Framed Forepaughs Dime Museum Playbill For After Dark Appraisal

Framed Forepaugh’s Dime Museum Playbill for 'After Dark'

This item is a framed historical playbill from Forepaugh’s Dime Museum, located on Eighth Street between Race and Vine in Cincinnati, Ohio. The broadside announces a production of the play 'After Dark' by Dion Boucicault, along with a 'Curio Hall' lineup of attractions. The paper is likely newsprint or wood-pulp based, exhibiting significant age-related toning, darkening, and occasional foxing consistent with the late 19th-century origin (est. 1870s-1880s). The typography features characteristic Victorian wood-type fonts and diverse layout styles popular in theatrical advertising of the era. Notable acts listed include 'Prof. Gornan, Ventriloquist,' 'Fred Howe, Giant Fat Boy,' and 'Harvey Nelson, Armless Child,' which highlights the sensationalist nature of dime museum entertainment. The broadside is housed in a simple rectangular black wooden or lacquer-finished frame, which shows minor edge wear and surface abrasions. The paper shows visible rippling and vertical creasing, suggesting it was once folded or inadequately pressed. There is a slight visible margin between the paper and the frame edge. The admission prices are listed at 10, 20, and 30 cents, reflecting the accessible pricing of the period. This piece serves as a rare cultural artifact of American vaudeville and freak show history.