A True Place of Enchantment – It was Partially Paradise and Youth-Oriented as Well - The Southold NY Lester Little Paradise Woods Studio !!!
By Danny McCarthy?
The Watchman of the Sunrise Trail dated September 10, 1931 spotlighted about some “friendly and theatrical” information: “The second of the lovely events to mark the opening of Southold’s new little theatre, Lester Little’s Paradise Woods Studio was The Enchanted Cottage, a three act play by Pinero, which was delightfully staged and excellently played by the summer group who call themselves The Playmakers. … with a wealth of talent of all kinds recruited for the dressing and the acting of the piece, it was something that the young folks of Southold and Mattituck may well remember with pardonable pride. It was a fine idea, conceived by Mrs. May Lupton, and other interested ladies.”?
The County Review dated December 10, 1931 shared that “A very fine musical was held at Lester Little’s studio in Paradise … Mrs. Harold Richmond, who sang a number of Southern melodies, was greatly enjoyed.”?
?The July 18, 1935 The Long Island Traveler?“reported” about the beginning days of The Playmakers: “In the summer of 1931, a group of young people of college age, all of this vicinity, assembled and organized a dramatic society expressly for promoting interest and enthusiasm for fine dramatic art on the North Fork of Long Island. They called the society ‘The Playmakers.’ Mrs. Ellsworth Hubbel was their first president. The charter members are all {well-known} here. Some are summer residents, and others are families who have lived here for generations. Some of these original Playmakers are Ellsworth Hubbel, Robert Griffing, James Pullman, Constance Kendrick, William Wickham, Henry Wickham, John Wickham, George Nostrond, Anne Lupton, Virginia Lupton, Carol Pike, and Betty Pike. ...”?
Yes It Was “Enchanted,” But … ?
That July 18, 1935 article adds that yes The Playmakers did perform The Enchanted Cottage in 1931 at Lester Little’s Paradise Woods Studio and “The next year, encouraged by the interest and acclaim of the public, they gave Louisa M. Alcott’s charming ‘Little Women,’ which is and will be loved by everyone to the end of time. During these two seasons, they were ably coached by Miss Doris Farr.” Both productions were staged at the Paradise Woods Studio “kindly loaned by Mr. Lester Little, who built the studio for the advancement of artistic and dramatic endeavor.?
By 1933 the Playmakers had become quite famous on the North Fork. They found that the Paradise Point Studio was too small for the large audience they attracted and {the group} moved to Community Hall {Belmont Hall}. …”?
Some added items are given in that July 18, 1935 article that include the fact that Cutchogue resident and brilliant composer Douglas Moore assisted The Playmakers in 1935 as he directed this group at the Easthampton {stet} John Drew Theatre in “‘March Hares,’ a fast-moving, light hilarious comedy,” and 1935 was the most successful year for The Playmakers. “The Playmakers are noted for attempting a different type of production each year. They have found light comedy most successful. Therefore, this year, again under the direction of Mr. Douglas Moore, they return to it in Noel Coward’s very amusing ‘Hayfever’.”?
The Long Island Traveler dated August 1, 1935 stated that “Miss Margaret Whittier” was the then president of The Playmakers. It was also “reported” in that August 1, 1935 article that “The Playmakers this year are planning to devote a portion of their proceeds for the benefit of the Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. In previous years, donations have been given to both this hospital and the Community Hall {again aka Belmont Hall}, where for the last two seasons{,] Playmakers productions have been given.”?
The Long Island Traveler dated August 8, 1935 listed some of the cast of The Playmakers’ production of Hayfever: “Constance Kendrick is taking the part of Judith Bliss, the mother of the rather bizarre and eccentric Bliss family. Miss Kendrick has played in all the Playmakers’ presentations excepting last year, when she directed ‘A Murder Has Been Arranged.’ She was Mrs. Smallwood in “The Enchanted Cottage,’ Meg in ‘Little Women,’ and Claudia Kitts in ‘March of Hares. …”?
Among some of the other participants as performers in The Playmakers’ 1935 production of Hayfever included: Jack Northridge, Mildred Pye, Robert Griffing, Betty Moore, Corwin Ammon, John Lupton, Katherine Williamson, and Constance Terry.?
The County Review dated August 6, 1936 carried an ad listing that The Playmakers were to have a Benefit for Eastern Long Island Hospital of the production titled Cradle Song from August 13-15 at Community Hall at 8:30 P.M. Admission was 50 cents and reserved seats were 75 cents. “Tickets on sale at Kramer’s Drug Store Southold.”?
?The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman dated October 24, 1946, Clarence Ashton Wood “documented” this: “What place more fitting than Lester Little’s Paradise Woods Studio on the beautiful shorefront estate of his aunt, Mrs. C. B. Byron, on the old Hallock property near the Point of that name facing due east of Shelter Island??
Half a hundred privileged ones from Greenport and Southold were the guests last Sunday afternoon of Mr. and Mrs. Little at the fifteenth annual autumnal recital given since their unique organ with its double bank of keys was dedicated.?
The program rendered was based upon the music of Tschaikowski, Rossini, Chopin, Sebelius, Strauss, Coates and other leading contemporaries. Sonia (Mrs. Kenneth) Thornhill of the Gardiner Bay Estates, East Marion, and New York City, the guest artist of the occasion – an internationally known opera singer of Estonian birth – captivated her auditors by her gracious personality and delightful voice. It was her third appearance at the studio in the woods.?
Ruth Langlois (Mrs. Whitney) Hubbard, of Greenport, known to music lovers throughout the Island and in the Metropolitan area and the studio organist ever since its dedication in 1931, presided as usual at the keyboard. ...”?
?Now Here’s a Wonderful Bit of Information!?
Southold Academy Printing co-owner Rita Hagerman let me know that her father “used to go to Lester Little’s and play the organ”
The Twenty-five Years Ago column that appeared in the August 2, 1956 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman included this fact: “The Playmakers announced that their production of ‘The Enchanted Cottage’ would be given at Lester Little’s studio at Paradise Point.”?
The August 26, 1965 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman featured this announcement: “A musicale was held in Lester Little’s Studio at Paradise Point on Saturday. The Junior Harbor Choristers of the Methodist Church in Greenport, under the direction of Ruth Langlois Hubbard, furnished the entertainment, assisted by Philip Fey and Benjamin Rackett.”?
领英推荐
The September 15, 1966 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman spotlighted “write-on” page one the fact that there was “For the first time in many years{,} a professional group of actors {was} to perform a play here in Southold – the location, Lester Little’s Paradise Woods Studio, well-known over the years for its many concerts. Under the sponsorship of the North Fork Animal Welfare League, Gigi, a straight play adapted by Anita Loos from the stories of Colette will be presented by the Arena Players with music from the celebrated film production starring Audrey Hepburn and Maurice Chevalier. …”?
Who Were the Arena Players??
The September 15, 1966 article continued: “The Arena Players is the group that presented the plays in the tent theatre in Greenport this summer. …” The Players?will return to Southold {at Lester Little’s Paradise Woods Studio} on the evening of Saturday, October 8 at 8:40 P.M. …”?
Some Clarification with Terrific News …?
The September 22, 1966 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman includes this: Saks Fifth Avenue prominent socialite-model Polly Stein was to play Gigi in the Arena Players’ production that year on October 8 “at Lester Little’s Studio at Paradise Woods in Southold, L.I.?
The Arena Players have just finished another highly acclaimed summer of plays in Greenport under the direction of Frederic De Feis. Lester Little, President of the North Fork Animal Welfare League, Inc. which is sponsoring this performance of the play, was impressed by the professional calibre {stet} of his productions and invited Mr. De Feis and his troupe of players to perform Gigi at his theatre studio which houses an organ of 1400 pipes conceived and constructed by Mr. Little himself.”?
The November 15, 1973 The Long Island Traveler-Mattituck Watchman announced that there was going to be a “concert given in memory of Helen Wills Morgan” {at the Lester Little Studio on December 9, 1973}.?
Mezzo-soprano Dorothy Meaney was accompanied by talented pianist Myron McPherson for this event.?
That November 15, 1973 article continues with: “We are rarely fortunate to have this opportunity to hear these talented artists and this premises to be a most delightful afternoon of music given by Helen Wills Morgan’s {longtime} friend, Dorothy Meaney. …?
… The proceeds from the concert will be used for the restoration of the Thomas Moore House in loving memory of Helen Wills Morgan. …”?
Town Reference ?
According to the Southold SPLIA {Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities} volume SD126a, the Paradise Woods Studio that is also known as Lester Little’s Studio is located on the southeast side of Paradise Point Road opposite North Bayview Road in Southold. It is listed as a “cottage/studio.” There are “brick posts at entrance to {the} property.” As far as the surroundings of the building, it is in “A low density waterfront point of land extending into Shelter Island Sound with scattered residences hidden in the woods.” The date of construction is “early 20th century.” It is recorded as being a “1 {and a} ? story irregular gable roof. Brown shingles with white trim and green shutters with cut-outs.”?
And Guess What Folks??
That SD126a also says this: “In this studio, which was located on Mrs. C. B. Byron’s Paradise Woods Estate, concerts were held. The studio normally held 100 guests. There is voluminous information about this place in the {Mattituck-Laurel Library}.”
Mike & Rita Hagerman are co-owners of Academy Printing Services. Academy Printing Services is where editions of The Peconic Bay Shopper are printed every month {except January},
Rita Hagerman shared that her father used to play the organ at Paradise Woods Studio.
Mike & Rita Hagerman graciously took care of placing my original llnkedin.com post regarding the Lester Little Paradise Studio in a different format online within The Peconic Bay Shopper edition dated July 2019.: