The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1959-09-25
LOST COLONY
Continued from Page One)

The SAME III 1OOC, ~ ID dPpSAAS Civ
that the fame of the Lost Colony
isn't being spread very far. Once
in awhile a small story goes goes
abroad that cars from all states
are noted present. In 1857, North
Dakota, Wyoming and Maine were
not represented, and many states,
some in New England had only
from one to 8.
Dare County maintains an in
tensive Tourist Bureau at cost
of upwards of $4,000 a year, but
virtually 100 per cent devoted to
the promotion of sport fishing, and
has won wide acclaim from those
who cater to this trade. But this
bureau has done nothing for the
Lost Colony, it is not stated for
this type of publicity and promo
ton, and it's value to the show is
inconsequential. Take for example
the states from which We get the
many thousands of sports fisher
men, namely, Maryland, New Jer-
sey, West Virginia, Ohio and New
York, and we note that in 1858 in
order named, only the following
cars from these states were seen
on the shows parking grounds
during the two months it showed:
Connecticut and Delaware 81 each;
District of Columbia 107; West
Virginia 147; New Jersey, 1853;
Ohio IT'S; New York 1914; Mary
land 4O2; and Pennsylvania, 374.
The results speak for themselves.
So while clearly, something of
value is being gained by the small
fortune spent to bring in fishermen,
the value to the Lost Colony is
negligible. 1t is apparent to the
initiated, that all this publicity is
beamed to the fisherman. 1t APP
pears to his interest, it keeps him
informed about fishing results
from day to day, it makes happy
those whose income is derived
largely from sportsmen.
But those who would be. patrons
of the Lost Colony are not fisher
men. They represent the educated,
the lovers of history, art, the drama.
some of them are students as well
as some being middle aged and
older-teachers, professional peo-
pie, etc.
It takes someone who is highly
skilled and trained as we'll as edu-
Gated in the marshalling of Ian
guage, in the adroit and subtle
preparation of show business pub
licity, to get his stuff printed be-
fore he can reach these people. The
Lost Colony, before it can revive
and succeed, must have the bene-
fit of several kinds of promotion.
To get its story before the nation,
it must be hung on to big names,
big events, big aspirations. The
Lost Colony began as a homespun
product of the people-a people
proud Of their ancestry, and who
wished to tell the world the story
of the dream that became America.
1t had lift from many sources.
It's biggest one came the Universe
ty of North Carolina. 1t would be
best off now under its wing.
The Lost Colony is in the fix of
a merchant who hires a truck
driver to go New York and other
distant towns for a load of goods.
The driver can be the best fellow
in the world, with good intentions,
and love for his job. But without
the money to buy gas, and without
a spare tire, the man who sends him
forth can look for only poor re-
turn.
That is the fix the Lost Colony
has been in for several years. Be-
hind this driver must be sensible
business men who will give time
and effort to the cause. They must
implement the management by pro-
viding funds for advertising and
public relations that will do the
job. There are tens of thousands of
young people growing up each year
in North Carolina alone. There are
millions others in the Eastern
United States who have never seen
the show nor heard of it. These are
all prospective patrons of the show,
and will provide it with enough
patrons, and more each year, once
they have received the message.
What the Lost Colony needs first
is a worked over Board of Di-
rectors headed by some dynamic
and patriotic figure like Governor
Luther Hodges, who knows what to
do and who gets results when he
calls the figures. Under this kind
of management the show should be
on its feet in fine shape in fort
night after its doors open next sea-
son.
People of this area are aware
of the worth of the. show. They
contributed some $4,000 or more
this past season to help it open
The people would do more if they
could, but none of them know show