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Archive: 2018 (55 Posts)

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Cooking Up History: Ballet Theatre Belly-Busters

Posted by: Paul Sommerfeld

In 1979, the corps de ballet of the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) went on strike in a wage dispute. The newest members of the corps, the lowest-ranking dancers in the company, only made $235 a week—$869 in 2018 dollars. Many principal and solo dancers in the ABT supported the corps. In an article for People …

Woman with dark hair, fancy dress and pearls with eyes closed and mouth slightly open, singing

Discover Dance at the Library of Congress

Posted by: Melissa Wertheimer

Dance Archivist Libby Smigel and I are excited to present a Saturday Research Orientation for dance on October 20! Whether you’re a seasoned dance researcher, a first-time Library visitor, local dance educator, or student currently studying dance, we can’t wait to meet you and share our resources with you. Please register for this free event …

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A Star is Born Once Again

Posted by: Cait Miller

The following is a guest post from Gershwin Archivist Janet McKinney. It seems there is something utterly compelling about the core story of A Star is Born, as it is now being told in theaters for the fourth time. Originally a 1937 drama starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, it told the story of a …

Woman with dark hair, fancy dress and pearls with eyes closed and mouth slightly open, singing

Sheet Music Spotlight: New Orleans Turns 300

Posted by: Pat Padua

The following is a guest post by retired cataloger Sharon McKinley. The great city of New Orleans turns 300 this year, and they’re celebrating in a big way. To help commemorate this exciting milestone, we proudly present a few of our musical gems published in one of my favorite cities. New Orleans is best known …

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How Do You Hurry? Silent Film Music at the Library of Congress

Posted by: Paul Sommerfeld

Over the past several months, I’ve been sifting through the thousands of pieces that are part of the silent film music accompaniment anthologies in the Music Division’s collection. These volumes, with titles such as the Capitol Photoplay Series, The Synchronizer Suite, or Sam Fox Photoplay Edition: A Looseleaf Collection of High Class Dramatic and Descriptive …