Attempted Bloggery: Encores: The New Yorkers Autographed Playbill

Cole Porter's musical "The New Yorkers" opened on Broadway in 1930 and ran for 168 performances. The book was by Herbert Fields based on a concept by New Yorker cartoonist Peter Arno and by E. Roy Goetz. No doubt Arno's involvement was publicized by way of the musical's title. In addition to Porter's songs, star Jimmy Durante wrote five songs for himself, an interesting collaboration.

Revivals have been infrequent and the musical is not widely known today, although some of the individual songs may still be familiar. In March of 2017, the show was staged in a concert performance at City Center as part of the Encores! series. A Playbill signed by much or all of the cast was sold on eBay soon after.