The Village Squire, 1981-06, Page 7accommodations. the Festival department in which she's worked
for the past two decades, Mrs. Ellis should know.
She also knows that currently there are about 250 homes
offering about 400 rooms for booking through her and her staff
(one other fulltime employee and four summer helpers). The
tourists pay $18 for a room with twin beds. $16 for a double, and
$13 for a single, out of which come. The Festival's fee of S2.'
That's considerably Tess than the going hotel and motel rates
in and around Stratford. Mrs. Ellis's office also books visitors
into 14 of those but, increasingly she says. people are asking for
accommodation in private homes. Partly it's for economic
reasons but also, the guest tell her. they appreciate the homey
atmosphere.
The majority, but not all. of the tourist homes in Stratford, are
registered with and booked through The Festival. Mrs. Ellis says
she's always looking for more. The main considerations are
cleanliness and comfort. She inspects all rooms before she adds
them to her list, and rarely does she receive complaints.
In The Festival's 25th season. 1977. her office sent a.record
35.394 tourists to private homes. and another 22,959 to hotels
and motels. Since then the annual totals have been around
32.400 and 25.500 respectively.
Most of the registered homeowners have three or four rooms
on the go. One has seven. For many, the summer trade
represents a small but significant second income, and often the
money is earmarked for household improvements. a winter
holiday. or university expenses.
Mrs. Ellis says that for several reasons only a few of her homes
serve breakfast but most offer morning coffee. "If people want
breakfast and we can't supply it, we try to put them in homes
near downtown." says Mrs. Ellis. "then it's just a short walk for
them to go and buy it."
While most homes don't provide breakfast, some have
swimming pools. or readily -available babysitters. or air
conditioning. Some welcome pets. and that's important says
Mrs. Ellis as she smiles and tells the story of a couple arriving
from the United States with "six or seven budgies and three or
four cats." The people. but not their menaeerie. were luted nn
the reservation. Though surprised, the hosts were obliging. The
birds. all in one Targe cage, spent the night indoors; the cats
settled down in the car.
"We'll send people to a home and they'll like it so well they'll
request it year after year." says Mrs. Ellis. "Most of the time we
can book it for them. We never turn anybody away. We've
always found a place. even if I've had to take them home
myself, which I've done."
One night a few seasons back. a couple with a small child
showed up for a performance and learned that Festival police
forbade them from taking their infant into the theatre. Perhaps
in the truest sense. the accommodations office was accommodat-
ing. The girl working the evening shift looked after the child
while the parents soaked up some Shakespeare.
Most requests. however, are routine and are met in routine
fashion. In particular. Mrs. Ellis likes dealing with groups
because she finds them easiest to please. People such as Marvin
Mirsky gave her plenty of practice in that area. Dr. Mirsky is a
professor at the University of Chicago and for almost 20 years he
has been bringing 40 -member groups to Stratford and Mrs. Ellis
has been booking them into private homes.
"I've gotten to know that man quite well over the years." she
says. "And we've never had a complaint from any of his groups.
He's coming seven times this year."
So, while theatre's top stars make The Festival a cultural
drawing card, Alma Wittig and Louise Ellis and hundreds of
others look after many of the people it draws.
Their seasons wouldn't be complete without the Raymond
Walshes and the Marvin Mirskys. And the man who brings his
own satin pillow case. 0
OLD MILL IN BLYTH
Fashion from
Paris and Rome
Sample jackets were bought at the
Leather Show in Paris costing $640.
These jackets were copied by our
pattern makers and are available to you
in suede or leather for men and women
'135.
June Specials
Camper Jackets for the whole family,
Adult sizes, $23.95 to $49.95. Child-
ren's sizes $17.95 to $41.95.
at only
Wedding gifts: Pure Virgin Wool
blankets, all sizes, many colours.
Sheepskin rugs priced according to size.
Starting at $12.
Quality pure virgin w-x,l
Look for this sign on the label
THE ORIGINAL OLD MILL
AND FACTORY OUTLET
S23-9666 Since 1894
HOURS. Monday - Thursday 9 - 6
Friday 9 - 9
Saturday 9 - 6
Sunday 1 - 6
Starting June 26 Open til 9:00
7 days a week
VILLAGE SQUIRE/JUNE 1981 PG 5