KAROLY BARTA - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED - HFSID 315013

KAROLY BARTA
Russian activist and dancer sends John Willis, editor of Theatre World, a postcard wishing him a "Happy New Year"
Autograph note signed: "Karoly Barta" in orange ink. 1 page, 6x4¼. Geneseo, New York. In full: "Dear Mr. Willis, All good wishes for a Happy New Year - and the Holidays". Dancer Karoly Barta (b.1937) grew up the son of a department store owner in Budapest, beginning his dance lessons at age 11. When the Hungarian Revolt of 1956 broke out, Barta, 19 at the time and like many Hungarian youths, fought in the revolution. To bring relief to fallen victims, Barta and his friends of the Budapest Arts Club collected food and supplies, driving to dangerous towns outside of Budapest, at times being captured and interrogated by Russian officials. Barta, who was eventually able to escape to Austria and immigrate to America, became a U.S. national ballet star first premiering in Milwaukee where he was a principal dancer in Broadway's Brigadoon (1960). In 1970, he became the head of the Birmingham Civic Ballet, and later he was named the Ballet Master of the Dance for Washington, Inc. Theatre World, founded in 1945 by Daniel Blum, is America's oldest annual record of Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theatre, referenced by industry professionals, historians, students and theatre fans worldwide. Until 1998, when a separate nonprofit corporation was established, Theatre World's editorial staff bestowed the prestigious Theatre World Awards for outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway debuts. Screen World (from 1950) and Dance World (from 1966), administered from the same office, also furnished comprehensive information on those entertainment genres. Toned. Corners rounded. Fine condition.