[Broadside] An Oriental Drama. Something New. Neither a Lecture Nor an Address. Melville Ellsworth Osborne, S. T. B. Representing Committee on Conservation and Advance. Play Writer - Traveler - Lecturer - Evangelist - Soloist - Actor. Twenty-five Years' Thrilling Experiences Himalayan Mountains. Specialties -- Weird Indian Songs - Fascinating Instrumental Music -- Fifty Gorgeous Costumed Characters -- Caste System Exposed -- Hindu Customs Vividly Portrayed -- Mass Movement Scenes -- Religious Victory Yells . . .

NA. Very Good. Promotion for a seemingly versatile performance artist before there was such a term! N.d., probably 1923, or otherwise 1917. 46 by 32 cm. Back when lectures were like today's performance art. Osborne would appear to have worked the church lecture circuit. Here, written in ink at the bottom, is scrawled that the performance was going to be at the Methodist Church on Tuesday, July 24th. Since there are records of Osborne touring in the early 1920s, we presume the date of this performance would have been 1923, in which year July 24th did fall on a Tuesday. Otherwise, 1917 would be our next bet. Osborne was the son of missionaries, and it would seem he would capitalize on his exposure to Indian culture to create this roadshow of his. (Inventory #: 005274)