Description

[Place of publication not identified]: [publisher not identified], [ca. 1938]. 310 by 250mm (12 1/2 by 9 3/4 inches). Photographic brochure; [16] pp. Two punch-outs to cover. Souvenir book of William Doorlay’s touring show. Text in English, German and French. Copiously illustrated; includes music score. Minor tears to front and back cover; light staple rust; light foxing; very good.

Foreign performing artists in Nazi Germany.

The motto of Doorlays was: [Why travel? Let us bring the world to you.] The international scope of Doorlays raised eyebrows during 1930’s Germany. See Prof. C.W. Doorlay, “Auslandsartisten rühmen Deutschland”, Die Deutsche Artistik, 2/42 (October 18, 1936).

The study of show business (and the circus) should address head-on its history of racism. How and why could such an international cast perform during Nazi Germany?

Worldwide only at Harvard. A similar (or miscatalogued) book of Doorlay’s, the “Famous American-Revue in 120 scenes” is only at the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek. Not otherwise in OCLC or KVK.

Subject of an academic article; see Susann Lewerenz: The Tropical Express in Nazi Germany (2014).

Additional information