The Playgoer: Civic Light Opera, Fourteenth Annual Season (Three Wishes for Jamie)
Graphic Design; Printed Ephemera; Program Booklet • Commissioned by the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Association; published by The Playgoer for the Philharmonic Auditorium.
Style & Movement
Mid-Century Modern; Post-war Commercial Graphic Design
Medium & Technique
Offset lithography on paper; saddle-stitched binding. The design utilizes a combination of typography, color-blocking, and figurative illustration.
Creation Period
1951
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 9 x 6 inches; vertical rectangular format (portrait orientation).
Subject Description
A souvenir program for the musical 'Three Wishes for Jamie' performed at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles. The cover features abstract organic 'leaf' or 'eye' shapes containing title text and a line drawing of a dancer, set against a background of vertical grey and bright orange stripes.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good. The colors remain vibrant (particularly the orange), though there is visible wear along the spine and minor corner bumping.
Estimated Market Value
$25 - $50 USD
Auction Estimate
$15 - $35 USD
Provenance History
Original theatrical distribution at the Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA. Likely held in a private collection of theater memorabilia.
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of Mid-Century theatrical marketing. It documents the 14th season of the LACLO under Edwin Lester and the production of 'Three Wishes for Jamie' before its Broadway debut in 1952. It reflects the era's lean toward modernism in commercial graphics.
Notable Features
Includes the 'The Playgoer' logo in a stylized script; prominently features the name of General Director Edwin Lester and the Philharmonic Auditorium location.
Condition Issues
Visible shelf wear; light creasing along the spine; minor yellowing of the white paper stock due to age (acidification); slight softening of the corners.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in an acid-free, archival-quality mylar sleeve with an alkaline-buffered backing board. Keep away from direct UV light to prevent fading of the orange pigment.