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book (design) story #536

hans curjel:
corso – das fröhliche theater für jedermann

reag ag, zürich, around 1934
printer: buchdruckerei zum gutenberg ag, zürich
size: 21 x 15 cm
designer: herbert matter (cover)

in the 1930s, the revue theatre "corso" in zürich was a meeting point for the local (modernist) scene: this program booklet sports a stunning photomontage by graphic design genius herbert matter (1907-1984), featuring the script-style logotype designed by max bill.

the title says the jolly theatre for everybody set in the "signal" script typeface of 1931 and fat rules.

hans curjel (1896-1974) is listed as program director of the theatre, so i assume he was responsible for the text. this booklet was produced for the revue "nuits de paris" by jean valmy and robert valaire.

i couldn't find out the exact year, but it must be around 1935 (the brochure was featured in "neue grafik" 1/1958 with the date "1935/36").