Marblehead Little Theatre seeks old posters, programs for archive

Prompted by Women’s History Month, Marblehead Little Theatre has begun seriously researching its own history and celebrating its founding 65 years ago through the “vision and creative genius” of eight women. The founding women’s names are recorded as Mrs. Henry Hale, Chairman; Mrs. Raychel Hicks, Mrs. Lou Schnieder, Mrs. Marjorie Martin, Mrs. Rita Brady, Wilma Hoffman, Mrs. Doris Faulkner, and Mrs. Isobel Steinmuller.

The project’s progress can be followed on the frequently updated decade-by-decade historical narrative on the History page at mltlive.org which includes links to a full chronological list of productions, the images of the production posters currently available to MLT and the list of MLT presidents.

The research includes finding that, in the 1940s and 1950s, Marblehead was a popular venue for summer stock theater companies with productions that featured Lucille Ball, Burt Lahr, Ava Gabor, Veronica Lake, Basil Rathbone, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Winston Churchill’s granddaughter. Even Richard Rogers personally supervised a production of “On Your Toes” in 1953.

But in 1955 when the visiting theater companies sought out air-conditioned venues, summer stock left Marblehead. Yet, the demand for quality live theater remained strong in Marblehead.

A drama committee was organized in the fall of 1954 by the Marblehead Woman’s Club under the chairmanship of Hale. The committee performed the one act play “The Charm Racquet” for the club’s annual meeting in May 1955 at the Old North Church Parish Hall.

When it became apparent that a much larger group was needed, husbands, sons, daughters, and friends were invited to an organizational meeting in September 1955. The group next presented Moss Hart’s three-act play “Light Up the Sky” which opened on January 18, 1956, at the Marblehead Junior High School Auditorium. This is seen as the first production presented officially by what was then called The Little Theatre of Marblehead.

Over six decades later, MLT is one of the oldest community theatre groups in New England as well as one of the few to have continually produced shows each year.

“This research process has been fascinating and inspiring,” said Andrew Barnett, MLT’s technical director and facilities manager, who initiated the project. “The research has enabled us to honor the women who founded MLT and to fill in productions we’d lost track of. It’s rather amazing to look at the list of shows and see what a tremendous body of work it has been and how talented and visionary women continue to contribute to MLT’s vitality as a performing arts organization.”

Barnett has called upon Marblehead resident and long-time and current MLT producer and actor Dayle Bunker Persons to help organize the research, programs, posters, photos and newspaper clippings. Persons first appeared in MLT’s 1960s production of “Pajama Game.” Persons, now retired, was the assistant archivist in The Salem State University library archives department.

Right now, MLT is turning to the community to ask if anyone has MLT programs, posters, photos or any other memorabilia they would like to donate back to the theatre – particularly for the years 1976 through 1995 – to fill in its history and archives. Donations can be dropped off in the vestibule of the theatre at 12 School Street in Marblehead or made by contacting Andrew Barnett at info@mltlive.org.

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