Lithograph poster advertising 'Hotel Topsy Turvy' starring Nellie Hawthorne and Josie De Witt. The poster bills the show as being 'The New Musical Comedy' and says that it is coming from Herald Square Theatre, NY. The poster is in color and is estimated to be from the year 1900.
Object narrative
Hotel Topsy Turvy' opened in New York City during the 1898 season starring Marie Dressler and Edwin Foy, famous comedic actors of the time. This poster bills the play as being a new musical comedy, but this production was not among the first performances of 'Hotel Topsy Turvy' in the United States. It originated in France and had a successful run of 200 nights at the Folies Dramatiques in Paris, then was brought to the United States by entrepreneurial producers. It had a successful run at the Herald Square Theatre in New York and critics labeled the play in numerous ways, including burlesque and musical farce. 'The story is based on the farcical difficulties of a circus troupe that tries to keep a hotel. The ensuring complications and what happens to the guests can be better imagined than described. . .' (Life Magazine, 20 Oct. 1898). In 1900, producers Ryley and Dunne revived the show with Josie De Witt and Nellie Hawthorne as shown in this poster. Josie De Witt had been a successful vaudeville performer for several years, first seen with her sister, Vinie. She played the violin in vaudeville and was also known for her tuneful ballads. After her run in 'Hotel Topsy Turvy,' De Witt returned to the vaudeville circuit and became a strong favorite. She died tragically at the age of thirty-one after surgery while in Manchester, England in 1905.
Type
image
Original format
posters
Original publisher
[Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified]
Language
en
Contributing institution
Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives, UNCG University Libraries
Source collection
MSS255 Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection
[Identification of item], Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection, 1753-2006 (MSS255), Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives and Manuscripts, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA.
NO COPYRIGHT - UNITED STATES. This item has been determined to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. The user is responsible for determing actual copyright status for any reuse of the material.
Object ID
MSS255.P005
Digital publisher
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University Libraries, PO Box 26170, Greensboro NC 27402-6170, 336.334.5304
