The O'Keefe Centre: Thirty years of theatre history by Hugh Walker - 1991

Toronto: Key Porter, 1991. 310 pp, 4to (11 3/4" H). "Since its opening in 1960, the O'Keefe Centre has been Canada's premier theatre: home of the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company, the chief venue for Broadway musicals and plays, international artists, modern and classical dance companies - everything glorious in the performing arts. Almost 300 black-and-white photographs of distinguished entertainers illustrate this lively history of the O'Keefe Centre from 1960 to 1990. The book includes the design and building of the centre, sections on the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company, musicals and revues, theatrical productions and star performers who have played at the O'Keefe, from Harry Belafonte, Liza Minelli and Anne Murray to Sir Laurence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn and Richard Burton. The author, who was manager of the centre for the first fifteen years, describes personal encounters with a multitude of stars and directors, and… Read More

Key Porter Books, 1991. Hardcover. NF./VG+.. 0x0x0. Brown cloth boards. History of the Toronto, Ontario performing arts centre, written by the manager for its first fifteen years. Black and white photos.

Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1991. Book. Very Good+. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). First Edition. 4to. (ix) (ix) 310 pp. Personalized inscription by Hugh Walker, along with a personal dropped-in letter from Walker to Mary Rooney, the wife of Jim Rooney, the front doorman and a retired employee of the O'Keefe Brewing Company, on the demise of Mr. Rooney. Also dropped-in is a brief newspaper article from 1996, also written by Hugh Walker. Brown boards lettered in gilt on the spine; brown endpapers; headband; profusely illustrated with black and white photographs. Light wear at the corners of the dustjacket; price intact; aside from the author's inscription, no interior markings. Some of the finest performers in the world played the O'Keefe, from Harry Belafonte to Carol Channing and Katherine Hepburn, Richard Burton, Anne Murray, Julie Andrews, Robert Goulet, Richard Harris, Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Diahann Carroll, Mary Martin, Cab Calloway, Chaim Topol, Juliet Prowse, Joel Grey,… Read More

Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1991. True 1st CDN Edition, 1st Printing. 1st Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine/Fine. 11 3/4" X 9 3/4. Various. Number line: 91 92 93 94 95 6 5 4 3 2 1. Author was President and General Manager of the O'Keefe Centre from 1960 to 1975. Book is illustrated with almost 300 b/w photographs of entertainers who have performed there. Also detailed is the design, and building of the centre. Introduction by Herbert Whittaker, Drama critic emeritus, Globe and Mail. Book divisions: Part I - The Theatre, Part II - Performances. 278 pp. plus: Appendix A - Officers, Directors, and Boards of Management, Appendix B - Consultants for Construction, Appendix C - The O'Keefe Bears, Appendix D - Musicals, Appendix E - Revues, International Artists and Jazz, Appendix F - Plays, Appendix G - Operas, Appendix H - Ballets, Appendix I - Canadian Opera Company Productions, Appendix J - COC Major Corporate Sponsors and Patrons, Appendix K - COC Foundations,… Read More