Author: Kellems, Vivien. (1896-1975). Theatre publicist, lecturer and business woman, well-known for her feuds with the Federal tax authorities.
Title: Promotional Brochure Advertising Publicist Vivien Kellems' Lectures on the Theatre.
Description: New York: circa [1923]. [1923]. - Small quarto [10-1/2 inches high by 8 inches wide], softcover. A sheet of cream-colored paper printed in brown is folded once to form a 4-page brochure. A full-page photographic portrait of Vivien Kellems is followed by 2 pages of text on Kellems and her lectures, with a page of testimonials on the 4th side. There is some very light soiling with a light paperclip mark to the top margin of the 1st page. There is a tiny chip to the bottom of the fold. Very good.

The brochure states that Miss Kellems hopes through her lectures to carry the message of a better theatre throughout America. Among the titles are "About the Great Revolution for a Cleaner and More Intelligent Drama and How It Progresses" and "About the Need of Better Audiences and the Way That Need Is Being Met". Laid in are a report on an address by Kellems at a Rotary Club of New York luncheon and a humorous song from the Indianapolis Rotary Club in which the members vow to clean up their theatre-going.

Vivien Kellems [1896-1975] earned an M.A. in economics ar the University of Oregon in 1920, but abandoned her Ph.D. studies at Columbia University to become a theatrical publicist. She later went on the lecture circuit, supplementing her fees with bonuses from producers whose plays she mentioned. Her business career, which began in 1928, was built on a cable grip invented by her brother Edgar. By the end of the first year her firm had a gross income of $40,000 and had paid $4,000 in royalties to her brother. Thereafter it was her feud with the tax authorities that brought her nationwide fame. She believed that the Federal tax system discriminated against single people. Kellems also ran for political office unsuccessfully on several occasions. Very good .

Keywords: ECONOMICS; FEDERAL TAX SYSTEM; THEATRICAL PUBLICIST; LECTURER; BUSINESSWOMAN; FEUD WITH TAX AUTHORITIES; PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE ADVERTISING PUBLICIST VIVIEN KELLEMS' LECTURES ON THE THEATRE; CABLE GRIP PATENT.

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