Overview of the Collection
Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library
1515 Young StDallas, TX 75201
Pringle, James
James Pringle Collection
1950-1959
4 Boxes
MA06-3
The records are in English.
Biographical Note
James Pringle first meet Margo Jones when she spoke at Fordham University in 1947. He was the first student to enroll in a new theater course the university was offering. After graduating in 1947 he worked for Parsons School of Design and then Dramatic Workshop in New York. He was hired by Margo Jones in 1951 as an assistant to resident designer Tony Deeds. Promoted to Technical Director in 1952, Pringle became responsible for the stage design and lighting needed for Margo Jones' innovative theatre-in-the-round style.
James Pringle and his wife Rita became good friends with Margo Jones. They lived across the street from her apartment at the Stoneleigh Hotel for a while and she was a frequent visitor. Pringle served as a pall bearer at her funeral in 1955 and continued to serve the Margo Jones Theatre as Technical Director and Designer until it closed in 1959.
Scope and Contents
The James Pringle Collection contains playbills, correspondence, photographs, clippings, scrapbooks and ephemera collected during his years working as Technical Director at the Margo Jones Theatre.
The scrapbooks in the James Pringle Collection had materials removed for preservation reasons. Scrapbook one had its photographs removed, the places marked where the photographs once were with the photonumber penciled in. Scrapbook two was in poor shape and its clippings and photographs were removed and placed into folders. Materials removed from scrapbook three consist of notes from Margo Jones to James Pringle. They were removed from the album for preservation reasons.
Related Material
MA62-1 Margo Jones Collection
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Persons:
Pringle, James
Pringle, Rita
Jones, Margo
Organizations:
Dallas Civic Theatre
Margo Jones Theatre
Family Names:
Pringle
Places:
Dallas (Tex.)
Subjects:
Theatre
Titles:
James Pringle Collection
Preferred Citation
MA06-3 James Pringle Collection, Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library
Processing Information
Processed by Bryan McKinney
Detailed Description of the Collection
1
a.
Register
Correspondence
1
1
Margo Jones to James Pringle (employment)
1951-1952; 1954
1
2
Opening Night "Good Show" notes from Margo Jones to James Pringle. Removed from Scrapbook 3
1
3
Note to James Pringle from Harry Grinnick
1
4
Notes to Rita Pringle
Theatre Programs
1
5
Theatre '51-'52 (Bound)
1
6
Theatre '52-'53 (Bound)
1
7
Theatre '53-'54 (Bound)
1
8
Theatre '54
1
9
Theatre '55 and Margo Jones Theatre '55
1
10
Margo Jones Theatre '56
1
11
Margo Jones Theatre '57
1
12
Margo Jones Theatre '58
1
13
Flier "The Heiress" Theatre '59
1
14
Programs, Houston
Newsclippings
1
15
1951
1
16
Removed from Scrapbook 2:
1953
1
17
Removed from Scrapbook 2:
1954
1
18
Removed from Scrapbook 2:
1955
1
19
Removed from Scrapbook 2:
1956
1
20
Removed from Scrapbook 2:
1957
1
21
List of problems the theatre has.
1
22
Tribute to Margo Jones Material
1997
Costume Designs and Stage Diagram
2
1
"Golden Porcupine" Anne of France
1950
2
2
"Golden Porcupine" Louis D'Orleans
1950
2
3
Stage Diagram for Margo Jones Theatre '58
Scrapbook
2
Scrapbook 1 -
'51-'52-
Photographs
3
MA06.3/1
Bernedette Whitehead and Peter Donat outside of Theatre '51 with tennis rackets. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1
1951
3
MA06.3/2
Margo Jones and James Pringle sit in the audience watching a rehearsal. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1
1951
3
MA06.3/3
Cast of Theatre '51 rehearse "A Midsummer Nights Dream". Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1951
3
MA06.3/4
Cast of Theatre '51 perform "A Midsummer Nights Dream". Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
3
MA06.3/5
Group shot of cast of "Midsummer Nights Dream". Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
3
MA06.3/6
James Pringle sits on a ledge. Theatre '52 sign in background. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
3
MA06.3/7
James Pringle working with an unknown woman. In Theatre '52 office. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
3
MA06.3/8
Play. "The Blind Spot". In the picture clockwise. Peter Donat, Mary Dell Roberts, Evelyn Bettis, Norma Winters, John Muson, and Edwin Whitner. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
3
MA06.3/9
Edwin Whitner plays the Captain in "The Father". Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
3
MA06.3/10
Picture of Theatre '52. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/11
James Pringle stands behind two men seated in front of Theatre '52's doors. Picture is too blurry to identify men. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/12
William Dolan, production assistant, opening the door to Theatre '52. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/13
John Muson? And two other men sit on ledge with scripts. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/14
John Muson? And two other men sit on ledge with scripts. Now playing up toward the camera. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/15
John Muson? Cotton Bowl is behind him in shot. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/16
Closer shot of Theatre '52 with front doors. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/17
Rex Everhart and William Dolan carrying props. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/18
Charles Braswell and Fred Hoskins. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/19
James Pringle and wife Rita Pringle. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/20
Cast of Theatre '52 performing "Hamlet". Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/21
John Muson as Hamlet with Norma Winters. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/22
Funeral of Hamlet's father. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/23
Funeral of Hamlet's father. Photograph removed from scrapbook 1.
1952
3
MA06.3/24
Theatre '52-53 group shot. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
1952
3
MA06.3/25
James Pringle and an unknown man developing photographs. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
3
MA06.3/26
James Pringle on roller skates with costumes in his arms. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
3
MA06.3/27
Margo Jones Theatre '56 rehearsing "The Sand Castle". Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
1956
3
MA06.3/28
Margo Jones Theatre '56 rehearsing "The Sand Castle". Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
1956
3
MA06.3/29
Margo Jones Theatre '56 rehearsing "The Sand Castle". Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
1956
3
MA06.3/30
Margo Jones in audience, laughing. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
3
MA06.3/31
Audience laughing at Margo Jones Theatre. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
3
MA06.3/32
Possibly "The Circle"? Actors Edwin Whitner and Harry Bergman with an unknown woman and a dog. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
1957
3
MA06.3/33
Cast of Theatre '57 rehearsing "Uncle Vanya" Ronnie Claire Edwards and Harry Bergman. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
1957
3
MA06.3/34
Cast of unknown play reading from scripts. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
3
MA06.3/35
James Pringle and wife Rita along with others drinking champagne. Photograph removed from scrapbook 2.
1957
3
MA06.3/36
Theatre in the Round. Various views of the stage set up as a kitchen.
3
MA06.3/37
James Pringle, Rita Pringle and four men, possibly family.
3
MA06.3/38
James Pringle's parents?
3
MA06.3/39
Women laying out pants.
3
MA06.3/40
Rita Pringle standing by some cactus.
3
MA06.3/41
James Pringle dancing with a ballerina.
3
MA06.3/42
Cast dressed in costume, Spanish?
3
MA06.3/43
James Pringle? (blurry) stands in front of Spirit of the Centennial statue.
3
MA06.3/44
Unknown residence.
3
MA06.3/45
Set of "Ghost of a Chance". Various shots.
3
MA06.3/45.10
Edwin Whitner in makeup
3
MA06.3/45.11
Unknown actress in makeup.
3
MA06.3/45.12
Louise Latham? In makeup.
3
MA06.3/46
"The Learned Ladies" Performed by Theatre 48-49
1948
3
MA06.3/47
"Taming of the Shrew"
1948
3
MA06.3/48
Arthur L. Kramer Jr., Eric Jonsson, Elizabeth Ann McMurray and Eugene McDermott.
1948
Ephemera
4
Margo Jones' slippers worn for rehearsals.
4
2 Glass Turtles
4
2 Cigarette holders.