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EDTTORIAL FOREWORD
It is with considerable pleasure that The Editors of THEATRE CATALOG present this all-new 7th ANNUAL EDITION.
Taking its place beside the already impressive set of six preceding, —and completely different,—annual volumes, their cross-referenced and cumulatively-indexed fund of physical theatre knowledge has never previously been approached.
It is also felt that this current edition is the most practical and the most day-in-and-day-out useful volume of the set.
But not these facts alone, or the several thousand advance orders which arrived before the publication date, causes the greatest pleasure, —and pride.
There is a different and more basic reason!
With the very first edition of 1940, the avowed basic purposes of THEATRE CATALOG were: (1) To record the design and construction trends of each year, and (2) To forecast future developments that have physical theatre possibilities. Over the first we have no control other than to track down and develop photographs and data as theatres are built both at home and abroad. But the second must reflect the judgment and knowledge of a “theatre-wise” staff.
In this current volume willbe found many references, photographs, and even complete surveys, covering designs, materials, and products which are now widely accepted,—although they were relatively unknown to this industry when ‘originally introducéd in preceding volumes many years ago. Outstanding examples are: (1) the laminated wood arch introduced in the 1945 Edition and here pictured in five theatres built during the last year; (2) the prefabricated quonset arch which was first introduced in the 1945 Edition and is now widely accepted; and (3) the innerserviced marquee which was thoroughly covered in the 1941 Edition and is now being promoted commercially. There are dozens more, but these few will prove the point.
This directly attributable fruit of research and theatre knowledge is reason for pleasure,—and pride!
This cannot be opportunism,—or “climbing aboard” when someone else furnishes the brains and sweat of the start.
This was the start! Andfor many years to come THEATRE CATALOG hopes to keep on “starting.” And as it develops and “starts,” encourages and introduces, its value to the theatre industry will continue to grow.
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And a word about an outstanding new feature.
With this 7th ANNUAL EDITION, each succeeding volume will continue to single out for attention the history and works of some outstanding theatre design specialist. We are proud that the oldest and one of the most prominent architectural firms, JOHN AND DREW EBERSON of New York, inaugurates this policy. Others of equal prominence will follow with each annual edition. So that in permanently recording the industry’s buildings, this most outstanding of all industry volumes will also build a permanent record of the men, and the “blood,—sweat,—and tears,” that make them possible.
The record would not be complete without them!
1948-49