Time Travelers: There’s No Business Like Show Business! (2021)
Lesson:
Southwest Minnesota has a long, rich history of entertainment offerings. Live theater performances were held in the early days of Lyon County’s history. Live theater included many levels of performance with many types of performers, ranging from high school thespians, local acting groups, and touring groups.
When professional troops traveled to perform in Lyon County, the newspapers in the area would promote weeks ahead of time and would tell readers to take advantage of the cultural opportunity by attending a performance.
In Marshall, moving picture films debuted in 1907 at The Star Vaudeville House, which was located at 202 West Main Street.
Boston Cash Store and Marshall Opera House at 235 & 237 West Main Street in Marshall
The Barrymore Theater at 321 West Main Street in Marshall (1915-1922)
Island Lake Theatre Company
The Big Store and Opera House in Minneota
The State Theater at 321 West Main Street in Marshall (1922-1960)
Marshall Theater at 230 West Lyon Street. Opened in 1948.
Program for “I Remember Mama”. The performance was held at the Tracy High School on April 22, 1955
The Joy Theater in Minneota
The Hollywood Theater on 3rd Street in Tracy
Gem Theater in Balaton (Photo courtesy of the Balaton Area Historical Society)
Activity:
A marionette is a puppet controlled from above using wires or strings. Marionettes are operated with the puppeteer hidden from the audience. Some historians claim that they predate actors in theatre.
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