John B. Rogers Producing Company Collection
name: label: Collector
content: Rogers, John B., Producing Company
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life
label: Names
content: Rogers, John B.
topic: label: Topic
content: Costumes
label: Topic
content: Musical productions
label: Topic
content: Theater -- 1920-1940
label: Topic
content: Theatrical equipment
label: Topic
content: Theatrical producers
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by The Rogers Company, May 17, 1980.
creator: label: Collector
content: Rogers, John B., Producing Company
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life
setName: label: See more items in
content: John B. Rogers Producing Company Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: The John B. Rogers Producing Company was established in 1903 as a supplier of costumes, sets, lights, and scripts for amateur theater. Its main office remained in Fostoria, Ohio until 1977, when the company moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: The John B. Rogers Producing Company was established in 1903, with its main office in Fostoria, Ohio and billed itself as the "World's Largest Directors of Amateur Theatricals."

The company "supplied its client towns with costumes, sets, lights and a pageant script consisting of local historical episodes (based on the company's general formula) and standard spectacular symbolic interludes ." 

In 1977 the company moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where it continued to produce "historical spectacles" into the 1980's.

Source

Glassberg, David. "American Civic Pageantry and the Image of the Community, 1900-1930." Ph. D. dissertation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 1981: 240.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.33 Cubic feet (1 box)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1929-1934.
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life), November 3, 1986.
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0245
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Libretto
label: Type
content: Publicity notices
label: Type
content: Professional papers
label: Type
content: Musical scores
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Archives Center Staff, 2006.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Libretto
label: Genre/Form
content: Publicity notices
label: Genre/Form
content: Professional papers
label: Genre/Form
content: Musical scores
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This collection consists of material for a musical production, titled "Minstrel Mimics" (dated 1934), by the John B. Rogers producing company.

Included are the musical score, libretto, publicity notices, instructions for packing scenery and props, a notice of "Changes for Directors," a "Talent Sheet" and "Chorus Sheets." Dates noted on some of these items cover the period 1/15/29 to 7/1/34.

In addition to the original score and libretto ("The Hunts' Club Minstrel" and "Isle of Never Known") are a number of published songs that are incorporated in the two-part production.