| Collection | Reading Rayner Collection |
| Description | 75 volumes of the Play Pictorial magazine, from Volume 1, Number 1 (1902) to Volume 75, Number 445 (1939). The Play Pictorial was an English theatrical magazine which provided pictorial records of theatre productions in London. Each issue was devoted to a single show, and included photographs of the cast and scenes from the production, plus descriptions. Each volume contains photographs and reviews from various stage shows, the majority including cast lists. Photographs of actors include Ellen Terry, Henry Irving, Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. |
| Admin history | The theatrical magazine Play Pictorial consists of reviews and photographs of actors and major productions.
The earlier issues consist of photographs of the cast in costume posed in particular scenes from the play featured, a résumé of the plot, quotes from the cast giving their favourite lines from the play, and in some cases the words and music of a song featured in the play. Most of the photographs in the first volume were taken by "Messrs Bassano, Bond Street", but the copyright belonged to the editor, sometimes named as "R.B.B". In 1902/3 the cost of a subscription to the magazine was 8/- a year. This included, for those taking a full annual subscription, a special programme supplement giving the cast of each play. In the bound volumes these "programme" pages have been inserted in front of each issue. Volumes 1 to 64 contained approximately 6 plays per bound edition.
The layout of Play Pictorial changed in 1934 with Volume 65. The number of plays covered increased but there were no longer comprehensive cast lists included. Descriptions of the plot and photographs of the actors in scenes from the play were retained.
By October 1939, Play Pictorial had been incorporated into Theatre World, vol.xxxii, no.177, and the editorial discussed the problems of keeping theatres open during wartime. There is a note stating:
Owing to the need for economy in the use of paper, the Theatre World in common with all other journals, is restricting its printing order to the number of copies actually ordered. To ensure receiving a copy regularly each month, therefore, readers who have not already done so should place a standing order, either direct with this office or through their newsagent.
By this time too, the paper on which the magazine is printed was of poor quality compared to that of the early issues of Play Pictorial, and indeed to that of the issues produced during the 1914-18 war. |