What is Broadway Ephemera?
In honor of Broadway or Bust , premiering on PBS Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 8/7C, John Bruno shares his thoughts on collecting from the Great White Way:
I’ve been a collector for more than fifty years, and through that time my interests have run the gamut of antiques and collectibles, from pottery to glassware to lighting to furniture to vintage clothing to housewares and more. But one aspect of my collecting has remained constant – ephemera. "Ephemera" is the term used for paper items made for one-time or short-term use. Ephemera can be added to, included in, or used as an adjunct for virtually any collection. A vintage car collector's ephemera might include auto manuals and ads, while aviation collector would seek out travel posters. Because I’m an inveterate New Yorker, finding Broadway ephemera is one of my passions, both as a cross-collectible with my other interests, and as a stand-alone collection.