Corporate records and publications from the Studio Arena Theatre (c. 1920-2008) in Buffalo, NY. Drama periodicals; ephemera; fundraising materials, including “Take a Seat”; newsletters; photographs; playbills; posters; production reports; publicity materials; reviews; scripts; slides and negatives; and VHS/CD.

This collection, collected and donated by Hudson resident Willam E. Kline, documents the activities of The Playhouse in Hudson, NY during its heyday in the first quarter of the 20th century. The collection contains two scrapbooks and 42 programs from live performances (including dance, music, vaudeville, plays, and musicals) and movie screenings, dating from 1917 to 1926. Many of the programs represent shows put on by the Hudson Elks’ Minstrels, who performed annually for some consecutive years. The scrapbooks also include ephemera related to the final years of World War I, such as a program for “Soldiers Homecoming Celebration” at The Playhouse on Sept 9, 1919, newspaper clippings, and a pamphlet explaining War-Savings Stamps from 1917.