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64-455: Allen Ellsworth Ludden (born Allen Packard Ellsworth ; October 5, 1917 – June 9, 1981) was an American television personality, actor, singer, emcee , and game show host. He hosted various incarnations of the game show Password between 1961 and 1980. Ludden was born on October 5, 1917, in Mineral Point, Wisconsin , the first child of Elmer and Leila M. (née Allen) Ellsworth. Elmer

128-421: A comedy club , the role of MC is traditionally filled by a "compère". In any comedy show, the compère is the host of the evening's events, but the precise role and responsibilities will vary depending on the country, venue, and style of event. The compère is usually a working comedian, and whilst they may incorporate elements of their regular set, the role broadly requires a greater level of improvisation – creating

192-560: A Labrador Retriever named "Ludden" to Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, California, in memory of her late husband. Ludden's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is located on the north side of the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard, next to Betty White's. White accepted Ludden's posthumous star on April 19, 1987, during an appearance on This Is Your Life . The star was formally unveiled in

256-542: A broken pair of horn-rimmed glasses . The collection was donated by Betty White. Master of ceremonies The term is earliest documented in the Catholic Church since the 5th century, where the master of ceremonies is an official of the Papal Court responsible for the proper and smooth conduct of the elaborate rituals involving the pope and the sacred liturgy . The master of ceremonies sometimes also refers to

320-592: A ceremony on March 31, 1988. When Betty White was asked in an interview on Larry King Live whether she would remarry, she said, "Once you've had the best, who needs the rest?" She never remarried and died in 2021 at age 99. The Allen Ludden Papers collection is located at the Free Public Library in his native Mineral Point, Wisconsin . The items include letters written or received by Ludden, typed radio scripts, newspaper and magazine clippings by or about Ludden, publicity photographs and personal photographs, and

384-563: A familiar actor or actress." William Shatner performed in summer stock after the cancellation of Star Trek . Some summer theaters specialize in a particular type of production, such as Shakespearean plays , musicals , or even opera . Some notable summer theaters include: the New York Shakespeare Festival (better-known as Shakespeare in the Park , although a number of other summer stock Shakespearean series use this name);

448-683: A mail clerk. An English and dramatics major at the University of Texas (now known as the University of Texas at Austin), Ludden graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1940 and received his Master of Arts in English from the same university in 1941. He served in the United States Army as officer in charge of entertainment in the Pacific theater, received a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service, and

512-515: A month-long leave of absence from Password Plus for chemotherapy treatment, with Bill Cullen filling in as host. On October 7, 1980, he slipped into a coma while on vacation in Monterey, California. It was initially reported that he had a stroke , but the coma was actually caused by high levels of calcium from medication taken to help fight the cancer. Tom Kennedy assumed duties as host of Password Plus , and although Ludden hoped to return to

576-443: A new actress: "My first professional jobs were in summer stock, in small, medium and large companies that presented ten plays in ten weeks from June until Labor Day...At that time, the core of each summer stock company was made up of a stage manager and six resident actors: a leading man and woman, a character man and woman, and an ingenue and a juvenile. In some cases, five or six of the summer plays would be 'star vehicles', featuring

640-418: A sense of place and community, interacting with the audience, dealing with any hecklers , and encouraging them to focus on the other acts. The compère will normally do longer bits at the start of the show and after any interval, and shorter bits between acts. They may also be required to make announcements, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and bar promotions. In some circles, the title "Master of Ceremonies"

704-533: A special contract with Actors Equity to cover the work of actors and stage managers. Summer Stock at the Historic Elitch Theatre in Denver was the proving-grounds for a number of would-be stars. For the 1905 season, a 20-something Cecil B. DeMille was a minor player in the stock cast. Denver-natives, such as Douglas Fairbanks , Maude Fealy , and Antoinette Perry , all got their start in summer stock at

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768-611: A starting point for professional actors, stock casts are typically young, just out of high school or still in college. Summer stock started in Denver, Colorado, at the Elitch Theatre (part of Elitch Gardens ). A 1937 article in Time magazine reported: "Elitch's Gardens is the great-grandfather of all U. S. summer stock companies... and nearly every personage in U. S. show business, from General & Mrs. Tom Thumb to Douglas Fairbanks, has at one time or another played Elitch's." According to

832-613: A training ground for actors and inexpensive entertainment for vacationing East Coast urbanites. Craig Mamrick describes Louis Edmonds ' early summer stock experience: "Louis spent the summer of 1949 working as part of the repertory company at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine... The Ogunquit Playhouse was affiliated with the Manhattan Theatre Colony, an apprentice program that hopeful actors could attend (paying $ 150 for

896-787: A very pleasant summer in stock at the Elitch Gardens. Today in Hollywood I can hardly go anywhere without meeting one or more now rather famous people who either during that summer or at other times played in what all actors and actresses consider one of the greatest cradles of the drama in American history." In the 1920s, summer stock expanded: The Muny , St. Louis, Missouri (1919) is the nation's oldest and largest outdoor musical theater; Manhattan Theatre Colony, first started near Peterborough, New Hampshire (1927) and moved to Ogunquit, Maine ; Gretna Theatre, Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania (1927) as part of

960-412: Is also known as "Minister of Ceremonies". In the 1940 Disney film Fantasia , Deems Taylor is the film's Master of Ceremonies. In the role-playing game Apocalypse World , the game master is named Master of Ceremonies (MC). Summer stock theatre In American theater, summer stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with

1024-402: Is now being edified… The strength of these companies, as well as the plays presented, are way above the average. Cecil B. DeMille , who acted in minor roles in the summer stock cast in 1905, would regularly send congratulatory telegrams to the theater on opening night.  In 1926, more than two decades after his time at the theater, he sent a telegram stating: "It is a long time since I spent

1088-748: Is outlined in the Ceremonial of Bishops, Nos. 34–36. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia , the most ancient ceremonials and rituals of the Catholic Church are the Ordines Romani . Names of Masters of Ceremonies are known since the late Middle Ages (15th century) and the Renaissance (16th century). However, copies of books prescribing the forms of rituals, rites and customs of pontifical ceremonies are known to have been given to Charles Martel in

1152-435: Is prevalent in the culture of chivalric orders , as well as in more modern fraternal orders , such as Freemasons and Odd Fellows . Most large corporate and association conferences and conventions use an MC to keep the events running smoothly. This role is sometimes performed by someone inside the group but usually by an outside professional expert MC. Their role could include – introducing and thanking speakers, introducing

1216-445: Is the oldest summer stock theater. In general, theatrical companies do not enjoy invariable successes, but widespread popularity has made summer theater a major industry, so that there is virtually no section of this country that does not boast at least one such dramatic group. In his 1964 Ph.D. dissertation on stock theatre companies and James F. Neill (not to be confused with James O'Neill,) William Zucchero: "Denver could boast that It

1280-536: The College Bowl , but he was most well known for hosting both the daytime and prime time versions of Password on CBS and ABC between 1961 and 1975. His opening TV catch phrase, "Hi doll," was directed toward his mother-in-law, Tess White, the mother of his wife, actress and television personality Betty White . Ludden began hosting an updated version of the game, Password Plus , on NBC , in 1979, but chemotherapy treatments for stomach cancer forced him off

1344-681: The Chautauqua movement; the Cape Playhouse, Dennis, Massachusetts (1927); and the Berkshire Playhouse, Stockbridge, Massachusetts (1928). Many of the theaters of the heyday , the 1920s through the 1960s, were in New England. Part of the "straw hat circuit," theaters also were in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, among other states. (Lakewood Playhouse near Skowhegan, Maine (1901 for summer),

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1408-456: The DJs to the crowd and explained what was taking place during the event. Often these events were parties at locations including clubs or outdoor public spaces. The term is typically used as a term of distinction, referring to an artist with good performance skills. Many rappers have MC in their stage name, such as MC Hammer , MC Lyte , MC Ren , MC Shan , MC Eiht or MC Serch . In the context of

1472-765: The Music circus . This began a new period of outdoor theater. In 1951 this new style of summer stock made its way west with the addition of the Sacramento Music Circus . The Cape Cod Music Circus (now the Melody Tent) in Hyannis , Massachusetts opened in 1950, the third tent theater to open, and The South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset , Massachusetts followed in 1951. A tent theater had opened earlier in Florida. Another theater in

1536-441: The protocol officer during an official state function, especially in monarchies . Today, the term is often used to connote a person who presents performers, speaks to the audience, entertains people, and generally keeps an event moving. This usage occurs in the entertainment industry , for example in reference to television game show hosts, as well as in contemporary hip hop and electronic dance music culture. In addition,

1600-403: The 1948 book Blueprint for Summer Theatre , "The first summer theater opened its doors at Elitch Gardens , Denver , Colorado on May 1, 1890. Plays were presented with a resident company and guest stars, a policy that has been followed with tremendous success for over fifty years." Most sources consider 1893 to be the first year of summer stock. For that summer season, Elitch Gardens employed

1664-458: The 1961 Horatio Alger Award . He released an album called Allen Ludden Sings His Favorite Songs on RCA Records in 1964 . Ludden married Margaret McGloin on October 11, 1943. She died of cancer on October 30, 1961. They had a son, David, and two daughters, Martha and Sarah. He proposed to Betty White, whom he had met on Password , at least twice before she accepted. Their romance blossomed when they played summer stock theatre together, in

1728-465: The 2009 season with Hunter Foster and Malcolm Gets . Gretna Theatre, opened in 1927 in the Pennsylvania Chautauqua community of Mount Gretna , and has hosted performers such as Bernadette Peters , Faith Prince , Tommy Tune , Kim Zimmer , Charlton Heston . The Ogunquit Playhouse, begun in 1933, attracted performers such as Maude Adams , Ethel Barrymore , and Laurette Taylor in

1792-505: The 8th century. The rules and rituals themselves are known to have been compiled or written by the pontifical masters of ceremonies, dating back to the time of Pope Gelasius I (492–496) with modifications and additions made by Pope Gregory the Great (590–604). It is reasonable to assume that the ceremonials themselves pre-date Gelasius. The duties of the Master of Ceremonies may have developed from

1856-590: The Beach , and Tent Theatre (John Goodman Amphitheatre) in Springfield, Missouri , The Historic Elitch Theatre is still standing today, and after several phases of restoration, the foundation running the theatre hopes to have regular productions again in the next few years. In 1949, St. John Terrell began a new experience presenting summer stock theater under an arena-type ( circus ) tent in Lambertville, New Jersey ,

1920-625: The Dark , and Howard Keel in Kismet appeared. Kenley cast "movie stars and television personalities" who were nationally known. During Gypsy Rose Lee 's engagement in Auntie Mame at the Warren theater, Erik Preminger wrote: "Working for him [John Kenley] was a joy. Everything about his operation was first-class from the director and supporting cast he had assembled through the scenery, props, and costumes...He

1984-609: The Elitch Theatre. Additionally, Fredric March , Minnie Maddern Fiske , Beulah Bondi , Edward G. Robinson (see photo above), and Sylvia Sidney were all stock cast members at one time. In the summer of 1951, a young Grace Kelly (just 21-years old) was the ingénue for the stock company. While performing at the theater she received a telegram from Fred Zinnemann asking her to come to Hollywood to star in his film High Noon as Gary Cooper 's wife. She initially thought she had to decline because of her contract that lasted through

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2048-515: The Frank Norcross Company. It was the first full-length season of summer stock. The first stock play presented at Elitch Theatre was Nancy and Company by Augustin Daly. It opened on June 10, 1893. The company's roster of actors included: Lilian Dailey, Marion Earle, Alfred Hampton, Jane Kenmark, Hudson Liston, Millie Liston, Charles Lothian, Jeanette Lowrey, James F. Neill (who had organized

2112-739: The Gretna Theatre, Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Grand Lake, Colorado , Summerstock Conservatory , Calgary Utah Shakespearean Festival , Cedar City, Utah , Santa Fe Opera , Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival , Becket, Massachusetts , Williamstown Theatre Festival , Williamstown, Massachusetts , Berkshire Theatre Festival , Stockbridge, Massachusetts , Glimmerglass Festival , Cooperstown , New York, The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, American Players Theatre , Spring Green, Wisconsin , Vancouver 's Bard on

2176-514: The Pope and the sacred liturgy . He may also be an official involved in the proper conduct of protocols and ceremonials involving the Roman Pontiff , the Papal Court , and other dignitaries and potentates. Examples of official liturgical books prescribing the rules and regulations of liturgical celebrations are Cæremoniale Romanum and Cæremoniale Episcoporum . The role of the master of ceremonies

2240-575: The apostolic constitution Pastor bonus of June 28, 1988, the organizing and conducting of liturgies and other religious ceremonies performed by the pope comes under the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff . It is headed by a "Master" appointed for a term of five years. Papal masters of ceremonies who assist him in sacred celebrations are likewise appointed to a term of

2304-1017: The circuit. Plays and musicals that had closed on Broadway would play the circuit. By 1950, there were 152 Equity companies, including the Ogunquit Playhouse and Skowhegan Playhouse in Maine; the Woodstock Playhouse and the Forestburgh Playhouse in upstate New York; Falmouth Playhouse in Massachusetts (burned down in 1994); Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, Massachusetts , and the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope (suburban Philadelphia), Pennsylvania (established in 1939). The Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut , since renovated with

2368-553: The company), Frank E. Norcross, Bernard Reynold, and Weevie Vivian. The following year, James F. Neill and R.L. Giffen organized a company for the Manhattan Beach , Denver , with a cast list including: Anne Blancke, Kate Blancke, Alfred Burnham, Harry Corson Clarke , Henrietta Crosman , Josepha Crowell, Zula Hanes, William Ingersoll , John B. Maher, James F. Neill, and Mary Ryan as players, and with Alfred Fisher as stage director. In September 1894, Neill and Giffen also organized

2432-516: The coordination of their event, including liaison with catering staff. In hip hop and electronic dance music , MCs are rap artists or performers who perform vocals for their own or other artists' original material. Genres of electronic dance music where MCs perform include house , drum and bass , UK garage and grime . In the late 1970s, the term emcee , MC or M.C. became used for rappers and for their role within hip hop music and culture. Initially, MCs were those who introduced

2496-559: The early years and more recently, Sally Struthers , Lucie Arnaz , and Lorenzo Lamas . Performers such as Ginger Rogers , Douglas Fairbanks Jr. , Angela Lansbury , Bob Hope , Sergio Franchi , Zero Mostel , Ann Miller , Jane Powell , and Debbie Reynolds performed at the Cape Cod Music Circus and its sister theater, the South Shore Music Circus. Colleen Dewhurst wrote of her experiences in summer stock as

2560-802: The end of the summer, but her director at the theater quickly reminded her that she only had to give two-weeks notice and she could head to Hollywood. John Kenley , an Ohio -based producer, ran his own summer stock circuit, Kenley Players , in Columbus , Dayton , Warren , the Carousel Theatre in Akron , and Canton, Ohio , and sent many of the shows to an affiliated theater in Flint, Michigan . Starting in 1958 performers such as Dan Dailey in Guys and Dolls , Barbara Eden in Lady in

2624-1023: The first winter stock company at the Lyceum Theatre, Denver. Another company was placed in Salt Lake City in December 1894 under the management of T. Daniel Frawley, who later purchased the Neill-Giffen interests and moved the organization to San Francisco . The roster of the combined Denver and Salt Lake City company included: Belle Archer , Blanche Bates , Robert E. Bell , H.D. Blakemore, Anne Blancke, Kate Blancke, Fanny Burt, Madge Carr Cook , Harry Corson Clarke, Jean Coyne, Henrietta Crosman, Charles Dade, Lilian Dailey, George W. Denham, Harry Gibbs , William Ingersoll, Jane Kenmark, Howard Kyle , George W. Leslie, Phosa McAllister, Cara Morlan, Robert Morris, James F. Neill, Phyllis Rankin , and Fred Trader, as players, with Walter Clark Bellow as stage director. 1896

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2688-538: The impression that the summer theater movement originated when certain daft individuals began producing plays in barns . The true beginning was in the theater built by John and Mary Elitch on their ranch at Denver, Colorado, in 1891. After several seasons of vaudeville and light opera, the stock company inaugurated the 1897 season with its first dramatic performance. The director was George Edeson, with James O'Neill, father of dramatist Eugene O'Neill, as leading man. An unbroken series of successful seasons followed. This, then,

2752-587: The liturgies are long and complex, the Master of Ceremonies plays a vital role in ensuring that everything runs smoothly. The current papal Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations is Monsignor Diego Giovanni Ravelli , who succeeded Bishop Guido Marini . Historically certain European royal courts maintained senior offices known as Masters of Ceremonies (or some variant thereof), responsible for conducting stately ceremonies such as coronations and receptions of foreign ambassadors. Examples included: The function

2816-462: The papal court. The accumulation of elaborations and complications since the Renaissance and Baroque eras continued well into the 20th century, until some of the ceremonies (i.e. the court, the rituals and norms) were simplified or eliminated by Pope Paul VI in the 1970s after Vatican II ; much of the Renaissance pomp and ceremony has been completely abandoned by the popes of the modern era. Since

2880-409: The physical security of the place of worship during the liturgy, and be familiar with appropriate procedures in case of a medical emergency. The Master of Ceremonies coordinates with any concelebrating priests, deacons, altar servers and sometimes the lectors and music ministers to ensure each knows when and how to perform their liturgical functions. At major festivities such as Christmas and Easter, when

2944-434: The play Critic's Choice in 1962. They also appeared together in the romantic comedy Janus in 1963. They were married on June 6, 1963, and remained together until Ludden's death. They appeared together in an episode of The Odd Couple in which Felix and Oscar appeared on Password and also as a couple on a season 4 episode of The Love Boat . After Ludden was diagnosed with stomach cancer in early 1980, he took

3008-813: The round, the Valley Forge Music Fair (which closed in 1996), in Devon, Pennsylvania, was opened in 1955 by Shelly Gross , Lee Guber and Frank Ford . They then opened other theaters in the round, including Shady Grove Music Fair in Washington, DC, Painters Mill Music Fair in Maryland (closed in 1991), and the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island , opened in 1956. By 1957, there were 19 tent theaters, many located in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey, and all presenting musicals only. (The musical The Pajama Game

3072-540: The same length. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal , "It is desirable, at least in cathedrals and in larger churches, to have some competent minister or master of ceremonies, to see to the appropriate arrangement of sacred actions and to their being carried out by the sacred ministers and lay faithful with decorum, order, and devotion." The Master of Ceremonies may also have responsibility for

3136-544: The show in late October 1980. Other shows hosted by Ludden include Liar's Club , Win with the Stars , and Stumpers! He also hosted the original pilot for The Joker's Wild and hosted a talk-variety show, Allen Ludden's Gallery . At the request of the publishers Dodd, Mead & Co., Ludden wrote and published four books of "Plain Talk" advice, plus a youth novel, Roger Thomas, Actor (1959), all for young readers. He received

3200-772: The show, his cancer grew worse and he never returned. He died in Los Angeles on June 9, 1981, at age 63. Ludden was buried beside his father in the Ellsworth family plot in Graceland Cemetery in his hometown of Mineral Point, Wisconsin . A walkway at the Los Angeles Zoo was named in his memory (Betty White was a board member at the Zoo), and an artificial lake in Mineral Point was named Ludden Lake in his honor. Betty White also donated

3264-427: The summer) to learn their craft and observe—and possibly work with—professionals. Such stage luminaries as Maude Adams, Ethel Barrymore, Lillian Gish, and Ruth Gordon had trod the boards here. Students took classes in acting, stagecraft, makeup, and voice, and if they were talented enough, they might be asked to appear in plays with the resident acting company." Additionally, many notable performers spent their summers on

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3328-551: The support of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman , was also part of the summer stock circuit. The circuit toured in Florida and the Southeast during the winter. Venues included the Beacham Theater in Orlando and the Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach, Florida (closed since 2004) where performers from Bob Cummings in 1958 to Arlene Francis (1961) and Richard Chamberlain (1966) appeared. Stars of Broadway, film, and television would regularly spend summers performing in stock. The Council of Stock Theatres (COST) negotiated

3392-420: The term also exists in various chivalric orders and fraternal orders . Alternative names include compère (for men), commère (for women), host, presenter, announcer, and microphone controller. The office of the Master of Ceremonies itself is very old. The Master of Ceremonies is an official of the Papal household responsible for the proper and smooth conduct of the elegant and elaborate rituals involving

3456-486: The theme of the conference, facilitating a panel discussion and interviewing guests. During the wedding reception , the multifaceted responsibility of the Master of Ceremony (MC) is to keep the agenda flowing smoothly by: The role of the wedding master of ceremonies incorporates a wide range of skills, and those who serve in this capacity have frequently undergone extensive training in the following areas: Masters of ceremonies at weddings and private events also ensure

3520-409: The time Emperor Constantine the Great gave the Lateran Palace to the popes (324) or from the time Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire (380), and were no doubt influenced by imperial practices, customs and norms. However, documentary evidence from the late Roman period is scarce or lost. The ceremonies and practices of the Byzantine emperors are also known to have influenced

3584-446: The tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes . Summer stock theaters frequently take advantage of seasonal weather by having their productions outdoors, under tents set up temporarily for their use, or in barns . Some smaller theaters still continue this tradition, and a few summer stock theaters have become highly regarded by both patrons as well as performers and designers. Often viewed as

3648-425: Was a Nebraska native who worked as an ice dealer, while Leila was a Wisconsin native and housewife. Elmer Ellsworth died on January 6, 1919, at age 26, from the Spanish flu . When Ludden was about five years old, his mother married Homer J. Ludden, an electrical engineer. Homer J. Ludden was the son of Franklin C. Ludden, a merchant and then the superintendent of the electric plant in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Allen

3712-516: Was an earlier theater, but it was an established stock theater that had then been used as a summer venue.) The structure was to present different plays in weekly or biweekly repertory, performed by a resident company, generally between June and September. The usual fare consisted of light comedies, romances and mysteries. The theaters were located in rural areas. Touring companies would carry hand props and costumes to each venue, where sound, lights and set would be awaiting them. Summer stock provided

3776-521: Was attentive, supportive." Performers such as Paul Lynde , Bill Bixby , Karen Morrow , Phyllis Diller , Andy Devine , Gordon MacRae and Patrice Munsel starred in Kenley stock productions. Ethel Merman performed in Call Me Madam at the Kenley Players in 1968 (as well as appearing at the Parker Playhouse and Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami earlier that year). The Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts opened in 1927 with The Guardsman , starring Basil Rathbone , and has continued through

3840-520: Was discharged with the rank of captain in 1946. In 1948, Ludden became the program director at radio station WCBS in New York City. He left that position in June 1959 to become program coordinator for all CBS owned-and-operated radio stations. During the late 1940s and early 1950s he began his career as an adviser for youth in teen magazine columns and on radio. His radio show for teenagers, Mind Your Manners , received an honorable mention Peabody Award in 1950. Ludden hosted many game shows, including

3904-415: Was given his adoptive father's name and became Allen Ellsworth Ludden. The family lived briefly in the Wisconsin cities of Janesville , Elkhorn , Antigo , and Waupaca before moving to Texas when Ludden was nine years old. The Ludden family resided in Corpus Christi in 1940, appearing in the City Directory, where Allen is listed as a student, Homer an engineer, and Homer and Leila's son, Franklin C. Ludden,

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3968-440: Was the major show making the tent circuit in the summer of 1957.) The theatre-in-the-round concept brought Broadway-style musicals to northern California under a big top tent each summer. Original producers Russell Lewis and Howard Young presented their first production, Show Boat , the same opening production at both the Lambertville and the South Shore Music Circus. The original Lambertville theater closed in 1970, and both

4032-406: Was the only city in the country that could and did support two summer stock companies:" He went on to quote an 1896 article stating: The summer theatrical season Is now at its height and both Manhattan Beach and Elitch's Gardens are doing splendid business, and deservedly, too, for nowhere in the country are to be found better attractions or better Summer stock than those with which our local public

4096-424: Was the second stock season and J. H. Huntley was signed to direct the resident stock company, headed by leading actress Jennie Kennark. The season opened with Rosedale , a play by Lester Wallack . However, opinions differ on the official first year of summer stock. In a 1955 article for the Princeton University Library Chronicle, the authors suggest it was 1897: Devotees of the straw hat circuit are usually under

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