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.

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.

North Platte announces Chautauqua highlights

The community of North Platte has planned a five-day schedule of events surrounding the visit June 23-27 of “Bright Dreams, Hard Times: America in the Thirties,” the Nebraska Humanities Council’s 2010 Chautauqua program.

The schedule includes a “Dust Bowl” exhibit of photographs, a youth day camp and youth workshops. Among the opening-day events is a 6 p.m. social at Cody Park to meet the Chautauquans with local entertainment beginning at 5 p.m.

Main events will be held each evening June 23-27 at Cody Park, located at 1400 N. Jeffers St. Evening stage performances offer local entertainment and first-person interpretations of historical figures from the era of the Great Depression. Evening Chautauqua sessions begin at 7 p.m. Daytime workshops will be held for adults and youth of all ages. All events are free and open to the public.

Scholars will portray five historical characters who helped shape America’s response to the Great Depression. The scholars are Doug Watson as humorist Will Rogers, Patrick McGinnis as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Fred Krebs as Louisiana governor and U.S. Sen. Huey Long, Tonia M. Compton as evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson and Wanda Schell as WPA folklorist Zora Neale Hurston.

A collaboration of the Nebraska Humanities Council and the Kansas Humanities Council, the Chautauqua also visits Columbus June 16-20, with additional visits in Colby, Kan., June 2-6, and Belleville, Kan., June 9-13.

The “Bright Dreams, Hard Times” Chautauqua is funded, in part, by a major three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities as part of the NEH’s special “We The People” initiative.

For additional information on this summer’s Chautauqua, go to the Kansas-Nebraska Chautauqua website, www.knchautauqua.org, or contact Kristi Hayek at (402) 474-2131 ext. 108 kristi@nebraskahumanities.org.

North Platte in the 1930′s

This picture of East 4th and Tabor Ave shows some of North Platte in the 1930′s Looks like the cross walks were already ADA accessible. Has North Platte always been a head of the times? Click the photo for larger view,

Thanks to Larry L. Britton for use of this photo

What To Expect Under the Tent

Chautauqua audiences will gather under the big tent to enjoy entertainment, followed by first-person interpretations of important characters of the 1930s. There are four parts to a Chautauqua evening:
1. Entertainment by a musical or theatrical performer
2. Presentations from historical figures (the moderator and the evening’s guest)
3. Questions from the audience directed at the historical figures, who will answer as the figures would have responded
4. Questions from the audience directed at scholars, who will answer as their research suggests and correct self-serving answers by historical figures or shed light on a subject the historical figure would not have been able to do

The Kansas-Nebraska Chautauqua begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday with a social that provides an opportunity to meet and mingle with the Chautauquans.

Humorist Will Rogers (Doug Watson) opens the Thursday evening presentation with antics, rope tricks, and humor. He also will be the moderator for each evening’s performance. Thursday night’s main presentation is by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Patrick McGinnis), the father of the New Deal and a new hope for Americans in the Thirties. Evening tent performances begin at 7:30 p.m. with opening entertainment at 7 p.m.

Friday night’s performance opens with the 2010 Youth Chautauquans from the Ride Into History Youth Camp at 5:30 p.m., who will recreate local history with their first-person interpretations. Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson (Tonia Compton) will follow, heralding messages of spiritual zest and relief for the poor. Saturday night features the folktales, music, and lively stories of Harlem Renaissance author and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston (Wanda Schell).

Closing the “Bright Dreams, Hard Times, America in the Thirties” Chautauqua week on Sunday, Will Rogers will warm up the crowd for some energetic and contrary political perspectives provided by Louisiana Sen. Huey Long (Fred Krebs).

The tent will be located in Cody Park just North of the tennis courts. For more information about Chautauqua consult the Chautauqua Reader by clicking here. (PDF reader required) Pick up a copy of the Chautauqua Reader at many North Platte locations including coffee shops and the North Platte Library.

Chautauqua at “Woofstock 2010″

Volunteers Needed: As a result of a generous contribution, North Platte Chautauqua will have a booth/table at the 2010 “Woofstock”. “Woofstock” 2010 “A Festival for Dogs” will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 9 am – 3 pm at Memorial Park. We are looking for some volunteers to help us staff the table. We will provide cards and materials to distribute during the Festival. If you are willing to take a shift at the table please let us know. Contact us at chautauqua@originaltown.com. We are looking for two people per a one hour shift. Thanks Diane!

Candy of the 1930′s

About 40 candy lovers gathered at the North Platte Library Thursday. Cecelia Lawrence, Director of the North Platte Library, was the speaker at the Library’s Chautauqua Luncheon Series. During her presentation, “Candy of the 1930’s. Cecelia told the assembled candy lovers the popular Snickers candy bar was named after a Mars family horse. “Believe it or Not” started out not only as a column about unbelievable events, people or objects but also a candy bar—“Believe it or Not.”

Each participant received a bag of ‘30’s style candy to enjoy during the first luncheon program. The next event in the series will be “Introduction to the Films of the 1930s” which will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2010 beginning at noon. Bring your lunch and prepare for an introduction to the films of the 30’s. Call the library at 535-8036 to reserve your seat. “Action!”

Candy lovers gather to learn about candy of the 1930's

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Would You Like To Be Involved?

Planning for the June 2010 Chautauqua will continue Monday, January 25, 2010. We will meet in the NP Library’s meeting room from 5:30 pm – 6:30pm.

Chautauqua will be held on June 23 through 27, 2010. The Chautauqua evening tent programs will be held in Cody Park. The daily workshops, youth programs and other Chautauqua events will be held at McKinley Education Center, The Lincoln County Museum, North Platte Community College! and the North Platte Library.

We will use the January 25^th meeting to continue planning for the 2010 NP Chautauqua. A number of exciting plans have taken shape since our last meeting. We look forward to hearing how other plans are developing. If you are interested in working with Chautauqua please plan to attend this meeting. Action items will include reviewing our planning schedule through the June 23 – 27 Chautauqua during this meeting. Please bring your calendar.

If you have questions or need information about Chautauqua contact Don Kurre or Ann Milton at chautauqua@originaltown.com.

We hope to see you on Monday, January 25, 2010 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm at the NP Library. We’ve committed to conducting our business within the hour time frame. This meeting will adjourn at 6:30pm. For more information contact NP Chautauqua at chautauqua@originatown.com.

Cody Park Tent Site Chosen

We chose a site in Cody Park for the Chautauqua tent. The Tent will be located just North of the tennis courts and East of the Unity Tile Sculpture. Since the tent is 60 feet by 80 feet and needs a stie that is a minimum of 70 by 80 feet we thought this location was the best site. It is away from high way noise, close to adequate parking and near the consession stand. Chautauqua participants will have access to the best soft ice cream in the state from the Cody Park Concession Stand.

Mark (l.) and Ann discuss the possible Chautauqua site in North Platte’s Cody Park.