CHAUTAUQUA
Chautauqua u-t4tw). 1. A town and lake In
southwestern New York, the site of a summer education
program started in 1874. 2. An annual summer
educational and recreational assembly popular through
out the United States.
Today the word 'Chautauqua'-is unfamiliar to many
people, but 50 years ago everybody knew what it was
and when it was coming. Generally, it was the biggest
event of the year; people came from miles around to
hear lectures and music, to see slides and drama, to
debate social issues and learn of other cultures. The
presentations -by teachers and preachers, yodelers and
bellringers, explorers and politicians were a blend of
education and entertainment. American presidents,
from U. S. Grant to FDR, appeared at Chautauqua as
did such other notables as Jane Addams, Thomas
Edison, Madame Schumann-Heink, Booker T. Wash
ington, and Amelia Earhart.
The Chautauqua originated as a summer camp for
Sunday School teachers. As the movement grew and
imitations spread, the emphasis on religion declined.
Moral and inspirational lectures remained a staple,
however, and implanted the Ideas and ideals that
affected the thinking of millions. Many of today's
accepted theories on the dignity of the individual, equal
suffrage, soil conservation, child welfare, the human
ities and countless other themes were reiterated from a
thousand platforms.
Bringing discussion of such Issues and the entertain
ment that accompanied them to rural America proved
popular. There was a craving for "culture", "book
learning", and "something better" that nothing other
than the Chautauqua fulfilled. In 1924 alone, thirty
SCHEDULE
million people crowded Into Chautauqua tents and
pavillions In 12,000 towns across the United States.
Oregon was particularly fertile ground for Chautau
quas. Over 30 towns sponsored annual assemblies and
several of them achieved wide prestige. The group at
Ashland operated for thirty years and when the
Chautauqua programs were no longer presented, the
pavlllion was used for revivals of Shakespearean plays.
The Gladstone Assembly began In 1894 and regularly
brought In audiences totalling well over ten thousand
people. In Albany, the Chautauqua occupied a wooded
island connected to Main Street by a footbridge. Hera,
the pavlllion was built with streets, tents, and a
miniature business district around It. The annual
encampment at LaGrande drew participants from Idaho
and Washington.
As successful as Chautauquas were, when the end
came. It came quickly. Movies and radio brought
entertainment to the hinterland and new cars and
improved roads further reduced Isolation. The Great
Depression provided the final blow; promoting "cul
ture" and making a buck are rarely compatible,
especially In hard times. By 1935 the phenomenon
Teddy Roosevelt called "the most American thing In
America" was practically a memory.
In 1980, the Chautauqua was revived in Oregon. Since
then, the Oregon Committee for the Humanities, the
state affiliate of the National Endowment for the
Humanities, has funded annual summer programs. We
believe this year's presentations to be the best ever and
without further preface now Introduce the 1983 acts and
their schedule to the public.
I I CELTIC SONG I MASKS of the I THE FOOL: MYTHS of GENGHIS HISPANICS
and STORY WORLD CRITIC & HEALER GREEK WOMEN KHAN In OREGON
ASTORIA l,0OTBA
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BAN DON Aug 20 7 30 HS Chow Rm Sop 2S7 OOOt Cr Elam Sen
BEND Sao7 30Hnrhcadi AudCCCC
BURNS &? 247 30 Burn UnMn MS Sap 17 7 SOBum! Union HS Aug 2S 7 30 Burnt Union HS Aug 207 30 Burnt Union MS Aug 107 HtiMt School
CANNON BEACH - s7 3otba
COOS BAY Aug l-7 30 Pub Library Sap 2T 7 Pub Library Aug 13 1 00 Pub Library
COQUILLE Sp 1(V7 30-Conw. On
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DORA Sap 17 7 Dor. School
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HALFWAY ' X F"" S" 14-7 30Pl" Eag- HS Gym Sop 22 7 00 P,n Eagla HS Gym
HEPPNER Sap 1-7 30-Happnar Jr HS Sap 13-TBA TBA
IONE Sap 13-7 30-k a HS Sap IS? 30 Ion. Gym
JOHN DAY soi37s,c.
KLAMATH FALLS sap7 3orr Aud. Sap is-7 soorr Aud Aug 31 7 soorr Aud sop77 30ott Aud sop so 7 30 orr Ad So 12 7 so orr Aud
LA GRANDE Aug 307 SO rt Lounga. EOSC Aug 23 7 30 Hah. Lounga.EOSC Aug 2 7 30 EOSC Amph Aug 37 30 Zabd Aud EOSC Aug 4 7 30 Zahal Aud EOSC
NEWPORT Z
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PENDLETON Aug M 00 BMCC Thaatra
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PORT ORFORD 1 30lty Hall 0nt S 23 1 00 City HaDChMnbar.
ROSEBURG Aug 2t 00 Cnty Church Anna Au 134 00-Cmy Church Anrun Sop 21 7 30 Cnty Church Ann Sap 13 7 30 Cnty Church Annn
SPRINGFIELD Aug 2S7 30 Pub Library Sap 17 30 Pub Library Aug 30 7 30 Pub Library Sap 29 7 30 Pub Library Aug II 7 30 Pub Library
TILLAMOOK SapS7 30 TAPA Thaatra Sap 24 7 3f TAPA Thaatra Sap 20 7 30 TAPA Thaatra Aug S 7 30 TAPA Thaatra Sop 22-7 30-TAPA Thaatra
tirnnrxnrmu Aug 17 S 00 00 Mar
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