Title

John Henry, Los Angeles, 1936. Creator: Unknown.

Caption

John Henry, Los Angeles, 1936. 'Mayan Theatre..."John Henry" - Federal Theatre Project...Div. of W.P.A.'. Play based on the African-American folk hero, said to have worked as a 'steel-driving man', tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to blast the rock in constructing a railroad tunnel. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers, re-employ them on public relief, and to bring theater to thousands in the United States who had never before seen live theatrical performances.

Credit line

Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art

Reference

HRM23A05_311

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

License type

Rights managed

Available size

52,6Mb (1,7Mb) / 12,4in x 16,5in / 3708 x 4960 (300dpi)

Keywords

transport transportation people black male library event work man men strong railways arts politics worker country play playhouse entertainment guy theatre tools tool hammer railway color strength design drama show political text location century thirties folklore concept poster hero African American performing arts African-American afro-american lettering Library of Congress heroic United States of America heroism Colour playbill graphic design 1930s 20th century workers heritage American America USA cultural event folk hero New Deal railway staff railway worker poster united states Unknown stage show Congressional Library cultural heritage Black History Heritage Art folk life Federal Theatre Project Works Progress Administration Administration Works Progress WPA