Volume 17: Theatrical costumes, 1953 - 1955

Volume 17 includes coverage of Mainbocher's costume designs for Rosalind Russell in "Wonderful Town;" the cast of "Point of No Return;" the cast of "Kind Sir" starring Mary Martin; the cast of "The Prescott Proposals" starring Katharine Cornell; Blues-singer Libby Holman in "Blues, Ballads and Sin-Songs;" and Mary Martin in her 1955 television appearance with Noel Coward in "Together with Music." The highlights of this scrapbook are the personal telegrams and handwritten notes to Mainbocher from prominent players from the Broadway stage. There is correspondence from Rosalind Russell, Cole Porter, Joshua Logan, Norman Krasna, Leland Hayward, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse, Mary Martin and Hedda Hopper.

Loose items in folders include a typed contents page; small miscellaneous photographs of different individuals, two of which can be positively identified as Mainbocher and Mary Martin; the program for "Kind Sir" from the Civic Theatre in New Orleans, 1953; a personal note from Norman Krasna, the writer of "Kind Sir;" the Eleanor Lambert press release on Mary Martin's costumes for "Kind Sir," dated November 1, 1953; the Playbill for "The Prescott Proposals" from the Broadhurst Theatre, December 16, 1953; and two personal notes to Main from Howard Lindsay (writer/director of "The Prescott Proposals") and Leland Hayward (producer). Last leaf includes clippings from 1971 -- could be misplaced; may need to duplicate for the 1971 material.