A History Op the Kanawha Players of Charleston, West Virginia from 1922 to 1972
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
A HISTORY OP THE KANAWHA PLAYERS OF CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA FROM 1922 TO 1972 Virginia Pomroy Gray A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY December 1973 Approved by Doctoral Committee 564269 IJÉS VU/YV v\<u © 1974 VIRGINIA POMROY GRAY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT The threefold purpose of this research was: (1) to provide a documented history of The Kanawha Players of Charleston, West Virginia; (2) to find an answer to the question ’’Why did this organization survive much longer than most community theatres across the country?*’; and (3) to see how the organization can survive its present difficulties* The two local dally newspapers, a theatre collection, and local members of The Kanawha Players provided the sources to form a complete list of dramatic activities performed by the Players over the fifty years as well as the reaction of the local critics. Tables were developed showing the Presidents, professional directors, physical facilities, chronological listing of plays produced, the play types, plays repeated by the Players, plays produced within one year of the Broadway opening, and the identification of playwrights with three or more plays selected by the group. Illustrations found in the study include: the first news paper article about the organization, a picture of the Playhouse, the Incorporation papers, the State Proclamation, the first Playbill, a special edition of the Charleston Gazette about the Players, and the fifty-year Commemorative Seal for the organization's birthday celebration. An examination of the data showed that the organization had survived fifty years with very little reason for continuity except for serving the artistic and social needs in the industrial community. Only nine officers had served more than one term as President and five professional directors had remained for no more than two years. For only nine years has the group had a theatre and workshop under one roof and the only property owned by the Players is the present workshop and rehearsal space. No financial records or secretaries' reports had been saved. During the fifty years The Kanawha Players produced 317 plays and one-act bills. The types of plays selected showed that 186 were modern comedies, eighty-eight were serious drama, fifteen were classics, four were musicals and twenty-four productions were programs of one-acts, burlesque comedies and melodramas. The number of productions given each season has declined over the past few years and the community services have ceased. The organization needs to be unique in its play selection, cut costs and waste, become more community minded, provide social activities for the active membership and utilize the talents available in the area rather than a selected few. These suggestions might save the fifty-year old organization. lit ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author is grateful for this opportunity to express appreciation to the following individuals for their aid in the development and completion of this study: Dr. Harold Obee, Head of The Theatre area of the Department of Speech at Bowling Green State University, who served as advisor and directed the study. Dr. F. Lee Miesle, Dr. Lorrene Ort, Dr. Allen White, and Dr. Briant Lee who served on the reading committee. Mr. Nichalos Winowich, director, and other people at the Kanawha County Public Library for their help, under standing and friendliness while the research and writing was in progress. Mrs. Betsy Stuart, historian of The Kanawha Players, who gave freely of her knowledge, memorabillla and time during the research and writing of this dissertation. Dr. Estella R. Pomroy, the author’s sister, who helped in so many ways that it is impossible to list. Dr. Edgar L. Gray, the author’s husband, and Mrs. Ruth Pomroy, the author’s mother for the encouragement through out the study, without which this dissertation could not have materialized. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER Page I. INTRODUCTION..................................... I Statement of Purpose......... « . ........... 1 Importance of the Problem . .......... .. 2 Primary Sources ............................... 3 Review of the Literature. • .................. 5 Methodology............... • •............. 5 General History of the Kanawha Valley Region ...... , ................. 9 11. GENERAL HISTORY OF THE KANAWHAP LAYERS............. 16 Organization. ... ............. ...... 16 Incorporation .......... ......... 20 State Theatre Proclamation. .«•••..«. 26 Community Services...................... 29 Membership ................. 36 Administration. ................................. 37 Directors 40 Physical Facilities ......... ........ 51 Economics and Finances. 59 III. PLAY PRODUCTION ACTIVITIESOF THE KANAWHA PLAYERS............... 62 Plays selected for Production by the Kanawha Players. ............................. 62 1922-1927............ 62 1927-1932................................... 72 1932-1937................................... 75 V 1937-1942 ............. 78 1942-1947 ................................... 82 1947-1952 ................. 85 1952-1957 ................................... 89 1957-1962 ............ 92 1962-1967 ............... .................. 96 1967-1972 ........................ .......... 98 Types of Plays Preferred ........... 102 Noteworthy Plays Selected ..... ......... 108 Plays Selected for Repeated Productions ... 110 Plays with Prior Broadway Productions of One Year or Less. ............. 113 Playwrights Represented in Kanawha Players Productions .. .................... 113 IV. REACTION OP LOCAL CRITICS......... ............... 117 The Critics........... 118 The Critical Reviews ............................ 120 V. SUMMARY .. ........................ ......... 126 Conclusions .... 130 Recommendations .. ..... ............... 135 BIBLIOGRAPHY .............................. .. ........... 141 APPENDIX A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OP PLAYS................. 148 APPENDIX B ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PLAYS................. 173 APPENDIX C MOST RECENT BY-LAWS........... 187 Vi list of tables Table Page I. Elected Presidents of The Kanawha Players and the length of service in that office. 39 II. Salaried directors of The Kanawha Players, showing length of service, academic training and number and type of plays produced ... 41 III. The Location where The Kanawha Players presented plays and the number of presentations at each site from 1922 to 1972 . ................................ 52 IV. a through Plays produced by The Kanawha ~ Players (by five-year periods), showing Playwright, year of opening production in New York and in Charleston, West Virginia, Broadway performance record, recognition and awards. a. 1922-1927. ......... ........... 62 b. 1927-1932...................... 73-74 c. 1932-1937. ......... .......... 76-77 d. 1937-1942........... .. 79-80 e. 1942-1947. ............ 83-84 f. 1947-1952......... .. 86-87 g. 1952-1957. ............ 90-91 h. 1957-1962........... 93-94 i. 1962-1967................. 97-98 j. 1967-1972. ....... ............ 100-101 V. Types of plays by five-year periods showing totals and percentages of each of the play types ... 104 VI. Plays selected by The Kanawha Players for repeated production. ......... ... 112 VII. chronological list of plays produced which had Broadway openings one year or less prior to Che Kanawha Players* production. .114 VIII. Descending order of frequency of playwrights with three or more appearances in plays selected by The Kanawha Players from 1922 to 1972 ........... ............. 115 vii List of Illustrations Figure Page 1. A copy of the first newspaper article concerning The Kanawha Players. Charleston Gazette» August 20» 1922» page 4....... 7 2» 3, 4 and 5. Reprints of the Incorporation papers of The Kanawha Players •••••... 22-25 6. A reprint of page 7 of the Charleston Gazette September 21» 1941 which"carried the proclamation that The Kanawha Players was designated the State Theater of West Virginia ...... ........... ....... 28 7. Photograph of the first theatre facility of The Kanawha Players. ...... * . 54 8» 9, 10» 11» 12. Reproductions of front cover and four information pages of the program of the first play production of The Kanawha Players. 66-70 13. Front page of the Charleston Gazette advertising The Kanawha Players'' proiduciion o£ Night of January 16 ................. 126 14. Front Cover of the fifty-year commemorative publication. 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Kanawha Players, a community theatre association, was organized in Charleston, West Virginia in 1922 and cele brated fifty years of continuous activity in September, 1972. The organization contributed to the cultural interests of many people in the community by producing over three hundred stage plays. Their selections included plays that were con temporary with successful New York productions and provided the audiences with opportunities for theatre experiences which they would otherwise have been denied. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose of this research is threefold: First, to provide a documented history of The Kanawha Players. The information will combine private collections of memorabilia, information from two daily newspapers, uncatalogued informa tion found in the Kanawha County Public Library's Theatre Collection, Playbills, personal interviews with members and past directors of the organization and information found in the publications of the Drama League of America. Second. An attempt will be made to answer the