St. Johnsbury Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-1920, 1920-07-28
ECHOES OF THE
Community
CHAUTAUQUA
Slight Deficit for Guaran-
tors, but Larger Number
Pledge for Next Year

The ~ guarant0rS OF the Chau-
tauoua which recently entertained
large audiences from St. Johnsbury
and vicinity will soon be called to-
gether to pay for the second consecu-
tive season the deficit in the affair.
The trouble arises from the fact that
st. JOhnsbur"' nconle do not sub
scribe to 500 season tickets before
the circuit comes here. As explained
by +. b. jacques at the last evening
performance the guarantors of the
Chautauqua are asked to guarantee
500 course tickets or $1,000. 1t is
further provided in the contract
that the first $50 of the gate re-
ceipts goes to the local organization.
The Community Chautauqua takes
the next $3.50 of the daily receipts.
If the Chautauqua is fortunate
enough to get any more money at
the door the division then is on Il
$3.50 basis between the Chautauqua
and local management. 1t is likely
this is the same arrangement made
with other communities and in some
towns in Vermont the local organi
zatons made u little money and in
one case they lost so much that it
was decided not to hold another one
next year.
To the criticism that the Chau
tauqua management holds the bag
and has the Jug while the local OF
canization gets the handle, the
Chautauqua bureau says they must
have guarantee in order to justify
them in making contracts with their
talent in the winter season. They
say that it is up to the local organiza-
tion to sell the 500 course tickets and
call attention to one town this sum-
mer that natronized the course so
well that the local committee turned
over to their hospital the handsome
sum of $400.
The local management are sure
that If the st. Johnsbulv people un-
derstoOd that 500 course tickets
must be sold they would be more
ready to subscribe when they had
chance. But instead MANY buy
single tickets that do not help the
local management at all because all
above the first $50 up to $3.50 go to
the Chautnuqua corporation. Many
paid more for single admissions at
The last St. Johnsbury Chautauqua
than they could have bought course
tickets for, thinking that they were
helpin the local syndicate.
Since the Chautauqua closed the
names of so ~uarantors have been
secured who will try and sell 500
course tickets for the 1921 series of
entertainments The Chautauqua
will come here with the big tent and
their own equipment, and while they
do not usually have the same talent
the second year it is expected that
DR. Violctte, the best of their lectur-
ers. will be here another season.
The Chautauqua people also lost
money here this season as their cX-
penses for the week were $1,000.
They had several tents up ut one
timo and the artists made the cir
cult in zone night stands. The
jump TO Knowlton was Il particularly
hard one as the ladies had to leave
St. Johns. ry on The early morning
ira n and II eli ride eight miles he
fore breakfast TO their destination.
TIE "'cn Chaut;tr. IN. by the
way, was very successful ara in q
Little town Of 1900 peop,e over one
Il I'd Of tn" population attended
the enter .;:.lnerts. Af,c' :hn closing
performance .0r men volunteered to
>i:;n q @ .:.r. Gtcc ~ sal! 5ll tickets
f)r next SEASONS Circui.