Evening star., 1937-10-10
By Thomas J. Culhaue.


r TAvING spent some II years
of our life in beautiful Rose
Valley of Pennsylvania, in the
4 L shadow of the Hedgerow The
ater, which playhouse has produced
some of our leading actors and
actresses of stage and screen, we were
naturally curious when we heard
Washington playgoers discussing, with
animation. the type of performances
being produced by a group of thes-
plans at the Barter Theater, in Alb
tngdon, Va.
Assuming this was but short ride
out OF washington, we decided to
drive over one evening, but in seeking
the proper directions from the man at
the gas station. We learned with
sstonlshment that it was exactly 800
miles to the town of Abingdon.
We postponed our trip for that par
tlcular evening, but, nothing daunted.
We resolved to visit the Barter The
ster or bust. If the stage-loving peo-
pie of Washington are wont to travel
this distance, which is we'll over twice
the mileage to the Hedgerow The
ater, to witness these future Barry
mores, Mansfields and Mantells in ac-
tlon, We thought we could also well
afford such trip. And what happy
thought it was!
Hence our weekend journey to the
historic little hamlet of Abingdon.
1t has been just four years since
Robert Porterfield. a young Virginian.
who had left his fathers farm to seek
his fortune behind the footlights on
Broadway, arrived in Abingdon, Va,
with 81 actors, a dollar in cash. and
an idea which several New York the
atrical producers had advised him
was absurd.
THE year previous Mr.. Porterfield
had been touring his native State,
playing with Walter Hampden in
"Cyrano de Bergerac" On all sides
he heard people bewailing the fact
that they had more produce than they
could possibly sell. and then and there
he conceived the idea of. starting
Summer theater in Virginia where
admissions would be paid, not in cash.
but IN produce, which would keep
some of his talented actor friends
from literally starving to death"
Upon his return to New York he
explained his thought to several pro-
ducers. the majority of whom simply
laughed and said. The idea is swell.
but not practical"
A few. however, took him seriously.
Chief among these were Jane Cowl
John Golden and Austin Strong Not
only did these people give Robert Por-
terfleld the encouragement he needed.
but they took him to the Authors
League in New York City and there
final plans for the Barter Theater
were finally worked out.
The Authors League agreed that
Porterfield could pay a royalty of one
Virginia ham for any play he wished
TO produce. In return PCrterfield
agreed that the Barter Theater should
be -profit-making institution.
and that any profit that might be
made would be turned over to the
Authors League relief fund.
The first Barter Theater Co. took
residence in the vacant Martha Wash
ington College Building, in Abingdon.
In June, 1888. Including Mr.. Porter
field, there were just % persons-act-
prs, directors and technicians All
were a trif1e worried as to how their
enterprise was going to fare, for they
had hardly money enough among
them to provide food for the week
which was to precede their first per-
formance, and should that turn out to
be a flop how in the world would
they get back to New York? For
tunately, the first show was not a
failure, as the populace of Abingdon
and its environs took kindly to the
idea of bringing surplus produce in
return for an evenings entertain
ment.
THROUGHOUT the first season two
performances were given weekly
In the old Abingdon Opera House,
across the street from Martha WASH
hgton College. These performances
were so successful that when the sea-
son ended Porterfield found himself
Sitting pretty with the huge profit
of just S430 in cash and two barrels
of jellies and jams, all of which was
promptly sent to the Authors League
relief fund in New York City.
During the second season the enter
prising Barter Players Jared even bet
ter, and the authors relief fund prof
tied to the extent of SIS in cash and
produce.
Commencing the third season the
Barter Theater moved from the
Martha Washington to the vacant
Stonewall Jackson Seminary for Wom-
en-, and this is now their present home.
Here they found the additional ad-
vantage of their own auditorium.
which they soon equipped through the
kind gifts of Antoinette Perry and
other New York producers.
The present Barter Theater is one
OF the most complete Summer theater
colonies in the United States. Men,
bers OF the troupe live in what once
were the seminary dormitories. They
enjoy their own dining room and
NllNAiCll, a SOulPiClC lllCdIci WlbIl III eSS-
Ing rooms, adequate rehearsal rooms
and their own workshop-the former
gymnasum-in which the scenery for
all their productions is designed and
painted.
A 65-acre campus, which includes
q nine-hole golf course, swimming
pool and several tennis courts, pro-
vides splendid recreational facilities.
THE company has now been in
creased to IS actors and actresses,
three directors, three scenic artists,
technical director and a press depart
nlent. This increase is principally
due to the barter system of touring.
Not satisfied with having brought New
Work playS with prOfeSSionpl ocfOrS