Description :

Romance and Grandeur: Geary Theatre’s 1967 Land of Smiles

This exceptionally rare and authentic Playbill originates from the Geary Theatre’s 1967 staging of The Land of Smiles, an opulent operetta by Franz Lehár that swept San Francisco’s cultural elite into a world of wistful romance and exotic grandeur. The production starred the world-renowned tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano in the commanding role of Prince Sou-Chong, alongside Valorie Goodall as Lisa, whose spirited performance and lyrical precision provided a compelling emotional counterbalance. Supporting roles were held by Theo Baylé and Eduard Linkers, with Baylé’s depth and Linkers’ nuanced charm contributing richly to the dramatic flow. The production was under the artistic direction of Paul Helmuth Schuessler, whose elegant pacing and theatrical intuition shaped the evening’s narrative contour. Musical direction and orchestral conducting were handled by Heinz Lambrecht, whose mastery of Lehár’s romantic score brought textured vitality and a silken tone to every musical passage. Visual splendor was achieved through period-specific costume designs by Kurt Maerzke and Edith Berger, whose creations combined imperial refinement with theatrical impact. The choreography, devised by Boris Tonin, added fluid, cinematic movement to the operetta’s high emotional crescendos—particularly during its ensemble sequences and dramatic duets.

This original Playbill, printed and distributed exclusively for the Geary Theatre's landmark run, features the contemporaneous and charming “My Sin Lanvin” cartoon advertisement nestled within its inner margins—an evocative period flourish emblematic of 1960s print culture. The piece is saddle-stitched and carefully preserved, a true production-issued document, not a reprint or facsimile. With no ties to broader touring or revival productions, this edition marks a singular moment in San Francisco’s theatrical heritage, capturing a high-caliber European-American artistic collaboration at the height of its expressive power.

Ideal for collectors of Golden Age opera memorabilia, mid-century theatre artifacts, and aficionados of Giuseppe Di Stefano’s luminous stage career, this auction set offers not just an item—but a portal into the grandeur and sincerity of 1967 opera culture in its most authentic form.

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