*Searching for Historic Stage Scenery*
"Curtains Without Borders" is a small non-profit organization that has been
documenting and restoring historic stage scenery for almost 20 years.
We've found 500 grand drapes, advertising curtains, and backdrops in
Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, and Massachusetts plus more in
other states. To date, our team of conservators has restored about 300 of
these pieces of historic stage scenery, which were created between about
1880 and 1940, although on rare occasions, pieces painted after 1940 are
also included.
Now we are working on a national database of historic stage scenery and we
need help! We know that many town halls, Grange Halls, and opera houses
have, or used to have, advertising curtains or whole sets of theatrical
scenery. It is not uncommon to find that curtains have migrated to local
historical societies or museums once their hall falls into disrepair or
gets modernized for new uses. We are just as interested in curtains in
storage as those that still grace their stages.
A hundred years ago, grand drapes and painted backdrops were the primary
artistic feature in the cultural life of almost every village and town in
much of the country. They provided color and escapism in institutions that
varied greatly in size and professional capacity. The scenery was
permanently installed, available as set backdrops for traveling troupes,
speakers, town meeting, graduations, locally-produced variety shows and
various societies and clubs.
If anyone knows of a historic stage curtain, whether in a Grange, an opera
house, an historical society, or just sitting in a barn, please let us
know. You can visit www.curtainswithoutborders.com
<file:///C:/Users/chrishadsel/Desktop/Curtains%20Nationwide/www.curtainswithoutborders.com%20>
to see what we have already documented and the type of restoration work our
conservators are doing. The project to document curtains nationwide is
sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Trust.
Please contact Chris Hadsel at [log in to unmask]
<file:///C:[log in to unmask]>
or call 802-863-4938.
These are typical of different styles of curtain - but each one is
different!
A Grange Hall in Maine
A Town Hall in New Hampshire
An Opera House in Vermont
From a Theater in Illinois
--
Christine Hadsel, Director
Curtains Without Borders
429 South Willard Street
Burlington, VT 05401
802-863-4938
[log in to unmask]
www.curtainswithoutborders.org
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