Manuscript Spotlight: Signed Souvenir Programs

Today we will be displaying two of our autographed souvenir programs, from our Bernice Rehner collection. Bernice Rehner danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from 1946 to 1950, and her collection has a large variety of manuscripts, including these two programs. The first is from the 1945-1946 season of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, which was Rehner's first year with the company.

The cover of the 1945-1946 Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo souvenir program, signed by Bernice Rehner.

Most members of the company signed the inside page of the program:

However, the more famous members of the company each autographed their own photo in the program. These include:

Alexandra Danilova, the star of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo during this period, she danced from 1938-1952, and in 1956 as a guest.

Frederic Franklin, partner to Danilova, danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in 1938-1952 and 1954-1956, with a year as a guest dancer in 1956-1957. He became the ballet master for the company in 1944. 

Nathalie Krassovska, danced with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from 1938-1949.

Signature by Michel Katcharoff, pictured with Nathalie Krassovska. Katcharoff was with the company from 1938-1950.

The second program is from the 1948-1949 season of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Mrs. Rehner had already been with the company for several years at this point, and each signature is dedicated not to her, but to her parents. For clarification, Bernice Rehner's original last name was Rechenmacher. She changed it to Rehner when she became part of the company, a common practice at the time. This is why the signatures are made out to Mr. and Mrs. Rechenmacher.

The cover of the program, signed by Barbara Ferguson, and an unknown press agent.

Frederic Franklin

Leon Danielian, danced with the company from 1943-1952, and from 1954-1957, with a run as a guest from 1958-1960.

Robert Lindgren, danced with the company from 1944-1952, and Yvonne Chouteau, who danced with the company from 1943-1952, with a return from 1954-1957. Chouteau would go on to co-found the School of Dance at the University of Oklahoma with her husband Miguel Terekhov, which is where our archive resides.