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Old Globe Theatre Photograph Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0178

Scope and Contents

The Old Globe Theatre Photograph Collection documents the photographic history of the Old Globe Theatre and contains four series: Productions; Shakespeare Festival; Events, Programs, and Facilities; and Portraits and Publicity Stills. The first three series are arranged chronologically, with oversized photographs listed at the end of each series. The Productions series (1934-2006) is the largest of the collection. Photographs include production stills, head shots, staging, behind-the-scenes, and premiere events. Many of the files also contain photograph proofs and press releases. The Shakespeare Festival series (1949-2005) includes production stills from the Old Globe’s annual San Diego National Shakespeare Festivals and the summer festivals which took its place during its 20-year hiatus. Associated events, such as Shakespeare on the Green, are also included in this series. Most of the series is arranged chronologically, but some productions from 1981-2000 are housed in boxes 31-33. The photographs from this series have been digitized and are available via the Library's Digital Projects image database. Events, Programs, and Facilities (1934-1993) contains various celebrations, fundraisers, educational and outreach programs, and theatre construction photographs. The Portraits and Publicity Stills series (1920-1993) is arranged alphabetically by last name of the actor or staff member. Photographs include production stills, head shots, and candid pictures of actors and Old Globe staff. Many of the individuals in this collection are not identified.

Dates

  • Creation: 1920-2006
  • Creation: Majority of material found in 1935-2006

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in some or all of these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with the creator(s) of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of archival collections is such that multiple creators are often applicable and copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. In any case, the user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, obtaining publication rights and copyright infringement. When requesting images from Special Collections & University Archives for publication, we require a signed agreement waiving San Diego State University of any liability in the event of a copyright violation.

Historical Note

The Old Globe Theatre opened for the California Pacific International Exposition on May 29, 1935, as a temporary structure that featured 50-minute versions of Shakespeare’s plays. After the success of the Exposition, local citizens raised $10,000 in 1936 to have the theater complex retrofitted as permanent structures. In February 1937, the State of California chartered the San Diego Community Theatre, a non-profit corporation, to coordinate fundraising and renovation activities for the theatre as well as to create a production company. The Community Theatre, which changed its name to the Old Globe Theatre in 1958, leased the land and buildings in Balboa Park from the City of San Diego, and continues to do so as of 2014. The renovated Old Globe Theatre opened on December 2, 1937 with John Van Druten's The Distaff Side. Aside from a six-year occupation by the U.S. Military during World War II, the theatre has operated continuously since its opening.

One of the original Distaff Side cast members was Craig Noel, who continued to act and direct at the Old Globe, eventually becoming its artistic leader in 1947. Noel’s vision shaped the Old Globe throughout his seventy-year career with the theatre. Noel and Board of Directors President Lowell Davies played instrumental roles in establishing the world-renowned Shakespeare Festival, which began in 1949 as a cooperative venture with San Diego State University, a partnership that ended after four seasons. Noel began employing professional Equity actors for the Shakespeare festivals in 1959, shifting the theatre to professional status. This transformation established the Old Globe as the oldest continuing professional not-for-profit theatre in California. The San Diego National Shakespeare Festival continued as an Old Globe solo venture until 1984. After a twenty-year hiatus, the theatre re-instituted the festival in 2004 and continues to produce summer Shakespeare productions annually.

Also through Craig Noel's efforts, Falstaff Tavern became a second stage in 1963. This arrangement proved successful, and in 1969 the Globe remodeled the Tavern and renamed it the Cassius Carter Centre Stage, in honor of the late San Diego arts patron and Shakespeare scholar. In addition, Noel created Globe Educational Tours, a touring company that introduced the fundamentals of theatre to disadvantaged K-12 students in San Diego schools through live performance and lesson plans; and the Play Discovery Program, which provided new playwrights the opportunity to develop their talents through manuscript evaluations and possible production by the Old Globe Theatre. Both programs began in 1974. Seven years later, in collaboration with Dr. Jorge Huerta, Noel established Teatro Meta, a bicultural program aimed at strengthening cultural understanding between Hispanic and Anglo communities through the production of plays written, performed, and directed by the Hispanic community.

Arson destroyed the Old Globe Theatre on March 8, 1978, but the Cassius Carter Centre Stage, offices, dressing rooms, scenery, and costume shops survived. To meet the need for the summer Shakespeare Festival, the Globe quickly erected an outdoor festival stage in only 52 days. The actual rebuilding of the Old Globe Theatre required an extensive fundraising effort and several years to complete. The new Old Globe opened on January 14, 1982.

In 1981, the board of directors established an artistic and administrative triumvirate to efficiently operate the new three-theatre complex. Craig Noel was named executive producer. Jack O'Brien, the nationally-acclaimed director who had staged eight productions at the Old Globe, became artistic director. Thomas Hall, who came to the Old Globe with extensive administrative and production experience, was named managing director.

Also in 1981, the theatre’s board of directors established the Old Globe as a year-round professional company, marking the beginning of an incredible growth period. In 1983, Jack O’Brien’s production of Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth became the first live theatre telecast on PBS. In 1984, the Old Globe broke the national record for the largest subscription base for any non-profit theatre, topping 40,000 subscriptions. In that same year, the Old Globe was awarded a Tony for Outstanding Achievement by a Regional Theatre.

The Old Globe’s winning streak ended abruptly in 1984 with the destruction of the festival theatre by another fire. The outdoor stage was rebuilt in 1985 and named the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre in honor of the Globe's board president from 1945-1976, who had organized the Globe 400, a group of patrons whose donations provided a scholarship fund to assist promising amateur actors.

The board of directors has been the governing body of the Old Globe Theatre since 1938. It creates institutional policies, establishes committees that shape the direction of the Old Globe, and controls funds. The Executive Committee, a sub-committee of the board of directors, has the power to make decisions on behalf of the board. Another organization significant to the Old Globe is the Globe Guilders, established in 1957 to raise funds and to promote membership and attendance at Old Globe productions.

The three-theater complex, which includes the Old Globe, the Cassius Carter Centre Stage (remodeled and renamed the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in 2009) and the Lowell Davies Festival Stage, is collectively named the Simon Edison Centre for the Performing Arts in honor of the late husband of Helen Edison, a generous donor to the Old Globe building fund. The Centre has a total seating capacity of 1,446, and is unique in that all theater production facilities and administration offices are located within the complex.

As of 2014, the Old Globe produces 15 mainstage productions yearly, incorporating all periods and styles. The Old Globe continues to honor its commitment to Shakespeare and other classic plays, while nurturing the development and production of new works. The Old Globe’s 2014 operating budget of approximately $20 million makes the theatre one of San Diego's largest arts institutions. Over 250,000 people annually attend Globe productions and participate in its educational and outreach services.

Extent

29.11 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement Note

I. Productions, 1934-2006

II. Shakespeare Festival, 1949-2005

III. Events, Programs, and Facilities, 1934-1993

IV. Publicity Stills and Portraits, 1920-1993

Source of Acquisition

Old Globe Theatre

Accruals

1984-005

Related Materials

Old Globe Theatre Records, 1885-2010
Shakespeare Festival Photographs via SDSU Library Digital Collections.

Other Descriptive Information

An Old Globe Theatre production history is available online and in the Lewis A. Kenney Reading Room.

Title
Old Globe Theatre Photograph Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Kira Hall
Date
12/17/2007
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository

Contact:
5500 Campanile Dr. MC 8050
San Diego CA 92182-8050 US
619-594-6791