Evening star., 1950-11-23
Amphitheater
Renamed for
Carter Barron.
Truman Suggests
Action as Tribute
To Civic Leader

The Sesquicentennial Amphi-
theater in Rock Creek Park, where
the Faith of Our Fathers" drama
was staged last summer, has been
renamed the Carter T. Barron
Amphitheater in memory of the
man who had so much to do with
its creation.
Interior Secretary Chapman, In
making the announcement last
night, disclosed that President
Truman had suggested this Cap
ital memorial to honor not only
Mr.. Barron's contributions to the
Sesquicentennial Commission, but
to dozens of other civic activities
here. Mr.. Barron, who was East
ern division manager of Loew's
Theaters. died here last week.
1t is hoped a marker will be
set in place near the entrance
gates to the amphitheater when
they are constructed, Mr.. Chap
man said, to honor the former
executive vice chairman of the
Sesquicentennial Commission A
rededication of the amphitheater
is planned for the spring.
Memorial to Barron.
"It is fitting that the amphi-
theater which is the keystone of
the Sesquicentennial celebration
be named in honor of Carter T.
Barron, who more than any other
person, was responsible for its
construction.
President Truman discussed
the matter with me and declared
that, because of Mr.. Barron's
great contributions to the Ses-
Quicentennial and because of his
other outstanding activities in
behalf of the Capital community,
it is fitting that a permanent
memorial be established in his
honor.
Garter Barron, despite his ILL
ness, had worked long and hard
on the Sesquicentennial project
and was particularly interested in
the construction and completion
Of the amphitheater. He had
great plans for the establishment
OF a series of outstanding patriotic
pageants such as Paul Green's
Faith of Our Fathers and his
great talents as one of the Ma
tion's foremost theatrical figures
would have been used to make
the amphitheater a national CEN
ter, had death not halted his
career"
Earlier yesterday President
Truman named Melvin D. Hill
dreth to succeed Mr.. Barron as
vice chairman of the commission.
Mr.. Hildreth, an attorney here,
has been active in Democratic
Party affairs for 35 years. He
served as general chairman of the
Inaugural Committee last year.
Rededication Program.
Mr.. Chapman said civic, thea
trical and Government leaders
will be invited to take part in the
rededication program. The am
phitheater. the only permanent
structure to come out of Sesqui-
centennial funds voted by Con-
gress. was dedicated to the public
by Mr.. Truman on August 4.
The change in name, it was
said, has the approval of the Ses-
quicentennial Commission. That
group had felt that since the am
phitheater was to be a permanent
part of the National Capital Parks
system, it should have a name
other than the one by which it
was known throughout the past
year.
The amphitheater was built in
cooperation with the Interior
Department and the National
Capital Parks Office. Mr.. Chap
man granted the Sesquicentennial
Commission permission to use the
site in Rock Creek Park on No
vember 6, 1949. The Interior
Secretary broke ground for it on
December II, at which time he
visualized its use by all persons
of every race, color and creed.
President and Mrs. Truman and
Miss Margaret Truman attended
the opening of the theater on Au-
gust 4. Mr.. Barron escorted
the presidential family to their
seats.