This is a rare October 28th, 1918 program (playbill) from the American Premiere engagement of the Captain BRUCE BAIRNSFATHER and Captain ARTHUR ELIOT musical comedy extravaganza "THE BETTER 'OLE" (or "The Romance of Old Bill") at the Greenwich Village Theatre on Sheridan Square in New York City. (The production opened October 19th, 1918 at the Greenwich Village Theatre where it played the first month before transferring on November 18th, 1918 to New York's Cort Theatre. The production later moved to the Booth Theatre on June 16th, 1919 and took a three-week hiatus from August 21st, 1919 before returning on September 8th, 1919 to the Booth Theatre, running for a combined 353 performances while simultaneously playing on the road.) ..... The musical starred Mr. CHARLES COBURN as "Old Bill" and Mrs. COBURN as "Victoire" and the cast included EDWIN TAYLOR, Miss GWEN LEWIS, CHARLES McNAUGHTON, COLIN CAMPBELL, MIss EUGENIE YOUNG, HENRY WARWICK, LARK TAYLOR, Miss MONA DESMOND, ALBERT KENWAY, Miss LILLIAN SPENCER, Miss MARGUERITE TORREY, Miss HAZEL O'BRIEN, Miss ATHALIE JENKINS, Miss MOLLIE CARROLL, Miss RUTH URBAN, Miss THERESE JOSEPHS, Miss THEODORA KEENE, NEVIN CLARK, Miss HELEN TILDEN, HOWARD TAYLOR, EUGENE BORDEN, Miss KENYON BISHOP, Miss RUTH VIVIAN and GEORGE LOGAN ..... Historical note: The Better 'Ole, also called The Romance of Old Bill, is an Edwardian Musical Comedy with a book by Bruce Bairnsfather and Arthur Elliot, based on the cartoon character "Old Bill", and infantryman, drawn by Bairnsfather. On August 4th, 1917, The Better 'Ole opened in London at the Oxford Music Hall, where it ran for 811 performances, starring Arthur Bourchier as "Old Bill". After the success of the London production was apparent, producer Charles B. Cochran mounted a Provincial touring company led by Martin Adeson as "Old Bill". It later also ran successfully on Broadway, where Charles Coburn starred as "Old Bill" opposite his wife; the couple are also credited as the producers of the Broadway production. The production premiered at New York's Greenwich Village Theatre and played three different theaters from October 19th, 1918 to October 4th, 1919, lasting 353 performances. By 1919, five productions of the "smashing success" were running in North America (including the New York premiere). Besides Coburn in New York, these productions starred De Wolf Hopper, Maclyn Arbuckle, Edmund Gurney and James K. Hackett as "Old Bill" in Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, and Canada, respectively. (Wikipedia) ..... CREDITS: Book by Captain BRUCE BAIRNSFATHER and Captain ARTHUR ELLIOT; Music composed by HERMAN DAREWSKI and PERCIVAL KNIGHT; Lyrics by PERCIVAL KNIGHT and JAMES HEARD; Orchestra conducted by ELLIOTT SCHENCK; Sets designed by ERNEST ALBERT; Costumes designed by MADAME BROICH; Choreographed by Mlle. LILY LENORA; Staged by PERCIVAL KNIGHT; Produced by Mr. and Mrs. COBURN by arrangement withh CHARLES B. COCHRAN of London ..... DETAILS: The four page program measures 5" X 7 1/4" inches and includes production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes and list of musical numbers, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: (Please Note!) There is scrapbook paper glued to the back cover, light creasing and minor edge wear. Despite these flaws, this rare program 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.