Collection of 1931-1973 Broadway Footage Released!!
Collection of 1931-1973 Broadway Footage Released!!
#1Collection of 1931-1973 Broadway Footage Released!!
Posted: 11/24/25 at 4:19pm
Ever since I’ve been a teen in the 90s I’ve heard of this collection of audience film footage that author/collector Miles Kreuger had if silent film a theatre fan had shot over forty years ago—hundreds of hours. Some has leaked to collectors before but it looks like the intention is to finally make all of it available (I want them to jump to that A Littke Night Music footage I’ve heard about).
“
The Ray Knight Broadway Theatre Films is a unique collection of 16mm silent film shot by theatergoer Ray Knight of Jacksonville, Florida, on visits to New York City during a period of over 40 years. From the Ziegfeld Follies of 1931 to A Little Night Music (1973), Knight captured on film excerpts of actual performances of approximately 140 Broadway musicals, creatively edited into narrative sequences along with local scenes of New York City and homemade shots of theatre memorabilia. What was originally intended as a personal souvenir has now become a masterpiece of primitive film art, an unparalleled historical resource, and a national treasure--the single largest collection of moving images of the Broadway musical during its golden years.
The Institute of the American Musical is making these unique documents available to the public incrementally as they are completed because we recognize their great interest and unparalleled educational value for musical theatre producers, performers, scholars, students, and aficionados alike. As we undertake the work of identifying the musical numbers and performers and preparing the film for publication, we ask for your patience in waiting for the videos of so many important and beloved musicals to come on line. At the same time, we deeply appreciate any funding assistance you may be able to provide to this project, which will allow us to continue this work to research and edit the films with greater speed. Please join our community if your are interested in these films by submitting your contact information so that we may keep you informed as new videos of musicals are posted. ”
https://www.institute-american-musical.org/theatrefilms
carolinaguy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/13/06
#3Collection of 1931-1973 Broadway Footage Released!!
Posted: 11/24/25 at 4:54pm
There's Desi Arnaz over a decade pre-Lucy!
Just remembering you've had an "and"
When you're back to "or"
Makes the "or" mean more than it did before
#4Collection of 1931-1973 Broadway Footage Released!!
Posted: 11/24/25 at 4:56pm
I’m desperate to know how they persuaded Miles to actually let go of his hoard and make sure these would be preserved. People have been trying for YEARS.
#5Collection of 1931-1973 Broadway Footage Released!!
Posted: 11/24/25 at 5:05pm
The clips from the 1930s are of incredible quality!
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#7Collection of 1931-1973 Broadway Footage Released!!
Posted: 11/24/25 at 5:26pm
Streisand must be flippin’ as there’s footage of 1962’s I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE.
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