Bringing Together Two Communities 1934 By: Tori Zimmer

Two separate dramatics groups! The first group was William Smith’s Hill Masquers! Found from E.E. Griffith’s papers on the Little Theatre Movement in the Archives. Mummers and Masquers were similar but different in that the Masquers only had a Dramatic Council. The 1934 Herald Newspaper clipping E.E. Griffith was a professor and leader of the Hobart Little Theatre in the late 30’s to early 40’s.

The second were Hobart’s Medbury Mummers! “The year is 1926, and an elite group of Hobart students are meeting at the President’s House, under the leadership of the President’s wife, Mrs. Blanchard Bartlett, to discuss plans for the upcoming theatre movement on campus, and so the Medbury Mummers were born.” Picture from 1933 Hobart yearbook History found from E.E. Griffith’s papers on the Little Theatre movement in the Archives.

First Cooperative play caused the two dramatic groups to merge Information found from the E.E. Griffith papers in the Herald newspaper. “ Hobart produced its first cooperative play, “A Murder Has been Arranged.” The play combined men and women. After the play’s success, the Hobart men felt ready to tackle the show with William Smith women.”

The Creation of the Little Theatre E.E. Griffith papers in the Herald Newspaper “The dramatics societies of each dramatics group merged uncontrollably in In June, the Mummers and Masquers sponsored a dance to socially unite the two groups. By 1937 the two groups had completely merged under the same title of the Hobart Little Theatre. They were now able to stage three major productions a year, as opposed to one act endeavors.”

The Little Theatre brought two communites together From an article, Off the Fourth Wall, by Stephen Wirmusky (Found in the Herald newspaper) These clippings of the articles speak of how the Little Theatre improved the college- community relations when Geneva is known to not be a “college-town.” Many Geneva residents came and saw the plays in large numbers.

Why is the colleges relationship with Geneva so important today? And how are the colleges still working on that relationship?. This shows that the two communities are working together today and that our new theatre building won’t take attention away from the local Smith Theatre. Picture from Performing Arts Center’s website via the HWS website

Construction of New Performance center

Works Cited Stewart, E.E. photograph of The Wind and The Rain. Nov, Box 1, Folder 2. SC 22. Elizabeth Wilcox Thomson Papers. Hobart and William Smith Archives and Special Collections. Hobart and William Smith. Geneva, NY. 29 Oct Stewart, E.E. Photograph of Accent on Youth. Oct Box 1, Folder 2. SC 22. Elizabeth Wilcox Thomson Papers. Hobart and William Smith Archives and Special Collections. Hobart and William Smith. Geneva, NY. 29 Oct Board of Editors Yearbook. Echo of the Seneca. Medbury Mummers photograph. The Junior Class of Hobart College Print. 30, Oct Griffith, E.E. History of the Little Theatre. Pg , Apr Box 2, Folder 7. Index for E.E. Griffith and the Little Theatre. Hobart and William Smith Archives and Special Collections. Hobart and William Smith. Geneva, NY. 28, Oct Griffith, E.E. Theatre Efforts Highlight Year’s End. Pg Box 2, Folder 7. Index for E.E. Griffith and the Little Theatre. Hobart and William Smith Archives and Special Collections. Hobart and William Smith. Geneva, NY. 28, Oct Griffith, E.E. The Little Theatre. The Herald Newspaper Box 2, Folder 8. Index for E.E. Griffith and the Little Theatre. Hobart and William Smith Archives and Special Collections. Hobart and William Smith. Geneva, NY. 28, Oct Griffith, E.E. The Little Theatre Box 2, Folder 8. Index for E.E. Griffith and the Little Theatre. Hobart and William Smith Archives and Special Collections. Hobart and William Smith. Geneva, NY. 28, Oct Griffith, E.E. The Little Theatre. Pg Box 2, Folder 8. Index for E.E. Griffith and the Little Theatre. Hobart and William Smith Archives and Special Collections. Hobart and William Smith. Geneva, NY. 28, Oct Wirmusky, Stephen. The Little Theatre. Box 2, Folder 9. Index for E.E. Griffith and the Little Theatre. Hobart and William Smith Archives and Special Collections. Hobart and William Smith. Geneva, NY. 28, Oct

Works Cited continued… Button, Christoper. "About the Performing Arts Center." Hobart and William Smith, 7 July Web. 11 Nov < Print. Button, Christopher. "Construction Photos." N.p., 28 Oct Web. 14 Nov