History at the Mansion is Ponca City's Version of
Chautauqua
06/17/01
I had the great opportunity to visit the Tulsa Council Chautauqua in the
Ponca City, Oklahoma, site at the Marland Mansion. A great white tent set
at the foot of the historic building held the platform for music and historic
portrayals -- humanities chautauqua staples.
It was Wednesday, June
13, when the scholar on stage was Altus, Oklahoma, Professor Michael
Hughes who portrayed film director and radio pioneer Orson Welles. Suzan
King, serving as master of ceremonies in the persona of Georgia O'Keeffe
described Hughes as a trooper when it was revealed that he went on stage
ill. The audience probably wouldn't have known otherwise because of the above
average presentation he gave that night. Hughes' skill as a storyteller is
his strongest point -- and that served him well on Wednesday.
Other scholars who
appeared in Ponca City were Hank Fincken as Thomas Edison, Dorothy Mains
Prince as Mary McLeod Bethune, and Chuck Chalberg as Branch Rickey. The
Complete Chautauquan was well greeted by the scholars (as seen in the
picture) as well as the Ponca City Chautauqua Council members. At left
are Suzan King, Hank Fincken, and Dorothy Mains Prince. It is hoped
that the relationship between Ponca City and the Tulsa Council Chautauqua
will continue for many years.
Tulsa Celebrates Ten Years of Original
Programming
![](http://www.geocities.com/hobbykidjm/tul01okeeffesmall.jpg) 06/014/01
It began when members of the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa attempted
to bring the Great Plains Chautauqua Society to Tulsa in 1990. When cuts
in funding thwarted Tulsa's efforts to host a Chautauqua, Marilyn Inhoff-Tucker,
a humanities instructor at Tulsa Community College, had the vision to start
Tulsa's own Chautauqua. Ten original annual programs later, Tulsa
celebrated in June what has become an Oklahoma institution. Members
of the chautauqua committee are committed to presenting to Tulsans -- and
Oklahoma residents in other towns where the Tulsa Chautauqua has visited
-- the best programs of any chautauqua available. In this they have created
a loyal following.
Hundreds of Tulsans
and members of surrounding communities and states were witnesses to some
outstanding programs during the week of June 5-9, 2001. Collectively, this
was possibly one of the most experienced groups of scholars Tulsa has seen.
Hank Fincken and Chuck Chalberg were new to Tulsa, but they brought characters
they have much experience with, and characters whom Tulsans knew in Thomas
Edison and Branch Rickey. Veteran Chautauquans returning to Tulsa were Dorothy
Mains Prince as Mary McLeod Bethune, Michael Hughes as Orson Welles, and
Tulsa favorite Suzan King -- also a Tulsa Community College professor --
who portrayed Georgia O'Keeffe. These five scholars have individually developed
and portrayed over 25 different characters.
![](http://www.geocities.com/hobbykidjm/tul01bethunesmall.jpg) This year, the Tulsa Council
Chautauqua was also presented in the Oklahoma towns of Henrietta and Ponca
City. Discussion has already begun on the topic selection for the 2003 Chautauqua
as well as the 2007 Chautauqua to be held during the Oklahoma State Centennial
celebration year. In just a couple of weeks, the auditions for the 2002 Tulsa
Chautauqua will be finished. Also, 2004 marks the 100th Anniversary
of the first circuit chautauqua to appear in Tulsa -- that should prove to
be an interesting year for the Tulsa Chautauqua as well as The Complete
Chautauquan (when I hope I will be able to use the research that I have put
hundreds of hours into). And the latest information I have is that
a Winter Chautauqua is coming to Tulsa next winter. The Chautauqua
Movement is alive and well in the City of Tulsa.
For more information on the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa Chautauqua,
visit The Complete
Chautauquan: Tulsa Council Chautauqua, the
Tulsa Chautauqua Website,
the Arts and Humanities Council
of Tulsa, or the Oklahoma
Humanities Council.
Chautauqua Brings History to Life for Students
06/04/01 Tulsa (Okla.) Chautauquans
were joined by community members and parents who were new to Chautauqua when
the Second Annual Student Chautauqua was held at the big tent on the campus
of OSU-Tulsa. This year the committee decided to try a new approach by giving
the young scholars a night of their own, which preceded the Tulsa Chautauqua
on June 5-9. Students chosen from Tulsa area schools -- Carver Middle School,
Collinsville High School, and Metro Christian Academy -- presented their
characters on the Chautauqua platform on June 4. Students who will also present
characters at the Tulsa Chautauqua throughout the week are as follows: June
6 - Sarah Childress Polk portrayed by Caroline Leithner; June 7 - Zelda
Sayre-Fitzgerald portrayed by Katrina Harrell; June 8 - Catherine Beecher
portrayed by Stephanie Ibemeri; and June 9 - Flannery O'Connor portrayed
by Jana Schubert. Winners of the Student Chautauqua competition received
cash prizes. Chautauqua is free to the public due to donations and support
from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Oklahoma Humanities Council,
and the Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa.
The Complete Chautauquan Collection On
Display
05/01/01
The Tulsa (OK) City/County Library is host to a collection of Chautauqua
memorabilia from my collection of Chautauqua books, periodicals, advertising
and souvenirs now through June 7. There are three sections of the display
on the downtown library's second floor in May -- One features the characters
of this year's Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa Chautauqua to be held
June 5-9 at the OSU-Tulsa Campus; the second features a display of the history
of the Tulsa Chautauqua to commemorate its tenth year of original programs;
third is my display on the history of the Chautauqua Movement and its various
aspects.
Click on the
photo to see a larger view.
The Road to Chautauqua Brings History to Tulsa
04/06/01 Some exciting
people were seen this week on the road to Chautauqua. The five people at
the left are the historic figures who will be featured on the platform of
The Arts and Humanities Council of Tulsa Chautauqua tent on June 5-9.
This year the Tulsa Chautauqua will present its tenth original program
with the theme "Navigators of the American Century." From left to right
are Thomas Edison presented by Hank Fincken; Mary McLeod Bethune presented
by Dorothy Mains Prince (sitting); Branch Rickey presented by Charles Chalberg;
Orson Welles presented by Michael Hughes; Georgia O'Keeffe presented by Suzan
King (sitting). The Chautauqua tent will be located on the OSU-Tulsa campus
near the Conference Center again this year.
"The Road to Chautauqua" fund raiser was the first event
held in the historic Harweldon Mansion, the home of The Arts and Humanities
Council of Tulsa, since its newly completed extensive remodeling project.
Chautauqua supporters moved from one room to the next to visit with each
of the scholars who had their own themed food and decor as well as a chance
to win door prizes. At the end of the evening, drawings were held for prizes
from each scholar's room and other donated items.
Visit:
The Complete
Chautauquan: Tulsa Counsel Chautauqua.
![](http://www.geocities.com/alphachautauquanjm/logo150w.jpg) |
Tulsa Chautauqua 2001 -
Navigating a Changing World: The American 20th Century
Presented in Tulsa (June5-9), Ponca City (June 11-15), and
Henrietta (May 28-June 1), OK
CLICK
HERE FOR ARTICLES AND PHOTOS FROM THE 2001 CHAUTAUQUA
Tulsa Chautauqua 2000 - The Evolution of the American West: Myth and
Reality
Presented in Tulsa (June 6-10), Ponca City and Enid,
Oklahoma
Tulsa Chautauqua 1999 - Voices of Ragtime: Visions of Our Future
Past
Presented in Tulsa, Ponca City, and Enid,
Oklahoma
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM
THE 1999 CHAUTAUQUA
Tulsa Chautauqua 1998 - Early America: The Struggle for Freedom
Tulsa Chautauqua 1997
Tulsa Chautauqua 1996
Tulsa Chautauqua 1995
Tulsa Chautauuqa 1994 - A Crisis of Conscience: Reflections on the Civil
War
Tulsa Chautauqua 1993 - Americans Abroad
Presented in Tulsa (June 4-8) and Choctaw (June 11-15),
Oklahoma
Tulsa Chautauqua 1992 - The Progressive Era: 1890-1920
Presented in Tulsa (June 5-9) and Ponca City (June 12-16),
Oklahoma
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