San Francisco Mime Troupe: 7 original posters

Item Details

San Francisco, California, San Francisco Mime Troupe, 1960s-1970s

Near Fine-Fine

Described as “the world’s oldest radical theater” & winner of the coveted “Obie” (off-Broadway) award in 1973, the San Francisco Mime Troupe began in 1959 & remains today "a theatre of political satire." It started performing free shows in various parks in the San Francisco Bay Area & soon branched out to other areas in California & then around the country. Contrary to what its name suggests, the troupe did not perform silent mime, but original musical comedies that "combine aspects of commedia dell'arte, melodrama, and broad farce with topical political themes." From the collection of the late Ted Shank, then head of the Department of Dramatic Art at the University of California, Davis, who wrote many reviews of the theater's productions in their early years. Unique in that some of the posters appear to be mock-ups or uncompleted versions of their final rendition, & as such, are incredibly scarce. The collection includes:

• One-sheet poster #1 (*8.5” x 14”), thin brown paper stock lettered in black, with photo from an unnamed performance surrounded by critics’ quotes. Provides a history of the Mime Troupe & some of their past & upcoming performances, anticipating the beginning of their 1973 tour of the Midwest & 1974 tours in the Northwest & Southern California. Near Fine with slight bend/crease to right hand upper-outer corner & side.
• One-sheet poster #2 (8.5” x 14”), thin brown paper stock lettered in black & orange, with drawing of a Black protestor with fist raised behind Tom Hayden in handcuffs, promoting the show “Seize the Time.’’ No date, but this premiered in 1970. Near Fine, with mild diagonal creasing to lower left-side corner.
• One-sheet poster (8.5” x 14”) white paper lettered in black with black drawing of a woman waving a flag & a blank dialogue box near her mouth. Apparently a preliminary sketch for Bertolt Brecht's "The Mother." Near Fine, with very mild diagonal crease to both upper corners.
• One-sheet poster on slightly heavier stock, (11” x 17”), tan paper advertising “Comedy for Revolution!” with colorful red/green/white/orange image in center of dancing performers atop of Uncle Sam’s top hat. Small date (1976) in pencil to top right-hand corner. Near Fine, with a tiny soil spot above the “a” in San Francisco (& a few lighter spots directly to the left) at top.
• One-sheet poster (11” x 17”) on thin paper stock, with very active illustration by “Spain” & lettering in yellow, black, & white promoting “The Great Air Robbery.” No date, but premiered in 1974. Near Fine, with a few tiny foxed spots 
• One-sheet poster (13.5" x 20.5") on heavier poster paper colored in bold yellow/blue/brown/black/white/red, advertising “Hotel Universe.’’ No date, but this premiered in 1977. Near Fine Unattributed art depicts a cranky old man holding an “Eviction” notice met by a group of black, brown, & old tenants holding a “No Nos Moveran” (We Shall Not Be Moved”) sign, reflecting the Negro spiritual brought back to life during the Civil rights era by artists like Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, & the Freedom Singers.  Near Fine, with the slightest of rubbing to lower left edge & 2 small bumps across on the lower right (showing as tiny recessed areas on the back).
• One-sheet poster (14" x 17.75") thin paper stock, colored in bright yellow/black/red, advertising "False Promises/Nos Engañaron: A History Play with Music" from 1976, a play set in Colorado mining town that explored race relations, workers' rights, & global expansionism. Signed "superfogarcia '76" (?). Good, downgraded due to discolored swath about 2" from top edge, with wrinkling around & over it.