The Cool World (Original playbill for the 1960 play) by Rossen, Robert (director, playwright); Warren Miller (playwright, novelist); Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Raymond St. Jacques, Calvin Lockhart, Hilda Simms (starring) - 1960

New York: Playbill, 1960. Original "Playbill Magazine" playbill for the 1960 Broadway debut of the play "The Cool World," dated February 22, 1960 and noted as Volume 4 No. 9. "The Cool World" opened first in Philadelphia, then premiered on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on February 22, 1960 and closed on February 23, for a total of only two performances. Based on the 1959 novel by Warren Miller. The play follows the difficult lives of members of an African American youth gang in Harlem. Billy Dee Williams's first adult role on Broadway, thirteen years after his performance in "The Firebrand of Florence" at age 7, and twenty years before he would find international stardom in the role of Lando Calrissian. Basis for the 1963 film directed by Shirley Clarke and starring Antonio Fargas, Gloria Foster, and Clarence Williams III. The film is considered by many to be the first Blaxploitation film, and was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry. 9 x 6.5 inches, side stapled, 44 pages. Illustrated in black and white throughout, with color wrappers and a color advertising insert. A hint of toning, else Fine.