I leave town this morning for the League of Historic American Theatre’s National conference in Philadelphia. The life and times of Thomas G. Moses will be put on hold until my return around July 20. As with past travels, my blog will shift to “Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar.”
On June 17, 2019, I present a session as part of the Tools & Techniques Segment on Wednesday, July 17– “Uncovering the History of Your Theatre or Cinema: Knowing Where to Look.” Here is the link to the conference schedule: http://www.lhat.org/conferences/national-conference/schedule
Here is the LHAT session description: “Tracking down information pertaining to any historic theater is a challenge. Important records are lost and significant artifacts disappear over time. Those with institutional memory depart before sharing their knowledge. The search for your theater’s history may seem impossible. Fortunately, we live at a time when access to historical information is just waiting to be discovered online – one just has to know how and where to look for it. Uncovering little gems connected to your theater’s past not only draws a community together, but also helps market your theater, generate community support, and secure grant funding. This session will help you track down information about your historic theater, its original construction, ornamentation, painted settings, past productions, and performers that graced your stage. Whether you are a theatre manager, board member, professional, or enthusiastic novice, this session will help you discover lost information that is much needed whether you are starting a renovation, applying for a historical register, or submitting a grant application. After attending this session, you will be better enabled to successfully locate valuable information about your venue. Whether you represent a cinema, historic theater, or are a theatre professional, you will leave with a better understanding of our shared theatrical past.”
The topic for this session was prompted by my daily research pertaining to the life and times of Thomas G. Moses. Like many, when I first started researching historic theaters and scenic artists I paged through a card catalogue and wandered the stacks. Hundreds of hours were send carefully paging through various publications and bound journals in rare book rooms. As technology and Internet resources continue to expand, I encounter more information that I could have conceived as an undergraduate. The problem now is that there can be too much information, unless you know how to refine the parameters of your search. Over the years, I have developed a few tricks that help direct the search; where to look and what to look for in regard to historic performance venues. Simply typing in a question will often lead to too much information, therefore complicating the task.
As with many business trips, I have decided to drive to Philadelphia. Time on the road often results in the opportunity to visit at historic sites, small-town opera houses, and abandoned theaters. This factor always transforms a long drive into a treasure hunt.
To be continued…
