twentieth century and had a huge hand in introducing European modernist practices to the United States. While he was editor (1916-1921) the publication promoted American little theatre activity, advocated for New Stagecraft design, and nurtured new American playwrights. After Cheney departed in 1921, Edith J.R Isaacs (1887-1956) took over as editor and continued to support little theatre and the establishment of the American National Theater and Academy. It’s incredible to see the roots of theater as we know it today — and so well preserved too! Some of the highlights from this special issue include: “Cinema Design” from American filmmaker W. Howe Cameron Menzies (1896-1957), two strips from “Charlie Chaplin’s Early Comedies” and “The Nature of Cinema” from ballet expert and journalist André Levinson (1887-1933). Other notable names from this issue include: American film director, screenwriter, and produce Monta Bell (1891-1958); American film director D.W Griffith (1875-1948); Swiss-born German actor Emil Jannings (1884-1950); German-born American actor Ernst Lubitsch (1892-1947); German film director F.W Murnau (1888-1931); and American film director King Vidor (1894-1982). From the collection of Laurence Goldstein (1943-2023), poet, editor, and professor in the University of Michigan Department of English Language and Literature. Stapled wrappers: First edition & first printing not stated at copyright page. Magazine is in relatively fine condition with bumping & fraying to fine edges; moderate creasing & rubbing to spine; minor closed tearing on outer edge of front and back covers; penciled “7.50” price on first page and arrows on table of contents. Fine. [Item #7024]

Price: $30.00