Maine Memory Network

Contributed by Boston Public Library

Description

The Ogunquit Playhouse began as a summer theater, established by Broadway showman Walter Hartwig, on the town’s Main Street. The doors of the new playhouse, the location pictured here, opened on July 17, 1937—the first playhouse built specifically as a seasonal theatre. Hartwig’s wife Maude kept the theatre going throughout WWII, selling it in 1950 to John Lane, who worked to transform Summer Stock theatre and brought in distinguished actors to Ogunquit. As of 2022, the former summer theatre is internationally renowned, with a 26-week season, hosting regional and world premieres. The Playhouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The caption reads, "Ogunquit Playhouse, Ogunquit, Maine."

The Tichnor Brothers printing company published this type of postcard circa 1938.

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About This Item

• Title: Ogunquit Playhouse, ca. 1938
• Creator: Tichnor Bros., Inc.
• Creation Date: circa 1938
• Subject Date: circa 1938
• Location: Ogunquit, York County, ME
• Media: Linen texture postcard
• Dimensions: 9 cm x 14 cm
• Collection: The Tichnor Brothers Collection
• Object Type: Text and Image

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Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

• Ogunquit Playhouse (Ogunquit, Me.)
• Postcards
• Summer theater--Maine--Ogunquit
• Theater--Maine--Ogunquit

People

• Hartwig, Maude
• Hartwig, Walter
• Lane, John

Other Keywords

• Postcards
• Postcards--Maine
• Summer theater--Maine
• Theaters

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For more information about this item, contact:

Boston Public Library
700 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
(617) 859-2039
Website

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