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By John Kalkowski
In a flicker of nostalgia, old-time
entertainment came to Nebraska this
summer in the form of Chatauqua '75, an
array of politicians, vaudeville acts and
home-grown talent, all under one big top.
The traveling Chatauqua tent shows
were popular throughout the country at
the turn of the century. Chatauqua 75 was
developed by the University of Nebraska
and many organizations throughout the
state as a Bicentennial activity.
The Chatauqua '75 tour made stops in
Chadron, Scottsbluff McCook, Hastings,
Norfolk and Nebraska City May 30'
through June 10.
When Chatauqua '75 began, NU
President D.B. Varner said he was skeptical
about the success of a revived Chatauqua in
an era of modern entertainment such as
television and contemporary motion
pictures.
But the revived tent shows proved so
successful that Varner said he was "in
error."
Another series
The university already is beginning its
initial planning for another series of
Chatauquas-Bicentennial
Chatauqua-during the summer of 1976,
according to Don Jacks, who will be the
Chatauqua director.
Next year's Chatauqua will not be the
same show, he said.
This year, the tent shows featured many
national political figures, such as Gen.
William Westmoreland, former Army chief
of. staff; Ramsey Clark, former U.S.
attorney general; and Terry Sanford, .
Democratic presidential candidate.
There also were several national
entertainment figures such as Will Ceer,
"Grandpa" on television's "The Waltons"
and Will Rogers Jr.
Play a highlight
One of the highlights of Chatauqua was
a musical play, Portraits, written by UNL
Professor David Bell and student Alan
Nielsen. The play was performed by UNL's
Repertory Theatre,
Also on the tour was the Scarlet and
Cream Ensemble, UNL's traveling music
show group. ...
. Although the Bicentennial will not be a
carbon copy of this year's, it will compare
in many ways, Jacks said.
Next summer's Chatauqua also will be a
tent show, he said. As the planning for the
tent show continues, an issue of major
consideration will be money.
This year, the university received
$85,000 for the show from various
organizations interested in promoting
cultural and Bicentennial activities. The
Nebraska Bicentennial Commission and the
Humanities Council contributed thousands
of dollars toward the show. Each town on
the circuit also gave $2,500 to the
university for the show.
Jacks said that though a defecit was
expected, the tent shows were enough of a
success to break even.
Show to change
To receive large amounts of money,
several aspects of the show will be changed,
Jacks said. He said some organizations
already have told him they would not
finance the exact same show next year.
To change the show, he said he would
like to see the university and national parts
of the show packaged into specific show
periods. Different towns could then add
whatever amount of local talent they want.
He said it is likely that Chatauqua will
not visit the same towns that it did this
year.
The popular Portraits also will not show
again. Bell and Nielsen already have begun
. writing a second musical play dealing with
life in the Midwest.
Last year, the two wrote Portraits in a
60-day period. This year, they will have
considerably more writing time.
' lSingers to repeat
Jacks said that plans for next year's
Chatauqua also will include the Scarlet and
Cream singers and the University Modern
Dance Ensemble, who he said were both
well-received.
This year about 60 students from the
university participated in the Chatauqua as
entertainment or technicians. Jacks expects
to have about the same number of students
in the show next year.
The Chatauqua probably will feature
persons whose names are well-known, but
who are rarely seen on television or other
media. That would include persons like
novel authors and other figures, he said.
Folk entertainment
"We also will lean toward more folk
entertainment," Jacks said.
Folk craftsmen and entertainers could
be an integral part of the show, he said.
The Chatauqua idea originated as a
means of brinip the University of
Nebraska to the "people of the state. With
good planning, Jacks said, next year's
Chatauqua could easily be more succsssful
than this year's.
The University of Nebraska Modern Dance
Ensemble was well-received on the
Chatauqua 75 tour, as they brought to
Nebraskans a dance style many had not
seen before.
4
In the tradition of the original Chatauquas,
Chatauqua 75 staged its traveling show under a
"big-top tent" which held several hundred persons.
The Scarlet and Cream Singers, UNL's "ambassador3!
of song," were a "super hit" as they sang their way
Into the hearts of the Chatauqua audience, according
to Don Jacks, Chatauqua director.
