Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
#1Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/3/16 at 3:48pm
I'd love to read reviews from original productions of various shows. I didn't know if there was a website/database that curated these reviews.
#2Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/3/16 at 3:59pm
You can look up most if not all of the New York Times reviews.
TheGingerBreadMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
#3Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/3/16 at 7:33pm
Ben Brantley has a book published which contains all of reviews spanning the past 2 decades or so.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#4Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/3/16 at 11:45pm
Frank Rich's New York Times reviews were collected and published in a book called Hot Seat. It seems to be out of print, but plenty of used copies available on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Hot-Seat-Theater-Criticism-1980-1993/dp/0679453008
theatreguy12
Broadway Star Joined: 4/20/15
#5Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/4/16 at 3:01am
I know IBDB used to have links to some. I haven't seen them on there anymore though. Unless they're only there for some shows and I missed them.
#6Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/4/16 at 11:37am
IBDB is selective in the shows that include reviews. Perhaps they are still researching and filling in the material, but shows that I checked from the sixties or seventies had no links to reviews, but there are some more recent shows that do have that reviews link.
#7Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/4/16 at 4:57pm
Yes, I highly recommend the Frank Rich review anthology Hot Seat. I read it over and over again as a teenager until it literally fell apart.
Also, John Simon has at least one review anthology.
Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#8Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/4/16 at 7:01pm
YES!! But not on the internet (as far as I know) Go to the Lincoln Center Library, second floor, ask for the New York critics Theatre Reviews for any year. They have large hard copy volumes for each year going back to the '40! Usually dozens of reviews for every play that opened on Broadway that year. (Dozens of newspapers back then)
#9Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/4/16 at 7:49pm
Tom5 said: "YES!! But not on the internet (as far as I know) Go to the Lincoln Center Library, second floor, ask for the New York critics Theatre Reviews for any year. They have large hard copy volumes for each year going back to the '40! Usually dozens of reviews for every play that opened on Broadway that year. (Dozens of newspapers back then)
"Nice! I live in Chicago, but visit NYC once a year. I will definitely add this to the list. Hopefully, I can pass off as a resident. 
I wonder if there are any Chicago Tribune archives in the city. I will poke around for them.
#10Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/4/16 at 8:44pm
For the Internet, I guess the NY Times website is it...but then you're just getting the NY Times reviews. Brantley's book, mentioned earlier, is a fun read...actually, more than that.
Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#11Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/4/16 at 10:03pm
Re. Lincoln Center library. All you need is good ID like a driver's license. . You can't take these volumes out, (they must weigh 5 pounds each ). You must read them there. But they're fascinating reading. The reviews are actual photostats taken from the newspapers themselves complete with grainy pictures that may have accompanied the article. So many forgotten plays. Many which closed after one or two performances. You'll also understand why they named a theater after Walter Kerr.
#12Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/5/16 at 5:51am
If you use the New York Times online archive, just keep in mind that you can only read 10 articles a month without a subscription. Other than that it's fabulous, I saved many reviews as pdfs.
However, I've been looking for reviews for regional theater productions from the classic summer stock theaters, specifically Wichita and Casa Manana in Forth Worth, TX. I already googled and tried to find something online - without success. Does anybody have any ideas?
I'm trying to get a hold of all reviews Kristin Chenoweth got threw her career. Oklahoma City was amazing that way, their local newspaper has a complete online archive and I even found the reviews of all the OCU productions, and the things she did in summer stock in OCU. But I know she did at least one summer in Wichita and one or two shows in Forth Worth. And I'm also missing the review for the Phantom she did at Northshore Music Theater.
#13Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/5/16 at 8:05am
_IrisTInkerbell said: "If you use the New York Times online archive, just keep in mind that you can only read 10 articles a month without a subscription. Other than that it's fabulous, I saved many reviews as pdfs.
However, I've been looking for reviews for regional theater productions from the classic summer stock theaters, specifically Wichita and Casa Manana in Forth Worth, TX. I already googled and tried to find something online - without success. Does anybody have any ideas?
I'm trying to get a hold of all reviews Kristin Chenoweth got threw her career. Oklahoma City was amazing that way, their local newspaper has a complete online archive and I even found the reviews of all the OCU productions, and the things she did in summer stock in OCU. But I know she did at least one summer in Wichita and one or two shows in Forth Worth. And I'm also missing the review for the Phantom she did at Northshore Music Theater.
"
That's so cool about OCU's productions being mentioned. Did you happen to find the production where she was in Gypsy? I believe she played June in the show. A personal friend of mine was Tulsa in that production and apparently he and Kristin would leave during intermission to go get ice cream at Braum's and come back before the curtain was up.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#14Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/5/16 at 8:29am
Here's a related question: was it common in the 50s, 60s, 70s for non NY reviews to happen? I guess it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't covered, but I just don't know.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#15Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/5/16 at 8:50am
You mean did local newspapers review local shows? Yes. Yes they did.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#16Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/5/16 at 12:21pm
TheSassySam said: "
That's so cool about OCU's productions being mentioned. Did you happen to find the production where she was in Gypsy? I believe she played June in the show. A personal friend of mine was Tulsa in that production and apparently he and Kristin would leave during intermission to go get ice cream at Braum's and come back before the curtain was up. "
I'm not aware of Kristin doing Gypsy at OCU (and I just double-checked the OCU website, they only did that show in '77), but she played June at OKC's Lyric Theatre in the summer of '89, and yes, I found that review, Brett Alan played Tulsa. If that's your friend that's the one https://newsok.com/lyric-theatres-production-of-gypsy-has-strength/article/2275941
#17Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/5/16 at 2:07pm
I'm not aware of Kristin doing Gypsy at OCU (and I just double-checked the OCU website, they only did that show in '77), but she played June at OKC's Lyric Theatre in the summer of '89, and yes, I found that review, Brett Alan played Tulsa. If that's your friend that's the one https://newsok.com/lyric-theatres-production-of-gypsy-has-strength/article/2275941
"
WOW! Yes, that is him! I cannot believe you found that. Thank you for sharing.
#18Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/5/16 at 2:59pm
Of course, no problem. Like I said, NewsOK has great (free) archive and a really good search engine. They pretty much reviewed all OCU and Lyric Theater productions, and you can usually also find an announcement piece before Opening Night, in addition to the review.
I wish all regional newspaper had that good an online archive!
After Eight
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
#19Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/6/16 at 6:21am
"Go to the Lincoln Center Library, second floor, ask for the New York critics Theatre Reviews for any year. They have large hard copy volumes for each year going back to the '40! Usually dozens of reviews for every play that opened on Broadway that year. (Dozens of newspapers back then)"
You can also go to the third floor where these volumes are on open shelves, and you can browse through all of them, as well as many more fascinating reference works on the theatre. The library also made its own scrapbooks of clippings of reviews that include additional reviews to those contained in the annual New York Theatre Critics volumes. These too can be consulted on open shelves, and include some off-Broadway productions as well. These volumes do not go back as far as the aforementioned ones. For older productions, you can request to see reviews of individual shows, and the library will send them up to you.
#20Is there a website that contains Broadway reviews from before the Internet era?
Posted: 7/9/16 at 1:16pm
AEA AGMA SM said: "Frank Rich's New York Times reviews were collected and published in a book called Hot Seat. It seems to be out of print, but plenty of used copies available on Amazon."
The reviews of the "Butcher of Broadway" are out of print already?
Next thing, you're be telling me that they're not going to name a theater after him.
