Scope and arrangement
The collection consists primarily of photographs, clippings, and programs, as well as scrapbooks, posters, and a small amount of correspondence, documenting the plays, contests, and travelling shows of the United States Army's Entertainment Services Unit. Materials are from bases in the United States, Germany, Korea, and Japan, and span the late 1940s to the 1970s. Many of these shows are popular stage musicals such as The Fantasticks, The Pajama Game, Guys and Dolls; also represented are non-musical plays such as The Odd Couple and Inherit the Wind. Of special note are a collection of post World War II scrapbooks from bases in Germany, dating back to 1949, documenting plays and musical productions there.
The Margaret E. Lynn Army Music and Theatre Collection is arranged in eight series:
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n.d.1 box
This series contains a small amount of correspondence and memos from the Entertainment Unit. There are also a few miscellaneous publications.
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1967-1978
This series contains clippings, programs and photographs from Entertainment Services productions in the United States and abroad. The records span from the late 1960s through the mid 1970s.
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1955-1973
This series consists of 2 scrapbooks of material on the Army Showmobile, an entertainment program.
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1957-1971
This series contains scrapbooks and materials related to talent contests held by the Entertainment Unit. Included are the Army Entertainment Contests for 1958-1959, Tournament of Plays for 1957-1962 as well as some others.
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n.d.
This series includes pamphlets distributed by the Army Entertainment Unit detailing how to put on various types of shows and entertainments. Pamphlets included are for hospital entertainments, soldier's shows and generic production guides.
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n.d.
This series contains programs and an instruction guide bound together by the library at an earlier date. There are a variety of programs both from productions in the United States and overseas. Overseas entertainment programs are primarily from Germany and Korea.
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1949-1978
This series contains scrapbooks created by the various bases and entertainment units for plays and musical productions throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Of special note are a collection of post World War II scrapbooks from German bases.
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n.d.
This series contains miscellaneous posters, flyers and window cards which were used to promote the Army Entertainment Unit productions.