Funny Face (Opening Night Programme)
London: Princes Theatre, November 8, 1928. Small 8vo. [8] pp. Illustrated from four photographs, including two of young Fred & Adele Astaire. Striking color illustrated staplebound wrappers. A fine copy (rusted staples holding but fragile) of the scarce opening night programme for Gershwins' performance of "Funny Face"; subsequent night programmes were of a different design. Item #21285
The London production of "Funny Face" starred Fred and Adele Astaire and Leslie Henses, with Sydney Howard. "Funny Face" was Fred Astaire's nickname for his sister Adele. The show played a total of 267 performances in London. The show business careers of Fred and Adele Astaire began with the family's move to New York City in 1905. They finally broke into Broadway in 1917 with "Over the Top", a patriotic revue, and performed for U.S. and Allied troops at this time as well. Throughout the 1920s, Fred and Adele appeared on Broadway and the London stage. They won popular acclaim with the theater crowd on both sides of the Atlantic in shows such as Jerome Kern's The Punch and Judy (1922), George and Ira Gershwin's Lady, Be Good (1924), and Funny Face (1927) and later in The Band Wagon (1931). By then Fred Astaire's tap dancing was recognized as among the best. The dynamic & hugely talented duo broke-up upon Adele's marriage in 1932 to her first husband, Lord Charles Cavendish, the second son of the 9th Duke of Devonshire. Fred continued on with his career and is widely considered the greatest dancer in film history.
Price: $350.00