1910 The Sensational Western Life Drama Jessie James The Missouri Outlaw
DESCRIPTION
By: Donaldson Litho Company
Date: 1910 (circa) Newport, KY
Dimensions: 29 x 19 inches (73.5 x 48 cm)
This scarce and visually powerful chromolithograph was produced by the Donaldson Lithograph Company of Newport, Kentucky, one of the premier theatrical printers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Issued around the turn of the century, it was created to promote the Western stage drama Jesse James / The Missouri Outlaw, part of a wave of sensational theatrical productions that capitalized on the enduring fascination with America’s most famous outlaw.
The composition captures the thrilling drama promised by the play: several figures are shown being held at gunpoint, while a cabin in the background blazes with fire, heightening the sense of violence and suspense. Bold lettering across the top reads, “The Sensational Western Life Drama / Jesse James, The Missouri Outlaw”, ensuring the title dominated theater lobbies, billboards, or fence lines where these posters were pasted. Rendered in rich chromolithographic color, the scene conveys the action, danger, and moral ambiguity that characterized both the legend of Jesse James and the theatrical genre built around his story.
Historical Context of Jesse James and Wild West Theatre
The figure of Jesse James had, by this period, moved from outlaw to legend, inspiring dime novels, stage melodramas, and later early films. Theatrical productions like The Missouri Outlaw were immensely popular with audiences hungry for romanticized tales of the Wild West, even as they blurred the lines between history and myth. Donaldson Litho Company, credited in the lower margin of the sheet, specialized in bold, colorful, and durable posters designed to grab attention and drive ticket sales, and their work is highly sought after today by collectors of circus, Wild West, and theatrical ephemera.
As an original survivor of this ephemeral advertising medium intended to be used outdoors and discarded after a show’s run, this poster is rare. Its preservation allows us to see how Jesse James was packaged and sold to the public as both entertainment and Americana myth. It survives as a striking example of period advertising art that captures the drama and allure of America’s outlaw legend.
Condition: Poster is in fine condition with old tears closed and reinforced with professional linen backing. Colors are bold, bright, and saturated.
Inventory #92315
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622
CONDITION
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622