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Tag: 1930s
Something For The Buoys
The first show of our 2019/20 season is just around the corner! October 9-20 join us at the George Ignatieff Theatre in Toronto for Eli Pasic’s Something For The Buoys!
This parody of 1930s nautical musicals is being presented by Larry Silverberg and is produced by Sapling Productions in association with Bygone Theatre. Sapling is taking the creative lead while we here at Bygone help behind the scenes to mount the world premiere of this ambitious new musical comedy.
Listen to the recent Stageworthy Podcast for some insights into the creative process.
Tickets are on sale now, use the code BTVIP at checkout to save 25% off general admission!
SYNOPSIS: A starry-eyed sailor named Jimmy feels lonely and wants nothing more than to find his true love. Accompanied by Larry, his womanizing best pal, he sneaks ashore and enters the wonderful world of New York City. Of course, Jimmy immediately stumbles upon his true love. But between a big-time Broadway offer and a cranky captain with an Alka-Seltzer addiction, will Jimmy sail into the sun and live happily ever after before the final curtain? Who Knows!
FEATURING
Rob Sapienza as Jimmy
Tom Finn as Larry
Alison Beckwith as Sarah
Jacquie Martin as Betty
Kathleen Doerkson as Doris
Anthony Botelho as Captain
Justan Myers and Robert Popoli as Sailor #1 and Sailor #2
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Eli Pasic
MUSIC DIRECTION BY Jackson Seib
CHOREOGRAPHY BY Alayna Kellett
SET & PROP DESIGN BY Emily Dix
LIGHTING DESIGN BY Wesley Babcock
SOUND DESIGN BY Shaun McPherson
HAIR & MAKEUP BY Sinéad Plunkett-Blazi
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT BY Bryan Kling
STAGE MANAGEMENT BY Kaitlind Gorman
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGEMENT BY Kathleen-Sonja Mooney-Childs
PRODUCED BY Bryan Kling and Rob Sapienza of Sapling, Emily Dix and Conor Fitzgerald of Bygone Theatre. Executive Producer Larry Silverberg.
Bygone Theatre Rentals – Office Furniture
Vintage office furniture available to rent through Bygone Theatre.
We recently did a production of His Girl Friday, which meant acquiring a LARGE volume of vintage office furniture and supplies; here’s some of the furniture pieces we now have available to rent.
Vintage 1940s oak desk chair – spins, without wheels.
Vintage 1940s oak desk chair – spins, with wheels.
Vintage 1950s wooden desk chair – spins, without wheels, slatted back.
Vintage 1960s wooden chair with rattan back – spins, on wheels.
New, vintage looking faux-leather burgundy desk chair – spins, on wheels. 26″ wide, 26″ deep, floor-back 47″ tall.
Small (somewhat fragile) telephone table with sliding drawer. 26″ wide, 18″ deep, 30″ tall.
Sturdy arts & crafts/ craftsman style (c. 1920) wood desk 40.5″ wide, 28.5″ deep, 29.5″ tall.
Painted metal cabinet, could be used as a file cabinet or safe. 19″ wide, 12″ deep, 40″ tall.
Mid-century style (1950s/60s) desk with drawers. 42″ wide, 20″ deep, 28″ tall.
- Vintage Wood Office Chairs: see individual pictures for details
Rental Price: $20.00 each/wk - Burgundy Faux Leather Executive Chair: see individual picture for details
Rental Price: $30.00/wk - Small Telephone Desk: see individual picture for details
Rental Price: $15.00/wk - Wood Arts & Crafts and Mid Century Modern Desks: see individual pictures for details
Rental Price: $40.00 each/wk - Metal Cabinet: see individual picture for details
Rental Price: $15.00/wk
The styles we have available would be suitable for someone looking for something from the 1920s-60s, or something modern day with a vintage twist. Discounts available when renting multiple pieces at once, prices listed are for a single item, before HST.
Stay tuned to see some of the smaller set dressing items we have as well.
Performer Spotlight – The Vintage Taps
You can’t really have a Vaudeville show without some kind of tap routine. Hoofers have been a big part of Vaudeville since the early days, with notable performers like Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, The Nicholas Brothers and Eleanor Powell.
Our revue features a jazzy trio of ladies; Trina Josdal, Amy Lintunen & Geneviève Fullerton. Check out their facebook page to see some of their past performances.
BIO: The sensational Vintage Taps will whisk you back to an era where chorus girls and swinging jazz beats were the trends on the streets. Inspired by both Broadway and rhythm tap dancing, their fast feet and delightful personalities have been dazzling audiences worldwide. These dynamic ladies have enjoyed tapping their way across numerous European countries, China, the United States and their beloved Canada. Collectively, the Vintage Taps boast an impressive resume including productions of 42nd Street (producer – Mark Bramble), Hair, Cabaret, and Dancing Damsels with appearances at the Montreal Tap Festival, Pan Am Games, CP24 Breakfast Television, MTV Canada, PRIDE Toronto, and the Toronto Fringe Festival. Vintage Taps will make you smile and leave you with a toe-tapping rhythm in your heart.
So, Ya Wanna Be In Vaudeville? CASTING CALL
Hey you! Ya, you! Have you ever dreamed of playing the circuit? Making it big on stage? Think you got what it takes to be a star of Vaudeville? Well then you’re in luck – forget those critics, Vaudeville ain’t dead! We’re breathing new life into it this June with Bygone Theatre’s…
VAUDEVILLE REVUE
Alumnae Theatre Mainstage
June 22-24, 2016
We are currently accepting proposals for acts and are looking for the following;
- Singers
- Dancers (tap, ragtime), solo or group
- Comedians (think more sketches than stand-up)
- Acrobats/gymnasts
- Magicians
- Musicians
- Jugglers
- Clowns
- Unique acts
Acts should be 3-8 minutes long and family friendly (keep it PG). We are looking for period appropriate, which for Vaudeville means 1890s-1930s, so keep that in mind when it comes to material, style and music – don’t worry about costumes, we’ll take care of those. Please note, only scripts and songs written before 1935 will be accepted.
At the moment we are looking for people with specific acts in mind; they don’t need to be completely polished, but we want to know what your source material is and your general concept. There may be an open casting call at a later date for those who want to be involved, but that will depend on this round of submissions.
How to apply:
- Email director Emily Dix at emily@bygonetheatre.com with the following;
- A copy of your source material (ie. a link to or pdf of the script, sheet music etc.)
- A description of your proposed act that highlights, a. the number of performers, b. any specific materials required (props, set, costumes etc.), c. the approximate length, and, d. a breakdown of what the performance will include (if it’s something like a dance that need explanation, for sketches the script will suffice).
- Any support materials you may have (video footage of a previous performance, or a self-tape is ideal)
What Else You Need To Know:
- This is likely to remain a non-union production, but at this stage Equity members are welcome to apply, as we are still working on funding
- This will be a profit-share production
- All performers will receive a high-quality, professionally filmed copy of their performance
- Rehearsals will be in June 2016, with a load-in/dress on June 21, and evening performances June 22-24; matinees TBD
Deadline for this first round of submissions is Friday February 12, 2016, at 5:00pm.
Spread the word and spread the love – Vaudeville is back!
-E.
Retro Christmas Countdown – Xmas in the 20th Century
While Christmas dates back hundreds of years before, it was the start of the 20th century that saw the turn towards the lavish and very commercial holiday that we all know today. Here’s a very brief history of Christmas traditions from the last century.
1900s
The first Christmas card was created in 1843 by John Horsley, and by the turn of the century the Victorian’s love of sentimental greetings had made this a popular tradition.
The Victorian styles of decorating carried into the start of the 20th century, with gilded nuts, candles and paper ornaments adorning trees.
This decade also saw the creation of what was to become one of the most popular children’s toys of the century; the Teddy Bear. Named after President Roosevelt, the charming story of the origin of this toy and its name can be read here.
1910s
As Christmas rapidly became a highly commercialized holiday, more and more companies used it as a means of selling their products, and the image of Santa Claus began to morph into the one we are familiar with today. It was in the 1910s that Santa’s now unmistakable look, with red suit and pants trimmed in white fur, matching cap and long white beard, began to become the norm.
While a legend has grown that claims Coca Cola invented the modern-day image of Santa, that is not quite the case. Prior to the famous Coca Cola Santa (who was created in 1931), the jolly elf had been portrayed as anything from tall and lanky to a munchkin-sized man. Norman Rockwell had painted a Santa who is strikingly similar to the 30s Coke version all the way back in 1911, however it wasn’t until Coke began regularly producing consistent looking Christmas ads that the current version of St. Nick really began to stick.
For an interesting pictorial history of Santa, check out this link.
1920s
By the 1920s the upper class had traded-in their candles for electric Christmas lights, and trees were as lavish and daring as the fashions of the decades.
With the rising popularity of the wireless (radio), the 1920s also saw the first Christmas radio broadcast when, in 1922, Arthur Burrow presented “The Truth About Father Christmas”.
1930s
In the midst of the Great Depression few had money to spend on food and clothing, let alone Christmas gifts and decorations. Still, the tradition of putting up a tree hung on, with many families owning decorations they had purchased in the more prosperous 1920s. Homemade ornaments also adorned the tree, made out of things like the foil paper saved from cigarette packs. As previously mentioned, Coca Cola started to advertise with their own version of Santa, and upbeat Christmas songs were enjoyed on the radio. Advertisements still bombarded shoppers with ideas for the perfect Christmas gift, only their tactics had changed; a focus on the practical and sometimes financing options were promoted.
The popular character Rudolph, everyone’s favourite red-nosed reindeer, was created in 1939 by Montgomery Ward. Although it wasn’t until a decade later when Gene Autry released the song that we’ve all learned as kids.
1940s
The 1940s saw the Second World War, and with that came rations and a reminder that the war effort should be supported above all else. Sales in non-necessities like Christmas lights dropped dramatically as many companies changed their focus to assist in the war effort. War bonds were promoted as a perfect gift for any family member or friend, and Santa himself switched his classic red & white outfit to don army duds and support the cause.
With many families missing fathers, brothers and sons overseas, Christmas could have been a bittersweet time. However, back home the masses were reminded to keep their spirits up while fighting the good fight, so many Christmas celebrations resumed some of the splendour they had seen before the Depression.
1950s
The post-war boom made the Christmas of the 1950s one of the biggest and gaudiest yet. The Baby Boom meant there were lots of families with youngsters, and so the toy market was buzzing. Wide-spread prosperity meant most were lucky enough to be able to afford Christmas celebrations, and women’s magazines, eager to encourage them to return to the home, now that the war was over, pushed for the ideal Christmas season, full of elaborate recipes and decor.
Television was also becoming popular and with it came a host of Christmas specials. Stars like Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby recorded Christmas songs and popular shows like I Love Lucy recorded special Christmas episodes.
1960s
By the 1960s, the fads of the 50s were firmly cemented; every toy imaginable was available on the market and they were advertised directly to children in between the cartoons they watched on tv. The Christmas shows we still see today – Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Frosty the Snowman – first appeared on the airwaves and decorations were more colourful and outlandish than ever before.
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There was significant variety now as well. Christmas trees could be anything from your traditional green pine, to the popular aluminum trees that came in silver, aqua and even pink! And don’t forget the fake snow! The concept of “Kitschmas” was truly born in the 1960s.
What’s your favourite Christmas decade? Tweet your replies to @BygoneTheatre #RetroXmas
-E.
Hollywood During WWII
With Remembrance Day around the corner we’d like to share some WWII facts about Hollywood and the stars who helped the war effort. While many stars performed for the troops and helped support their country by selling war bonds, some had more notable achievements that have been largely forgotten over the years.
Marlene Dietrich
German-born performer Marlene Dietrich was a staunch anti-Nazi who became an American citizen in 1939. The outspoken actress was one of the first stars to start selling war bonds, and is said to have sold more than any other. She refused multiple requests to return to her native country and instead performed for American troops, sometimes dangerously close to enemy lines. She was awarded the US Medal of Freedom in 1945 which she said was her “highest honour”.
Hedy Lamarr
Actress Hedy Lamarr is mostly remembered for her stunning good looks, and for her risque nude scene, but the Austrian born actress contributed much more than pinups to the Allied war effort. Along with the help of George Antheil, an Avant Garde composer, Lamarr created a device that could prevent the enemy from throwing their torpedoes off-course. By utilizing a piano roll to unpredictably change frequencies, they made it nearly impossible for the enemy to scan and jam frequency signals. This frequency hopping spread-spectrum invention would become the basis for modern technologies such as GPS and Bluetooth.
Mel Brooks
Comedian Mel Brooks was drafted into the army and served as a corporal combat engineer. In addition to fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, Brooks had the nerve-wracking task of diffusing land mines. Always a comedian, he kept up his fellow soldiers spirits by broadcasting Al Jolson music over the loud-speakers in response to the German propaganda playing (Jolson, like Brooks, was a Jewish performer).
Josephine Baker
Born in St.Louis, Missouri, Josephine Baker moved to France in the 1920s and became enormously popular. During the war Baker served as part of the French Resistance, working as a secret informer and smuggling messages written in invisible ink on her sheet music. Upon her death in 1975 she was buried with military honours.
Jimmy Stewart
Jimmy Stewart was eager to join the war effort and reapplied after initially being rejected due to being underweight. While initially his star status delegated him to tasks such as paperwork and making training videos, Stewart pushed for the chance to see combat and in four short years moved up the ranks from private to colonel. Stewart flew a B-24 into German and for his bravery twice received the Distinguished Flying Cross; three times received the Air Medal; and once received the Croix de Guerre from France. After the war, Stewart remained a part of the Air Force, reaching the rank of Major General (two star general) after 27 years of service.
Retro Radio Hour – Spring Fling!
On Thursday May 14, 2015, Bygone will be presenting the 5th show in the retro radio series, Retro Radio Hour – Spring Fling. We are back at the SoCap and as always, tickets are only $5 cash at the door. This week’s show features; Emily Dix, Matt McGrath, Elizabeth Rose Morriss, Ian McGarrett, Mikey Zahorak, Peter Grant Mackechnie, Nicole Byblow, Astrid Atherly and Joseph Vita with magic by Leigh Beadon.
Ladies and Fellas, Grab a Sinker & a Joe – It’s Time to Learn Some Swell Slang!
It’s funny how much slang changes from generation to generation; sometimes in listening to my 19 year old sister, I already find myself feeling out of touch. When working on a period show like Rope it is important to have a sense of the slang from the time, both to understand the text and to help with improvising. I came across an amazing list of 1920s & 30s slang and couldn’t resist sharing it here; I think it’s time we bring some of these back, they really are the bee’s knees.
*Original post found at http://www.1929anupperclassaffair.com/Flapperspeak.pdf
Flapperspeak: Dictionary of Words From the 1920’s and 1930’s
From the AACA Potpourri website and Mark McCutcheon’s Writer’s Guide To Everyday Life From Prohibition Through World War II
A Tip Of The Hat: Conveying Character With Hats
Every costumer knows that it is their job to create an outfit that showcases the actor’s character onstage. While every designer has their own method, it is doubtless that all put in hours of research trying to find just the right colours and styles. But the actor too can make small changes to the clothes they are given and in doing so drastically alter the meaning of the pieces, especially when it comes to hats.
I am currently taking a millinery class at Stratford Off The Wall. You can see some of my how-to tutorials on making hats here. Today in class while we were creating our patterns an interesting point was made; depending on the angle someone chooses to tilt and wear their hat, a variety of personalities can be conveyed, all with the same costume piece. Take for example, a man’s fedora;
Cary Grant
Bob Hope
Ray Bolger & Judy Garland
In the first image, Cary Grant looks sexy and sophisticated. Maybe a business man, or even a gangster. He wears his hat tilted and low down on the brow.
Bob Hope wears his hat a bit further back on his head and at a less severe angle. This gives a more laid-back vibe, almost tired or lazy and somewhat comical.
Finally, Ray Bolger wears his at the back of his head, giving him a clownish appearance that works well with his goofy, snarky farm-hand character.
A similar effect can occur with mens’ bowlers;
Turn-of-the-century man.
Steve Buscemi
Laurel and Hardy
The first image shows a man wearing a bowler the “correct” way, sitting right atop his head. This is a serious, sophisticated and very vintage look.
In his Boardwalk Empire outfit, Steve Buscemi looks every bit the classy gangster, thanks in part to the casual backwards tilt of his hat.
Once again, a hat worn on the back of one’s head immediately creates a clownish look, as does an ill-fitting hat, as seen in this Laurel & Hardy shot.
Women’s hats can do the same thing;
Joan Crawford
Lucille Ball
1930s woman
Judy Garland
For a serious, mysterious look, Joan Crawford wears a severe looking hat, tilted low on her brow with a minimal side tilt.
Lucille Ball looks sultry and sophisticated in a hat with a fashionably jaunty tilt.
The smiling woman also wears a hat tilted far to the side, but hers is further back on the brow, giving a playful, energetic vibe.
Finally, Judy Garland is the picture of youth and innocence in this cap that sits at the back of her head, wrapped around her ears.
When costuming it is always important to remember not just what your actors will be wearing, but how they will wear it. Subtle changes in attitude can be reflected through minimal costume changes; a man could start the play with his fedora tilted low, looking professional and suave. After a frantic day, he may push it further back on his head, while wiping his brow. During a madcap comical scene later on, the hat could end up right on the back of his head and even slightly squished (likely combined with a loosened tie or un-tucked shirt). That’s just a random example, but you get the idea.
So if you feel your costume is lacking a little “something”, give your actor a hat and let them play with it. It may just top things off perfectly.
Want to make your own vintage hat? Check out our A.D. Emily Dix’s tutorial on how to make a custom hat pattern from scratch!
-E.
Bygone Theatre 