The Maxinkuckee Playhouse - 2437 E Shore Dr.  

Don't let it be forgot That once there was a spot For one brief shining moment that was known As Culver's Camelot

Winifred Legg's Maxinkuckee Vacation Club off East Shore Lane, whbought by the Maxinkuckee Playhouse in 1950, and which opened in 1950, and in 1955 a new playhous was built

For almost a dozen years after World War II, area residents had the good fortune to be entertained by one of the best straw-hat theater groups in the nation. During three months of each summer, from 1950 to 1961 , at least eight quality plays or Broadway musicals were staged by the first Maxinkuckee Players, a group of revolving professional and college actors, many of them destined to gain prominence in the world of entertainment.

On Mar 15, 1950 it was announced that the Maxinkuckee Player had purchased the East Shore Lane property of the "Maxinkuckee Vacation Club" The members of the board of advisors were announced as: Profefors F. Pual Rutledge, Heinz Pabst , Dr. Gustav Eckstein , Martin Tashe, Martin Bryan all of Cincinnati; Dorthy Obelin, Anne Ellworth, Elizabeth Shetterly and J. Gerald Markley all of Culver.

As one of the founders, Martin Tahse had begun his stage career while he was a cadet at the Culver Military Academy. After graduating in 1948, he continued his involvement in dramatics at the University of Cincinnati, where he studied under Professor Paul Rutledge, head of the theater division. Out of this relationship was born the idea to create a summer theater on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee.



Together they examined various locations and then with the help of Anne Ellsworth, a local real estate agent, discovered the Vacation Club, a property owned by Winifred Legg, who used the long two-story building just off East Shore Lane as a summer school for girls. Sometimes described as the "Green Barn", the structure was adjacent to the property of Ruth Johnson, with whom Winifred shared an easement to the lake.

While Paul and Martin were walking about inside the "Green Barn", one of them accidentally kicked a cowbell. Both reached the same conclusion simultaneously: the cowbell was a favorable omen, a tinkling symbol, a sign that they had found the right place. And so it was that the Maxinkuckee Playhouse came into existence with the lucky cowbell, an icon that for many years would alert the audience that the play was about to begin.

Supported by such local residents as Betty Shetterly, manager of the Maxinkuckee Inn acting as a major player in the negotiations, Dorothy Oberlin, J. Gerald Markley, Arthur Hughes, and Col. Charles C. Mather, the team of Rutledge and Tahse purchased the Vacation Club with the financial backing of Will Osborn and began drawing up plans to use the second floor for the stage and 125 folding chairs for the audience. Later, the chairs would be made more comfortable by Nora Howell's gift of seat cushions.

The first floor would provide space for the box office, a Green Room for actors, and a place for the theater goers to gather at intermissions for refreshments and entertainment. Outside, parking problems were solved with the rental of a large lot with its own entrance, making it possible to keep traffic off East Shore Lane.

The nucleus of actors was drawn from colleges in the Cincinnati-Cleveland areas. Many of the actors moved on after a year or two.

There were exceptions Bob Moak signed on the second summer and endeared himself to Culver audiences for the next 11 years in 98 productions. Although his forte was playing befuddled old men, Bob often shifted gears and gave powerful performances in Cat on the Hot Tin Roof, The Flowering Peach, and equally challenging plays

Here Playhouse favorite Bob Moak pinches the cheek of Mimi Bowen. When the traditional old man (often tricked by young lovers) was needed, you can be sure that Bob was onstage in powdered white wig, a leer buried in the wrinkles, and the familiar cane at his side.

1960 - Jun 21 - Summer Theatre Open House Sun

Not all of the actors came from the outside. Many times local citizens were cast, three of them appearing on opening night, June 21, 1950. Dorothy Oberlin (later Mills) gave an excellent interpretation of Madame Arcati in "Blithe Spirit ", along with Mary Bishop, who had appeared in plays at the Culver Military Academy, and Nancy Todd (Kutcher), whose mother would later marry John Edgell.

Later that summer, another local actress Marj Overmyer played Amanda in The Glass Menegeria opposite Tom Brubaker as the rebellious son. Marj continued her theatrical career with the LaPorte drama group, while Mr. Brubaker directed many plays in the South Bend area and eventually became the founder of PBS Channel 34, South Bend Elkhart. He now does tech work at The Firehouse with Jim Coppens, who once worked as PR director at the Culver Academies

One of the first and only coveted "Oscars," renamed "Macs," was awarded to Nancy Todd for the most outstanding work over the period of the ten-week season. The "Macs" had been donate by Don Trone, but were discontinued because play production is an ensemble, a group effort.

1950 - Aug. 30 - Editorial "Congratulations to the Maxinkuckee PLayers

It was fully a year ago or perhaps longer when Paul Rutledge and Martin Tahse of Cincinnati first thought of furthering their mutal interest in drama by organizing and developing a summer theater all of their own.

As University students and earlier as prep school students, both and a wide experience in various character roles as well as experience in the various aspects of stage production. Each felt that there was a challenging opportunity in the development of a of a summer theatre here in the Middle West.

Armed with some highly individual ideas concerning the organization and conduct of a players group, a touch od idealism in the selection and presentation of plays, some practical thoughts along the line of business operation, totherther with a generous store of enthusiasm, the two aspiring producers started searching for a suitable location to establish their theatre.

Their search brought them to Lake Maxinkuckee, where Tahse had attened school at the Academy. Late in April their hopes began to take final shape as the exercised their option to purchase the Vacation Club property located along the East Shore Lane. At the same time they began drafting plans for converting the building into an appropriate theatre for their summer venture.

While there was som local interest, the public logically adopted the "wait-and-see" view of the undertaking. Problems of finance, assembling and prooooviding for a top notch group of actors, housing, selection of, and payment of royalties on the high calibre plays which they were determined to present; meeting the requirements of the state fire marshall; securing a cook; planning and building stage sets; costumes; plannig a program of publicity and interpretation; were all met, but not without difficulty.

In late June, Tahse and Rutledge were joined at the Playhouse by a talented group of actors and actressed and their chaperons, Mr. and Mrs. Heinz Pabst, and the final link in bringing together the Maxinkuckee Players was effected.

In a shourth while the Maxinkuckee Playhouse was a reality and on the evening og June 27, the group literally "broke-the-ice" as they pleased a large "first-nighter" audience with their clever presentation of "Blithe SPirit"

From the opening of "Blithe Spirit" to the closing of the current popular play hit "Golden Boy" on next SUnday evening the Players have achieved a not-soon-to-be-forgotten season here at Lake Maxinkuckee.

Their plays have been well staged; each of the actors has ably carried their various stage roles; their efforts have attracted wide spread and favorable attention over a wide area; and th press and various indiviuals have lauded their efforts.

The Lake Side cottager and the community as a whole are most appreciative of the outstanding achievement of this splendid organization during this, their first season.

The high caliber of entertainment which they have produced has been a source of enjoyment for hundreds of patrons during the past few weeks.

To Mr. Tahse and Mr Rutledge and to each member of their organization we extend hearty congratulations. We are already looking forward to the opening night of the '51 season.

2nd season Program - the production that year was Mary Chase's "Harvey". Of further interest is the interior and back side of the program which include advertising from a few of the prominent businesses of Culver at the time. <

1952 - June 2 - Maxinkuckee Their Next Stop - Mr. & Mrs. Smith

1952 - Aug 24 - Playhouse Green Barn

1953 - Feb 4 - Playhouse Officials Poll Patrons As To '53 Play Preferences

"What plays would patrons like to see on the stage of the Maxinkuckee Playhouse during the 1953 season?" is the approach the directors of the local summer theatre are utilizing in initiating plans for the forthcoming season.

Recently hundreds of Playhouse theater goers in Northern Indiana received a ballot. This ballot consisted of a reply postcard listing forty play titles. The Playhouse requested voters to check fifteen plays they would like to see produced at the Playhouse and to mail the card back before the deadline which is set 011 Feb. 10th.

Titles give a wide range for preference including such old time favorites as "Peg of My Heart" and "Charlie's Aunt", famous dramas including "'The Little Foxes' and "Streetcar Named Desire". new plays like "Fourposter" and Gigi" and lesser known ones such as "Squaring the Circle" and "The Damask Cheek'.

The Playhouse has announced that while the winning titles will be given proper consideration, that these alone will not constitute the program for the season. New plays and lesser known good plays which would not stand a. chance in such a balloting will also find a place on the seasons production list in order to assure the summer visitors to the Playhouse a well rounded theatrical season.

Organized in 1950 by Paul Rut!edge and Martin Tahse, the Maxinkuckee Playhouse located on the East Shore Road has continued to grow each year. 1ncreased seating capacity, air conditioning and improved production techniques have all added to the enjoyment of the audience drawn from over nineteen cities and towns in Northern Indiana.

Opening date and the season for 1953 will be announced early in March.

1953 - Mar AUDITIONS AT COLLEGE

The Maxinkuckee Playhouse resident company, a summer theater located at Lake Maxinkuckee at Culver, will hold auditions at Ball State College sometime next month. The actual date of the auditions will be announced at a later time.

The company will also conduct interviews for technical directors, assistant directors and business managers. Muncie Evening Press.

A flyer previewing the 1953 season of the Maxinkuckee Playhouse

1953 - May 24 - Summer Theater Scheduled At Maxinkuckee Playhouse

Maxinkuckee PlayhouseinCulver, Ind., will open its fourth consecutive season on Tuesday, June 23, with Charley's Aunt.

Managing director of the playhouse is Paul Putledgc, UC Mummers Guild director, with Douglas Cramer serving as his assistant.

The Playhouse is a nonprofit educational corporation, with n resident company of college students. Twelve shows are presented during the summer, each for a six-night run.

THE SCHEDuLE for this summer is: Charley's Aunt. June 23-28; Claudia, June 30- July 5; Abie's Irish Rose, July 7-12; Bell, Rook, and Candle, July 14-19; A Streetcar Named Desire, July 21-26; For Love Or Money, July 28-August 2: The Innocents, August 4-9; Arsenic And Old Lace, August 11-16; Private Lives, August 18-23;. The Happv Time, August 25-30; The Constant Wife, September 1-6 and Peg Of My Heart, September 18-13.

MR. WAVNE GREGORY, noted director at Walnut Hills High School, will serve as guest director for the production of Arsenic And Old Lace. Miss Ruth Dowden, instructor in speech and interpretation at UC, will also he a guest director for Rell, Book, And Candle.

A NUMBER of students at the Tniversity of Cincinnati will go to the Playhouse as members of the resident company, including Sue Helmling, Jacqueline Mason, Nancy Michicls and Anne Mitchell. David Hager will be set designer for the company.

Also from the Cincinnati area as resident members are Mabel Burnside from the College of Music, P,nl Moak Iron) Schuster Martin. Ruth Murphy of Cincinnati, who attended the Coalman School in Chicago, and Los Fischer who will serve as assistant technical director. Bob Monk from Schuster Martin, Ruth Murphy of Cincinnati, who attended the Goodmand School in Chicago, and Les Fischer who will serve as assistant technical director.

TWO YOUNGSTER's from greater Cincinnati grade schools who have appeared in Mummers Cuild productions, Debbie Dupee and Pietcr Visser, will be guest stars at the playhouse for The Innocents and The Happy Time; Carol Keane from Walnut Hills High School, will be the youngest resident member of the company, playing the lead in Peg of My Heart - Cincinnati Enquirer

1953 - June 3 - Co-founders and co-directors of the Maxinkuckee Player Martin Tahse and Paul Rutledge are pictured here at one of the many road signs which will soon be beckoning "straw hat" theater goers to the East Shore Playhouse which opens for the fourth season here on June 23.


Tahse, now a Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Coprs and currently stationed in Texas, will not be in residence, but it is hoped that he will be able to visit the playhouse during a leave.

In the mean time, Rutledge will handle the management during the fourth season.

1953 - Jun 13 - Kokomo Girl To Be Member of Cast At Maxinkuckee Summer Playhouse

Sally Noble, who has been dancing and studying dramatics and voice in New York for the last three seasons, left Saturday to join the company of the Maxinkuckee Playhouse, a summer dramatic group which will produce, 12 plays at the lakeside theater this summer.

Extending its activities this year. the Maxinkuckee Players have opened a new theater at Lake Wawasee and will produce 10 of its plays there. The cast of 22 young players, recruited mainly from Midwest colleges, will be divided and will alternate weeks between the. two summer playhouses.

The Maxinkuckee Playhouse will open June 23 with a week's run of "Charlie's Aunt."

The following week, beginning on June 30 'Claudia" will be produced at Maxinkuckee while the "Charlie's Aunt' cast will be appearing at Wawasee.

Miss Noble has been assigned the leading role in "Claudia" and wil make her debut with the company on June 30.

Other plays to be produced for a week each- - Tuesdays through Sundays - - are: "Bell, Book and Candle", "A Streetcar Named Desirr", "Abie's Irish Rose," "The Innocents," "Peg o' My Heart," "The Private Lives," "Arsenic and Old Lace," "For Love of Money," "The Happy Time" and "The Constant Wife."

Maxinkuckee Playhouse was originated by Paul Rutledge, head of the dramatics department at the University of Cincinnati, and has had three successful seasons under his personal direction.

A s a result of expanding to the Wawasee theater, Mr. Rutledge will have an expanded staff of assistant directors and technicians this season.



Miss Noble is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee J. Noble, 1117 E. Mulberry St. - Kokomo Tribune



1955 April 23 - New Theater Being Built at Maxinkuckee. New Plant To Be Opened In June By Acting Company At Maxinkuckee



1955, Apr 24 A NEW end larger ground level theater building, drawn above, will be ready for the sixth season opening of the Maxinkuckee Playhouse - at Culver, Ind., in June. The new structure will shave a 200-plus seating capacity. - Indianapolis Star

12 Years Later - The Final Curtain

In 1961 when the playhouse closed its doors forever, the lead in Flower Drum Song was played by local resident Bob Glaze, whose sister Tommye Lou, a runner-up in the Miss America contest, had earlier been starred in Brigadoon. Bob (later enacted Buffalo Bill on an Indy radio station) had three Culverites with him in the cast -- Betty Kose and Donna Dawson in minor roles -- while Lana Berger was in charge of the music and provided the accompaniment.

Between the first and final productions, names of people associated with Culver and the lake keep appearing in the history of the playhouse. William Inge, who had spent summers on the lake, wrote some of the plays produced here, which had been directed earlier on broadway by CMA graduate Josh Logan, whose father once worked as a military officer at the Culver Military Academy.

Esther O'Callaghan had a role in You Can't Take It With You. Peter Sexton did tech work, and Emerson Cabell's name often appeared, probably because his wife, nicknamed Agie, was the company's cook, dietitian and confidant.

Operating on a shoestring budget, the players were grateful that good neighbors like Marilyn Kelly supplemented their almost strictly hot-dog fare with fresh vegetables, solved their car and bus problems by providing the service of Norman, her husband, and contributed homegrown boy actors to their casts.

In addition to David and Steve Kelly, Jackie Maull soon established himself as a confident child actor, reaching the heights of thespian glory as the boy Patrick in the musical Auntie Marne Other child actors in various productions were Sugar Fell, Don Reed, Tina and Eric Hughes, and Coke Smith, Jr.



More about Martin Tahse

After about two years, co-founder and co-director Martin Tahse left the Maxinkuckee Playhouse for service in the US Air Force -- (the Korean War was going on) -- but he never succeeded in getting the theater out of his blood. After his discharge, he formed touring companies of Broadway shows with financial support from two of his former CMA classmates: Jackson Parriott and George Steinbrenner, who said he was an investor and didn 't want to be called "an angel." No one had any objections to that.

Martin eventually reached Hollywood, where he produced movies and TV shows. On of his most successful endeavors was the After-School Television Specials aimed at young people. On a recent visit to Los Angeles, lake resident Richard Ford had a chance to visit with Martin, who said that he was still finding satisfaction and enjoyment as a producer and director.



New Blood - 1953

Following in the footsteps of Martin Tahse, two stalwart performers arrived on the scene at the playhouse, and for the next eight years, Sally Noble of Kokomo served in the capacity of an incredibly talented leading lady. She was joined by David Hager of South Bend, first as the company's scene designer, later as an actor, director, and co-manager. In 1956 Sally and David were joined in wedlock, a union that produced a son.

In this area, both Sally and David will always be remembered by theatergoers for their performances as the lovers in The Moon Is Blue and for David's interpretation of the witch boy in Dark of the Moon. That role may have helped him escape burning to death when gasoline ignited during the cleaning of some old paint in the playhouse.



Paul Rutledge, left, one of the original founders of the playhouse, with David Hager, who replaced the other co-founder, Martin Tahse, after two years. Photo was taken during the players 59th production, the Pulitzer Prize winning play, Picnic, written by former summer resident of Lake Maxinkuckee William Inge.



Not just satisfied to put on a different play each week on the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee, the energetic players began traveling to Lake Wawasee on Mondays, when the big switch from one play to another took place, to share the previous week's play in a tent theater under the management of Douglas S. Cramer, who would eventually wind up in Hollywood producing such television shows as Love Boat and Dynasty with Aaron Spelling. The first show re-produced in Wawasee was Charley's Aunt.

"During the second year, about an hour before the opening of Affairs of State in Wawasee in 1954," writes Paul Rutledge, "a tornado swept through the area and completely destroyed the tent operation. No one was injured. We tried to carry on in a barn, but it was soon obvious that working two locations was too grueling and created too many logistic problems."

Although renovations back in 1951 under the leadership of Don Trone and his citizens committee had increased the seating space to 158, the company managers decided it would be best to stop out-of-town engagements and to improve the Culver location.

Another group of lake residents headed up by Peirce Ward, Walter W. Foskett and William C. Griffith, with the cooperation of The State Exchange Bank, helped finance the building of a new playhouse.





1955 April 23 - New Theater being Built at Maxinkuckee

in process of construction.





View from the parking lot, showing side of new theater with company house, lobby and box office in background.



Early in March of 1955, the versatile Dave Hager and his brother Dan supervised the clearing of the ground for the new building that he had designed.

Professor Rutledge picks up the story here: "It was a very wet spring and many times it seems that the new theater could not be ready for its June opening. The old upstairs theater space had been remodeled to provide comfortable living quarters for the company. The new theater was the only space available for the opening."

"The Fourposter had been chosen as the opener. While most of the company helped put on roofing, sand doors, or paint walls, Sally Nobel and Tom Burke would rehearse their lines. Finally that opening night came. The house. now seating 225, was sold out, but as yet we had no electricity. Although the set was up and finished, Tom and Sally had never practiced on the stage. At eight o'clock when some of the first audience members were parking in the lot, the final electrical connection was made and 'the show went on.' Those in that first night audience never knew what a really last minute drama had taken place."

1955 May 29 - New Plant To Be Opened In June By Acting Company At Maxinkuckee



1955, July 5-July10 - Production picture from "Stalag 17". Stan Beck, current broadway actor, in center.



1955 - Jul 6 - Play house director - David Hager - This SOuth Bend resident directs "Stalag 17", current hit at the Maxinkuckee Playhouse. He is also assistant manager of the popular summer theater.

1955 - Jul 6 - Play house director - David Hager - This SOuth Bend resident directs "Stalag 17", current hit at the Maxinkuckee Playhouse. He is also assistant manager of the popular summer theater.



Chester W. Cleveland, the publisher and editor of the paper at that time, had always supported the players with free publicity and lots of encouragement, as had his predecessor Bob Rust)

"The opening performance was preceded by a few well chosen words from Paul Rutledge, the talented young genius, who thanked Culver and Lake people for their help and cooperation in making the building possible."

The additional space was badly needed because the reputation of the group had spread out in all directions with block bookings from social groups and businesses, drawing an estimated 10,000 outsiders into the area during a given summer. After a ticket office was opened in South Bend, show buses ran almost nightly from that city, stopping at a restaurant for dinner before the show, and joining the company members for pie and coffee after the performance, before boarding the buses once more.

For the most part, when one considers the hordes of people invading the East Shore, it's a wonder that few serious accidents occurred.

On one occasion, July of 1957, forty steel-and-wire executives of Chicago began the festivities with drinks and dinner at the Culver Inn. Then they were transported by Frank Amond's tour boat to a new pier owned by Ronald Gales. When the slightly tipsy group all piled out of the boat onto the pier, it gave way and they plunged into the lake. The soaked celebrators (including a Mr. Long, who was about four-feet tall) were fished out and taken back to the Inn to get out of their wet clothes and into another dry martini. The playhouse held curtain for them until they returned -- this time by car.

If you've ever been in a play or helped with backstage work, you know the time, effort, and work required to produce respectable entertainment. You have to wonder how it was possible for these young directors and performers to produce a different play each week of the season: memorizing lines of three different plays at the same time; building of multiple sets, re-setting of lights on Mondays, blocking and running rehearsals.

Did the audiences realize how much work went into Paul Rutledge's magic carpet that carried them from visiting on a small planet to living a life with father; from an Okinawan teahouse to a New York penthouse; from "our town" to Brigadoon; from discovering if the moon is blue or dark; from George Washington's bed to a couple's fourposter; from being a camera to stopping at a bus station; from either inheriting the wind or getting the seven-year itch?

1958 Lake Directory - Maxinkuckee Playhouse / Paul Rutledge - Paul Rutledge (East 2437), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio



1958 - Jun 4 Add Announcing the 9th season.





David Canary Arrives - 1958

The 1958 summer was probably the most exciting and explosive season in the history of the playhouse. David Canary, already a fine dramatic actor with a voice trained formusicals, arrived and set into motion a string of musical comedies.



The reviewer of his first show wrote that "he has about as much charm as anyone we've seen on the Maxinkuckee stage for a long time." He shared billing with Tommye Lou Glaze in Plain and Fancy and with the perennial favorite Sally Noble in The Boy Friend. He demonstrated his dramatic talent as Brady in Inherit the Wind.

Later, David achieved national fame as Candy in the television show Bonanza. Since 1983 he has been playing the double role of Adam and Stuart, bad guy and good guy, in the soap opera All My Children (noon-ABC). In his spare time, he makes spot appearances in such musicals as The Man of LaMancha.

He returned to the Maxinkuckee Playhouse in 1960 and sang the male lead in Kiss Me, Kate. During that same season, Jon Jory, son of Victor, allowed the players to give a premier production of his original comedy Tipsy Rebellion. The play didn't go far, but Jon did to Louisville, where he founded the Actors Theater, the host for many years of a national short play contest. (Currently, Jon is chairman of the drama graduate program at the University of Washington, Seattle).

A few other luminaries-to-be who appeared at the playhouse were Dick Sinatra, a relative of 01' Blue Eyes, Kent Guthrie, an actor and folk singer, and Hoosier Bernie Pollack, now a famous Hollywood costume designer, who has worked with his brother Sydney, producer and director of such award winning movies as Out of Africa and Tootsie.



1950's program



Articles and advertisements from the Playhouse's 1959 season











1959- Maxinkuckee Playouse Show Train to New York and Broadway trip Apr 12-22





The original founder of the Maxinkuckee Playhouse, Martin Tahse, left, and Paul Rutledge, right.













Ring down the Curtain - 1961

A startling announcement in the July 26, 1961 issue the The Culver Citizen: Bad News! Maxinkuckee Playhouse Is Leaving Culver for Michigan.

Paul Rutledge was taking our cowbell to greener pastures. The transplanted theater moved to the Cherry County Playhouse of Traverse City, but lasted only two years. Once more the cowbell was on the move and ended up on the Showboat Majestic docked at the public landing on the banks of the Ohio River, where for 17 years it continued to warn patrons that the curtain was going up. Today it is resting in the Cincinnati home of Paul Rutledge, now retired from Cincinnati University and Cambridge University, England.

Before leaving the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee, Paul paid tribute to Bob Moak for his work in 98 of the 120 summer productions. After reviewing his years of dedicated service, Paul said: "Certainly the Maxinkuckee Playhouse was greater than Bob Moak, but likewise the Playhouse found in Bob Moak one of the chief reasons for being great. With his departure, an institution was passing and one of its brightest lights was heralding the demise."

Paul, the founder, was no longer just talking about Bob Moak when he added: "Culver is losing more than it can realize in these waning days of summer." The brief shining moment had ended.

The Playhouse closed Saturday,Aug. 19, 1961



Was the Playhouse Really Dead?

The original playhouse (Winifred Legg's Vacation Club) was soon tom down and the "new" playhouse and land were sold to Gene Furry and Dwight Wildemuth.

According to Jack Campbell, the playhouse was used by his marina as a place to store boats in the winter. So where actors once trod the boards in the summer, boats boarded there in winters, some of them sitting on the stage with the only applause coming from the blowing wind and falling rain. Later, when the boards had begun to rot, Jack's son David stepped on the stage and found himself, without the benefit of a trapdoor, a level below.

Currently, the playhouse is owned by Allen Becker, who graciously conducted Harvey Ferari on a tour of what is now a storage shed. About the only touching reminders of a place for plays are EXIT signs over two doors.

Not long ago, Allen saw a stranger standing in the middle of the road, looking toward the playhouse. On being questioned, he said that once long ago he had appeared on the playhouse stage as an actor (Stanley or Jeff Beck?), but now, as a movie technician, he was traveling from the making of the basketball movie "Blue Chips" (Note: 1994 film Music by Jeff Beck) to another location.



This is the general location of the Maxinkuckee Playhouse; most likely the 1955 Playhouse building has been razed





Cast of 'Diary of Anne Frank' celebrate the good news that the Allies are winning the war. Sally Nobel as 'Anne' in center.







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Original - Harvy Ferari, edited by John Cleveland, Jo Dugger and Agnes Bramfeld