CHAUTAUQUA AN EVENT TO REMEMBER

By Ronnie O’Brien

Director of Operations

The Archway was please to be the site of the evening performances during the centennial Chautauqua. Visions for America: Notable Nebraska Reformers was the subject of scholars throughout Kearney for the four days of June 21–24. Senator George Norris, William Jennings Bryan, Grace Abbott and Malcom X were the historic figures portrayed by the scholars each evening.

There is no other experience like sitting in a large tent in late June when it is 90 degrees in the early evening, and hundreds of people have gathered to hear a famous speech or see a famous person from Nebraska’s history. My favorite memory is of William Jennings Bryan, portrayed by Fred Krebs, giving the famous “Cross of Gold” speech and turning beat red in the face as he drove a point home. With a three-piece suit, the heat and the spotlights on him, I thought for sure he was going to pass out. But he wiped his face with the wet rag kept in a bowl of water behind him, and turned around to the audience and finished his outstanding performance.

Some of the speeches we heard were given many times over in the old days, sometimes thousands of times, to different audiences, and often-times in the heat under a Chautauqua tent. In fact, in order to really appreciate an old-time Chautauqua presentation I think you have to experience it under a tent during a hot night, with ladies fanning their faces. I am sure the organizers from the Humanities Council agree.

There were many people who came to all four evening performances, as I did. Sunday at the Archway was so enjoyable with the Black Bart’s BBQ festival, the “Cartauqua” car show and antique fire trucks, the Sunday “revival” church service and the Humanities Council speaker about the history of hats. It was my backyard vacation of the summer.