Evening star., 1953-02-25
By John v. Horner

By John V. Horner
When Gov. Douglas Mckay
left Oregon to become Secretary
OF the Interior, he didn't know
he'd soon be in the middle of a
sizzling community controversy
in Washington, D. C.
Yet. just a month after joining
the cabinet, Secretary Mckay
must decide a local issue that's
bound to make a lot of people
mad.
The question is this: Shall
private concerns be permitted
to rent the Carter Barron Am
phitheater in Rock Creek Park
for the nightly production of
summertime entertainment pro-
grams?
Insofar as the Sixteenth Street
Highlands Citizens Association
is concerned, the answer is an
emphatic moi"
Insofar as some of their neigh
bors are concerned, opinions
vary.
And the people who want to
rent the open-air theater are con-
vinced Secretary Mckay should
rule in their favor. In this case,
the trouble is there are two
bidders.
Congress spent about $500, 900
developing the 4.O00-seat amphi-
theater in a beautiful part of the
park near Sixteenth street and
Colorado avenue NV. At
first it was under control of
the Washington Sesquicentennial
Commission, which, in 1850 and
1851. produced the historical
pageant, Faith of Our Fathers"
Control of the amphitheater
passed entirely to the National
Park Service of the Interior De-
partment when the Sesquicen-
tennial Commission wound up
it's affairs last year.
For a short time in the sum-
mer Of 1952-over the protest
of some residents-a company
owned by Irwin and Israel Field
rented the Carter Barron Am
phitheater to present the Ballet
Russo.
The Field brothers. who oper-
ate under the name of Super
Attractions, jumped at the In
terror Departments offer to rent
the theater for the entire 1853
summer season-June, July and
August.
But, so also, did Washington
Festival, Inc. This is a new COM
pany, headed by actress Con-
stance Bennett and Garvin E.
Tankersley. formerly an editor
at the Washington Times-Her-
aid.
The Interior Department plan
is to charge the producer $50 a
night and percentage of gross
receipts. The producer must pay
for various services provided by
the Government.
The determining factors in
awarding the contract will be
the percentage of gross receipts
guaranteed the Government and
the nature of the programs to
be offered.
Edward j. Kelly, superintend-
ent of National Capital Parks,
pointed out that Congress gave
the Sesquicentennial Commits
sion authority to use public
lands; the commission selected
the Rock Creek Park site.
I'VE Cat the Interior Depart
ment) had nothing to do with
that" said Mr.. Kelly. 1--WE SIM
ply inherited it.
Congress spent over $500, 900
on the amphitheater project. It's
inconceivable that it did not in
tend the theater to be used"
Mr.. Kelly said the Interior
Department is urging producers
at the Carter Barron Amphi-
theater to aim for an II pm.
final curtain. He thinks this
would cut down on late disturb
ance. He said the department
will insist on high-claSs enter
tainment.
But John F. Hillyard, an attor-
ney representing residents of
the community, is waging a stiff
fight against commercial produc-
tions in the amphitheater.
Congress never intended the
commercialization of the amphi-
theater," he wrote Secretary Nc
Kay. In view of his objections,
the Secretary's Office has agreed
to defer a decision until the citi-
zens get a hearing.
In his letter of February S. Mr..
Hillyard said, in part:
"The amphitheater is located
adjacent to strictly residential
section Of Washington. in which
only detached houses can be
built. The homes are large and
beautiful and some of them rep
resent an investment Of 500. .00o
or more.
"It is impossible to obtakn a