[Ads-l] Antedating of "off-off-Broadway"

[ADSGarson O'Toole]

I am reminded of the expression "way off Broadway" which,
unsurprisingly, is not listed in the OED.

Date: January 3, 1954
Newspaper: Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph
Newspaper Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Article: A Star Is Born: Miss Seibert a Hit
Section 3, Quote Page 8, Column 4
Database: Newspapers.com

[Begin excerpt]
When the right actor or-actress-and the right part meet under
favorable circumstances magic sparks fly and a star is born. And it is
heartening to know that this can still happen in a local "way-off
Broadway" theater.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Wed, Aug 30, 2023 at 7:08 PM Ben Zimmer <bgzimmer at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Even earlier...
>
> ---
> https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-off-off-broadwa/130945666/
> Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Feb 27, 1954, p. 2, col. 4
> "Off-Broadway" plays have been numerous and stimulating this theatrical
> season -- and now the first "off-off-Broadway" production has cropped up in
> Brooklyn.
> ---
>
> --bgz
>
> On Wed, Aug 30, 2023 at 3:00 PM Bill Mullins <amcombill at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Slightly earlier:
> >
> > 1954 Shreveport Times 7 Mar 4B/7  www.newspapers.com
> >
> > Circle-in-the-Square, the off-off-Broadway theater, may extend its
> > operations 'way off Broadway indeed -- London, to be exact.
> >
> > https://www.newspapers.com/image/211329824/?terms=%20broadway%22&match=2
> >
> >
> > Quote is from a Dorothy Kilgallen column which ran as early as 4 March in
> > some markets. However, the quote is found in in a very short paragraph
> > which appears to edited out of the column in most newspapers, presumably
> > for space reasons.  But the quote could be found a few days earlier if a
> > paper ran the column in its entirety.
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> On Behalf Of
> > > Steven Losie
> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 12:51 PM
> > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > > Subject: Antedating of "off-off-Broadway"
> > >
> > > Off-off-Broadway.
> > > OED3 cites the New York Times on May 5, 1957. Here are two earlier
> > > citations:
> > >
> > > [begin quote]
> > > Audrey Hepburn's understudy in "Ondine," a young lady named Eva Stern,
> > > quit her job last week for a real part in what might, under the right
> > > circumstances, be referred to as an off-off-Broadway production.
> > > [end quote]
> > > Source: New York Daily News, Mar 9, 1954, p.15C, col.4 Article title:
> > French
> > > 'Mutiny' Stars; R&H Ahead of Schedule
> > > Author: Douglas Watt
> > > Database: ProQuest Historical Newspapers
> > >
> > > [begin quote]
> > > One church group is having off-off-Broadway tryouts of its shows, sending
> > > them to out of town churches before bringing them in.
> > > [end quote]
> > > Source: Chicago Tribune, Mar 27, 1955, p.K4, col.1 Article title: A True
> > Actor
> > > Can't Be Kept from Theater
> > > Author: John Chapman
> > > Database: ProQuest Historical Newspapers
> >
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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