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See Boy Scout Kwahadi Dancers at The Roycroft Campus July 29th

Tuesday, July 22nd

Just a Reminder that the Boy Scout Kwahadi Dancers are coming to tour the Roycroft Campus and will give a free performance Monday July 28th at Noon on the grassy area in front of the Roycroft Print Shop/ Cornell Cooperative Extension; this is on South Grove Street, in the first block south of Main Street, East Aurora. In case you don't know about this group, I have re-run my earlier blog explaining their connection to the Roycroft here:

     What do Boy Scouts in Texas have in common with the Roycroft? Elbert Hubbard’s son, Ralph, was a fan of Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. He was so enamored of the wild west, cowboys and Indians, that he went west and in the 1920's purchased a ranch in Colorado. He learned the lore and wrangling skills from cowboys and Native Americans and shared all he knew of camping, archery, horsemanship, native crafts and native dancing by hosting Scout Troops at the ranch in the summers.

       One of the camp counselors was Dr. Charles E. Colgate of St. Louis Missouri. Dr. Colgate was fascinated with the native dancing and formed a troop of dancing Scouts in St. Louis and later in Amarillo, Texas. The Texas group, Troop 9, put together a performance of their native dancing for the Scout skills annual show and that was the beginning of the Kwahadi Dancers. Word of mouth brought many requests for their performances to the point that since 1944 over 1600 boys have been in the Kwahadi show performing throughout the U.S. and overseas wearing costumes they make themselves.

        The Kwahadi dancers are coming to visit and perform outside on the Roycroft Campus grounds from Noon to 12:45 pm on Monday July 28, 2008. In case of rain, this free performance will be held at the East Aurora Middle School. The dancers are excited to visit the Roycroft and we are most fortunate that they have made this one of their many stops as they perform in various cities over the summer months.    

       The RCC would like to thank those responsible for bringing the group to our area: local coordinators Turgeon & Fred Thornley, Chairpersons Mary Hubbard & Onda Dylewski, Boy Scout Troop #56 of East Aurora, and The Foundation for the Study of Arts & Crafts at Roycroft. And thanks to those making the Scouts' visit enjoyable: Kitty Turgeon providing their tour and East Aurora Tops Market and various volunteers for providing the Boy Scouts' lunch.

       For more information call The East Aurora Boy Scouts  at 716-655-5594. You can read more about the Kwahadi dancers at www.kwahadi.com.

- Sue

What does "Wicked the musical" have in common with Roycroft?

I recently saw the Broadway musical Wicked. I really enjoyed it! If you are not familiar with it, Wicked is the the story of the witches before the Wizard of Oz.

Wicked has broken box office records around the world. The show has been nominated for 10 Tony awards.

So what does this hit show have in common with the Roycroft?

The 1900 original book of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum was illustrated by W.W. Denslow. Denslow was a Roycrofter. He was the head of the illumination department for a time.

A sad foot note to Denslow: The royalties from the print and stage versions of The Wizard of Oz were sufficient to allow Denslow to purchase an island off the coast of Bermuda and crown himself King Denslow. However, he drank his money away, and on May 27, 1915, died in obscurity, of pneumonia.

Julie

Review of A Message to Garcia Movie Night

     Well "movie night" at the Inn was a success. The Inn hosted the event with free popcorn, licorice, candy and drinks. The film was not based on Elbert Hubbard's article, but rather on the event itself which inspired him: Lt. Rowan's mission to deliver a message from America's President to General Garcia fighting the Spaniards in the jungles of Cuba. Hubbard's article did not go into detail about the mission itself. Instead he wrote about the strength of character and focus that Rowan demonstrated in carrying out his mission so quickly, no questions asked. I am sure the popularity of Hubbard's article - reprinted for use by railroad companies, businesses and the army to name a few - is what led to the movie being produced.

     The film was full of typical Hollywood moments: a monkey trying to steal "the message"; a love interest in Barbara Stanwyck as the Cuban sister of a soldier in Garcia's army who becomes Rowan's guide; a few comic sidekicks; chase and gunfire scenes with the Spaniards; and Rowan fighting off a swamp full of alligators - by banging their snouts with sticks - this gave us all a good laugh.

     It was a lovely summer night, but we still managed to get a crowd of 64 to come inside for a bit of old time black and white movie magic. Hubbard probably would have scoffed at Hollywood's version, but I know he would be pleased to see the philanstery filled.

- Sue

All Types of Talent!

     Babik was back for yet another exciting Fireside Jazz Night this past Friday at the Roycroft Inn! By now, readers may realize that Babik, a Buffalo Jazz Band, has quite the following. That is certainly true here at the Roycroft! 

     If you missed them or just need more of Babik, CD's are on sale at the Copper Shop. We sell Babik CD's amidst our stock of original artisan gallery pieces. Browse for hand crafted furniture, pottery, textiles, books and more!  The Copper Shop Gallery is open 9-5 at 31 South Grove St. in East Aurora, NY.  Make a day of it and stop by the other shops just to our left on the Roycroft Campus.

    Unique local music and original local artisans, who could ask for a more lovely combination?

-Amanda

Roycroft Chamber Music Festival Starts This Week!

The Roycroft Chamber Music Festival is in it's 15th Season!

    Yet another event this June with the Roycroft!

     The Roycroft Chamber Music Festival begins it's 2008 season. It's scheduled for this weekend and next, so be sure to take in one of their acclaimed performances. Click on the picture below to view the schedule. For ticket information click here.

     The concerts are held in beautiful St. Matthias Church, near the Roycroft Campus! Stop in for a meal at the Roycroft Inn and browse the Copper Shop Gallery before your show. Enjoy!

-Amanda

Native American Dances at The Roycroft

Tuesday, May 13th

What do Boy Scouts in Texas have in common with the Roycroft? One might guess the answer would be Elbert Hubbard because he traveled so much. That is almost right. Elbert’s son, Ralph, was a fan of Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show. He was so enamored of the wild west, cowboys and Indians, that he went west and in the 1920's purchased a ranch in Colorado. He learned the lore and wrangling skills from cowboys and Native Americans and shared all he knew of camping, archery, horsemanship, native crafts and native dancing by hosting Scout Troops at the ranch in the summers.

       One of the camp counselors was Dr. Charles E. Colgate of St. Louis Missouri. Dr. Colgate was so fascinated with the native dancing that he created and guided a troop of dancing Scouts in St. Louis and in Amarillo, Texas. In Texas, Colgate and Scoutmaster Irelan put together a performance of their Troop 9 for the Scout skills annual show and that was the unintended  beginning of the Kwahadi Dancers. Word of mouth brought many requests for their performances to the point that since 1944 over 1600 boys have been in the Kwahadi show performing throughout the U.S. and overseas wearing costumes they make themselves.

        The RCC is proud to announce that the Kwahadi dancers are coming to visit and perform at the Roycroft Campus July 28^th, 2008. The dancers are as excited to see the Roycroft as we are to host them. Stay tuned to the RCC website Events notices as details get finalized. You can also read more about the Kwahadi dancers at www.kwahadi.com.

- Sue

Theatre Group Renovates the 1903 Roycroft Pavilion

The Roycroft Pavilion in East Aurora's Hamlin Park (2 blocks south of the Inn and the Roycroft Campus Corporation on South Grove Street) was built by the Roycrofters in 1903 as a gift for the Village. An early photo shown here is from the book, The Roycroft Campus, by Robert Rust & Kitty Turgeon, Arcadia Publishing, and for sale at the Roycroft Copper Shop. Click on the photo for an enlargement.

The Aurora Players have used the pavilion as a theatre since 1941. First as an open air structure and then in 1950 receiving permission from the Village to enclose the building for three season functionality. It was a rustic space with an outdoor concession stand, very basic restroom facilities and an itsy bitsy lobby that basically served to keep the elements out of the house seating area. So with great anticipation, theatre goers were treated this past weekend, at the opening of the 2008 season, with the debut of a spacious two storey lobby, large restrooms, coat room, box office and INDOOR concession stand.

Architect Don Aubrecht, of FFAEB in Orchard Park, designed a seamless addition to accommodate these functions and truly enhanced this historic building. The RCC's own Executive Director, Christine Peters, headed up the Interior Design Committee which worked very hard to find affordable yet stylistically appropriate Arts & Crafts interior appointments (in full disclosure, I am a member of this committee as is Friday blogger, Julie). Some of these interior amenities are yet to arrive -the carpet, for one, and RALA Artisan Ben Little's Motto Mirrors for the restrooms - but all will be installed shortly. Come enjoy a show and see this handsome addition to East Aurora's architectural and Roycroft heritage. Reserve your tickets by phone at 687-6727.

- Sue