Nov 5, 2025 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
36
The rare poster from the first American performances of Endgame, 1958
Collection of American Theater Director Alan Schneider (1917-1984)
SAMUEL BECKETT
Original poster for Endgame at the Cherry Lane Theatre. [New York: 1958]. Color printed poster, 22 x 14 inches. Some surface wear and a few small marginal stains. Not examined out of frame.
Provenance: Collection of Alan Schneider (1917-1984); Following the death of Alan Schneider in 1984, these materials were retained by Schneider’s widow, Eugenie Schneider, who died in the summer of 2025 at 101 years old.
An attractive poster for the original American run—the first run in English—of Endgame, directed by Alan Schneider. Although Schneider's 1956 American premiere of Waiting for Godot resulted in the "Miami fiasco," he and Samuel Beckett maintained a strong friendship and an extensive correspondence. In January of 1958, Schneider redeemed himself with a well-received production of Endgame at New York's Cherry Lane Theatre. In his autobiography Entrances, Alan Schneider recounts the cast, late in the night and drunk on rye Manhattans, placing an overseas phone call to Beckett to report Endgame's first good reviews. This poster includes quotes from two of those positive notices.
Scarce. We do not trace any copies of this poster in the auction records.
Sold for $1,920
Estimated at $1,000 - $1,500
Includes Buyer's Premium
Collection of American Theater Director Alan Schneider (1917-1984)
SAMUEL BECKETT
Original poster for Endgame at the Cherry Lane Theatre. [New York: 1958]. Color printed poster, 22 x 14 inches. Some surface wear and a few small marginal stains. Not examined out of frame.
Provenance: Collection of Alan Schneider (1917-1984); Following the death of Alan Schneider in 1984, these materials were retained by Schneider’s widow, Eugenie Schneider, who died in the summer of 2025 at 101 years old.
An attractive poster for the original American run—the first run in English—of Endgame, directed by Alan Schneider. Although Schneider's 1956 American premiere of Waiting for Godot resulted in the "Miami fiasco," he and Samuel Beckett maintained a strong friendship and an extensive correspondence. In January of 1958, Schneider redeemed himself with a well-received production of Endgame at New York's Cherry Lane Theatre. In his autobiography Entrances, Alan Schneider recounts the cast, late in the night and drunk on rye Manhattans, placing an overseas phone call to Beckett to report Endgame's first good reviews. This poster includes quotes from two of those positive notices.
Scarce. We do not trace any copies of this poster in the auction records.
Auction: Stage & Screen featuring The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Nov 5, 2025
-
Popular Stage & Screen Auction on November 5, 2025 Attracted Global Audience
-
Memorabilia, Autographs, Artwork & Photographs Celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance
-
Archive of Samuel Beckett Material from the Estate of His American Director Alan Schneider Topped $75,000
-
Sale Featured a Special Section Devoted to the Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's popular Stage & Screen auction on November 5, 2025 attracted fans and collectors around the world vying for an exciting range of offerings celebrating the performing arts of Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance.
The Estate of Alan Schneider
Featured in the sale was fascinating collection of early Waiting for Godot material from the Estate of Alan Schneider that topped $75,000 amid trans-Atlantic competition. “The primary American director of Samuel Beckett plays” and a close friend of the playwright, Alan Schneider died in 1984, and his widow died at 101 this past summer. This remarkable archive offered an extraordinary glimpse into the creative partnership between Schneider and Beckett, spanning decades of groundbreaking theatrical work. Highlights included Schneider’s annotated working copy of Waiting for Godot used in the landmark American production, an inscribed typescript of Eh Joe, and first editions and presentation copies of Endgame and Happy Days, many personally inscribed to Schneider by Beckett. Other treasures included manuscripts, letters, awards, recordings and posters that document a pivotal collaboration in modern theater history. Read more
The Estate of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.
Doyle was honored to offer a sequel to the successful 2011 auction of property from the estate of the legendary actor. Featured in the sale were artwork, furniture, photographs and memorabilia. Read More.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
REQUEST AN ESTIMATE
