by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
The 47th annual meeting of the Valley Falls Historical Society was held Oct. 5 at the Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn.
After the 1 p.m. buffet luncheon and prior to the program, an election of officers and directors was held with the following selected to serve in the 2014-2015 year: Betty Jane Wilson, president; Rosalind Jackson, vice president; Lesa Brose, secretary; Gary Coleman, treasurer; and Joan Reichart (term 2015) and Anita Stutesman (term 2016), directors. Frank Shrimplin continues as historian and Clarke Davis as advisor.
Guest speaker Jane Rhoads was provided courtesy of the Kansas Humanities Council. The council conducts and supports community- based programs, such as the historical society, through an active grant program that pays her expenses, gratuities, and travel expenses.
Her presentation, "Bronco Bustin' Showmen and Their Spectacular Wild West Shows," resulted from her research, love of entertainment, and Kansas history.
With the assist of digital screen and projector, she presented an enviable selection of photos of the performers in various stages of their lives prior to and during their careers. Still scenes were shown from "Buffalo Bill Cody's Spectacular Show" with added tales of association with notables as famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley and Cody's influence on later known western screen star Tom Mix. Cody's fame as wagon master, buffalo hunter, and child messenger for his father, Isaac Cody, and their relation to Valley Falls were included. Pawnee Bill, Lucille Mulhall, and Will Rogers and their entertainment careers all enjoyed their claim to fame in her specialty.
Jane Rhoads is also the author and winner of a Kansas Notable Book Award in 2009. Born of her love for prairie entertainment and her visit to over 400 Kansas communities she authored "Kansas Opera Houses — Actors and Community Events 1855-1925." Composed of countless photos, stories included performers whose careers began on small Kansas stages. The outstanding feature of her book is an alphabetical listing of 479 Kansas communities with information about their entertainment centers. Among our neighbors listed are McLouth, Oskaloosa, and Meriden with Nortonville having the 1884 McCarthy's Opera House and an 1908 City Hall-Roxie House still standing. The Valley Falls 1884 Turner Opera House (Turner Hall), Valley Falls is on record with a stage 16 feet by 40 feet with seating for 600. The facility was heated by stoves and illumined by lamps.
The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.
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