Chautauqua in North Platte 2010

Thank You

North Platte is an amazing place to live. The spirit of joyful giving that permeated the Canteen lives on. The Chautauqua event could never have happened without the dozens of volunteers who not only did what the different jobs required but took a creative approach to enhance the event and immerse us into the spirit of the 1930s.

Special thanks to the chairpeople of the committees: Muriel Clark, Mark Walter, Cecelia Lawrence, Gene and Betty Gilsdorf, Rose Mary Buhrman, Margaret Engle, James Griffin and Chuck Salestrom.

Thanks to the committee members: Diane Morales, Susan Sukraw, Lyle Minshull, Sue Steele, Deion Oliver, Dale Sones, Senator Tom Hansen, Faith Fisher, Jill Kinnamen, Jeanette and Bob Pappas, Janet Fear,  Sara Aden, Kaycee Anderson, Charlene Rowley, Morgan Greenwood, Brian Hirsch, Bill Kackmeister, Rob Martinson II, Naomi Getty, Traci McKeon and family, Sky Seery, Terri Johnson, Martin Gutschenritter, Carolyn Clark, Denise DiGiovanni, Jason Gale, Cynamon Eshleman, Teresa Smith, Colin Taylor, Daisy Toft, Dan Twarling, Dave Herrald, Bob Mayber, Judy Gutschenritter, Vicki McCarty, Ben Kurre, Bertie Elfeldt, Alan Hirschfeld, Kirsten Parker, Cindy Rucker, Gwen Willis, Jennifer Paul, Dan Smith,Donna Pucket, Louise Knoedler, Ellie McClymont, Willa Brinkmeyer, Nancy Grogan, Cody Bearkiller, Joan and Michael Davis, Lisa Barckley and Ruth Swanson.

Thanks to the generous sponsors: Original Town, First National Bank, Nebraska Humanities Council, Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation, Farmers State Bank and American Mortgage Company, Quality Inn and Suites, the Do-It Center, Wayburn, Steele’s Roofing and Construction, National Car Rental, Godfathers Pizza, Gary’s Super Foods and Cash-WA.

Thanks to the North Platte Telegraph, KNOP-TV, the Bulletin, KELN-FM / KNPQ-FM / KOOQ-AM, the Lincoln County Convention and Visitors Bureau, KODY, KJLT, and KX 104 for getting the word out.

Thanks to those who provided sites for events: North Platte Parks Department, Lincoln County Historical Museum, North Platte Community College, Creativity Unlimited Arts Council Prairie Arts Center, McKinley Education Center, Platte River Mall, Eagles Club, North Platte High School, North Platte Public Library and Rivers Edge Country Club.

Thanks to Craig Godfrey for designing a wonderful stamp collector’s item cancelled here in NP with pictures of the presenters and a Chautauqua postmark. Thanks also to his mother Ronda Godfrey for coordinating the making of the cachet.

Thanks to RSVP for contacting Arleen Young, Lora Bevinton, Joanne Boon, Jo Mills, Wanda Jenkins, Nina Schnell, Darlene and Mike Sylvan, Roger Hengen, Donna and Marion Effenbeck, Mickie and Terry Scoville, Rose Grisby, Marion and Gloria Lipinski, Bernie Lewis, Pat Sexton, Nellie and James Catterson, Stan and Evie Duckworth to usher and evalutate; to A to Z Bookstore for stage setting; to Bob Westbrook for sound; to the NP Police, Jim Parish and Scout Troop 293 for night security; and to the Community Playhouse for costumes.

Thanks to the Treble Makers, to Rob Martinson, to Shermie Wiehe, to the Flatrock Irregulars, to Everett Fidler and the NP Municipal Band, and to Michael Reed and the cast of Flash Gordon (aka Kendra Noller, Richard Seward, Dan Lucero, Kevin Vicker, and Tom Staton) for entertaining us.

Chautauqua was sponsored by the Nebraska Humanities Council. They supplied funding, a blueprint for the event and historical figures. Chris Sommerich, Jane Hood and Kristi Hayek provided organizational directions, a welcome presence, and cheerful problem solving.

Thanks also to the many who gave of time and energy to pre-events events and to those who came to the events. Not only did we work together to make Chautauqua an event to remember, we produced an event that brought history to life.

Creating and celebrating together is what makes a community great and ours is the greatest.

Don Kurre and Ann Milton

Reading List

A copy of the Chautauqua “Must Read” Book List is available Must Read Book List. (Requires PDF reader.)

Under the Chautauqua Tent

Chautauqua update: 4:30 North Platte Municipal Band will preform, 5:30 Shermie on the Piano followed by Flash Gordon radio show. Will Rogers and Huey Long will bring Chautauqua to a close Sunday night beginning at 7:00pm CUAC will provide Hobo Sack Supper and the class of ’58 will offer popcorn and soda. Join us under the Tent in Cody Park.

For those of you who have not attended Chautauqua, let us explain how it works. Our host and moderator, Will Rogers, will speak first this evening. Afterwards, he will introduce his guest for the evening, Louisiana senator Huey Long. Senator Long will tell us all about himself, then you will have an opportunity to ask Senator Long and our host Will Rogers questions abut their life and views. Following the question and answer period our historical figures, the modern-day scholars will appear and you will be able to ask questions of the scholars who portray Huey Long and Will Rogers.

Chautauqua begins!

Chautauqua began in North Platte on Wednesday evening with Media Night. The Tent program continues on Thursday night at 7:00 pm with Franklin D Roosevelt. Hobo Sack Supper will be available beginning at 6:00pm. The supper is fund raiser for the Arts Council. Adult workshops will also begin on Thursday at the North Platte Community College in the Theater. At 1:00 pm Doug Watson will present a workshop titled, Will Rogers: Film & American society. At 3:00 pm Tonia Compton will present a workshop titled, “Radio in the Thirties. Make plans to join us.

The Tent is Ready for Chautauqua to Begin

The Chautauqua tent is up and ready for the Chautauqua to begin. Media Night is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23, 2010 in the Tent at Cody Park beginning at 6:00 pm. Come meet the Chautauquans.

The Chautauqua stage is set and waiting to be filled with the likes of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Aimee Semple McPherson, Huey Long, Zora Neale Hurston, and Will Rogers. Join us for the presentations in Cody Park.

Water from the recent rains caused us to change the location for the Chautauqua Tent in Cody Park. The tent is located North of Cody Pool in the Cody Pool parking lot. Lots of parking and easy access to the tent. It will be dry inside the tent. Lawn chairs are welcome. Looking forward to seeing you at the Chautauqua Tent.

Follow NP Chautauqua on Twitter

Follow North Platte Chautauqua on Twitter for up to date information. Let your friends know about the North Platte Chautauqua by retweeting our posts.

Listing of Events

You will find a chronological listing of events here: Chronological listing of events File is in PDF format and requires a reader.

There are four parts to a Chautauqua evening:

1. Entertainment by a musical or theatrical performer2. Presentations from historical figures played by visiting scholars.
3. Questions from the audience directed at the historical figures 4. Questions from the audience directed at scholars about their knowledge of their subjects.

The Chautauqua will follow the theme of: Bright Dreams, Hard Times: America in the Thirties. The visiting scholars will look at the 1930s from an historic and a 21st century perspective.  First-person portrayals, workshops, and the Dust Bowl exhibit examine themes that resonate with Americans today.

Click here for a Chronological listing of events

Chautauqua in NLDs Parade

Don, Mark, and Ben Walk with the Chautauqua entry in the 2010 NLDs Parade. (Above L to R)Marty drives the car made available from the Lincoln County Museum advertising the North Platte Chautauqua. The Chautauqua theme is “Bright Dreams, Hard Times: America in the Thirties.” Big thank you to Judy and Grand Children, Ann and Gene for making Chautauqua’s participation in the parade possible. THANKS!

Ben and Gene share stories before participating in the 2010 NLDs parade. America in the Thirties is the Theme for the North Platte Chautauqua.

Jim checks the fluid levels on the Car used by the North Platte Chautauqua in the 2010 NLDs parade. The Car is on display at the Lincoln County Museum. Thanks for letting us us it in the parade.
Ann and Gene find some shade as they wait for the 2010 NLDs parade to begin. North Platte Chautauqua participated in the 2010 parade as a way to let people know that Chautauqua will be in North Platte June 23 – 27, 2010

The Chautauqua car makes its way down the parade route. The 1930′s Chevrolet was a crowed pleaser.

Chronological Listing of Events

You will find a chronological listing of Events here: Chronological listing of events File is in PDF format and requires a reader.

Take a step back in history

Take a step back in history.
Attend Chautauqua 2010 in North Platte and meet Humorist Will Rogers, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, Author Zora Neale and Louisiana Sen. Huey Long who will entertain you with stories about the hard times in America after the stock market crash of 1929. Free evening performances nightly from June 23 to 27, at 7 p.m. at Cody Park.

North Platte’s own stories of the Great Depression era will come alive when actors portray well-known local figures from the 1930s at the Dirty Thirties Cemetery Tours. Tickets are on sale now at the North Platte Public Library, 120 West Fourth, Downtown North Platte. Tours scheduled June 21, 22 and 26.

Clothing reminiscent of the 1930s will be featured at the Chautauqua Style Show and Luncheon  on June 26 at Margie’s Bar and Grill at River’s Edge Golf Course. Tickets are available at Westfield Pharmacy, Miss Connie’s Connections, and North Platte Convention and Visitors Bureau. The cost is $15. Proceeds will support Creativity Unlimited Arts Council.

The Chautauqua Dust Bowl Exhibit will tell a story of strength and triumph in the face of despair, with photographs of the people and landscape from the 1930s.

The story of how legendary World War II war correspondent Ernie Pyle was associated with North Platte during the 1930s will be featured during Chautauqua week at an Ernie Pyle Exhibit from June 21 through June 27 at Lincoln County Historical Museum. Free admission to the museum on June 23.

Chautauqua Workshops offer an in-depth look at life in the 1930s. From June 24 to June 27 Chautauqua Adult Workshops will be offered free to the public at North Platte Community College Theater, 601 W. State Farm Road. No registration required.

As a reminder of the hard times that many endured during the Great Depression, Hobo Sack Suppers will be available prior to evening Chautauqua performances from June 24 – June 27 at the Chautauqua Big Tent in Cody Park   Proceeds will be used to promote community projects of Creativity Unlimited Arts Council.

Get an up-close look at the 1930’s memorabilia at the Platte River Mall during Chautauqua week, June 21 – 24. Vicky McCarty will be on hand to talk  about her collection of movie memorabilia, history, fashion and fiction books, toys and dolls from the 1930s era.