Ram Gopal "Golden Eagle" photograph and autographed card, 1956

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this collection in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) (https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en). The rights-holders are Topfoto - please contact SCRC for more information.

Preferred citation:

Ram Gopal "Golden Eagle" photograph and autographed card, C0483, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Summary

Extent:
.01 Linear Feet 1 items
Creator:
Planet News Ltd. (London, England) and Ram Gopal, 1917-2003
Language:
English
Abstract:
Black and white photograph of Ram Gopal dancing in "Golden Eagle" or "Garuda" costume by Planet News, Ltd. taken on September 10, 1956. Included is a card featuring Gopal's signature in English from the collection of Thomas H. Scullion of the Autograph Collectors Society from the same year.
Preferred citation:

Ram Gopal "Golden Eagle" photograph and autographed card, C0483, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Background

Scope and content:

Black and white photograph of Ram Gopal dancing in "Golden Eagle" or "Garuda" costume by Planet News, Ltd. taken on September 10, 1956. On the back is an inscription that reads: "The Golden Eagle/London: Wearing his exotic Golden Eagle costume, Indian dancer Ram Gopal flies gracefully through the air during rehearsal at the Royal Festival Hall. Ram Gopal and his company of Indian dancers - who have recently been performing at the Edinburgh Festival - open tonight at the Royal Festival Hall for a two-week season. The company, sponsored by the Indian government, is the largest ever to come to this country from India. British film producer Sir Michael Balcon has approached Ram Gopal asking him to consider playing the role in a new film as Buddha. The dancer has not yet indicated whether he will accept."

Included is a card featuring Gopal's signature in English from the collection of Thomas H. Scullion of the Autograph Collectors Society from the same year.

Biographical / historical:

Ram Gopal was an internationally celebrated Burmese-Indian dancer. Known as a master of Indian classical dance, Gopal blended his classical dance background with other modern dance styles. Born in Bangalore, India in 1912, Gopal learned Kathakali - one of eight styles of Indian classical dance - at an early age. As an adult, Gopal gained international renown through his interpretation of Indian classical dance for Western audiences: "Ram was shrewd enough to realise that western audiences would be daunted by an unadulterated classical repertoire. So he created short, spectacular items drawn from Kathakali...but without the traditional make-up and clothes. Costumes, staging and lighting were all meticulously considered and beautifully carried through. He interspersed his own pieces with music and other folk and classical styles" (The Guardian). Perhaps Gopal's most well-known dance was that of "Garuda," or the "Golden Eagle," a legendary golden bird in Hindu mythology. Gopal passed away in 2003.

Acquisition information:
Purchased by Steve Gerber from Schubertiade Music in October 2009.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Amanda Brent in May 2021. EAD markup completed by Amanda Brent in May 2021. This item was formerly part of the Performing Arts Manuscript Materials collection, C0215.

Arrangement:

This is a single folder collection.

Physical location:
R 72, C 3, S 5
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard