What do I do with my playbills

[Daniel Knopf]

So I started collecting playbills recently, and I have about 25, but I don't know what to do with them so they're just sitting in a stack on my shelf. I was considering buying a playbill binder but they're so expensive and they don't even hold all my playbills. What do you guys do with yours?

[newsie20841]

There are generic Playbill-sized binders and protective sleeves available for significant less money.  I've purchased them from Amazon several times in the past.  They're not as fancy as the official Playbill binders, but they're definitely more economical.  

[Itonlytakesajourney]

I hang my playbills in frames on my wall, same with windowcards. Granted I don't have much yet, but when my collection eventually grows I'll have to start putting them in a binder. Just buy protective sleeves and a playbill binder online.

[brdwybuff]

Avery mini binders- $11.90
I have a few of these for my playbills from Amazon. You can buy the plastic sleeves there too.

 

[mpkie]

Basic 5.5 x 8.5 mini binders are going to fit them.

Couple ideas in here:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1090028&page=1

I personally use the 5.5 x 8.5 mini binders with heavyweight mini sheet protectors from Keepfiling.com and I love them. Affordable at around $5 and really solid quality.

You can also get the Avery 5.5 x 8.5 mini binders from Amazon, etc. but they always looked a bit cheap to me. But also affordable.

Also, if you're going to store in a box instead, these sleeves seem like a wonderful and cost-effective idea:

http://www.bagsunlimited.com/product/3081/playbill-sleeves

[NewDawnRisin]

(I know it doesn't make them any less expensive overall, but) I ask for the binders for Christmas every year.  It's nice to look at that empty binder and think of all the shows to come in the upcoming year.  They also look so nice on my bookshelf, so I do make my parents spring for the official ones.

[annang]

For those of you who use the comic book style boxes (specifically, the ones from Bags Unlimited) can you tell me about how many fit in a box? Trying to figure out how many boxes I need. Thanks!

[bwayphreak234]

I'm terrible... I just keep mine in a drawer in my dresser.

[yankeefan7]

I have always used the Playbill binders and since I don't go to as many shows as a bunch of people on this board, it takes a while for me to fill it up.

[KathyNYC2]

annang said: "For those of you who use the comic book style boxes (specifically, the ones from Bags Unlimited) can you tell me about how many fit in a box? Trying to figure out how many boxes I need. Thanks!"

I personally use the "Women’s size shoe boxes" from The Container Store. They are the perfect size, hold about 40 playbills and stack nicely. I just have too many for binders. 

[Dollypop]

I started my theater-going in 1963 and have well over 3,000 Playbills in my collection. Sadly, the oldest ones are crumbling because of the acid in the paper. Whatever you do with your Playbills, make sure they are in air-tight containers or sleeves.

[yankeefan7]

"I started my theater-going in 1963 and have well over 3,000 Playbills in my collection. Sadly, the oldest ones are crumbling because of the acid in the paper. Whatever you do with your Playbills, make sure they are in air-tight containers or sleeves."

Wow, that is a shame. I have NY Yankee programs and yearbooks from the 60's and they are still in very good condition and I just have them in a closet.

 

[MCfan2]

Good thread -- I really need to get a binder for mine too, so I appreciate all the recommendations!

[greenifyme2]

https://www.clearbags.com/5-15-16-x-8-3-4-flap-crystal-clear-151x223.htm

Not sure of the exact size but these self-seal clear bags are a great cheap way to store.

i keep mine in a bin but recently I took my 3 most special playbills (all autographed) and DIY'd frames for them. I bought the Frames at Michael's with 50% off coupons, bought sheets of UV protectant glass from a company in TX i found on google (they cut them to whatever size you want), and bought sheets of acid-free paper from Michaels and pre-custom-cut matting from a seller on eBay. Bam, less than $30 per and they look awesome.

[Mildred Plotka]

I had mine in big binders (not forming out the money for those Playbill binders) but they were a bit of an eyesore and quite heavy. I ended up getting some decorative boxes and putting them in there.  Keeps them in good condition and pretty cheap. 

[annang]

KathyNYC2 said: "annang said: "For those of you who use the comic book style boxes (specifically, the ones from Bags Unlimited) can you tell me about how many fit in a box? Trying to figure out how many boxes I need. Thanks!"

I personally use the "Women’s size shoe boxes" from The Container Store. They are the perfect size, hold about 40 playbills and stack nicely. I just have too many for binders."

Oh, thanks, but I’m looking at the comic book ones because I want to bag and board them so they don’t degrade. Those are the only appropriately sized archival boxes I’ve found. 

[smokeline2]

I use normal three ring binders and plastic sleeves meant for 8.5 x 11 pieces of paper. You can fit two playbills per page if you turn them sideways, and it allows for the storage of some regional or off-off broadway productions that don't do standard playbills. Plus they're so ubiquitous that they are cheap and easy to find.

[GavestonPS]

Dollypop said: "I started my theater-going in 1963 and have well over 3,000 Playbills in my collection. Sadly, the oldest ones are crumbling because of the acid in the paper. Whatever you do with your Playbills, make sure they are in air-tight containers or sleeves."

This is just one reason I don't open all those boxes in my garage.