Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10
Chantanqua Passes.

was drawn into the struggle, returned British
and Canadian soldier were called TO the plat
form to tell of conditions In France and to help
stiffen the morale at home and build up ma
tional sentiment.
Today the lecturers include students Of inter-
national politics and finance, speakers ON
crime conditions on municipal nnance, ON
problems of government In snort, tine
Chautauqua platform has in the past and staH
does reflect current interests.
But in the past the Chautauqua was the COM
mon peoples forum; today 1t must hight fcf
that honor with dozen rivals. And IL Is .
losing fight Always run on a narrow margin,
the Chautauqua has suffered heavily from in
creasing costs. Even the physical trappings
have risen enormously in price. Canvas costs
have double. Advertising prices are from two
to i've times what they once were. Living costs
have made salary increases for crew help es-
ser1tial The growth of the radio has put O
new premium on worthwhile lecturers and
entertainers.
The greatest blow to the Chautauqua, how
ever was the radio. Overnight it became pos
sible for the most isolated families to have
year-round programs of music and lectures
music by the most famous bands and orchestras
and lectures by every one from the President
down in their own homes. Furthermore,
should the lecturer become tresome, twiSf'of
the Cials brought in another speaker, or an
orchestra, or grand opera. or q vaudeville Sklts
even prize fight.
The other blow to Chautauqua was COM
pound one delivered by one of ChautauQua's
best friends and one of Chautauqua's indomi-
table enemies. That was the lure of the notion
picture show assisted by the growing network
Of good roads and the automobiles that used
them. Whereas the automobile once carried
the crowds from miles around to attend Chau-
tauqua, it later began to carry them to the
1nYyfa no Yli0f QUaG
perfected. SlapStiek comedies gave way to bet
ter-cIass films. NewSreels became something
to conjure with
Then the movie and the radio combined.
The talking pictures resulted. And here, at last.
was the final blow needed to complete the down.
fall of the platform lecturer. In one film o
lecturer could record speech that would sway
SO, 900 600 persons Without moving from the
studio he could reach every hamlet with voice,
gesture and reflected personality. month
after an important event a national hgur0'a
opinions on it could be heard in every movie
house in America. More than that, it tooh
the musical comedies and the best dramas q
Broadway into the isolated districts. Smak
casts presenting abbreviated versions OF stand
ard plays from Chautauqua platforms no longek
need constitute the countrymans whole dra-
matte fare.
THUS the cycle of the Chautauqua approaches
= its close. Founded on the banks of .
beautiful New York lake as a means OF religious
education. it became the Nations entertain
ment. 1t carried culture and learning to the
farm communities. Now it is giving way to
new developments, to science. Once 1t was
the last word In entertainment; now 1t Is be-
coming a back number.
But to those who grew up on Chautauqua
there is sadness in its passing 1t was an
institution of tremendous influence. Its Swiss
Bell Ringers gave an inkling of the music OF
other lands It's William Jennings RrvanS took
political idealism to the common people.