The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-09-05
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR LOST coLoNY's FUTURE

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR LOST coLoNY's FUTURE
The diminishing at The Lost Colony has for
sometime been subject of to those interests VINO
economic stake the prosperity of the show After
of patronage that haven't been all they
ought to be- wake up and find plan, to not
only give the show shot in the but to get it
lished steady nourshing and more dependable diet
than comes after barely than the local announce
that going to open and going to close on certain
dates.
What too manv of us have failed to realize that the
Lost Colony years now has been in actual COM
petition with numerous other outdoor dramas What 100
many of us fail that project which merely holds
its own with about the volume OF patronage year al
year. really not holding its own but it is going behind
ANY enterprise doesn't show sharp increases from
year really not sound business because an increase
volume essential to offset steadily rising costs OF any
operation.
At first it was considered temporary setback when
The Lost Colony showed dropoff in attendance as COM
offered I to explain away this loss by saying there was bad
weather the show got raned out and it hadn't ramed
it would have patrons than the before The
of rain is one Of the contingencies that must be
considered in attempting to increase anticipated revenue Tor
any attraction.
gan report that all other outdoor dramas also dsap
pointed Business all of them has been slack this season.
we are told learn this also in the face of the established
fact that while attendance The Lost Colony has been
growing less the seasonal visitation of tourists and sports
has been constantly increasing So we have
and people each year. yet less
patrons of The Lost Colony Several times we have
had to the State for the annual subsidy of $lOOOO
which is given only when the show into deficit Were
it not for this handout from the State treasury then we
dous benefits Roanoke Island its people and its area
Now there isn't community in Dare County that
doesn't profit either directly or indirectly from Inc LOST
Colony There isn't neghborng county that has not bene
fitted greatly during the past 2 years because OF the speno
ing of people attracted to The Lost Colony And had not
been The Colony which brought thousands
of people during few as to fill up all the homes
Roanoke Island in midseason it is quite unlikely we would
have heavy investment in motes and tour
list Accommodations which today with their modern ana pet
ter facilities completely overshadowed and taken the
trade of of the homes whose owners USED
to benefit so handsomely i'll the good old days
The failure of The Lost Colony due in part to the
failure of the people who most depend on it to do their ut
most for it. Too many people apparently taken for
granted that the benefits from The Lost Colony were like
Heaven and would continue to fall undated
forever people put their best into boosting
far and wide and necessarily and year in and year out as
it was well worth the doing Too many people also have
been most with what had to offer in the of
jobs themselves members of their families or their
friends and enough concerned with how much they
might themselves actually put into toward nsurng
for the show Too often its has been over
loaded with fgureheads had anything pos
tive or constructive offer in the way of suggestion for
Improvement; who often resented suggestion from
others who are in way outsiders might some
thing value often such useless persons hang mere
l because they consider it an honor or worthy OF their
the Association The show has been crippled by people
who can't or won't do, nor let others do.
And SO the MANAGEMENT OF the snow IS let nso tne
backing; who cannot do the work that would be douDy
heavy for dozen people, not to speak OF its
enlargement The welfare and the future of the show hinges
getting some talent and perhaps high priced talent
port show business it ought to be financed The
Lost Colony big and too worthy and too essential
local economy it is too important to North Carolina
people it is too important to be allowed to fade out gno
mnousy in the history of the statefor of us not now
up demand courage and foresight be brought
play and sacrifices part Sacrifice is something
that been done for it by the people of region
Time after time mnfcen and benevolent people of North
Carolina have sweeened the pot for it, many thousands
dollars been poured into gifts Paul Green
paid writing it, in fact just about all of it has
been and truly have done very little to deserve
it. Now the time to rise up and go forward now is the
time to enlarge staff give it the benefit of talent and
getting ability And let all Of us 60 forth IN every possible
The Lost Colony MUST for every visitor to this Coast
land matter for what other purpose he she
here
We have greater opportunity than before to make
The Lost Colony known to people. Coupled with the
literature by resulting FROM the Cape Hatteras