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PAO WLAN 01 IAT EF DY Town Hall 1873 PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, May 30, 1995 -23 20th Anniversary Town Hall 1873 - 100 year history full of excitement From Page 22 Consul after the war. In the winter of 1916 the 116th Regiment of Onta- rio county gave Battalion concerts in the Town Hall. They felt right at home there because they were billeted in town and did some of their indoor train- ing there. Later, on May 16 when the Regimental route march took place from Beaverton to Oshawa, the men were billeted in the Town Hall, the Presbyteri- an Church and the Ar- mouries behind the (then) new Post Office. They went to Niagara by boat from Oshawa, and then overseas on July 16. Later during the depres- sion years, the Town Hall was used as a hostel for translents (usually called 'tramps'). Chief William Nesbitt bedded down all corners, and in addition, vegetables and potatoes were provided so they could cook themselves a good meal. Such was the reputation of the Town Hall hostel that transients, who could stay no more than one night at a time, would ar- range to be in Port Perry every second night. The Town Hall had its regular routine, like eve- ryone else. Every year Ben Hokea would arrive with his Hawaiian Orchestra and everyone would turn out to dance. His populari- ty was such that he drew 1,200 people to a garden party in Greenbank in 1921. Every year a local Gil- bert and Sullivan operetta was performed with stag- ing and talent that every- one who attended still talks about. A perfor- mance of Virginia Hero- ine' was staged with light- ning and thunder, more natural than the real thing! New Year's Eve was a gala occasion at the Town Hall. Ladies in silk gowns and gentlemen in stripped trousers and kid gloves would see the new year in with an elegance probably not seen in Port Perry since. From the earliest days, there had been a farmer's market in the building on Perry Street behind the present L.C.B.O. store. Buyers would come from Toronto and buy whole- sale quantities of poultry, eggs and butter which they would take away with themon the train. When Archers turned the building into a garage in the 20s, the market moved into the basement of the Town Hall. It be- came just a Christmas Fair where turkeys and other Christmas wares were sold wholesale to stores and outside buyers untilthe end of the 30s. When it was finally de- cided to give up the Christ- mas Fair, the committee had a bank balance of about $50 which was giv- en to the Businessmen's Association who decided to sponsor a Santa Claus visit to Port Perry before Christmas. This event of course was the precursor of our successful Santa Claus Parade. The beginning of the end for the Town Hall was probably the construction of the new high school and public school on Rosa Streetin 1926. In the audi- torium on the third floor, there was a larger stage from which greater num- bers could view all of the productions that they used to see down the street, and at least in win- ter, be more comfortable. School functions no more were held in the Town Hall, although there was still the odd play pro- duced there which contin- ued to pack the house in the 30s. The Swiss Bell Ringers and a few vaudeville hang- ers on still made regular appearances, but it was Hollywood which gave the Town Hall another brief hold on life. For about 15 years mo- vies were shown twice a week to a generation eager to forget the more arduous forms of self- entertainment that their parents had enjoyed. There was not much time for endless rehearsing and memorizing of lines for an amateur play when Abbot and Costello could take you for an evening with Rio Rita, or George Form- by could take you zanily 'Up in the Air' especially when on your opening night, the crowd your par- ents would have expected for the play were happily watching Frankenstein and the Werewolf down at the Town Hall! The Town Hall's world crumbled with the open- ing of the Lakeview Thea- tre on Queen Street in1946. With the excep- tion of its basement use as garage for the snow plow and later the fire depart- ment, its municipal life was over and it was put out to work -- making un- dergarments for ladies at starvation wages. It did not earn enough to war- rant more than the occa- sional coat of paint or the replacement of the odd pane of glass, although through its labors, it did contribute to a lowering of the General tax rate for the village for 20 years. CONGRATULATIONS 1 TO THE TOWN HALL 1873 Welcome everyone to our annual general meeting. June 7th at 7:30pm Town Hall * Watch for our Christmas Concert December 15th & 16th Town Hall * Music Man April 18th to May 19th, 1996 * MEN WANTED: to join chorus for all activities & shows. Contact Society Member. Perry. coast. Side by Sondheim." 985-2635. Cabaret divas will grace the stage of Town Hall 1873 for special performance Musical theatre lovers are in for a special even- ing on Saturday, June 24 at Town Hall 1873, Port Renowned cabaret and musical theatre perform- ers Beth Anne Cole, Judith Lander, and Kathy McGlynn bring the music of Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf, Stephen Sondheim, and more to the Town Hall stage in a tribute to this amazing art form. Beth Ann, singer and actress, is well-known for her Shaw Festival appearances and across Canada with such classic productions as "The Desert Song" and "Girls in the Gang," She has taken her one-woman show on concert tours from coast to Judith electrified Toronto audiences in "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris" and "I'm Getting My Act Together And Taking It On The Road." On Broadway, she starred in Kurt Weill's "Berlin to Broadway" and appeared with Jacques Brel at Carnegie Hall. Kathy's memorable performances of "Memory" in the premiere Canadian production of "Cats" at the Elgin Theatre are fondly remembered by critics and audiences alike. Ms. McGlynn's unforgettable portrait of "Piaf" won her a Dora Mavor Moore Award. She also appeared in the opening produc- tion of Toronto's Winter Garden Theatre, "Side by Enjoy this triple-threat attraction that is taking the country by storm at Town Hall 1873 in Port Perry on June 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at Jayson Callan Music (formerly Irwin Smith's) in Port Perry at (905) Coldwell Banker Country Lane Realty Ltd. Peter Brett Davidson Puckrin Happy Anniversary from all of us at Country Lane Realty Ltd. Located Comer of Hwy. 7A & High St. Port Perry (one block east of Simcoe St.) (905) 985-7351 K CEE EEE IE SPE SEER AEE IF Lr SP A MPS SPRL Pa AS TIARA NB ELL BAAS SVE VT DELI BY" a Cm me mn ee mn ae me me