Brief Description of Collection
Title:Players Club of Columbus (Ohio) Photograph Collection, 1923-1972
Collection Number:P 21
Provenance:The Ohio Historical Society acquired the Players Club of Columbus (Ohio) Photograph Collection as a gift of the club through the auspices of the club president, Cole Jackson, in October 1973.
Extent:1 cubic foot (2 boxes)
Repository:
Ohio Historical Society
1982 Velma Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211
(614) 297-2510
Access:This collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Ohio Historical Society.
Property rights:The Ohio Historical Society owns the property rights to this collection.
Copyrights:The club has dedicated such copyrights as it possesses in this collection to the public. Consideration of all other copyrights is the responsibility of the author and publisher.
Citation:Researchers are requested to cite collection name, collection number, and the Ohio Historical Society in all footnote and bibliographic references.
Processed by:Kathleen McIntyre Conway, December 1973
Encoded by:Elizabeth Nelson
The Players Club of Columbus (Ohio), founded by Agnes Jeffrey Shedd and five colleagues in March 1923, initially served as a vehicle through which members produced plays for the entertainment of other members. Membership for the first year totaled 350 and the club converted the Joyce Barn, 470 Capital Street, into a theatre by adding a stage, dressing rooms, and seats. At first the club produced primarily one act plays and occasionally an original script until 1925 when it presented a three-act play, You and I, and in 1928, its first musical, H.M.S. Pinafore. Also during the 1920s, the club added experimental plays and informal performances, known as "informals." By 1928, the club outgrew its original building and moved to 549 Franklin Avenue, where it remains today.
Although the club's membership declined during the Depression, its activities expanded, including the establishment of an education program with classes in scenic design, make-up, and play writing. Formal classes ceased during the war years, replaced by informal roundtable discussions of backstage problems.
From 1924 to 1928, Stokes McCune served as managing director of the club. Upon his death, Roy Bowen took over and remained with the club until 1958. During his tenure, Bowen resumed the formal classes, formed an experimental theatre group, and expanded the physical plant. Membership peaked at 1800 in the 1950s and the club lengthened the run of each production to accommodate the growing audiences. Robert D. Richey replaced Bowen in 1958, and remained as managing director until 1962. Under Richey the club performed its first Shakespearean play, Richard III. Membership declined during these years with the establishment of competitive little-theatre groups throughout the Columbus area.
The Players Club remained without a managing director during the 1963-64 and 1964-65 seasons which caused a curtailment of many activities. Gerald L. Ness became managing director in 1965 and under his leadership the club expanded its activities to reach the general public. A women's guild, formed in 1965, also served as a fund raising group for the club.
The Players Club of Columbus (Ohio) Photograph Collection consists of 810 black and white and four color photographs, spanning the years from 1923 to 1972 and occupying one cubic foot. The photographs are various sizes with the majority being either 8"x10" publicity shots or snapshots. The collection is organized into three series: plays, backstage scenes, and buildings and members.
Detailed Description of Collection
Series I. Plays: is arranged chronologically by season and thereunder by the plays presented during that season. Images primarily depict stage settings or scenes from each play. Items of note include Agnes Jeffrey Shedd in costume for The Minuet, 1926-27; and oversize photographs of the characters in The Truth, 1933-34 (OVS 900), The Girl From Wyoming, 1941-42 (OVS 211), and from the 1954-55 production of My Three Angels (OVS 212). Photographs from unidentified plays follow those with titles and illustrate similar stage settings and scenes. [ BOX 1 || BOX 2 ]
Box 1:
Folder 1 (20 items):
The Crow's Nest (1923-24)
The Monkey's Paw (1924-25)
You and I (1925-26)
Rehearsal
The Valiant
Outward Bound
The Minuet (1926-27)
War Spoil
Patience
Folder 2 (19 items):
H.M.S. Pinafore (1927-28)
The Baby Cyclone
Madame Pepita (1928-29)
The Witch
Hedda Gabler (1929-30
The Cradle Song
R.U.R. (1930-31)
The Mikado (1931-32)
The Pirates of Penzance (1932-33)
Folder 3 (21 items):
The Truth (1933-34) see also OVS 900
Autumn Crocus
The Bohemian Girl Gets a New Deal
Under the Gaslight
School for Scandal (1935-36)
Six Characters in Search of an Author (1936-37)
Bury the Dead
The Night of January 16th (1937-38)
Folder 4 (18 items):
Libel (1938-39)
High Tor
Pursuit of Happiness
Folder 5 (21 items):
Brief Candle
Father Malachy's Miracle
The Gentle People (1939-40)
The Admirable Crichton
I Killed the Count
The Girl from Wyoming (1941-42) OVS 211
Broken Journey (1942-43)
The Land Is Bright
Folder 6 (20 items):
Dark Eyes (1943-44)
Arsenic and Old Lace
Return Engagement (1944-45)
A Bell for Adano (1945-46)
Papa Is All
Folder 7 (18 items):
Pride and Prejudice
Years Ago (1947-48)
Portrait in Black
State of the Union
Folder 8 (27 items):
The Warrior Husband (1948-49)
The Glass Menagerie
Folder 9 (25 items):
The Winslow Boy
Jason
Folder 10 (19 items):
Happy Birthday (1949-50)
Miranda
I Remember Mama
Sing Out Sweet Land (1950-51)
On Borrowed Time
The Heiress
Folder 11 (19 items):
0 Mistress Mine (1951-52)
The Madwoman of Chaillot
You Can't Take It With You
Folder 12 (12 items):
The Great Big Doorstep
Folder 13 (22 items):
The Importance of Being Earnest
Folder 14 (20 items):
Glad Tidings
It Remains to Be Seen (1952-53)
The Circle
High Ground
Victoria Regina
Mr. Roberts (1953-54)
Folder 15 (16 items):
Best Foot Forward
Clutterbuck
Silver Whistle
My Three Angels (1954-55) see also OVS 212
Folder 16 (20 items):
Shaw Duo: The Shewing Up of Blanco
Posnet, Androcles and the Lion
The Little Foxes
Folder 17 (20 items):
Sabrina Fair
Dark of the Moon (1955-56)
Dear Charlie (1956-57)
Folder 18 (19 items):
The Corn Is Green
Folder 19 (20 items):
Allegro
Folder 20 (21 items):
Bus Stop
The Loud Red Patrick (1957-58)
The Wayward Saint
Folder 21 (12 items):
The Death of a Salesman
Folder 22 (20 items):
The Matchmaker
Folder 23 (18 items):
The Boy Friend
Inherit the Wind (1958-59)
The Girls in 509 (1959-60)
Lute Song
Anna Christie
Folder 24 (14 items):
Third Best Sport
The Happiest Millionaire (1960-61)
The Moon Is Blue
Folder 25 (19 items):
Auntie Mame
They Knew What They Wanted
The Gazebo
The Pleasure of His Company (1961-62)
Write Me a Murder (1962-63)
Folder 26 (20 items):
Arsenic and Old Lace
A Streetcar Named Desire
Little Mary Sunshine
A Far Country (1963-64)
Bells Are Ringing (1964-65)
A View From the Bridge (1965-66)
The Physicists (1966-67)
A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum
Rain
Look Homeward, Angel (1967-68)
Plain and Fancy
Desperate Hours
Folder 27 (12 items):
The Lion In Winter (1968-69)
A Delicate Balance
John Brown's Body (1969-70)
The Apple Tree (1970-71)
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Royal Gambit
Alice Hot and Cool (1971-72)
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Crucible
Toys In the Attic
A Flea In Her Ear
Box 2:
Folder 1 (15 items):
Unidentified plays, stage settings, n.d.
Folder 2 (20 items):
Unidentified plays, scenes, ca. 1920s-1930s
Folder 3 (21 items):
Unidentified plays, scenes, ca. 1930s-1940s
Folder 4 (20 items):
Unidentified plays, scenes, ca. 1940s-1950s
Folder 5 (23 items):
Unidentified plays, scenes, ca. 1950s
Folder 6 (19 items):
Unidentified plays, scenes, ca. 1950s-1960s
Series II. Backstage scenes:include pictures of club members applying make-up, designing scenery, and working on lighting.
Folder 7 (20 items):
Backstage, 1960s
Folder 8 (20 items):
Backstage, 1960s
Folder 9 (19 items):
Backstage, 1960s
Series III. Buildings and members:contains pictures of the Joyce Barn and the club's present theatre on Franklin Avenue. Other photographs record the dedication of the Agnes Jeffrey Shedd gallery at the club, club "informals," opening nights, and audiences. Pictures of members comprise those in character and costume including an unidentified shot of two players (OVS 213); of group rehearsals and parties; and portraits including those of Agnes Jeffrey Shedd, Roy Bowen, Stokes McCune, and Gail Pike in costume (OVS 214).
Folder 10 (15 items):
The Players Club Buildings, 1920s-1960s
Folder 11 (19 items):
The Players Club members, 1940s-1960s
Folder 12 (19 items):
The Players Club members, 1940s-1960s (see also OVS 213)
Folder 13 (20 items):
The Players Club members, 1940s-1960s
Folder 14 (20 items):
The Players Club members, 1940s-1960s
Folder 15 (20 items):
The Players Club members, 1940s-1960s
Folder 16 (23 items):
The Players Club members, 1940s-1960s
Folder 17 (23 items):
The Players Club members, portraits, 1920s-1960s (see also OVS 214)
For questions on the Audiovisual Collections, email audiovisual@ohiohistory.org