Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 11, Number 2, DeMotte, Jasper County, 28 November 1940 — Thespians Build Their Own Phea ter in Redwood Forest [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Thespians Build Their Own Phea ter in Redwood Forest

Having graduated from the Pasadena Community School of the Theater, eight young, enthusiastic Thespians decided that wherever people congregated- a theater could be built, with reasonable hope of success. So they went to Garberville, California, a thriving community in the heart of the giant redwood forests, which attracts visitors from all parts of the world. Here they built the “Redwood Playbox” he first of a series of stepping stones to stage or screen fame. At the end

of their first “season” the Redwood Play box group have their own theater, sets and costumes all paid for, and a profit of SIOO in the bank. The Thespians all got jobs to begin with, some working in stores, restaurants and on nearby farms. At the left is Mary Alyce Harnish, who became a “soda jerk.”

Each member of the Redwood Playbox has majored in a special field, apart from their ability as an actor. One is a scenic designer, an other a stage technician, a commercial artist, and so on. At the right is David Breneiser, a grocery clerk. All have fine singing voices.

Above the attractive rustic redwood theater built b} lh< tIo spians during their spare time. It seats 75 people comfortably—that is, as comfortably as wooden benches can seat them. The players made their own stage sets, sewed their own costumes and built their own technical equipment, consisting of tin can spot and border lights; a spaghetti box and a lot of ordinary house wire became a switchboard.

Lest —Interior of Redwood Playbox dressing room The opening play was "Mr. and Mrs. Phipps” by John Hamilton. It ran for seven days. and teas held over by popular request for 12 days more. Among the plays given this year were “Molehill" an fl “The hocked Door”

Phyllis Pen bote is shown by the guest book. Notables such as Spencer Tracy, Governor Culbert L. Olson of California, ex-Pres-ident Hoover, and many others of pre minonce have been guests at the Playbox.