Broadway (typeface)

Broadway
Category	Sans Serif
Classification	Display
Designers	Morris Fuller Benton, Sol Hess
Commissioned by	American Type Founders
Foundry	American Type Founders
Date created	1927
Date released	1928
Re-issuing foundries	Linotype, Elsner+Flake, Monotype, Bitstream, URW++
Variations	Broadway, Broadway Engraved, Broadway Condensed

Broadway is a decorative typeface that heavily references the roaring 20's, Influenced by the aesthetics of Hollywood. This typeface embodies Art Deco, utilizing bold geometric lettering and high contrast between thick and thin line. The combination of both fat face and sans serif characteristics gives Broadway a functional yet attractive look^[1].

The original typeface was designed by Morris Fuller Benton in 1927 for American Type Founders (ATF) as a capitals-only display face. It had a long initial run of popularity, before being discontinued by ATF in 1954. It was re-discovered in the cold type era and has since been used to evoke the feeling of the 1920s and 1930s. The font has been used in the TV shows Rhoda, My Life as a Teenage Robot, and Miami Vice. Several variants were made.^[2]

History

Broadway has gained several styles since its first debut. The original Typeface (img 1) was created by Benton in 1927, and would be published the following year under ATF.^[3]

Shortly after the original release, Sol Hess from the Lanston Monotype Company began working on Broadway Engraved, a monotype that would release in 1928 (img 2). Hess continued to add to the Broadway font, creating lowercase options in 1929 (img 3). That same year, Benton returned to Broadway once more to create Broadway Condensed.^[3]

Digital versions

Digital versions are now made by Linotype, Elsner+Flake, Monotype, Bitstream, and URW++. Similar fonts, such as ITC Manhattan and Glitzy are sold by ITC and Ingrimayne Type respectively.

References

↑ Blackwell, Lewis (2004). 20th-Century type. Internet Archive (Revised ed.). London : Laurence King. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-85669-351-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
↑ MacGrew, Mac, American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century Oak Knoll Books, New Castle Delaware, 1993, ISBN 0-938768-34-4, pp. 50, 51.
1 2 Consuegra, David (2004). American type : design & designers. Internet Archive. New York : Allworth Press. pp. 64, 68, 157. ISBN 978-1-58115-320-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)

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[1] Blackwell, Lewis (2004). 20th-Century type. Internet Archive (Revised ed.). London : Laurence King. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-85669-351-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)

[2] MacGrew, Mac, American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century Oak Knoll Books, New Castle Delaware, 1993, ISBN 0-938768-34-4, pp. 50, 51.

[:0-3] 1 2 Consuegra, David (2004). American type : design & designers. Internet Archive. New York : Allworth Press. pp. 64, 68, 157. ISBN 978-1-58115-320-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)

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