Guide to the Civic Light Opera Records 1946-1996
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Civic Light Opera Records
- Creator
- Civic Light Opera
- Collection Number
- MSS 955
- Extent
- 20 linear feet (19 boxes) + O/S
- Date
- 1946-1996
- Abstract
- The Civic Light Opera Association of Greater Pittsburgh (later the Civic Light Opera) was founded in 1946 by Edgar J. Kaufmann and City Councilman Abraham L. Wolk. The roots of the CLO can be traced to the efforts of these two individuals to establish a summer light opera. The Civic Light Opera Records are housed in 18 boxes and arranged into five series. These records pertain to the history and function of the CLO from its founding in 1947 until 1996. The Civic Light Opera Records consist of administrative records, photographs, contact sheets, negatives, drawings, news clippings, scrapbooks, and press books that document the CLO Guild, performances, production venues, rehearsals, auditions, publicity, and administrative functions.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
The Civic Light Opera Association of Greater Pittsburgh (later the Civic Light Opera) was founded in 1946 by Edgar J. Kaufmann (owner of Kaufmann's Department Store in Pittsburgh, Pa.) and City Councilman Abraham L. Wolk. At the close of World War II, Wolk advocated for the creation of a civic light opera in Pittsburgh in order to help foster the city's post-war renaissance. Wolk partnered with Kaufmann, who donated $50,000 to fund the CLO's first season. As early as 1939, Councilman Wolk had been able to attain $5,000 from the Pittsburgh City Council in order to coordinate summer concerts in Schenley Park in the spirit of the St. Louis Municipal Opera. In September 1945, Wolk enlisted Max Koenigsberg of the St. Louis Municipal Opera to help launch the CLO in Pittsburgh. Koenigsberg served as the CLO's first managing director.
Gathering business and civic leaders in the region, Wolk spearheaded a board that negotiated the usage of the University of Pittsburgh's Pitt Stadium rent-free for CLO performances. At the time of its founding, H. Edgar Lewis, president of Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, stated that the "light opera will open a new era in the cultural life of the entire Tri-State area." Lewis served as the first president of the CLO, with Wolk and Vira I. Heinz (wife of Clifford Heinz) as vice presidents. Throughout its early existence, the administrative offices of the CLO were located in Kaufmann's Department Store in downtown Pittsburgh.
On February 20, 1946, the CLO's first season of operettas was announced for the summer of 1946. Ticket prices for CLO performances ranged from 60 cents to $3 and were sold at Kaufmann's Department Store. As a professional theater company, the CLO staged productions of musical theater classics during its annual summer seasons. The CLO's premiere performance in the summer of 1946 was Victor Herbert's Naughty Marietta. Under Koenigsberg's direction, performers Mimi Benzell, Morton Bowe, Rosemarie Brancato, Mack Harrell, Lansing Hatfield, Ralph Herbert, Bill Johnson, Lucille Manners, Richard Manning, Ruby Mercer, Muriel O'Malley, Wilma Spence, and Margaret Spencer were among the CLO's inaugural cast. Serving alongside Koenigsberg was choral director J. Albert Hurley. In its first season, the CLO attracted 270,000 people to watch its performances in Pitt Stadium.
Beginning in 1947, William Wymetal became the managing director of the CLO and would serve for the next 22 seasons until 1968. Wymetal is credited with bringing names such as Allan Jones, Jackie Gleason, Irene Manning, and Harry Stockwell to perform with the CLO. Karl Kritz served as conductor of the CLO from 1948 until 1968.
Despite the success of its first two seasons, the CLO found itself in need of funds to annually support development and operating costs. The CLO Board demonstrated these needs to the city's civic community and on December 8, 1948, the board announced that 75 prominent Pittsburgh residents had pledged to support the CLO. The financial interests of the CLO were further shored up with the establishment of the Civic Light Opera Guild in 1955 under the leadership of Constance T. Rockwell. The Guild, comprised of women invested in the CLO, organized special educational, promotional, and social events annually. The Guild's first event was a dinner dance at the Pittsburgh Field Club. Beginning in 1956, the Pink Frolic was established as the Guild's benefit ball to raise money for the association. It was held in the old Schenley Hotel. Since its founding, the Guild has raised millions of dollars in support of the CLO and its mission.
For the first 13 years of its existence, the CLO performed every summer at Pitt Stadium. Despite its long tenure at this location, weather was a perennial threat to productions. Particularly debilitating was the 1958 season in which nine performances were cancelled due to inclement weather. This would be the CLO's last season at Pitt Stadium. Prior to the 1958 season, the Edgar J. Kaufmann Charitable Trust proposed to make funds available for an arena to be owned and maintained by the city. The proposal called for a venue that would be outfitted with a retractable roof that could open or close depending on the weather. City planners broke ground on the Civic Arena on March 12, 1958.
While construction continued on the Civic Arena, the CLO ascertained permission to build a tent in which to perform its 1959 season. This second home for the CLO was a tangerine and green "Melody Tent" that was constructed in the lower Hill District, a neighborhood east of downtown Pittsburgh and adjacent to the future location of the Civic Arena. The CLO performed in this venue for three years until construction of the retractable, domed Civic Arena was complete.
The CLO performed in the Civic Arena from 1961 until 1969. By 1963, many production problems had surfaced for the CLO at the Civic Arena: the sound system was inadequate, it was expensive to open and close the roof, and the CLO was competing with various sporting events. In addition, when racial unrest erupted in the Hill District following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., attendance declined sharply. Following only three performances in 1969, Board President Emerson G. Hess announced that the CLO would temporarily cease performing.
Once again, the civic leaders of Pittsburgh invested in the CLO to sustain its existence. Henry John Heinz II and his family funded the renovation of the old Penn Theatre on 6th Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. The new Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, the fourth home for the CLO, would also house the Pittsburgh Opera, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. With Williard F. Rockwell serving as the CLO's president and chairman of the board and the Guild's fundraising efforts, the CLO was able to perform once again beginning in 1972 under managing director W.L. Thurnhurst, Jr. The CLO grew and prospered during these years, naming Elke Sommer an ambassador for the CLO and Gene Kelly an honorary chairman.
In 1984, the Howard Heinz Endowment called for a cultural district in downtown Pittsburgh. As a facet of this plan, the Stanley Theatre on 7th Avenue one block from Heinz Hall was renovated and rechristened as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts. The Benedum Center was named for Michael L. Benedum, a founding board member of the Civic Light Opera, whose foundation, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, gave money to start the restoration of the Stanley Theatre. Once complete, the Civic Light Opera moved to its current home at the Benedum Center in 1988.
In addition to its annual productions, the CLO has also initiated a number of programs that support the preservation, creation and promotion of live musical theater. Programs include the Academy, Mini Stars, the Richard Rodgers Award, the Gene Kelly Awards, the Gallery of Heroes, the First Nighter's Club, and the Construction Center for the Arts.
Scope and Content Notes
The Civic Light Opera Records are housed in 18 boxes and is arranged into five series. These records pertain to the history and function of the CLO from its founding in 1947 until 1996. Worthy of note is the photograph series that documents CLO auditions, rehearsals, fundraising events, performance venues, and most productions. The bulk of the material in the CLO Records is scrapbooks, press books, and photo albums. These press books and scrapbooks document the CLO's publicity efforts while also highlighting the reception of CLO productions over time. In addition, the CLO Records also include administrative records such as meeting minutes, budgets, and newsletters that document the activities and functions of the CLO Guild. The Civic Light Opera Records consist of administrative records, photographs, contact sheets, negatives, drawings, news clippings, scrapbooks, press books, and promotional posters.
Series I: Administrative Records (1959-1981)
This series is comprised of the Civic Light Opera administrative records that primarily pertain to the CLO Guild.
Box 1 is comprised of Guild records such as membership lists and booklets (1960-1971) and board meeting minutes (1959-1971, 1976-1981). The board minutes detail the annual Guild events and activities such as the Pink Frolic and the Champagne Tea. The minutes also document financial expenditures and fundraising efforts of the Guild in support of the CLO. In addition, this series also contains a small collection of CLO newsletters (1988-1989, 1994), news clippings, records pertaining to fundraising (1970s), and a CLO project proposal for a Bicentennial performance of 1776 .
Series II: Performance Programs (1947-1996)
This series primarily consists of CLO performance programs and copies of the Civic Light Opera Review from 1947 to 1996. This series is arranged chronologically according to year. Also included in this series is a small collection of programs from other CLO events, such as the Pink Frolic. The programs are not comprehensive; noticeable gaps are 1977-1981 and 1982.
Box 2 contains programs and copies of the Civic Light Opera Review from 1947 to 1977.
Box 3 consists of programs and copies of the Civic Light Opera Review from 1981, 1983-1996.
Series III: Scrapbooks, Press Books, and Photo Albums (1947-1991)
This series contains CLO scrapbooks, press books, and photo albums that chiefly document CLO performances. This is series is arranged in chronological order according to type. The press books in this series contain news clippings pertaining to CLO activities from 1963 to 1991. Included in these press books are feature performance review stories in addition to performance advertisements. The scrapbooks in this series document the CLO's early years (1947, 1948, 1951, and 1952). Scrapbook pages include news clippings, programs, and ticket stubs. In addition, the photo albums in this series date to 1947, 1948, 1949-1950, c1960s, and 1973-1976 and primarily contain rehearsal and performance photographs. This series also includes a photo album belonging to Paul B. Reinhold, president of the CLO from 1959 to c1961 that consists of autographed head shots.
Box 4 is comprised of press books from 1963 to 1979.
Box 5 contains press books from 1979 to 1982.
Box 6 consists of press books from 1983 to 1984.
Box 7 includes press books from 1985 to 1986.
Box 8 is comprised of press books from 1986 to 1987.
Box 9 consists of press books from 1987 to 1988.
Box 10 includes press books from 1988.
Box 11 contains press books from 1988 to 1989.
Box 12 is comprised of press books from 1989.
Box 13 includes press books from 1989 to 1990.
Box 14 consists of press books from 1990 to 1991.
Box 15 contains scrapbooks from 1947, 1948, 1951, and 1952 as well as a 1960s photo album and Paul Reinhold's photo album.
The 1974 press book and the photo albums in this series (1947, 1948, 1949-1950, and 1976) have been stored in preservation wrapping and are located on the shelf.
Series IV: Photographs and Film Reel (1947-1994)
This series consists of photographs, contact sheets, color slides, and negatives that document CLO functions and activities. This series primarily consists of photographs pertaining to various CLO performances. Performance photographs are arranged in alphabetical order according to performance. This series also contains images pertaining to the various venues in which the CLO has performed, including Pitt Stadium, the Melody Tent, the Civic Arena, Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center. Worthy of note are those images contained in this series that capture the planning and development of the Civic Arena. In addition, this series includes head shots of CLO performers and guest stars, photographs of CLO administrators, group shots of performers, images of CLO Guild events such as the Pink Frolic, and publicity photographs of auditions and rehearsals. Also contained in this series are images of special projects undertaken by the CLO, including the Gallery of Heroes, the CLO Mini-Stars, the CLO First Nighter's Club, and the Gene Kelly Awards. This series also includes a 16mm film reel that contains footage of CLO award ceremonies, a fashio show fundraiser, Pink Frolics, and CLO performances.
Box 16 contains photographs of CLO productions. The photographs in this box are arranged in alphabetical order according to the title of the production and span from 1776 to the Sound of Music .
Box 17 also contains photographs from CLO productions which are arranged in alphabetical order. These span from South Pacific to Wizard of Oz . Various venues in which the CLO has performed (Pitt Stadium, the Melody Tent, the Civic Arena, Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center) are also captured in these photographs. Worthy of note are those images that document the planning and development of the Civic Arena. Also included are head shots of CLO performers and guest stars, photographs of CLO administrators, group shots of performers, images of CLO Guild events such as the Pink Frolic, and publicity photographs of auditions and rehearsals. This box also contains images of special projects undertaken by the CLO, including the Gallery of Heroes, the CLO Mini-Stars, the CLO First Nighter's Club, and the Gene Kelly Awards.
Box 18 consists of color slides that capture images of CLO performances, auditions, rehearsals and backstage activities.
Series V: Oversized Material (1946-1996)
This series consists of oversized material relating to the Civic Light Opera. Included in this series are two drawings of Downtown Pittsburgh from the Point that project the location of Civic Arena. In addition, this series also contains oversized photographs and contact sheets that include images of performers, productions, auditions, and rehearsals. Newspaper clippings and oversized scrapbook pages are also contained in this series. This series also includes oversized promotional posters pertaining to the CLO's 50th Anniversary season in 1996, productions (1981, 1990-1996), the 1996 Richard Rogers Award Gala featuring Frank Lloyd Webber, and anniversary performances.
Arrangement
The Civic Light Opera Records is housed in 18 boxes and is arranged into five series.
- Series I. Administrative Records (1959-1981)
- Series II. Performance Programs (1947-1996)
- Series III. Scrapbooks, Press Books, and Photo Albums (1947-1991)
- Series IV. Photographs and Film Reel (1947-1994)
- Series V. Oversized Material (1946-1996)
Conditions Governing Access
As a preservation measure, photo albums and scrapbooks should be handled with great care.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from Civic Light Opera in 1997.
Archives accession # 1997.0047
Preferred Citation
Civic Light Opera Records, 1946-1996, MSS 955, Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.
Processing Information
Preliminary processing by Sierra Green on 05/21/2013.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Related Materials
Jules H. Houston Collection of Civic Light Opera Programs and Ticket Stubs, 1947-1987, MSS 251, Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Civic Light Opera memories [videorecording], VIDEO 0066.
Civic Light Opera promotional video [videorecording], VIDEO 67.
Brignano, Mary. Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera: How the Dreams Came True. Pittsburgh: Civic Light Opera, 1996. ML 1711.8 .P6 C582.
Subjects
- Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Kaufmann's Department Store (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Wymetal, William
- Koenigsberg, Max
- Wolk, Abraham L.
- Kaufmann, Edgar J.
- Heinz, Vira I.
- Pitt Stadium (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Civic Arena (Pittsburgh, Pa.)--Construction
- Benedum Center (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Heinz Hall (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Hill District (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Oakland (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Musical theater--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh--History
- Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh.
- Civic improvement--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Arenas--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Urban renewal--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Music Halls--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh