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January 21, 1928 WINNETKA TALK The North Shore Theater Guild By David Owen (Northwestern University School of Speech) To tell of the virtues of an or- ganization with which one is con- nected may sound blatant but as my connection is so recent, I may almost be considered as an outsider. Firstly let us look at the "Little Theater" movement in this country to orient our own status. Aside from a few startlingly progressive and out- standing groups, one hears very little that is specific aside from the fact that here is a "movement." The rea- son is evident and hardly needs reiteration. Most of the "Movement" is really static. There are literally thousands of amateur groups produc- ing throughout the country but very few of them amount to anything more than a mushroom growth flowering and dying with one production, per- haps revived again for another and then slowly passing out of the pic- ture. The few that we hear about and know about are those that have been built solidly on a more lasting basis than the simple desire to "put on a play." These organizations have been sponsored with vision and pur- pose and have usually attained their goals. Such organizations need only naming: The Washington Square players of New York, Hart House of Toronto, The Neighborhood Playhouse of New York, the group at Montecito, Cal, Pasadena Community Players. These are a few scattered examples of the accomplishment of purpose. Unique Organization And to get back to our own hearthstone. Here we have an or- ganization that is unique. The only thing approaching it is an itinerant group travelling through New England in the summer, called the Jitney Play- ers. But they have no established clientele as is our condition. We are unique in that we "bring the theater to your door," regularly on schedule and with a preconception of! purpose and duty. There is nothing like it in the "Little Theater move- ment." We supply some of the dra- matic fare for approximately four thousand people; and satisfactorily, too, in that we are now in our seventh consecutive season, a record that our patrons are prone to lose track of. The purpose of bringing the theater to the doors of the patrons is accom- plished; the greater purpose of stab- ilizing this institution for posterity is only now beginning. This stabiliza- tion can only come through the mem- bership. The strength and purpose of any organization lies in the whole- hearted support of its members and well wishers and will go only as far toward its goal as the well wishes of its members will allow. Non-Profit Enterprise Year by year the North Shore Theater guild has grown larger and larger. With its enlargement have come more finished productions, bet- ter productions, more up-to-the-min- ute plays. All of which entails tre- mendous expense. The Guild, as it is known, is a non-profit organization and all that its membership endows it with is returned in the plays. Today the Guild stands at the apex of its original goal. Nothing more can be done except perhaps a polish- ing to the productions unless the support becomes greater. We are faced with a production schedule that keeps the present staff busy from the first of October to the middle of May. Each play is given eight times, six villages and towns are visited from Lake Forest on the north to Evans- ton on the south. Truly an enormous undertaking, for an amateur organiza- tion. More productions or expansion of the present productions would re- quire greater support from the popu- lace of the towns as the work would have to be split up. The casts cannot carry any additional burden. Need Polishing Process Therefore, the polishing process is really the thing we need at present and that requires additional support. The Guild cannot stand still nor can it depend on the support it received last year or the year before. It needs the help of any individual that is in- terested in the drama. It needs whole- hearted support from its progenitors and its later members. It needs sup- port from the newcomers and those who have never helped before so that the truly remarkable spirit which is carrying on a truly great work in the amateur field of worth-while drama will not slowly fade away. The Guild is big. Its productions have been and will be big. Ahead of us this season we have some very en- tertaining and worthwhile dramatic novelties. The season is still young and help is still valuable. (Reprinted from Woman's club Bulle- tin, Woman's Club of Wilmette, December, 1927) ATTENDS CONVENTION F. I. Bateman, 735 Michigan avenue, Wilmette, is attending the annual meet- ing of the National Warehousemen's association in Florida this week. He expects to return to the village late in the week. Mallinckrodt High school alumnae held a meeting last Sunday at the Maria Immaculata convent. Susan Mick of the class of 27 was unani- mously elected to succeed Florence Faber as president. history class. Nook, first floor Chandlers. Univ. 123 Be a Leader Be a leader like a Boy Scout. Earn your rep- utation in the class- room as he does outside among his friends. Ob- tain prestige by pur- chasing an album and in it paste the various stamps of countries. You will learn geog- raphy, historyand econ- omics. You will be an authority on the value of foreign stamps. Start now and gain a reputation as the leader in your You may secure all materials in the Book Boy Scout suits are found on the second floor. Chandler's Fountain Square EVANSTON 630 Davis St. Clothe: buyers in this day and age dcmand style, beauty, all-wool fab- rics and quality tailoring--at a low price. Here is your opportunity! 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