This is a rare May 9th, 1921 "Plays and Players" combined program (playbill) for Philadelphia's leading theaters ..... Currently playing at Philadelphia's Forrest Theatre was the National Tour engagement of the REGINALD DE KOVEN and HARRY B. SMITH comic opera "ROBIN HOOD" starring RALPH SOULE in the title role. ("Robin Hood" premiered on June 9th, 1890 at the Chicago Opera House and was first seen in New York City on September 22nd, 1891 at the Standard Theatre. The comic opera would open the same year at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London with a new title, "Maid Marian". This revival opened September 30th, 1918 at the Park Theatre in New York City and ran for more than six months before going on the road.) ..... The comic opera starred RALPH SOULE as "Robin Hood" and ELSIE THIEDE as "Maid Marian" and the cast included HALLAN MOSTYN, SOL SOLOMON, JAMES STEVENS, GEORGE SHIELDS, LORNA DOONE JACKSON, JOHN MacSWEENEY, Mrs. CLARENCE BENNETT and JOE CLETA HOWE ..... Biographical Note: Henry Louis Reginald De Koven (April 3rd, 1859 – January 16th, 1920) was an American music critic, conductor, and prolific composer, particularly of comic operas, who helped establish the style of American light opera.  De Koven was born in Middletown, Connecticut, but in 1870, when Reginald was eleven, the family moved to England, where he received the majority of his education. He graduated from St. John’s College of Oxford University in England in 1879 and undertook various musical studies in Stuttgart, Germany. De Koven returned to the U.S. in 1882 to live in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked in a brokerage firm until his marriage to Anna Farwell, and later lived in New York City. In 1883, De Koven started a dry-goods business that became very successful. With the steady income, he was able to return to music. With his wide musical knowledge, he found his scope as a critic with Chicago’s "Evening Post", "Harper’s Weekly", and the "New York World". Between 1887 and 1913, De Koven composed twenty light operas, beginning with "The Begum" in1887 (libretto by Harry B. Smith), in addition to hundreds of songs (over 450), orchestral works, two piano sonatas, and ballets. In 1888 he again teamed with Smith to compose the opera "Don Quixote". From 1902 to 1904, De Koven conducted the Washington, D.C. Symphony, which he helped organize. De Koven’s greatest success was "Robin Hood", also with libretto by Harry B. Smith, which premiered at the Chicago Opera House on June 9th, 1890 but was performed all across the country. It played in New York at the Standard Theatre in 1891 and in London the same year, retitled "Maid Marian", and it continued to be revived for many years. Many of his songs became popular, especially “Oh Promise Me” from "Robin Hood", with words by Clement Scott, which was one of the biggest song successes of its time and remains a wedding standard. (Reprinted in part from the Walker Home School website) ..... CREDITS: Music composed by REGINALD DE KOVEN; Libretto by HARRY B. SMITH; Produced by RALPH DUNBAR ..... Currently playing at Philadelphia's Garrick Theatre was the Post-Broadway engagement of GEORGE M. COHAN'S COMEDIANS in the LOU HIRSCH, OTTO HARBACH and FRANK MANDEL musical comedy "MARY" starring JANET VELIE in the title role. (The production opened October 18th, 1920 at New York's Knickerbocker Theatre and ran for 220 performances before going on the road.) ..... The musical starred JANET VELIE and featured JACK McGOWAN, CLARA PALMER, ALFRED GERRARD, FLORRIE MILLERSHIP, FREDERIC GRAHAM, CHARLES JUDELS, CHARLES STINE, BILLY GRANT, WESLEY TOTTEN, FLORENCE NORRIE, ELSIE NORRIE, SIBYLLA BOWHAN, SI LAYMAN, HELEN KLING, JOE NEIMEYER, ELSIE GORDON, BERT SHADOW and LILLIAN McNEIL ..... CREDITS: Book and Lyrics by OTTO HARBACH ("Bright Eyes", "The Cat and the Fiddle", "Roberta", "The Firefly", "Wildflower", "Sunny", "Rose-Marie", "Song of the Flame", "The Desert Song", "No, No, Nanette") and FRANK MANDEL; Music by LOU HIRSCH; Sets designed by UNITT and WICKES; Costumes designed by SCHNEIDER-ANDERSON and Mme. FRANCIS; Staged by JULIAN MITCHELL and SAM FORREST; Entire Production Under the Personal Direction of GEORGE M. COHAN ..... Currently playing at Philadelphia's Broad Street Theatre was the National Tour engagement of ROBERT B. MANTELL and GENEVIEVE HAMPER in a repertoire of SHAKESPEARE and the Classics ..... The repertoire included performances of Shakespeare's "MACBETH", "AS YOU LIKE IT", "HAMLET", "MERCHANT OF VENICE" and "JULIUS CAESAR", Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton's "RICHELIEU" and H. C. Mattheus' "LOUIS XI". Each play starred ROBERT B. MANTELL who was supported by GENEVIEVE HAMPER, VAUGHAN DEERING, LEO LEONARD, ALDIS BARTLETT, GUY LINDSLEY, A. C. HENDERSON, HENRY BUCKLER, FRANKLIN SALISBURY, WILLIAM PODMORE, GEORGE STILLWELL, THOMAS LEAR, JOHN ALEXANDER, ABRAHAM IVORY, FRANK LANE, EDWIN FOOS, VIOLET HOWARD, GENEVIEVE REYNOLDS, THERESA COLBURN, AGNES ELLIOTT SCOTT, CAROLINE CONNER, GUY HAWKS, GEORGIA FOX, BESSIE JAMES, FRANK BARRY, ROY CLIFFORD and LAWRENCE KREY ..... Side Note: ROBERT B. MANTELL was the Great-Uncle of ANGELA LANSBURY ..... CREDITS: Book by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE; Produced and Directed by ROBERT B. MANTELL ..... DETAILS: The 36 page program measures 5 3/8" X 7 3/4" inches and includes production credits, cast lists, synopsis of scenes, the Story of Robin Hood, list of musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of moderate edge wear, this rare program is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.