Description

Date: 1950

Theatre: The Metropolitan Theatre

Performance: Tobacco Road

Main Actors: Robert Berkeley, Rupert White, Loyd Brydon

Tobacco Road is a play in three acts and takes place at a cotton farm on Tobacco Road in the ‘back country’ of Georgia USA. The play was written by Jack Kirkland in 1933 and is based on the Pulitzer Prize Novel by Erskine Caldwell. Jack Kirkland wrote this profound dramatization for Broadway and was a resounding success as ran for 8 years, it is recognised in Broadway history as the second longest running play on Broadway to date.

In 1950, The Metropolitan Theatre, Edgeware Road, London took on the challenging task of presenting this profound play. In fact, there is a note referring to the extremely exacting role of Jeeter Lester. The programme also contains an ‘Important – Author’s Note’ about a brief history of Tobacco Road.  The number printed on the top right of the front cover ‘No. 3577’ is for the raffle with a chance to win a free seat.

Opened in 1836 as a concert hall known as Turnham’s Grand Concert Hall, the theatre became the Metropolitan Music Hall in 1864. Offering much variety and entertainment for 127 years it finally closed in April 1963 and was subsequently demolished to join the sad list of ‘lost theatres’.

The programme is a 6-page tri-fold including cover pages. Approx. 19cm x 8.5cm closed and Approx. 19cm x 25cm open.