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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-07-01, Page 25Eat .your heart out in. Bayfeld EATS AND TREATS OF BONFIELD 565-2942 .1 Cafe • Serving tight lunches . • Afternoon tea • Delicious dinner specials • Gourmet• picnic lunches • Take-out fopds available • Catering available Gourmet Food Store f. • Old fashioned candies • Fresh coffee beans • Black and herbal teas 4D\ Canadian & imported cheeses • Gourmet comestibles • Gift baskets You'll eat it up Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 • M • Hall revived in early '70s BY LISE GUNBY Blyth's Memorial Hall which houes the Blyth Centre for the Arts has a long history. a vibrant, present, and by all indications, a promising future. Memorial Hall has stood since 1920. when it was erected as a memorial to Blyth's First World War veterans. The old touring companies used to travel to Guelph. Stratford and London. but often missed Blyth as it was smaller, so the townspeople put on-their own plays. These productions were very well attended, and also one of the -onty-forms -of recreation. With the advent of radio and T.V., the enthusiasm for' community produced enter- tainment waned. Mettorial Hall, 'falling into disrepair, was still, used for community dances and other activities, but ,the stage upstairs was,;,bare. But in the early 1970's, local- woman still. on the board of directors for The Myth._ C'entre for_the--Arts—initiated- the revitalization of the Hall: Volunteers went to work to bring the building back to life. New fire escapes had to be installed to make the building safe. Blyth.. 'council provided the money. Repairs at a cost of S200 , were made to the wiring system. The roof was found unable to support snow loads. Renovation progress was halted. • "Tear the thing down." offered one' local councillor. , So much Money shouldn't be put into such an old building, suggested another. Townspeople ' were consulted in the form of a coupon placed in a local paper. 'Two groups came to the defence of the hall, one wanting the building put back Into use as an entertain- ment facility, the other • it preserved because it' was memorial to war veterans. 'Only one coupon was marked against the pre- servation of the hall. The village gave $10,000 for the replacement of the roof, and received the rest of ' the $50,000 cost from senior government grants. ORGANIZED,--From two productions and tickets sold the night of the performance in 1975 to five productions and advance sales the organizing of ticket sales has become a huge job for the Blyth Summer Fesivel. But this year a lot of headaches have been solved with the construction of a "closet" for tickets. A pine fronted cupboard Nimes 'racks with tickets carefuily catalogued as to date, •performance and seating.- Barbara Huget finds the whole job goes much faster and smoother this year in the boat office. (Phcito by Hamilton) 11 YOUR SEAT fv1adill; Myth, stilt has the original 'eating chart for Blyth Memorial Hall. The board has all the seats numbered' and marked by a•small nail. As the tickets are sold small wood chip slips over the rail'signifying the seat is sold. (Photo by Hamilton) So Memorial Hall was standing firm in the winter of 375 when James Roy, then a recent graduate'of theatre at York University,'who grew up near the village . mentioned to Paul 'Thompson his Please turn to page 10 Clothes For Women Exclusive Handknits, 13ayfield. Ont. Main St. 565-2588 a Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Sunday 12 - 5:30 p.m. FALL COLLECTION ARRIVING DAILY AW•Oliums.mleurimommormOor• woommiam00•01aWN1.11101.1W•10. BY itAcuEL BATTTE During the past , year the Blyth Centre for the Arts had spearheaded many fund-raising projects to help pay for the renovations to the Blyth Memorial Hall. To many of the Blyth's older residents the door to door canvass, carried out by the Centre's board members, was reminiscent of the canvassing done when the hall was originally built. The Hall was built by the residents of Blyth and the Townships of East Wawanosh. Morris and Hu!lett, to show appreciation to the young men who had fought in the first World War and to setve as a lasting memorial to those who had died for their country. The first hall committee ,consisted of members of the Women's institute (who bought the lot for the hall), the Red Cross Girls' Auxiliary and other organizations. Raising the 525.000 to build the Hall was in those days a task. However a spirited canvass was conducted. People in public jobs were - expected to tithe ten percent of a year's salary. The late Mrs. Pearl Watson, who taught in BlYth at that time. said that from her 3.500 a year salary, she had $50 deducted as her "contribution". A variety of fund raising events followed the canvass, including concerts, suppers and various clubs' pro- jects. Muth- of the actual. work was done by volunteer labour. The end result was a comm unity hall which stood among the finest in the province. The upper auditorium had a seating capacity of 600. The basement area was suited for meetings. dances, receptions and banquets. CONSTANT USE During the next two decades the Hall was in constant use. The era of vaudeville thrived and Blyth Memorial Hall was the scene of, many entertaining travelling shows. Aug- menting the touring professional shows were many local concerts. Irish and Scottish shows proved popular as did variety type concerts. A group of local men put together a minstrel show, complete with golliwog wigs, straw hats and striped jackets. This group toured around the area, getting as much fun-out of their act as the audiences they performed for. During the Second World War, the emphasis was on projects to help provide a few things to cheer up the servicemen. Concerts were held to raise money for cigarettes and sweets for the' army boys. The' ladies' organizations held get-togethers where they made items to make life a little more comfortable for' the soldiers. The Red Cross used the Hall as a home base for collecting for the army. GATHERED DUST For about 20 years. the Memorial Hall auditorium remained unused gathering dust although community activities flourished in the lower hall. The local drama chib put on ,plays in the school auditorium. • In 1972 the Board .of -Trade took the initiative to try and bring the theatre back to life. Aided by members of the drama club and other volunteers they cleaned out old scenery and curtains which hung in tatters, scrubbed and painted till the hall looked presentable. In September a variety concert was held in connection with the Fall fair, featuring local talent and a Fall Fair Queen Contest. The Blythlittle Theatre group and, their young people's group put on some plays. A new era was about to begin in the history of Blyth Memorial Hall. Fears that the hall might be torn down because of the sagking roof and poor wiring were way-laid. The Blyth Senior Citizens managed to get a government grant to fix the roof. app 1975, a young director, James Roy, roached several local people with the idea of starting a Summer Theatre: The Blyth Centre for the Arts was formed, and that summer two, plays. The Mousetrap. by Agatha Christie, and Mostly in Clover, a play based on Harry Boyle's stories were presented. The response to the plays was very encouraging. The following w ter a local intiative project grant was sed to carry out further renovations, restoring the beautiful pine woodwork. In the ensuing years the Summer Festival grew in size and .reputation, one successful season following another. A winter season of plays. musical events and varied concerts was added to the program of the Centre for the ,Arts. Such well-known performers £.S Canadian Brass, The Huggett Family and Maureen Forrester have delighted local audiences in the last few winter Seasons. The vision, perceived by the committees responsible for the original building of a memorial that would "stand the test of time and be a fitting token of the''worth by residents of the community" is still there. A LOT OF WORK ON PROPS—John Thompson who is in charge of • tracking down props for the Festival productions .finds the whole job a challenge. If he is unable to find what the designer and director want he must improvise. For the production of "Love or Money" John has threaded fancy beads to add to the glass chandelier for a richer effect. Props are either donated for the summer or sometimes purchased at auctions and then .added to the ever-growing department Of props and wardrobe. (Photo by Hamilton)