Marshall Travel Guide

Heartland Chautauqua

'The Jazz Age'
June 17-22, 2002
Marshall, Illinois

Scholar/actors will each make a presentation Tuesday through Saturday evenings. Characters portrayed will include Harry Emerson Fosdick, Henry Ford, Edna Ferber, Harry S. Truman, and Coco Chanel.

Harry Emerson Fosdick, portrayed by Arnold Wettstein, was a spokesperson for religion in American life, the voice of challenge and reform, and the nation's most prominent preacher beyond the narrow confines of denominations. Henry Ford, portrayed by Doug A. Mishler, rose from poverty to near total dominance of the automobile industry between 1910 and 1930. Edna Ferber, portrayed by Gayle Stahlhuth, was called by the critics of the 1920s and '30s as the greatest woman novelist of her day. Harry S. Truman, portrayed by William S. Worley, will be presented in his early years as to lessons learned during the 1920s before his rise to become Vice President and President. Coco Chanel, portrayed by Annette Baldwin Kolasinski, gave us fashion mainstays that we now take for granted, as well as Chanel No. 5.

Gayle Stahlhuth portrayed Louisa Mae Alcott in 1999 and Edna Ferber last year in Marshall. Annette Baldwin Kolasinski portrayed Elizabeth Van Lew in 1999 and both scholar/actresses are looking forward to returning to Marshall.

The five scholar/actors are available for daytime programs during the week. Daytime presentations are not made in period costumes. Organizations wishing to schedule a scholar/actor daytime presentation during the week may call the Main Street office at 826-9023.

If you have questions, please call the Main Street office at 826-9023.

Chautauqua might be thought of as rural 19th century America's Public Broadcasting System. It was where, as one wag put it, 'our ancestors went to recharge their intellectual batteries'.

Many older Missourians and Illinoisans remember the traveling Chautauquas that brought education and entertainment to small Midwestern towns by presenting great oratory, music and drama under a big circus tent. For example, Kirkville, Missouri and Belvidere, Illinois(two 2000 communities) served as Chautauqua sites between 1905 and 1929. Even the smallest town could look forward to an annual visit by the traveling tent shows. Low ticket prices meant that anybody could afford admission.

Famous personalites, esspecially politicians and great orators, frequently joined the Chautauqua circuit. Among them were William Jennings Bryan and Teddy Roosevelt, who exclaimed, 'Chautauqua is the most American thing in America'.

After World War I, Chautauqua began to lose its educational focus and offered entertainment more than enlightenment. By the 1930's, competition from movies and radio and the impact of the Great Depression led to the end of the traveling Chautauqua.

In the late 1970's, the humanities' councils of the Midwest revived Chautauqua as a serious intellectual enterprise. The Missouri Humanities Council launched Missouri Chautauqua in 1993 with historic characters who represented various religious traditions significant to the history of Missouri and the nation. The enthusiasm of the 11,000 Missourians who participated in the 1993-94 programs encouraged the Missouri Humanities Council to establish Chautauqua as a permanent program. In 1995, the Illinois Humanities Council joined the Missouri Council, and the program became known, thereafter, as the Heartland Chautauqua. Admission has always been free.

T
he Missouri Humanities Council and the Illinois Humanities Council sponser the Heartland Chautauqua in partnership with Marshall Main Street and Lincoln Trail Ford Mercury.

Planted in 1923 by a teacher and his 4th grade class, the tree now is a work of art.
It was carved in 2004 to commemorate Dr Mitchell and his class.