The four-paged paper program (Number 65. Friday, February 27, 1903) for Portsmouth, Ohio’s Grand Opera House for the 1902-1903 season.
The first page includes advertisements for local businesses such as John Vetter, a tailor, and Haas, Schwartz & Co., a retailer of suits, overcoats, and trousers, and jeweler CH Harris. The program also mentions a performance of “Way Down East,” a play presented by Wm. A. Brady.
The second page the vintage program for the Grand Opera House in Portsmouth, Ohio, features more advertisements for local businesses. The ads include a saloon, a tailor, a piano store, a short-order house, and a shoe company. The design maintains the early 20th-century aesthetic with ornate typography and structured layout.
Here’s a brief description of each ad:
- Jacob Linck Saloon, Billiard & Pool: Located at 420 Chillicothe St., offering fine wines, liquors, and cigars.
- Blankemeyer “The Tailor”: Advertising tailoring services at 609 Chillicothe Street.
- Al Ward’s Central Short Order House: For ladies and gentlemen, open day and night, and offered game, oysters, and fish in season.
- Opera House Piano Store: Selling high-grade pianos and offering the Apollo Self Player.
- Emil J. Helt’s The National Short Order House and Confectionery: was located a two doors above the Opera House and was open day and night.
- Kendall Shoe Co.: Selling royal blue and reliable shoes for ladies at $3.50.
The cast of the production “Way Down East, A Romance of New England Life” one of the most popular plays in America, follows:
| Character | Actor |
| Anna Moore | Ruby Bridges |
| Squire Amassa Bartlett | William Frederic |
| Louisa Bartlett, his wife | Grace Romine |
| David Bartlett, their son | SF Cairns |
| Kate Brewster, their niece | Ida Ellis |
| Professor Sterling, their summer boarder | AH Ebbets |
| Hi Holler, their chore boy | Henry Auerbach |
| Lennox Sanderson, the city man | Leonard Ide |
| Martha Perkins, the gossip | Vivia Ogden |
| Rube Whipple, the town constable | Ed Gorman |
| Seth Holcomb | Noah Beery |
| Doctor Wiggins | George Warren |
| Sam, the Village Choir tenor | Maurice Robinson |
| Zeke, the Village Choir basso | J. Comer |
| Cynthia, the Village Choir soprano | Anna Oltman |
| Amelia, the Village Choir alto | Minnie Ellis |
| Priscilla | Emma Farwell |
| Hank | William Archer |
| Eben | Frederick Ware |
| Jake | Arthur Jenkins |
| Betsy | Lucille Kauffman |
Another page from a vintage program featuring various advertisements. Here are the details of the ads:
- American Steam Laundry (Zottmann Bros., Proprietors): Promoting their laundry services.
- The Finlay Brewing Co.: Advertising “the only ‘GOOD’ beer,” with Jacob P. Findeis as the agent.
- Magnolia Cafe (Sherman C. Miller, Prop.): Offering hot tomola and free hot wieners.
- Wig’s Perfection 5 Cent Cigar: Promising a satisfying smoke made by TF Wiechens.
- Bybee’s Up-to-Date Restaurant: Serving a variety of dishes such as devil crabs, frog legs, shrimp, chili con carne, oysters, and Ohio River catfish.
- Frank C. Miller, Prescription Druggist: Providing drugs and sundries at the corner of 9th and Waller.
- Peerless Portsmouth Beer: Brewed by the Portsmouth Brewing and Ice Company, promoting their local beer.
This page also provides a synopsis of the play and a listing of the Executive Staff
Synopsis
- Act I: Dooryard of Squire Barlett’s farm in summer.
- Act II: A winter’s evening (eight months later) in the sitting room of the Squire’s house.
- Act III: Kitchen of the same next evening.
- Act IV: A maple sugar shed in a New Hampshire forest, early next morning.
- Incidental music by Gustave Luders. Scenery by Platzer. Mechanical work by Theodore Reisig.
Executive Staff
| Staff name | Position |
| John S. Hale | Acting Manager |
| W. Harlan | Business Manager |
| Ed Dare | Advance Agent |
| AH Ebbets | Stage Manager |
| J. Vanderburg | Carpenter |
| G. Warren | Master of Properties |
| Martin Turner | Electrcian |
The last page showcases an advertisement for George A. Kah & Bro., who specialize in books, stationery, wallpaper, and general book and job printing. Additionally, it mentions an upcoming attraction, “The Hoosier Girl,” scheduled for Saturday, February 28th, with both matinee and night performances.
