The Music Man - Adelphi Theatre (1961)
Year: 1961
Format: Programme
Illustrator: David Klein (1918-2005)
Client: Adelphi Theatre
Details: The cover of this 1961 Adelphi Theatre programme for a production of 'The Music Man' features artwork by David Klein (1918-2005).
Klein was born in El Paso, Texas. He later moved to California where he attended the Art Center School in Los Angeles.
Klein served for the United States Army during World War II, producing illustrations on behalf of the United States Armed Forces. The United States Air Force created the Air Force Art Collection in 1953, which features several of Klein’s works.
Following the war, Klein relocated to New York where he worked as an illustrator for many productions in the Broadway Theatre District. He created window cards and posters for many popular Broadway shows during the late 1940s and early 1950s, including Death of a Salesman, Brigadoon, The Most Happy Fella, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Alice In Wonderland.
Klein is perhaps best known for his work for Trans World Airlines (TWA). Between c.1955–1965, Klein designed numerous award-winning advertising posters for the company, one of which was acquired by New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for its permanent collection.