The collection consists of 508 Playbill programs for theatrical plays in Boston, New York City, and State College, Pennsylvania, as well other cities. There are ninety-four programs for ballets, bands, concerts, movie specials, operas, orchestras, Radio City Music Hall, soloists, and special events. Additionally, there is a run of Playbill Magazine, March 1983-July 1985. There is also a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about theatrical productions, 1961-1966.
In Rare Books and Manuscripts, University Libraries, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. (#2001-0229R)
Administrative History:
Edwin S. Childs of State College, Pennsylvania, began attending plays, concerts, and theatricals since he was a boy. His grandmother and aunt took him into New York City every Saturday to improve his cultural education. For over fifty years he attended hundreds of plays and concerts, and kept all the Playbills from every play he had seen, 1950-2000. Childs died in 2000.
