A Modern Renaissance

Dreams can come true again; when everything old is new again. ~ Peter Allen

The golden age of entertainment has returned to the Kallet Theater in the village of Pulaski, N.Y. Fully restored and dressed in retro chic, the theatre rolls out the red carpet to welcome patrons back into its fold. Step back in time to enjoy a variety of programming, from films to fundraisers to live entertainment.

The restoration of the Kallet Theater, once the cornerstone attraction in the community, was near and dear to this writer, a native of the quaint little village. We had the opportunity to return home and explore this vibrant gem as it resumes its prominent position and marks its first anniversary.

A Scorched History

The history of this local landmark goes back more than a century. In October 1881, a major fire destroyed the entire business district of the village, from the Salmon River to the North Park and Broad Street. Dr. James N. Betts was said to have experienced the most significant losses, which inspired him to give back to the community by building the Betts Opera House in 1883.

Francis Hohman took over in 1908 and the venue became the Hohman Opera House; changed again to the Pulaski Opera House, and later to the Pulaski Theater when the facility made its transition to a movie house.

In 1924, the Pulaski Lodge International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) acquired the vacant lot next door and built the Temple Theater, launching a decade-long entertainment rivalry before the Hohman venue was destroyed by fire in January 1934.

Fire at Betts Opera House
photo courtesy of the Pulaski Historical Society

The following year, Myron J. “Mike” Kallet assumed the lease on the Temple Theater, re-modeling and re-opening it as the New Temple Theater, until it, too, succumbed to fire in January 1939.

Fire at Temple Theater
photo courtesy of the Pulaski Historical Society

By this time, Kallet had also acquired the rights to the neighboring Hohman property and began building a new theater on the two lots. Designed in art deco style by architect Milo Folley, the Kallet Theater opened on Wednesday, June 7, 1939 as a cinema and meeting house.

The Kallet Theater: Gala Opening
photo courtesy of the Pulaski Historical Society

The Kallet Theater circa 1940s
 photo courtesy of the Half-Shire Historical Society

The venue entertained residents of the village and its environs for nearly 50 years before closing its doors in the early 1980s. A variety of other businesses moved into the building before it finally went dark. Then, in 2011, local entrepreneurs Vince Lobdell and his son Vince Jr. acquired the dilapidated property and took on the monumental task of its restoration. With local, county and state grants to match their own contributions, the Lobdells completed a multi-million dollar upgrade to the theater and re-opened it to the public in November 2013 as a community and events center.

A New Beginning
photo courtesy of the Kallet Theater



A Modern Renaissance
The venue now features a stage with exquisitely carved woodwork; a state-of-the-art entertainment system; a retro lobby and concession stand with a modern twist; and a museum room dedicated to the preservation of the theater’s long history. Two barrel staircases lead to the second floor balconies and reception area which is highlighted by glass tile windows.

 

 

 

The building’s façade was restored to resemble its original design, including double red doors, a ticket book, old movie posters and an updated marquee; which now projects events and community information on a bright LED screen.

Overlooking the iconic Salmon River, the building now also features a rear deck to showcase these scenic views. With a seating capacity of over 400, the Kallet Theater is an excellent venue for events small and large; weddings and banquets; and, of course, movies and live entertainment.

Ring in the Holiday Season

Come to the Kallet Theater on Friday, December 5 for a one-of-a-kind experience as the SUNY Oswego Theater Department presents, “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” Enjoy this timeless classic in a whole new way; observing the production of a 1940s radio broadcast. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. For tickets, visit www.kallettheater.com.

Don’t miss these special events!

Throughout the month of December, enjoy these holiday movies with the whole family at the Kallet Theater, 4842 N. Jefferson St., Pulaski, N.Y.:

Sun., Dec. 7:
6 p.m. Elf

Sat., Dec. 13:
2 p.m. Elf; 5 p.m. The Muppet’s Christmas Carol; 7 p.m. The Nativity Story

Sun., Dec. 14:
2 p.m. The Muppet’s Christmas Carol; 5 p.m. The Santa Clause

Sat. Dec. 20:
11 a.m. The Santa Clause; 2 p.m. Miracle on 34th Street; 4 p.m. The Nativity Story

Sun. Dec. 21:
2 p.m. The Nativity Story; 5 p.m. Miracle on 34th Street; 8 p.m. The Santa Clause

Sat. Dec. 27:
2 and 5 p.m. How to Train Your Dragon

For more information about the Kallet Theater and its events schedule, call 315/298-0007 or visit www.kallettheater.com. For more holiday fun in Oswego County, go to our Web site at www.visitoswegocounty.com. 

Wising you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season!

Cheers,

Kelly

Bringing Art to Life

ARTSwego welcomes students and the community back to the SUNY Oswego campus as it launches its 2013-2014 Performing Arts Series with The Cashore Marionettes!

Master puppeteer Joseph Cashore leads this widely-acclaimed company, enthralling audiences across the globe with his life-like creations and graceful movements. His remarkable collection of enchanting pieces demonstrates his unparalleled artistry. For more than 30 years, Cashore has designed and given life to these unique works of art.

The marionette first caught his eye when he was a boy on a family vacation. Upon seeing the suspended puppet, his imagination took flight. Cashore went on to earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Notre Dame and later studied portrait and figure painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. His many accomplishments include the Henson Foundation Grant and the Pew Fellowship for Performance Art. He was also named a PennPAT Roster Artist and awarded the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, the highest honor a U.S. puppeteer can receive.

Here are samples of his brilliant talent, courtesy of the Cashore Marionettes:

Cashore shares his craft with audiences through an extended four-day residency program which will include visits to three local communities in addition to his performances on campus.

The first “meet-and-greet” takes place on Thursday, September 5 at 7 p.m. at the H. Lee White Marine Museum  in Oswego and the second is scheduled for Friday, September 6 at 7 p.m. at the CNY Arts Center in Fulton. Adults and children ages 8 and above will enjoy meeting the artist as he discusses and demonstrates his inspiration and passion for puppetry. For both of these events, admission is free for children accompanied by an adult, and adults are asked to make a $3 donation to the host organization.

Then, on Saturday, September 7, the Cashore Marionettes present two performances in Tyler Hall’s Waterman Theatre on the SUNY Oswego campus.

At 2 p.m., “Simple Gifts,” a short matinee for families begins. This performance entertains children through a series of acts that highlight characters and actions from everyday life. Families will delight in the theatrical illusion of Cashore’s masterful puppetry, set to a backdrop of classical music. This program is best suited to children age 8 and older. Admission is $5 for both children and adults with open general seating.

At 7:30 p.m., the troupe offers older audiences their full-length feature, “Life in Motion.” This show welcomes adults and young adults as the artists demonstrate the very essence of humanity, from the comedic to the tragic, through a series of short but powerfully entertaining portrayals with engaging characters and evocative music. Admission is $18 for adults and $5 for students.

Cashore wraps up his residency with a marionette master class for adults and art students who are interested in learning more about his technique. The session takes place on Sunday, September 8 at 2 p.m. at the Salmon River Fine Arts Center in Pulaski. For admission details, call the center at (315) 298-7007.

The Cashore Marionettes’ community residency program is made possible by grant funding from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation, the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, and the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by CNY Arts. It is also made possible by the partnering host organizations.

Committed to artistic excellence, ARTSwego presents diverse cultural programming to enrich and entertain students and the surrounding community. For more events, visit www.oswego.edu/arts. Advance tickets for SUNY Oswego performances can be purchased at any SUNY Oswego Box Office. Parking for these shows is included in the cost of the ticket and is available in lots E-6 (in front of Culkin Hall) and E-18 (behind Hart and Funnelle halls).

Join ARTSwego for this truly one-of-a-kind experience and enjoy the show!

Cheers,

Kelly

Heritage and the Arts at the Oswego County Fair...

Our latest tour led us to the 2010 Oswego County Fair in Sandy Creek, N.Y. where we had a wonderful opportunity to view our heritage through the arts. A local artisan and Army veteran, Harold Hubbard displayed his Indian Head Collection with the Lakeshore Hardwoods exhibit in the Heritage Building. For those interested in learning more about local history, the site is a must-see for information, guidance and a ‘trip down memory lane’. A very special thank you goes out to Harold for sharing his time and story with us.

He was born in Alexandria Bay in 1920 and moved to the Pulaski area as a child. A graduate of Pulaski Academy and Central School, Harold was a career toolmaker. He began his trade with New York Airbrake in Watertown, and eventually opened up his own shop in the hamlet of Port Ontario. The Bud Air Company made pruning equipment for fruit farms all over the country.

Harold sold the business thirty years later and began a colorful retirement with his bride Marge. They kept busy in their travels; however, Harold was looking for something to do when they were home. That’s when he discovered his talent for woodcarving.

A self-taught craftsman, Harold began with relief woodcarving, eventually moving on to “in the round” and then to chip carving. On comparing his tool-making career to his craft, Harold said with laugh, “Wood is easier, and cleaner on the fingers.”

Here are some pictures of Harold Hubbard and his Indian Head Collection at the 2010 Oswego County Fair:

Harold began his Indian Head Collection a few years ago to illustrate different types of wood. The 60-piece set is carved from native trees as well as timbers from around the world that he found at Lakeshore Hardwoods, a local haven for woodworkers. The woods include: butternut, eucalyptus, mahogany, purpleheart, and Spanish cedar. Each piece is a natural beauty, with only a clear finish to give it shine.

These are some of the woods and projects that you’ll find at Lakeshore Hardwoods:

To see Harold’s Indian Head Collection or to start your own woodworking project, visit Lakeshore Hardwoods in Pulaski. For directions, go to http://www.lakeshorehardwoods.com/. For more wood crafts, visit the Pulaski Farmers’ Market every Friday night throughout the summer. You’ll find interesting pieces, displays and your own starter woodcarving kit at the market in the South Park on U.S. Route 11.

To learn more about your own heritage, visit your local historical society. For a complete list of museums and societies in Oswego County, go to http://www.visitoswegocounty.com/.

Cheers,
Kelly

Commemorating heroes of the War of 1812 (Vol. I)…

It has been said that people are our greatest resource. With the coming 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, let us take a moment to remember a few of those who took part in this bit of our nation’s history.

A special thanks goes out to Shawn Doyle, Richland Town Historian and president of the Half-Shire Historical Society for taking us on a cemetery tour to learn about these local heroes.

One of the oldest soldiers to serve in the War of 1812 was Lt. Colonel Hezekiah Cole. He was born in Rhode Island in 1765 and later moved to the town of Richland. Hezekiah served in the 13th Rhode Island Militia after the Revolutionary War and through the War of 1812. He and his wife Bethani Arnold brought up seven children: Arnold, Lucia, Tabitha (Samuel Cole), Sally (Samuel Fox), Anne, Richard, and Emery (Harriet). Hezekiah died in July 1844 and now rests in the Riverside Cemetery in Richland.

Ensign Samuel Dunlap joined his brother Captain Smith Dunlap in the War of 1812. Samuel was born in Fonda, New York in 1785 and later relocated to the town of Richland. He wed Sylvia Robbins of Keene, New Hampshire in September 1811, less than a year before the war began. Samuel’s adopted daughters, Polly Ann (George R.F. Campbell) and Mary Jane (Jewitt S. Ames) evenly inherited his lands upon his death in September 1853. Samuel operated a tavern on the old Ridge Road near where he is buried in the Ferguson-Blue Springs Cemetery in Richland.

Much is known about Lieutenant John Weed, who served in defense of Plattsburgh, New York during the War of 1812. After his birth in Norwalk, Connecticut in 1765, his family moved to Setauket, New York (Long Island). John tells his story in his pension papers:

“We lived there (Long Island) until I was 12-years-old, which was in April previous to the Declaration of Independence. And in 1776, I remember hearing the roaring of the cannon at Long Island, York Island, Flat Bush and also when the Phoenix and Rose went up the North River. I think my father, a Whig, and three sons (Charles, Ira and Jehiel) were then in the United States Army. In 1777, my father came home. Got his family off the island in 1778 and landed near Norwalk Connecticut, then went into South Salem where the family resided until 1782.

“In 1780, being liable to military duty, then 16-years-old belonging to Captain Joseph Benedict’s Company, we were called out and went on to the lines near White Plains, Mile Square, King Street, and Bedford near New Castle, I think between the 15th of October and 15th of November 1780. We found chestnuts and cider secreted among the Tories of which we made free use.”

John served four tours as a private between October 1780 and June 1783. After the Revolutionary War, he met his bride Mary Townsend of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts while residing in the lower Hudson River Valley. In 1790, the couple joined several family members and relocated to Rupert, Vermont. John purchased 100 acres and held several government posts, including: Tythingman, Surveyor of Highways, and Collector of Taxes. It was during this time that John was called back to service for the War of 1812.

John and Mary raised 13 children: Ira Charles (Thankful Phillips); William (Cynthia Phillips), (Freelove Thankful Parker); Lydia (Isaac Price), James (Ruth Nelson), (Betsey Flower); Joanna (Simeon Doane); Betsey (Reuben Peck); Rebecca (Ralph Price); Susan (Horace A. Phillips); Amanda (William Kilburn); Polly (Ralph Price); John (Emily Frary); Hoyt (Harriet Maltby); and Townsend (Almira Maltby).

In 1825, John and Mary moved to the town of Richland to join their children and neighbors. John died in 1834 and is buried in the Pulaski Village Cemetery.

Ferguson-Blue Spring Cemetery, Richland

Our ancestors have many fascinating tales to tell. Thus, we begin this series to commemorate our local heroes of the War of 1812. Please let me know if you have a story that you would like to share with the rest of the group. You'll find my contact information listed above on the right.

Cheers,
Kelly

Play, shop and be merry...

Oswego County is bursting with festive joy this holiday season! Villages throughout the county recently held tree-lighting ceremonies and holiday events to usher in the 2008 season. Throughout the week-end, we toured a few of these communities; meeting our neighbors and joining in the fun!

We celebrated ‘Christmas in Mexico’ with our fellow revelers. While some browsed traditional church bazaars, others shopped merchant open houses, such as Hart & Stone General Store, Main Street, Mexico. Throughout the day, everyone enjoyed the costumed performances of the Friends of Bob Cratchit. Christmas spirit filled the air as people gathered along Main Street to watch the holiday parade and tree lighting. What a joy it was to see so many happy faces as Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted the crowd!

Arriving at the West Monroe Historical Society, we were greeted by the sweet sound of carols sung by the Constantia Methodist Church Choir. Excitement grew among the young and the young-at-heart as we eagerly awaited the arrival of the head elf. Soon enough, Santa made his grand entrance; courtesy of the West Monroe Volunteer Fire Department. The tree was lit against a backdrop of shimmering snow that Santa brought in from the North Pole. Local merchants such as Unique Woodworks, state Route 49, Cleveland and The Bernhards Bay Country Store, state Route 49, Bernhards Bay welcomed guests with an assortment of original gift-giving ideas.

The weather could not keep the resilient folks from coming to ‘Light Up Pulaski’. Santa and Mrs. Claus, of course, were not deterred and spent the afternoon listening to the big wishes of small children. We were welcomed by glad tidings and good cheer when we visited the Pulaski Public Library, which was filled with beautifully ornamented trees and wreaths for their annual decorating contest. With a friendly smile, neighborhood merchants such as The Make Sense Shop, Jefferson Street, Pulaski and The Pulaski Country Gift Shoppe, Jefferson Street, Pulaski greeted shoppers in search of the perfect gift. Selections in hand, we headed to the park where a hearty crowd had gathered to light the Memory Tree.

Here are a few images we captured on our tour:

With carols sung, wishes told, and trees alight, the 2008 holiday season has begun! For a quintessential shopping experience and truly unique gift ideas, be sure to visit your local merchants. For more information about events and shops in Oswego County, call 315/349-8322 or go to http://www.visitoswegocounty.com/.

Cheers,
Kelly