History of the Little Theatre

The Little Theatre of Jamestown was established in 1936 as a non-profit membership corporation. The purpose as described in its by-laws was to present five live stage productions each season, from September to May, on a regular basis for the education and entertainment of the residents of the Jamestown New York and surrounding area. This mission has been accomplished, and the organization is now entering it's 66th season. There is a paid staff consisting of an artistic director, technical director, business manager and office staff. The organization is regulated by a Board of Directors, with nineteen members elected by the membership and serving a three year term.

In 1968 the organization purchased and renovated a downtown Vaudeville theatre which had been closed for five years. It has a 405 seat auditorium and a 30 X 60 foot lobby, a full stage with a fly capability plus office, check room and toilet facilities. Each of the plays are presented for two weekends and the two musicals are presented for three weekends. All productions are open to the public and special group prices are available.

Lucille Ball is Jamestown's most famous local personality, having been born and educated here. Her first acting experience on stage was with our organization. Upon her death, the theatre was renamed in her honor with the family's permission. It now operates as The Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, Inc.

 

LUCILLE BALL LITTLE THEATRE OF JAMESTOWN, INC.
18 EAST SECOND STREET JAMESTOWN, NEWYORK 14701
HISTORIC BACKGROUND
MARCH 15, 2002
BY MARSHALL B. DAHLIN BUSINESS MANAGER

In 1920 Madelyn Jones Osgood with a group of local interested thespians started a theatre group and called themselves "The Players Club". They mounted two or three plays each year and presented them in various locations in Jamestown. Madelyn's father, Cyrus Jones, owned the brick house and carriage house on Fairmount Avenue across from Zion Covenant Church. The upstairs of the carriage house was the rehearsal hall and set building shop. In 1929 they mounted a play called "The Choir Rehearsal" by Clare Kummer. They took this play to a theatre competition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and won the first place prize of $100.00. A recognizable sum in 1929. It was also the year that Madelyn cast a young girl named Lucille Ball in a play called "Within the Law". It was Lucy's first "on stage" experience in the world outside of school. Lucy never forgot Mrs. Osgood and in 1968 when the Little Theatre moved to Second Street she sent her a $5,000.00 check for the building fund. In 1936 a young couple who had just finished college and studies at the Cleveland Playhouse, came to Jamestown and convinced "The Players Club" to dissolve and become a part of a new organization called "The Little Theatre of Jamestown, Inc." This newly married couple, George and Harriet Warren, became the paid professional directors. A not for profit corporation was formed and board of nineteen directors was elected to run the organization. A membership campaign was organized with a goal of 1000 season ticket holders. The drive was successful with sales of over 1100. A season ticket sold for $3.75. They were valid for admission to the five plays to be presented. Adult movie tickets in 1936 were twenty five cents. The plays were to be presented at the Scottish Rite Temple at the corner of Fourth Street and Prendergast Avenue. The sale of season tickets grew each year and reached a total of 5,400 in 1945. This was the largest membership theatre in the United States at the time. Local men were still away in the Service and the ladies came to the theatre in groups. The next year when the men returned home, membership sales dropped to about 4,000, where it stayed for several years.
It now seemed like the logical time to attempt to build our own theatre building. A campaign to raise the necessary funds was organized. The goal for this campaign was $125,000.00. Contributions and pledges only raised about $60,00.00. The board thought that "If it looked like the theatre building was going to happen, the drive would succeed". A defunct Howard Johnson building and carriage house at 414 Fairmount Avenue was purchased. Repairs were made to the main building and a scenery shop was built at the rear of the carriage house. The business office and rehearsal space moved to Fairmount Avenue from the Scottish Rite Temple. A team of experts were hired to determine if it was now feasible to attempt to try to reach the $125,00.00 goal. Their report was negative and no further attempt was made to raise the funds.
The plays continued to be presented at the Scottish Rite Temple. The sets and box office were hauled to the Consistory and set up for each production and returned to Fairmount Avenue at the close of each show. The Warrens resigned in 1955 to assume positions at the Rochester Community Playhouse in Rochester, New York. Various paid and guest directors replaced the Warrens. Many offers to purchase the property on Fairmount Avenue were received over the years, but were never enough to give serious consideration. In 1968 an offer of $80,00.00 was received. The theatre had invested about $45,000.00 in the purchase and repairs of the Fairmount Avenue property. After due consideration, the board voted to accept the offer and look for a new home. Many sites were explored. The Dipson Theatre Corporation owned the Shea's Theatre on East Second Street. The building also housed a newsroom on one comer and a jewelry store at the other end. The theatre had been closed for about five years due to the decline of attendance with the arrival of television. Mr. Dipson made us a generous offer for the building and contributed to the fund raising campaign. The decision to buy was made. The 1800 seat auditorium had been gutted and there was serious interior damage. The plan was to build a new theatre inside the old one with a 400-seat auditorium and a thirty by sixty foot lobby. A fund raising campaign was organized to raise the additional funds needed over the $80,000.00 received from the sale of 414 Fairmount Avenue. Warren Howard, the architect, and Ludwig Construction Company estimated the cost of rebuilding The Shea's Theatre would be $175,00.00. Final cost was $239,00.00. The new theatre was fully funded at the grand opening on April 19,1969. A famous actor of the Heyday of Movies, Mr. Walter Abel, was hired to perform at the formal dedication. A new era had begun for The Little Theatre. In 1990, Jamestown's most famous person, Lucille Ball, passed away. The Little Theatre board met on November 8, 1990 and Voted unanimously to rename The Little Theatre in her honor. A formal dedication was held on May 24, 1991 with her daughter Lucie Arnez and family in attendance. The new name is "The Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown, Inc." At this writing in March 2002, The Little Theatre has been operating for 65 Seasons and has mounted 360 productions since 1936.

 

18-24 East 2nd St.
Jamestown, NY
14701