Lucille Ball Little Theatre Of Jamestown
History of Lucille Ball Little Theatre
In 1920 Madelyn Jones Osgood with a group 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, Pennsylvannia 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 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 a 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 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 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 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 $60,000.00. 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 in 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 $125,000.00 goal. There 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 production and return 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 $80,000.00 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 news room on one corner 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 $175,000.00. Final cost was $239,000.00. 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 1989, Lucille Ball allowed us to rename the theatre; Lucille Ball Little Theatre of Jamestown in her honor. She graciously consented, but passed away before the actual ceremony. Her daughter, actress Lucie Arnaz consented to attend the dedication.
A formal ceremony was held on May 24th, 1991. Lucie Arnaz and her entire family attended the auspicious event. A plaque to Mrs. Arnaz expressing the appreciation of the entire community of having Jamestown's most famous alumni forever associated with this wonderful edifice.
