Customer Reviews

A Must See!: Brilliant Broadway Artwork

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Expectations are everything for this book. So, be prepared: Do not expect a sumptious coffee table book of gorgeous prints. This book assembles a diverse collection of Playbills and "heralds"(advertising for new or then current plays stuck in the programs), finding common themes in the diversity. It is more a collection of historically interesting artwork with sidebar comments on marketing and production notes. I wouldn't say that the artwork rises to the level of "brilliance", but many of them are very clever and ,again, from an historical perspective,very entertaining.

Nice visuals, good research, very well done. I dont what the other reviewer's expecations were but I was most satisfied and wanted to offer another perspective.

This book illustrations have a certain spartan appeal,like charles atlas ads in back of comic books.The lackluster design of about 80% of this artwork is really sad although it does add another piece to bway history for which the normally fabulous Chronicle books should be commended.The captions are also uninspired and sparse ,there is just no joy in this presentation,a missed chance to do something really worth having.I would buy it but will wait til it is remaindered,sorry!

A Must See! is an extraordinary collection of Broadway theatre posters from years past, compiled by theatrical manager and producer Steven Suskin(author of Opening Night On Broadway, More Opening Nights On Broadway, Broadway Yearbook series, etc). Standouts include the bold stark stage setting of 1935's Wintset, the frantic Fred Morgan caricatures for 1939's Hellzapoppin', Don Freeman's sultry representation of New Orleans for 1947's A Streetcar Named Desire, David Klein's use of tartan for 1947's Brigadoon, the evocative mood of Joseph Hirsch's 1949 poster for A Death Of A Salesman, the integration of the well-known Al Hirschfeld's caricatures for the 1956 blockbuster My Fair Lady, the striking image of Sidney Poitier on A Raisin In The Sun's poster and the juxtaposition of photos and typography for the tricolor 1962 Beyond The Fringe poster. With various styles: photographic, realistic, impressionistic, typographic and cartoonish and using monotone, 2-color, 3-color and multicolor elements these renderings are works of art reflecting not only the various creative personnel of the specific plays and musicals, but the genius and artistry of the dedicated poster designers!