C OBWEB
A publication of the Des Plaines History Center
VOLUME 45, NO. 3
JULY—SEPTEMBER 2011
The cast of On the Twentieth Century September, 1993
Des Plaines Theater Guild A 60-year Legacy
Des Plaines Theatre Guild—a 60 year legacy Playing croquet in Little Mary Sunshine. September 18, 1970. From left: Sue Wille, Beth Vandenboom, Barbara Curren, Marcy Vosburg, Jackie Shadinger, and Karol Verson.
By Nancy Chamberlain
The new Guild offered a subscription ticket at $1.50 for three plays plus a bonus It all began…. of three one-act plays. Operating funds In the early 1940s, a group of aspiring thes- came from the actors who also had to take pians at the First Congregational Church, down the stage after their two weekend led by Harlan and Lucille Roden, began performances. meeting in members’ homes for play readings. The original group became Mask & Originally, the theater consisted of 40 Wig, with 40 members putting on plays in chairs set up on the basketball court, with the church facilities. the stage at one end of the gym while rehearsals went on at the other end. The Robert Dooley, grandson of Clarence E. dressing area was an unvented chair storage Earle, Des Plaines’ early pioneer doctor, room. remembers joining the Mask & Wig youth group: In 1950, a small theatre was added upstairs in the west wing. The stage filled the room, “It was 1940; I was in 7th grade. Our with no backstage area. Actors would exit first production was The Emperor's New to the outside, cross the veranda and go Clothes, and I played the emperor. My through the Park Board meeting room on good friend Bill Jacobs was one of the the East side to enter on the opposite side rascals. Our second show was Tom of the stage. Sawyer's Treasure Hunt. I played Tom and Bill was Injun Joe.” The active years…. DPTG mounted at least five plays a seaLife-long friends, Bob and Bill practiced son, many to sold-out houses. They ran law together in Des Plaines from 1953-66. acting and directing classes and workshops. Bob took Bill to one of the Guild rehears- The Guild performed for various fund raisals and introduced him to Shirley Spiegler, ers, which meant members had to sell tickwhose father owned the local department ets for those events. Their entertainment store. A few years later, she and Bill were group put on a cabaret act for local organimarried. zations for a fee. They constructed July 4th parade floats and participated in the Des Rand Park 1946-1963 Plaines 125th anniversary pageant. In 1971, In 1946, Mask and Wig came under the the Guild began to produce annual plays sponsorship of the Des Plaines Park Dis- written for children, put on by adult actors. trict. The group was renamed the Des They held cast parties and a host of social Plaines Theatre Guild (DPTG). The Rand events including the annual spring awards Park Field House gym became the venue banquet, Halloween and Christmas parties, for their plays. Wedding Spells opened dinners and picnics; and they even organNovember 21, 1946. ized trips to see plays in Chicago.
2 Cobweb
JULY-SEPTEMBER
2011
Lee Street 1963-1990 September 13, 1963, Critic’s Choice opened in the new Guild Playhouse. Having outgrown Rand Park upper west, Guild members spent 12 years dreaming and planning—eventually spending over $10,000—to turn the old Masonic Temple dance floor into a modern, sloped-floor theatre accommodating 300 seats from the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge. Guild members applied over a hundred gallons of paint and varnish to the space. Over the years electrical lines were brought in, and other upgrades added. Two turntables were erected over the stage trap door to help in changing scenes. Two platforms erected for Camelot became permanent stage additions. During Man of La Mancha, a ramp was built between the balcony and the left platform. Casting was not limited to Guild members but was open to everyone. Cast members were expected to donate two days of behind the scenes work on each production. They did their own makeup and provided some costume elements. Incredible volunteers….
When asked about the Guild’s longevity, charter member Ed Sauer credited preparation and financial backing along with substantial season subscribers and an active membership. The life blood of any organization is its members. The Guild attracted actors who wanted to be part of quality theater, along
with those who loved the smell of grease paint behind the scenes. Many couples and whole families who loved the theatre gave their time and talents to make DPTG a success.
DPTG also presented several original plays Initially it was a perfect fit. The Guild helped design the Prairie Lakes Theater, over the years. which seats 200 on the main floor and 100 in the mezzanine. They had first choice of Honors…. In 1963, DPTG won the Illinois Commu- dates for their season. The state-of-the-art theater has air-conditioning, dressing nity Theatre Association award to represent Illinois in the regional competition of rooms, storage and workshop space, computerized light board and great parking. Attendance in 1992/93 was the highest ever, topping out at 14,000.
But things changed….
Money problems, diminishing audiences and fewer volunteers brought about the end for the Guild. Rent at Prairie Lakes was double the rent at Lee Street, and the rights to produce current plays were priced beyond the scope of most community theater groups. Ticket prices were increased but shows had to sell out to make a profit. The faithful audience, comprised mostly of seniors, began dwindling. Those who remained couldn’t find Prairie Lakes, complained about the poor acoustics, and confused the Bog Theatre, which took over the Lee Street space, with the Guild at Prairie Lakes. By November 1998, attendance was down to 50 people for the Guild’s performances of Inspecting Carol. Of greater significance, most of the volunteer pool was disappearing. It takes a lot of Names that are part of this history…. Don Gloor, Joe McDermid, Ed Sauer, Mert Sta- people to “put on a show.” For every actor ley, the Beddias, Bermans, Cohens, Kandlebinders, Mangelsdorfs, Shadingers, Strongs, on stage, you need six people behind the Unells, Vandenbooms, Joann Calzaretta and sons; Marilyn Collignon, daughter Lisa, son scenes. Don & his wife Christine. Dick & Carol Kempiak and their four children; John & In the summer of 1998 the board realized Mariann Marquette and their children (see photo). And so many more. they couldn’t afford to put on “…Forum,” the musical planned for January 1999. DiThe Guild was the first to… rector Frank DelGuidice suggested doing the Festival of American Community ...Operate a professional summer theater, Theatre, held in Wisconsin. When Pioneer The Fantastics but even that was too expenChevy Chase in Wheeling in 1954. They Press began to award annual kudos for lo- sive. The Guild got approval to do The produced 10 plays, each running one week. cal theatre groups, the DPTG won Best Foreigner but rights were pulled while the Many Guild actors gained professional Theatre Company in 1991 & 1992 and Best group was in rehearsals. Finally the Guild status during this season, earning their Eq- Play Selection in 1996, along with awards got the rights to It Had to Be You, with a uity cards and enjoying professional cacast that had played it the previous sumfor individual performances and plays. reers. mer. ...Sponsor a nationally publicized playwrit- Prairie Lakes 1991-99 ing contest. In 1961, October Festival was The Des Plaines Park District built Prairie Even after closing shop, several dedicated chosen from 120 entries and had its world Lakes, on Thacker near Algonquin, in Au- members, led by Marilyn Collignon and premiere in May 1962. gust 1991. In order to add theater space to Renee Kujawski, hoped to resurrect the ..Produce professional plays after their their new facility, the Park District needed group but it was not to be. Money from Broadway runs: The Boys in the Band in Feb- a permanent tenant to justify the expense. the Guild treasury went to scholarships for ruary 1972 after 1000 performances on theater majors in financial need. Broadway and a hit motion picture; Baby in The DPTG board was reluctant to give up 1988, and Sweeney Todd in 1990. the access they had at the Lee Street build- Gone but not forgotten, the ghosts of ...Other firsts were The Who’s Tommy. A ing. But they also needed more space, air- dedicated Guild members left a legacy of Chorus Line. The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and conditioning, ADA accessibility and park- excellence. Their history is preserved in the Des Plaines History Center archives. ing. The Elephant Man.
Cobweb JULY-SEPTEMBER 2011 3
Before they were famous In 1955 Jim Lockhart, who appeared in See How They Run, was accepted by the American Theatre Wing to study in New York. He produced an offBroadway original musical in 1956. Michael Kalinyen was a hit in the Guild’s Most Happy Fella in 1974, toured with a Broadway production of Sweeney Todd and was resident tenor at the Skylight Opera Theater in Milwaukee.
Louis Lanciloti first appeared in the Guild’s Sweet Charity September 1983. While running his own construction business, he did quite a bit of movie work in the Chicago area, most famously as Robert De Niro’s barber in The Untouchables in 1987. The movie opens with Louie giving De Niro a shave (and yes, as he told it, he did accidentally nick that famous actor’s face.)
Karen Mason appeared at the Guild in the 1970 production of Little Mary Sunshine. A reviewer said, “her twinkle steals the show.” She was in several Guild plays before heading to Broadway. She frequently brings her cabaret act back to Chicago where last fall she was reviewed as: not so much singing a song as possessing it.
Above: Little Mary Sunshine, September 8, 1970 Karen Mason and Doug Patterson
About the author, Nancy Chamberlain: “I did PR for the DPTG from 1987 to 1991 producing news releases, programs, and the newsletter Encore. I also choreographed several musicals. It was a special time for me with lots of wonderful memories.
Above: Don’t Drink the Water 1988. Louie Lanciloti and Linda Kay Williams
While I was volunteering at the History Center, doing research and writing articles, boxes of DPTG history were donated. I joyfully volunteered to archive the collection. This history comes from hours of reading old newsletters, press clippings, programs, news releases and correspondence now organized by season. It was a real labor of love.” If there are any former Guild members who’d like to share stories and maybe get together, please call Nancy at 847-229-0776.
4 Cobweb
JULY-SEPTEMBER
2011
It’s that time of year again!
Entertainment Books for Sale! The History Center is proud to be selling entertainment books. Each book is $25.00 with partial sales benefiting the History Center. Makes a great gift! Consider purchasing one for yourself and save up to 50% on your dining favorites.
Attention all Cookie Bakers If baking is your passion, we would love to have you in our baking brigade. The History Center will be participating in several events within the holiday months. Cookies must be dropped off at the History Center: Thursday, December 1st: 9:00 to 4:00 Friday, December 2nd: 9:00 to NOON Please call Adam, Lori, or Shari at 847.391.5399 if you are available to help us. We appreciate you!
“Yesterdays” Museum Store
We sell them $10.00 less than Internet price
History: Did you know… “Other than the Des Plaines River, the fertile valley was what attracted the early settlers.” What attracted you to Des Plaines? What made you settle here? We would love to hear YOUR Answers. E-mail Lori at lbarrett@desplaineshistory.org and we will post your answers, anonymously of course, at our website and in the next issue of the Cobweb!. Source: Donald S. Johnson. Des Plaines: Born of the Tallgrass Prairie (CA: Windsor Publications, 1984).
We have lots of new goodies in our “Yesterdays” Museum Store. Halloween items are discounted, and we have many darling stocking stuffers. Stop in for a little “something” for your mail carrier or a co-worker in your office.
Cobweb JULY-SEPTEMBER 2011 5
The First Library in the World Celus Library: Ephesus, Turkey Image: Corbis
As a “Des Plainesite” and a student, I spend quite a bit of time at the Des Plaines Library. I remain in awe of the Library with its vast rows of knowledge standing at attention. Pretty much “extinct” is the card catalog system. Remember searching for a book using those cabinets with the little drawers and flipping through the index cards? We have one here at the History Center. The first library to be introduced to the world was the Royal Library of Alexandria, Egypt, built in the third century. The Great Library may have been conceived in the reign of Ptolemy I (283 BCE) or his son Ptolemy II (246 BCE). Egypt was considered a center of great scholarship and the greatest repository for manuscripts. Although Ptolemy pledged at least 500,000 manuscripts, his actual bequest fell short of that number. As legend has it, Marc Antony donated 200,000 manuscripts which he stole from the library at Pergamon and gave to Queen Cleopatra as a wedding gift. As with many great “tragedies,” rumors abound of the library’s destruction. The most common rumor was of an “accident” during Julius Caesar’s visit in 48BCE. This was the rumor used in the 1963 film version of “Cleopatra” starring Elizabeth Taylor.
First Des Plaines Public Library, 1907-1936, constructed with funds from Andrew Carnegie and the Des Plaines Woman’s Club. Photo by Nielsen Studio, Des Plaines.
Although the Royal Library suffered severe damage, there existed two other libraries within the city: the library of the Serapeum Temple and the library of the Cesarion Temple. Well, it must have been nice to have three libraries...must have been nice to be Queen Cleopatra (for awhile anyway). Think of it though...imagine our library with scrolls instead of books. Lori Barrett, Intern Source: Phillips, Heather A., "The Great Library of Alexandria". Library Philosophy and Practice, August
6 Cobweb
JULY-SEPTEMBER
2011
Recognizing the Many Supporters of the Des Plaines History Center By Shari Caine, Executive Director
As we approach the final weeks of the year, it's time to thank all those who have been generous and supportive of the Des Plaines History Center in 2011. Our members, donors, volunteers, staff members, interns and trustees--all have made contributions of time and financial support so that we can continue doing what we do. Please accept our most sincere thanks and gratitude. Also, thanks to the many members of the History Center and larger Des Plaines community who expressed their sympathy regarding the loss of our past Director Joy Matthiessen and attended her memorial service in September. Your cards, kind words, and memorial gifts are greatly appreciated. We will not forget Joy's many and long-standing contributions to the History Center. Among the many other changes at the History Center this year, we say farewell and best wishes to our former staff member Susan Golland, who has moved on to a bright new opportunity developing exhibits at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Chicago. We know that her talents will be put to great use there! Meanwhile, we welcome our two interns, Lori Barrett and Adam Manta, who are helping carry on Susan's work as we wrap up the year. Finally, we would like to thank the Des Plaines Park District and the City of Des Plaines for their renewed contributions the History Center through funding and the Interlocal Agreement. This support is a testament to the strength of the community and its interest in preserving and sharing its own history. Be sure to come to the History Center on Sunday, December 4, for our Holiday Open House from 1-4pm, as we celebrate the season and once again welcome the Des Plaines Art Guild's "Art Guild 10" show and reception. We hope to see you there!
Our Interns By the way, when you stop by, please introduce yourself to our two interns Lori and Adam. Lori comes to us from Roosevelt University and is working on her Master’s in Ancient and Early European History and World War II. Adam joins us from DePaul University and is graduating this month. His focus is Ancient Roman, Renaissance, and Early American History. Got a history question? We’ve got the answer!
Thank You Business Sponsors! Maine Township Highway Department
Cobweb JULY-SEPTEMBER 2011 7
If you are reading this and aren’t a History Center member, join today!
Smile: We’ve been making history fun for over 40 years and we’re still going strong!
Photos: Above left, members of St. Mary’s Training School basketball team, 1940 (P4124). Front page: Cast of On the Twentieth Century, 1993 (Des Plaines Theatre Guild Collection) Des Plaines History
Address Service Requested