SCANS OF COVERS FROM SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

David Webb’s literary collection included a large number of contemporary theatre programmes. Unlike most programmes from the 1950s and 60s, these tend to be substantial publications; the programme for Oliver! from Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (below) runs to well over forty pages. In addition to that, these programmes are far from rarities, and can be found all over the web, including of course eBay.

For the above reasons, I have scanned only the front covers of such publications. Also included are the front covers of a few copies of the American magazine Playbill, which one would assume David Webb picked up in the States. This is likewise a substantial publication, running to around a hundred pages. It is also still published to this day and again is far from a rarity.

Playbill

All the following are of a standard size:

Playbill: October, 1978
Playbill: November, 1978
Playbill: October, 1980
Playbill: October, 1980 (same edition as above, different theatre)
Playbill: May, 1981 and insert
The above insert is 14.4cm by 11.4cm approximately.
Playbill: October, 1982
Playbill: October, 1982 (same edition as above, different theatre)
Playbill: June, 1983
Playbill: March, 1984
Playbill: March, 1984 (same edition as above, different theatre)

************************************************************

Barbican: Othello
The above publication is too big for my scanner, as can be seen from the top; it is approximately 30.2cm by 20.3cm.
It contained two enclosures: the first printed on both sides; the second on one side. These measure 29.5cm by 10.3cm and 21cm by 9.7cm approximately.
Northampton, Derngate Theatre: La Cage Aux Folles
Playhouse Theatre: La Cage Aux Folles
Brighton: The Royal Pavilion Brighton, circa 1987
The above illustrated pamphlet is 29cm by 20.8cm approximately. Included in this file is the A4 leaflet I found inside it. This is folded in 2 places to make 6 pages but is scanned here unfolded as back and front.
Adelphi Theatre: Chicago – front page and two more only
Adelphi Theatre: Sunset Boulevard, July 12, 1993
Prince Edward Theatre: Crazy For You, circa 1994
The above includes the first three pages as well as the front cover; there is herein an article about the 1994 Spanish Arts Festival.
Lyceum Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar, circa 1996
London Palladium: Saturday Night Fever, April 21, 1998
The above includes the enclosure as well as the front cover.
Olivier Theatre/National Theatre: Oklahoma!, July 15, 1998
The above includes the enclosure as well as the front cover of the programme. This is a slightly smaller leaflet, a single piece of paper folded twice to make a 6 page leaflet/pamphlet.
New York City: Front cover of RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, July/August 1980
The above may be called The Great Stage; it contains an insert. On the back of this is written in biro the word Edsalls. With the full stop. This could be a reference to Brian Viner Edsall. The former is approximately 28.7cm by 21.2cm. Not sure what size that is.The latter is as high as is an A4 sheet wide.
Royal Albert Hall: Mahler: The Spectacle, March-June 1999
The above programme measures 23.8cm by 16.4cm approximately; the one-sided insert measures 20.9cm by 14.8cm.
Royal National Theatre: Guys And Dolls
Both this programme and the enclosure (second page of the file) are about the same size as those of The Producers (below). This programme includes a second enclosure; an advertising flyer that is stapled into it. It is not scanned here.
Savoy Theatre, Strand: She Loves Me (front cover and credit page) plus insert
The above insert is about 2cm shorter than the actual programme.
Shaftesbury Avenue, Palace Theatre: Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, March/April 2010
The above scan is the cover and enclosure; the cover measures 24cm by 17cm approximately and the enclosure 21cm by 14.7cm
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane: Oliver!
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane: The Witches Of Eastwick
The above programme is approximately 25cm by 17cm. The enclosure – at the end of the file – is 21cm by 15cm, and is printed on one side only.
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane: The Producers
The above programme is 24cm by 16.7cm; the enclosure at the end of the file is 21cm by 10cm approximately; it is printed on one side.
Palladium: The Sound Of Music and insert, November/December 2006
The above programme is approximately 23.8cm by 17cm approximately; most of the programmes of this era appear to be of about the same size; the programme for The Wizard Of Oz below is the same size. The insert for The Sound Of Music is a one-sided leaflet approximately 21cm by 9.8cm.
Palladium: The Wizard Of Oz, March/April 2011
Re the above, the writing on the front cover was optional!
London, Ballet Rambert: The Tempest, July 3, 1979
The above came into my possession in 2015; it probably belonged to David Webb.
London, Strand, Adelphi Theatre: Damn Yankees, June 4, 1997
The above consists of the front cover and the double sided leaflet insert. You may consider this leaflet to have been scanned back then front, not sure if I do.
Norwich, Theatre Royal: The Pirates Of Penzance
The above measures 24.8 by 17.4cm approximately.
London, National Theatre: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, 2004
The above is the cover and enclosure.

Palace of Holyrood – leaflet/brochure
The above is the front cover of a leaflet in total of A4 width but more than A4 length; it folds out into 8 pages. I have no idea if David Webb actually visited the palace, but he probably did.

Click Here To Return To Site Index