►
From YouTube: Cain Park 75th Anniversary Presentation June 05, 2013
Description
Cain Park 75th Anniversary lecture presented by Emily Smith on June 5, 2013
A
Hi
everybody,
my
name
is
Carrie
hemley
O'donnell
and
I
am
the
historic
preservation
planner
for
the
city
of
cleveland
pace.
I
work
in
the
planning
department
there,
and
this
is
our
last
preservation
preservation
month
was
in
May,
but
we
had
so
much
important
stuff
to
do.
We
had
just
kind
of
spill
over
into
June
which
worked
out
pretty
well
because
you
know
this
is
the
year
that
came
park
starts
75th
anniversary,
and
this
is
a
great
way
for
us
to
kick
that.
A
A
We
are
videotaping
this
event,
which
will
be
played
at
the
fine
art
gallery.
So
when
people
come
in
to
see
the
exhibit,
they
can
see
some
of
this
exhibit.
We
also
are
going
to
put
it
on
the
city's
youtube
channel
within
a
week
or
two.
It
will
be
played
on
the
city
cable
channel,
and
then
we
will
also,
as
we
do
with
all
of
these
lectures,
that
we
videotape
put
it
onto
a
DVD
which
will
be
here
at
the
library.
A
A
A
B
A
We
can
find
things
in
their
chronological
order,
which
has
made
things
great
I'm
for
Emily
to
do
this
presentation
for
us.
We
also
I,
just
was
talking
to
someone
today,
I'm
just
interested
in
writing,
I'm
a
a
book
that
has
a
little
bit
of
focus
on
king
park
as
well,
and
it's
looking
for
people
to
give
king
park
memories,
which
I
tagged.
The
gentleman
who
brought
the
posters
to
help
us
out
with
too
so.
There's
always
been.
This
interesting
can
park
and
clearly
there's
a
big
interest
around
here.
A
Completed
her
undergraduate
degree
with
a
dual
major
of
historic
preservation,
interior
designer
ursuline
college,
and
then
she
did
her
master's
degree,
which
she
just
graduated
last
month
with
an
historic
preservation
from
ursuline
college,
and
she
is
now
employed
full-time
as
an
admissions
agent
mission.
Counselor.
That.
B
Well,
thank
you
everyone
for
being
here
tonight.
You
know
it's
really
wonderful,
to
see
so
much
interest
in
came
Park
a
little
bit
more
about
me
and
how
I
found
cain
park,
I'm,
not
from
the
Cleveland
area
and
so
I'd
really
never
heard
of
King
park
and
didn't
know
anything
about
it.
My
first
experience
at
came
park
was
sledding
with
some
friends
in
the
winter
and
eventually
I
returned
years
later
to
the
art
festival,
and
at
that
point
I
was
looking
for
a
project
for
one
of
my
classes
and
realized.
Wow.
This
place
is
amazing.
B
B
B
Cleveland
Heights
was
first
incorporated
as
a
village.
Yes,
Cleveland
Heights
was
first
incorporated
as
a
village
in
1903.
It
officially
became
a
city
in
1921,
but
really
the
history
of
Cleveland
Heights
began
long
before
then
pioneers
first
began
to
settle
the
air
area
in
the
early
1900s.
At
that
time
the
area
was
still
very
primitive,
but
Sedlar
stayed
because
of
the
rich
fertile
soil
and
the
ease
of
corryong
considering
Cleveland
was
established
in
1836.
It
is
surprising
to
realize
that
the
land
adjacent
to
the
city
was
not
really
developed
until
much
later.
B
Cleveland's
population
grew
rapidly
towards
the
end
of
the
19th
century
and
the
metropolitan
police
became
crowded
and
dirty
the
proper
prosperous
families
of
the
day
decided
to
build
summer
homes
away
from
the
dirt.
The
noise,
in
order
to
escape
the
industry
taken
over
the
city,
Clevelanders
began
pushing
East
and
first
established
millionaires
row
along
Euclid
Avenue,
but
they
continued
to
push
East
as
the
city
of
Cleveland
continued
to
grow
from
1890
onward.
B
Cleveland
Heights
would
be
known
as
the
streetcar
suburb
advances
in
technology,
such
as
the
streetcar
made
commuting
to
cleveland
city
center,
much
easier
for
suburban
Knights,
Cleveland
Heights
flourished
as
a
streetcar
suburb
and
was
home
to
many
prominent
clevelanders,
including
john
d
rockefeller.
Over
time,
Cleveland
Heights
experienced
several
phases
of
growth
and
decline.
The
growing
community
of
a
Cleveland
Heights
officially
became
a
hamlet
in
1901.
B
Later
the
state
phased
out.
This
designation
and
in
1903
the
hamlet
of
Cleveland
Heights,
became
the
village
of
Cleveland
Heights.
At
this
time
there
were
about
fifteen
hundred
residents
in
the
village
that
can
continue
to
grow
during
this
time
of
growth.
Cleveland
Heights
had
one
Mayor
Frank
C
Cain
Cain
retain
this
position
of
Mayor
for
a
record
32
years
he
was
elected
in
1914
after
serving
on
the
village
council.
B
Mayor
Kane
was
a
very
strong
influence
throughout
the
city
and
was
reelected
18
times
during
his
last
election
in
1946,
Cain
received
eighty-one
percent
of
the
votes
during
his
tenure
Cleveland
Heights
established
the
mayor
city
manager,
style
of
government,
adopted
Ohio's
first
zoning
laws
and
replaced
the
streetcar
lines
with
express
bus
routes.
Frank's
cane
became
known
as
a
political
force
to
be
reckoned
with.
B
Mayor
Kane
was
such
a
strong
force
behind
the
establishment
of
the
city's
park
system
that
he
even
convinced
the
Rockefellers
to
donate
part
of
our
estate
to
create
more
parkland
in
Cleveland
Heights.
Later
his
influence
would
also
extend
to
the
small
park
between
Lee
Road
and
taylor,
road
between
1910
in
1940,
the
population
of
Cleveland
Heights,
skyrocketed
from
3,000
people
to
55,000
residents
in
1921,
Cleveland
Heights
officially
received
city
status
and
was
incorporated.
August
ninth
1921.
B
During
the
60s,
the
population
peaked
at
16
or
60
1,000
residents.
Cleveland
Heights
emerged
as
a
racially
economic
and
ethnic
ethnically
diverse
city.
Through
the
trend,
though,
the
transition
was
not
easy.
Blockbusting
was
rampant
throughout
the
area
and
longtime
citizens
felt
threatened
by
the
changes.
Racial
tensions
and
riots
affected.
The
heights
and
change
was
slow
to
come.
B
Cleveland
Heights
continues
to
be
predominantly
a
residential
community,
with
seventy-six
percent
of
the
land
dedicated
to
residential
purposes.
Currently
over
46,000
people
call
Cleveland
Heights
home.
What
once
began
as
wealthy
white.
Suburban
village
is
now
I
diversity
that
posts
over
135
acres
of
park
lands
throughout
their
six
city
parks.
B
Cleveland
Heights
was
always
looking
to
be
at
the
cutting
edge
of
social
and
technological
innovation.
The
creation
of
public
parks
in
Cleveland
Heights
presented
the
perfect
opportunity
to
showcase
how
forward-thinking
the
city
was
especially
considering.
Creating
public
green
space
was
a
new
idea
and
it
was
a
growing
priority
for
city
planners
and
city
politicians.
B
Originally
parks
did
not
serve
any
purpose
beyond
space
later
park,
design
change
to
accommodate
specific
purposes
and
in
1906
the
national
recreation
association
was
founded.
They
realized
that
only
41
cities
had
public
playgrounds
within
25
years.
That
number
would
grow
to
over
1000
cities
with
playgrounds,
public
swimming
pools,
tennis
courts
and
other
recreational
facilities.
B
Another
important
movement
to
Kane
park
is
the
little
theater
or
summer
stock
theater
movement.
Before
the
summer
stock,
theater
movement
theatre
was
largely
based
on
its
European
counterparts.
This
movement
was
was
really
the
first
of
its
kind.
It
was
a
purely
American
movement
within
the
Performing
Arts
it
orig,
its
origins
can
be
traced
to
the
1910s
at
vacation
resorts,
particularly
the
Providence
town
wharf
theatre
and
Cape
Cod
Massachusetts
shown
here
from
here.
The
movement
spread
throughout
the
country
into
hundreds
of
small
towns
proving
to
be
both
an
artistic
and
financial
success.
B
Although
the
term
summer
stock
has
been
loosely
employed
to
refer
to
any
summertime
entertainment,
technically
speaking,
it
refers
to
the
residential
troupe
of
actors
and
other
stage
professionals
presenting
a
number
of
different
plays,
weekly
or
bi-weekly,
either
in
permanent
house
or
on
tour
between
the
months
of
june.
In
September,
these
theater
companies
were
found
predominantly
in
rural
sections
of
northeastern
United
States
from
Maine
to
Virginia
and
as
far
west
as
Pennsylvania
to
service
vacationers.
B
At
the
newly
developed
middle
and
working-class
resorts
of
the
1920s
and
the
1930s
pretty
much
wherever
city
dwellers
would
go
to
escape.
The
heat
was
where
you
would
find
a
summer
stock
theater,
most
theaters
played
once
a
week
stock,
offering
a
different
play
every
week,
with
seasons,
usually
ranging
between
eight
weeks
to
14
or
15
weeks.
B
For
many
people
summer,
stock
theaters
were
their
first
opportunity
to
witness
professional
theatre
productions
as
America's,
first
truly
regional
theater
movement
and
had
a
major
effect
on
the
cultural,
economic
and
sociological
development
of
the
United
States.
Each
theater
was
a
unique
operation.
It
reflected
the
personalities
and
interests
of
the
producing
artists
and
it's
supporting
community
between
1930s
and
the
1960s
summer
stock
theaters
were
the
leading
employer
of
theater
professionals
in
the
country.
B
Not
only
did
these
theaters
provide
employment
for
professional
actors,
there
was,
it
was
also
a
place
for
amateur
artists
to
build
their
resume,
establish
a
reputation
and
hone
their
skills.
Additionally,
local
economies
flourished
due
to
play
goers
and
their
business
that
they
brought
to
local
restaurants
and
hotels.
B
Even
in
Cleveland
Plain
Dealer,
you
will
find
old
newspaper
ads
advertising
rooms
for
rent
in
Cleveland
Heights
for
the
khaid
Park
actors,
who
are
here
for
the
summer
summer,
stock
theaters
became
tourist
destinations
that
helped
build
local
economies.
Before
and
after
the
Great
Depression
the
summer
stock.
Theater
movement
ended
its
heyday
in
the
early
1960s,
mainly
due
to
the
advent
of
the
television.
B
During
the
Golden
Age
of
the
summer
stock
theatre
movement,
diner
Rhys
Evans
began
her
exploration
of
theater
through
a
scholarly
lens
Evans
was
born
jun
19
1891
in
Chicago.
She
received
her
bachelor's
degree
from
the
University
of
South
Dakota
during
the
1920s
language
in
Montana,
while
pursuing
her
graduate
degree
at
the
University
of
Iowa
Evans
earned
her
master's
degree
from
this
University
of
Iowa
in
1929.
After
completing
her
thesis,
she
came
to
cleveland
heights
in
the
1930s
to
research,
a
theory
for
her
PhD
dissertation
entitled
influences
of
dramatic
training
upon
the
personality.
B
She
believed
that
theatre
education
helped
make
dramatic
transformations
in
students,
attitudes
and
social
behaviors,
as
well
as
help
them
succeed
in
other
areas.
She
proved
her
theory
earned
her
doctorate
in
1932,
thus
giving
her
the
honor
of
holding
the
first
doctorate
granted
for
theater
in
the
u.s.
B
B
She
hastily
dubbed
it
came
park
after
Mayor
Frank
Cain
immediately
mare,
kain
proposed
an
amphitheatre
complex,
be
built
in
kane
park,
but
there
was
one
major
issue:
the
great
depression
being
1934.
It
was
right
in
the
middle
of
the
longest
financial
depression.
This
country
has
seen
today
high
unemployment
rates
and
drastic
unemployment
rates
led
to
very
trying
times
for
the
United
States,
with
unemployment
over
twenty
percent.
Many
families
were
unsure
about
their
future.
In
order
to
combat
this
Frank
D
Frank,
dear
L,
President
Roosevelt
established
the
work
Progress
Administration
fun
or
the
WPA
in
1933.
B
Many
people
in
Cleveland
Heights
were
not
supportive
of
the
project,
including
the
City
Council,
who,
nicknamed
the
project
Cain's
folly.
Despite
this
Kane
was
anything
but
to
turn.
He
personally
contracted
local
merchants
to
strike
deals
for
materials
and
personally
paid
for
portions
of
the
project.
For
example,
the
City
Council
was
unwilling
to
pay
for
drawing
plans
or
model
of
the
amphitheatre
complex,
so
Kane
paid
for
these
himself
with
help
from
Russell
Hector
and
an
engineer
student
Case
Western.
Who
would
happen
to
be
the
son
of
the
supervisor
for
all
the
veteran
workers?
B
B
B
Secondhand
brooks
were
used
that
were
left
over
from
other
city
projects
or
bought
from
demolition
crews
at
discounted
rates,
though
the
county
Cuyahoga
County
soldiers
and
sailors,
Relief
Commission
became
park
project
employed
anywhere
from
15
to
200,
partially
disabled
veterans
during
each
of
its
phases.
Averring
averaging
about
20
workers
daily
with
no
cost
to
the
city
for
their
labor.
B
Not
only
did
they
build
the
amphitheater
and
the
surrounding
buildings,
they
helped
plant
thousands
of
trees
and
shrubs
donated
from
John
Dee
Rockefellers
estate
forest
hill
over
5000,
shrubs
and
trees
were
moved
from
the
estate's
nursery
to
the
part,
with
the
help
of
the
WPA,
but
before
any
construction
could
begin,
workers
first
had
to
fill
in
the
creek
that
was
running
through
the
middle
of
the
park,
which
this
picture
illustrates
them.
Working
on
that
project.
B
B
Experts
have
estimated
it
couldn't
have
been
built
less
for
seventy-five
thousand
dollars
came
park
would
later
be
recognized
as
one
of
the
first
municipal
owned
and
operated
amphitheaters
in
the
country
after
the
park
was
complete.
Mayor
Kane
asked
doc,
Evans,
here's
your
theater.
What
are
you
going
to
do
with
it?
She
replied
I
think
we
should
be
a
community
theater
which
will
provide
dramatic
training
for
the
youth
and
inexpensive
entertainment
for
the
adults.
Doc
Evans
kept
her
word
and
maintained
this
focus
during
her
20
years
as
Kane
Park
director.
B
The
park
was
dedicated
on
August
10th
1938
at
the
dedication
American
said.
Cleveland
Heights
is
something
unique
in
a
theater.
There
are
plenty
of
outdoor
summer
theaters
opera
courses
in
open
air,
but
a
theater
owned
and
operated
by
the
city
for
the
benefit
of
its
own
citizens
is
without
precedent.
We
are
actually
making
history
here
tonight.
B
The
first
production
was
selected
so
that
a
large
number
of
community
members
could
participate
in
the
production
the
1938
season
opened
with
the
Warriors
husband.
It
continued
with
three
other
productions.
The
following
years
in
1939,
the
season
featured
eight
different
productions,
doubling
their
previous
season
with
mayor
Kane,
promising
to
subsidize
the
park
for
five
years.
The
following
years
were
a
time
of
growth
and
exploration
for
the
park
and
its
staff.
B
B
During
the
1940s
theatrical
seasons
average
about
ten
weeks
and
included,
adult
plays
and
musicals
as
well
as
children's
performances.
As
stated
in
da
Kevin's
book,
the
educational
aspects
of
the
theatre
continued
increase
importance.
There
was
much
more
in
came
Park
Theatre
than
the
physical
plan
and
production
every
phase
of
the
theater
was
operated
from
the
educational
as
well
as
the
entertainment
standpoint.
Our
policy
was
to
welcome
talented
young
people
who
are
studying
the
arts
of
the
theatre
in
the
colleges
and
universities
of
America.
B
As
a
result,
a
remarkable
collection
of
professionally
trained
men
and
women
brought
a
continued
continually
renewed
vitality
to
our
productions.
In
1941,
the
season
expanded
29
seats,
nine
weeks
with
attendance,
increasing
dramatically
over
sixty
three
thousand
people
attended
performances
and
they
were
able
to
boast
that
cane
Park
theater
was
financially
self-sufficient.
In
only
four
years.
A
lot
of
change
has
seen
the
following
years.
On
December
7th
1941,
Pearl
Harbor
was
attacked
the
following
day.
The
United
States
formally
entered
world
war
two
and
the
u.s.
was
changed
instantly.
B
All
aspects
of
life,
including
entertainment
at
came
part,
were
affected.
Their
staff
decreased
sufficient
significantly
as
young
men
enlisted
and
left
for
war.
Rationing
also
made
set
design,
lighting
and
costume
difficult
for
productions.
Despite
the
difficulties
cain
park
remained
open
serving
as
a
distraction
for
participants
and
spectators
alike.
B
B
During
the
1950's
cain
park,
theater
shifted
its
focus
from
community
theater,
two
more
semi-professional
productions,
although
she
continued
her
work
with
the
children's
theater.
1950
was
doc
Evans
final
year
as
the
parks
executive
director
in
1953
attendance
hit
a
record
high
of
over
100,000
attendees.
B
B
Across
the
nation,
theaters
were
struggling
in
hopes
of
sparking
more
interest
in
khane
Park
local
private
interest
groups
organized
concerts
even
with
big
names
like
Bob
Hope,
Sammy,
Davis,
jr.,
Harry,
Belafonte
and
Johnny
Mathis.
These
concerts
were
not
enough
to
bring
prosperity
back
to
cain
park,
while
the
main
stage
may
have
been
struggling.
The
children's
theater
program
was
still
a
very
strong
and
active
program
on
the
oma
theater
stage.
A
few
pictures
of
the
children's
theater.
B
B
Discussions
throughout
the
city
were
held
to
determine
what
to
do
with
the
park.
There
was
talk
about
demolishing
the
theater
complex
in
order
to
build
a
new
city
hall,
but
thankfully
that
proposal
was
not
successful,
mainly
because
the
public
still
had
high
hopes
to
revitalize
the
theater
in
1968
the
theater
portions
of
the
park
reopened.
The
new
attraction
would
be
dancing
under
the
stars.
The
6600
square
foot
stage
was
transformed
into
a
dance
floor
with
seating
for
over
300
people.
B
During
these
weekly
events,
big
band
music
was
performed
by
local
and
regional
favorites,
while
patrons
danced
on
the
stage
during
dance
intermission.
They
would
also
project
lyrics
on
a
large
screen
and
held
community
sing.
Alongs
two
songs,
such
as
school
days,
bicycle
built
for
two
and
ain't
she
sweet
after
seeing
the
popularity
of
dancing
under
the
stars,
weekly
attendance
averaging
about
1100
people
came
park,
instituted
rock-and-roll
fridays
for
the
teenagers,
the
friday
night
version
featured
live
bands
as
well.
B
While
these
weekly
events
were
popular
in
1968
attendance
was
dismal
at
the
two
performances
of
oklahoma.
The
only
production
of
the
season.
The
cane
park
staff
decided
that
stage
productions
from
then
on
would
be
held
on
the
smaller,
almost
theater
versus
the
large
Evan
seer.
It
would
be
over
ten
years
until
the
Evans,
the
theater
stage,
would
host
another
production.
B
One
of
the
highlights
from
the
1960s
was
the
addition
of
the
art
gallery
to
Kane
part.
The
former
children's
theatre
office
building,
which
is
pictured
here,
was
adapted
to
a
gallery
and
studio
space.
The
next
year,
free
arts
classes
were
offered
to
the
public
through
the
art
gallery,
further
expanding
the
parks,
reputation
as
the
Center
for
the
Arts
and
a
few
pictures.
B
The
same
trends
continued
into
the
1970s:
it
wasn't
until
nineteen
seventy-four.
When
a
group
of
community
minded
citizen
formed
the
cane
park,
art
cain
park,
theatre
association,
they
began
raising
funds
to
bring
back
live
theater
to
the
main
stage
and
to
expand
the
Alma
theater
season.
Another
goal
of
the
group
was
to
improve
the
facilities
of
the
theaters,
while
also
helping
the
new
art
gallery
grow.
At
this
time,
the
back
two-thirds
of
seating
in
the
ovens
theater
was
removed.
In
order
to
add
the
lawn
area.
B
The
city
of
Cleveland
Heights
recognized
the
importance
of
king
park
and
declared
it
a
local
landmark
in
1977
in
1978
king
park
hosted
its
first
annual
cain
park
arts
festival.
Eventually,
this
event
would
grow
drawing
artists
from
all
around
the
country
to
the
juried
show.
Today,
over
65,000
people,
I
spend
the
festival
annually
a.
B
Final
push
towards
revitalization
happen
in
1979,
the
movie
those
lips.
Those
eyes
was
filmed
in
came
park.
The
film
centered
around
David
shavers
memories
of
working
at
came
park,
while
growing
up
in
Cleveland
Heights.
A
summary
of
the
movie
is
as
follows:
Cleveland
1951,
pre-med
student,
Artie,
shoemakers
dreams,
not
so
much
of
medical
career,
but
a
life
of
the
theater
against
the
wishes
of
his
working-class
parents.
B
B
The
following
years
would
witness
a
rebirth
of
cain
park.
Theatre
new
seating
was
installed
in
a
nineteen
eighty,
the
first
major
theatrical
production
was
held
on
the
main
stage.
More
renovations
happened
in
1988
effort
after
a
bond
issue
was
passed.
This
allowed
for
a
five
million
dollar
renovation
of
the
park
through
the
1989
renovations
care
was
taken
to
maintain
the
historic
integrity
of
the
buildings
throughout
the
park.
The
cleveland
architectural
firm
of
Van
Dyke
Johnson
&
Partners,
was
hired
to
design
the
canopy
that
now
covers
at
the
oven
cedar.
B
B
B
Kane
Park
has
become
known
as
Cleveland
Heights
summer
art
park.
The
parks
reputation
only
continues
to
grow
according
to
their
website.
King
park
attracted
aspiring
young
talents
such
as
Broadway
music,
director
Jack
Lee
producer,
Ross
hunter
and
the
actors
Hal
Holbrook
Dom,
DeLuise,
Carol,
Kane
jack
lesson
and
Pernell
Roberts,
who
performed
on
sets
designed
by
nationally
acclaimed
industrial
artists,
Victor
strongest
among
others
came
park
is
a
unique
entity
da
Kevin
states.
The
theater
would
be
where
citizens,
ship
and
education
meet
and
the
theater
assumed
a
dynamic
center
for
community
life.
B
He
will
set
celebrate
its
seventy-fifth
anniversary
in
August
this
year.
Performances
plan
for
the
summer
include
Amy,
Grant,
Kris,
Kristofferson,
Weird,
Al
Yankovic
and
local
favorites,
including
Michael
Stanley,
big,
bad
voodoo,
daddy
and
Michael
McDonald.
Additionally,
they
will
also
have
their
arts
festival.
In
conclusion,
cain
park
is
more
than
just
an
amphitheater.
Its
unique
history
and
unchanged
focus
has
made
this
place
noteworthy.
B
More
importantly,
came
Park
has
changed
the
lives
of
thousands
of
people,
the
actors
performing
onstage
college
students
during
internships,
the
stage
hands
behind
the
scenes.
The
families
said
sledding
down
the
hills,
the
children
attending
the
children's
theatre,
school
and
local
sitting
in
the
seats.
No
1
summarizes
it
better
than
a
former
cain
park
student.
If
one
sits
in
the
main
amphitheater
those
voices
from
the
past
echo
around
the
natural
ravine,
where
the
theater
was
built,
the
visions
of
the
former
actors,
the
bright
lights,
the
beautiful
costumes,
the
dances,
the
sound
of
the
music.