Guide to the Newport Casino Theatre Photographs, 1948-1977

Salve Regina University Special Collections
McKillop Library
100 Ochre Point Avenue
Salve Regina University
Newport, RI 02840
Tel: 401-341-2276
Fax: 401-341-2951
email: archives@salve.edu

Published in 2014

Collection Overview

Title:	Newport Casino Theatre Photographs
Date range:	1948-1977
Creator:	Hopf, John T.
Extent:	0.1 Linear feet
Abstract:	Cast and performance photographs from theatrical productions at the Newport Casino Theatre.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Salve Regina University Special Collections
Collection number:	SP.09

Scope & content

Contains cast and performance photographs from theatrical productions at the Newport Casino Theatre
. These photographs depict performances from periods of professional and community theatre there, but are not related to Salve Regina University Department of Music, Theatre, & Dance
productions.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Goff, Thomas

Subject Organizations

• Office of University Relations and Advancement.

Subject Topics

• Newport (R.I.)--Social life and customs.

Document Types

• Photographs

Subject Topics

• Performing Arts

Arrangement

Series I: Photographs. Includes both black-and-white and color photographs of casts and performances from theatrical productions. Materials are arranged alphabetically by production title, then chronologically.

Built in 1880-1881 by architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, the Newport Casino was one of the first resort country clubs in a social environment beginning to embrace such establishments. The Casino Theatre, on the east side of the complex, opened in 1881 to host a variety of theatrical and, later, both silent and sound films. Beginning in 1927, the cotillion-theatre of Newport became a professional theatre, attracting professional actors from New York and Hollywood. Under the management of producer-director Sara Stamm from 1943 to 1960, the Casino Theatre became a popular and professional summer stock theatre. However, financial troubles and Stamm's illness kept the Theatre from producing any shows from 1957 to 1958, and it closed in 1960.

A gift from Newport socialite Mrs. Margaret Van Alen Bruguiére, the owner of Wakehurst, in 1963 allowed the theatre to reopen, named after Mrs. Bruguiére's son, James Van Alen. The Theatre operated mostly as a community theatre until it closed again in 1987. After restoration in 2010, the Theatre reopened once more.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	This collection is not restricted.
Use of the materials:	Various copying restrictions apply, according to the Special Collections use policy. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian. See also McKillop Library's copyright and publication statement.
Preferred citation:	[Identification of item], in SP.09 Newport Casino Theatre Photographs, [Box #, Folder #], Salve Regina University Special Collections, McKillop Library, Salve Regina University, Newport, RI.
Contact information:	Salve Regina University Special Collections McKillop Library 100 Ochre Point Avenue Salve Regina University Newport, RI 02840 Tel: 401-341-2276 Fax: 401-341-2951 email: archives@salve.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Photographs were donated to Salve Regina University by Thomas Goff in 2013 and transferred to Special Collections.
Processing information:	The collection was processed in May 2014 and the finding aid encoded in June 2014 by Genna Duplisea, University Archivist and Special Collections Librarian.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Genna Duplisea.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Genna Duplisea 2014 June 17
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Additional Information

Bibliography:

Riley, Marialyn E. The Casino Theatre at Newport, Rhode Island : the summer colonists' playhouse : reality, grandeur, memories 1881-1960. Medford, MA: 2001.

Inventory

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