Object Details
Designer
Seymour Chwast, American, b. 1931
Catalogue Status
Research in Progress
Description
Executed in Chwast's characteristic style, influenced by children's drawings and comic books, the brightly colored poster advertises the televised magic show of Doug Henning. Across the upper section in yellow, red and black, the words "The Sensational Houdini Water Torture Escape" appear in a curvilinear banner on a green field. In the center, the figure of Doug Henning is shown upside down in a clear tank of water wearing a yellow and red swimsuit and handcuffs. He is attended on either side by two small women wearing turquoise tutus, white top hats and heels and holding walking sticks. At right a portrait of Hennings in a tondo with a pink banner below reading in yellow letters: BY / DOUG / HENNIG / STARRING IN / "THE MAGIC SHOW" / ONE OF BROADWAY'S / BRIGHTEST RECENT / HITS. On the lef,t a green banner with red and lavender letters: ATTEMPTED / FOR THE FIRST TIME / "LIVE" / ON TELEVISION!!! / DURING THE / Mobil [logo shown] / SHOWCASE / PRESENTATION OF / "THE WORLD OF / MAGIC" / DECEMBER 26 / ON NBC AT 8PM EST. / SPECIAL GUEST STARS / ORSON WELLES / BILL COSBY / JULIE NEWMAR
Credit Line
Gift of Ken Friedman
Date
1975
Accession Number
1997-19-202
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
graphic design
Object Name
Poster
Type
Poster
Medium
Offset lithograph on white wove paper
Dimensions
114.1 x 76.2 cm (44 15/16 x 30 in. )
made in
USA
See more items in
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection
Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design Department
Data Source
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
chndm_1997-19-202