You are cordially invited to attend a champagne party for the benefit of The Living Theatre and its European tour...
New York: The Living Theatre, 1961. First Edition, First Printing.
Oblong 16mo (6 1/2 x 5 1/8 inches; 165 x 130 mm), [4] pages in stapled red, white and blue wrappers.
Invitation for a Champagne party and auction at the studio of artist Larry Rivers on May 2, 1961, to raise money for the Living Theatre and its forthcoming European tour. The auction included art works and manuscripts, most notably the entire manuscript of Allen Ginsberg's "Kaddish," as well as works by John Cage, Louise Nevelson, Robert Rauschenberg, Grace Hartigan, Jasper Johns, Willem De Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Franz Kline, and others.
Rivers's studio was at 102 West Third Street in the West Village. The invitation requested a contribution of $25 per couple and assured attendees that the evening was "informal." The guests of honor were Eva Gabor, Denise Darcel, Arlene Francis, Shelley Winters, and Kim Stanley.
The evening was a huge success, according to The New York Times, raising about $20,500 (equal to around $180,000 in 2021). Foundations had promised an additional $5,000 while $18,000 had already been raised in previous months, thus assuring that the Living Theatre's European trip would go ahead.
The Living Theatre planned to perform in Paris, Rome, London, Turin, Milan, Amsterdam, Glasgow, and Florence with plays by Bertolt Brecht (In the Jungle of Cities), William Carlos Williams (Many Loves), Jack Gelber (The Connection), and Luigi Pirandello (Tonight We Improvise).
An interesting snapshot of the New York art, literary, and entertainment worlds of 1961. And, of course, a rare piece of Living Theatre ephemera. RARE.
CONDITION: Near Fine, with trivial hints of edge wear. Sharp, clean, and fresh. Item #1607
Price: $250.00