The "Magic" of Books

I have a confession. 

For a long time I've been haunted by a gift. And before you start trying to recall what you got me for the Holidays, I want to ease your worry and assure you that it's not a material possession I fear, but a being possessed! And that being...is me. 

Kra-ka-da-booooooooom!

A couple years ago I was bitten by a demonic book and given an extraordinary power. If I focus all of my energies on a damage, unsalable book, I can change said book into a more pleasing item. Allow me to demonstrate:

Amazing, right? Hmph. You don't know anything about "curses." That's right, curse. I mean, if you were given a magic power and the only thing you could do with it was change old, ratty books into things that you could blog about, what would you call that? Laughable? That's what they called my "gift" last year at the 2011 International Wizard/Warlock Meet-Up and Rummage Sale. There are people there that can telepathically communicate with animals. I can change books into things. No, scratch that. I can turn books into pieces of ephemera and ONLY if I blog about them. It's such a tease, and it impresses no one. 

No one. 

Hmph. Well, anyway...

The Erlanger Theatre exists no more but for a long time served as Buffalo's only professional theatre. Everything I'd be able to tell you about it's history has already been told (and done so much better) here, so, go ahead, I'll wait if you want to read up on it and come back. Done? Pretty interesting, eh? Especially that part about Erlanger being abducted by aliens. 

The playbill I found is from November 1931, and it features Maude Adams & Otis Skinner in "The Merchant of Venice." It's full of great, local ads and it even has articles (that relate to products) like "Is Plastic Surgery New?," "Are You Hat Conscious?," and "Murdocke of London Says--." There's also a little promo in the back that announces the Ziegfeld Follies as a coming attraction. 

A Lovely Art

 

Today's 'find' is a fine example of the kind of ephemera that makes you want to cast aside all other duties and research it as much as possible.

I found this pamphlet in a very old movie magazine called 'Modern Screen,' and I had never heard of the academy until I came across it just this very morning. The pamphlet isn't dated, but I'm a pretty solid detective, so I can probably figure from whence it was printed.

The date on the magazine is 1943, so I'll use that for a base year. However, it's important to note that this date should only be taken as a suggestion. This pamphlet could have very easily been issued ten years before someone decided to mark a page with it.

Their dress is interesting and very twenties-looking (Sascha's look appears to be that of Rudolph Valentino while Mrs. Sascha's 'bob' gives away her flapper sensibilities), so can I say circa-1920 and be done with it? Not so fast. What I didn't scan in was the duo's International Engagement and Broadway Successes list. They've had gigs in France, Denmark, Spain, etc. and have been featured in shows like 'As You Were' & 'June Bride.' A pretty full roster, if I do say so, and if they offer 'Their Personal Attention' (see: the bit I did scan) then I would assume their popularity would've had to wan somewhat to be able to offer such personal attentiveness.

My best guess? 1930. Circa-1930.

What a great ad. I don't find many pamphlets like this. 'Main Street,' 'Arcadia building,' 'Elevator Service'...all buzz words to peak the interest of local collectors.

Well, maybe not 'elevator service.'