1965-AOR 2.32-OP-6-The San Francisco Mime Troupe-EARLY BILL GRAHAM! The Gate Theatre Original Poster-CGC Graded 8.0

closed on Friday, April 9, 2021

Final Auction Price
*Final prices include buyers premium
$270.00
Starting bid: $1.00

The poster advertises "That Minstrel Show" Civil Rights in a Cracker Barrel at The Gate Theatre in Sausalito which was the San Francisco Mime Troupe's first touring show. It dates back to November 1965 during the very first days of Bill Graham's tenure with the Mime Troupe. San Francisco counter-culture material from 1965 is few and far between highly sought after very desirable -- and in our opinion an excellent value at current market levels when in this high quality condition! 

 

The design on this poster would NEVER be acceptable for public promotion of any event by today's standards. This Minstrel Show was performed by the Mime Troupe in black face and it offended many - both black and white. Such negative representations of black people left a damaging legacy in popular culture especially in art and entertainment. Minstrel shows during this era were often the only depiction of black life that white audiences saw. These shows desensitized white people to the horrors of slavery. The performances also promoted demeaning stereotypes of black people that helped confirm the white's unethical notion of superiority. Several years later however the SF Mime Troupe changed direction towards more sketch comedy - meets - musical revue type productions doing away with the older Minstrel Shows of the past. 

 

Poster – S.F. Mime Troupe in A Minstrel Show

Grade – CGC 8.0

Venue – Gate Theatre

City – Sausalito CA

Date – 11/26-28/1965

Dimensions – 15" x 20"

Printing – OP-6 Original Pre-Concert First Printing Version 6

Series/Promoter – Bill Graham

Condition Details – 100% Original with no restoration. View the detailed high res photo of this lot. Click on the thumbnail photo to see an enlarged photo. Click a second time on the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of the enlarged photo. A super high res image with every millimeter will now be clearly displayed. For a personalized eyewitness examination call 410-464-6180 11:00 am to 6:00pm eastern.

 

*****This poster is available for inspection at our gallery by appointment. *****

 

*A 20% Buyers Premium will be added to the final hammer price of this lot.*

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