SUMMER STOCK THEATRE WAS VERY POPULAR in rural Canada: touring companies hauled costumes and sets around to perform in school buildings, parish halls, barns, tents, wherever there might be an audience. In Ontario, The Stratford Shakespearean Festival's instant success in 1953 raised the genre's profile and provided still more career opportunities and summer jobs. That surge coincided with the best years of musical productions on Broadway. At the same time, there was significant property development along Lake Ontario west of Toronto.
Dixie Plaza was a shopping mall opened in 1956 at Dixie Rd. and the Queen Elizabeth Way. In 1958, Buffalo-based Music Fair crossed the border to present Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals in a 2000-seat round tent in the Plaza. Everything Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein (lyrics) put together became a smash hit, first on Broadway, then in Technicolor movies distributed worldwide, finally in countless professional and amateur productions. Canadians flocked to see all the versions, everyone knew all the words to the best songs, so Music Fair easily filled its big tent every night.
The Tely was very much involved, sponsoring free performances for those of its delivery boys and their parents who lived within driving distance of the big tent, and for seniors. City Editor Art Cole went to see the first production in July, of Annie Get Your Gun, but after that he gave me the press passes-for-two for Oklahoma! and The Boyfriend because I wrote the promotional articles. I drove to Dixie Plaza with a guest to enjoy their pre-show receptions and opening nights.
Wed. Aug 6, p.11
"BOY FRIEND!
"Tely Host To Senior Citizens Provides 1,750 Free Tickets
"Flip, flap, and boop-ee doop!
"That rollicking musical set in the roaring '20s, The Boy Friend, is coming back to start Toronto roaring again.
"When it arrives at Music Fair in Dixie Plaza next week, you will be able to see the sack and chemise [women's dress] styles in their original forms, and watch that currrrayzeeee Charleston.
"Those who laughed at the flapper fads of the '20s when they were realities should love to laugh at them this time.
"And so The Telegram is inviting Toronto's senior citizens to make use of 1,750 free tickets for the matinee performance of Sept. 6.
"The Dixie Plaza is a short easy drive west of Toronto, along the Queen Elizabeth Way.
"Also, the TTC has a convenient Show Bus Service which goes to the very side of the big tent, for a fare of 50 cents.
"NO SHIVERS
"Anyone who has already enjoyed theatre in the round at Dixie knows that the tent can be heated if necessary, so none need fear low temperatures, even if the cold spell does continue.
"In June, The Telegram arranged for Senior Citizens to see a sneak preview of Rooney. In July it secured special Grandstand seats for them to see Princess Margaret.
"Now, they are invited to enjoy all the action, color, gaiety and humor which only a stage musical can provide.
"On Sept. 6, the matinee will begin at 2:30 p.m. and end at 4:45.
"BUS SERVICE
"Senior Citizens can enjoy the show free and the TTC runs special show buses from the Yonge and Eglinton subway terminal, through the city, to the tent's side, for just 50 cents each way.
"The TTC buses (and there will be enough for all who need them) will leave platform No. 10 of the Eglinton subway terminal at 1:20 p.m. and will stop at main intersections en route.
YOU ARE READING
GLIMPSES of how Canada worked: a writer's memoir.
Non-FictionDuring the first 30 years of my journalistic career in the second half of the 20th century, good jobs of all kinds were available all over Canada. Those of us born in the 1930s and early '40s were in great demand because our generation was very smal...
