The Spectacular Sets of Early 20th Century New York Theater

Many theatrical set designers today follow the maxim of “less is more”, but in the old days when theaters had to compete with moving pictures, plays frequently featured elaborate and extravagant sets built with great attention to detail.

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart was born on December 25, 1899, in New York City. He began his career on Broadway in the 1920s. This led to B-movie parts in 1930s Hollywood. Bogart’s turning point came in the 1940s, with his legendary roles in The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca. He died in 1957 at the age of 57 to esophageal cancer.

Saratoga Springs, New York, 1915

Broadway at the United States Hotel.