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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2007
quote of the day
"I never had a chance to play with dolls like other kids. I started working when I was six years old."
—Billie Holiday
fact of the dav
Every second, three Barbie dolls are sold somewhere in the world.
www.rbdolls.com
most e-mailed
Want to know what people are talking about? Here's a list of the five most e-mailed stories from Kansan.com:
2. A fifth floor frightening
1. University to replace'Muck Fizzou'slogan
2. A birthroom lighting
3. Intense A&M atmosphere awaits Jayhawks
4. Book drive to benefit KC kids
5. Men's cross country runner makes history on team
The are only 18 days of class left before Thanksgiving break, and only nine more after that until Stop Day.
daily KU info
et cetera
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 60045.
The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4962) is published daily during the school year except Saturday, Sunday, fall break, spring break and exams. Weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Periodical postage is paid in Lawrence, KS 65044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120 plus tax. Student subscriptions of are paid through the student activity fee. Postmaster: Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045
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Liberty Hall houses historical, modern events
》KULTURE
DANNY NORDSTROM
editor@kansan.com
The doors swing open. Fans eagerly awaiting the music of Umphrey the Mogee rush into Liberty Hall. The atmosphere inside is old-fashioned and unique with Liberty's vast hardwood floors and large murals surrounding the unusually wide stage. Fans on the ballroom floor turn around and admire the beautiful balcony that hangs over them, noticing the impressive architecture of the theatre. Then the lights go black out, and the music begins.
According to Emory Frank Scott's "One Hundred Years of Lawrence Theatre," Samuel Edwin Poole built Liberty Hall in 1856 after the burning of an anti-slavery newspaper building. Lawrence residents considered the structure as an important political and social venue that housed many debates and public forums during the late 1800s.
For more than 142 years, 644 Massachusetts St. has been home to the musical and cinematic icon that is Liberty Hall. Its rich and fascinating history stems back to the mid-1800s when it was originally a town meeting center.
Later, in 1882, a man named J.D. Bowersock purchased Liberty Hall and transformed it into an opera house, adding several floors and improving the building's design.
It was during this time that the hall hosted many theatrical shows put on by the citizens of Lawrence. Such titles included "Uncle Tom's Cabin," "Hamlet" and "Count of Monte Cristo." In addition to these local performances, many traveling theatrical companies came to the Opera House from all over the country.
It should also be noted that during this time, theatrical community fundraisers called "Minstrels" were held raiserly until 1930. These events featured comedic routines and joke taken from various Lawrence citizens and were very popular among the community. Phog Allen, University of Kansas basketball coach from 1907 to 1909, and 1919 to 1956, was a very involved participant in the events and took great pride in cracking jokes about other community members.
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
In 1911, a fire destroyed the building, and complete reconstruction was the only way to resurrect the beloved Bowersock Opera House. One year later, construction was complete and the building that stands on 7th and Massachusetts streets today was finished.
Over the next several decades, Liberty Hall underwent numerous name and owner changes. It was known as the Dickinson Theatre from 1930 to 1940, the Jayhawker Theatre from 1940 to 1956 and eventually the Red Dog Inn.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the Red Dog Inn was very popular among college students. Dr. Michael Walk, professor of English and 40-year Lawrence resident, fondly recalled the Red Dog as "a big dive a big bar that played music and served beer. It had a real dance floor..during my time it was really the only major venue to see music (in Lawrence)," Valk's most memorable experience at the Red Dog was a performance by Ike and Tina Turner in 1966.
In 1985, the current owner of Liberty Hall, David Millstein, and his late business partner, Charles Oldfather, purchased the venue. It was then that a dramatic renovation and remodeling took place, transforming the building into what it is today.
Liberty Hall, located at 644 Massachusetts St., houses a two-screen theater and hosts entertainment events throughout the year. After dramatic renovations in 1985 the building transformed into what it is today.
The entry to the main theater is located right inside the front doors of Liberty Hall. In 1912, after a fire the previous year, the building that stands on 7th and Massachusetts was constructed.
The ticket office is adjacent to the Liberty hall marque. Before the building became a movie house, audiences came to see operas and other live entertainment.
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Red Lyon Tavern
"Music has passed through the doors of Liberty Hall since the turn of the century," he said. "Musicians like that they can see the eyes of the person in the back row."
Fitzgerald felt that Liberty Hall's popularity among fans as well as musicians stemmed from its historic roots and small, down to earth, atmosphere.
Sam Littman, Chicago senior, is an avid concertgoer and saw an estimated 16 performances at Liberty, not to mention numerous film showings and movie rentals.
Over the past 25 years Fitzgerald worked at Liberty Hall, he experienced an array of memorable artistic performances. Fitzgerald fondly recalled listening to the guitar work of Michael Hedges, witnessing Eminem's final small club performance, hearing Allen Ginsberg recite his famous poem, "Howl," and rocking out to the bass guitar of Willie Dickson.
"The atmosphere is unbeatable," Littman said. "Bands love it just as much as the fans do, and its clear through their stage presence and their interaction with the crowd."
Rob Fitzgerald, who started working at Liberty Hall in 1982 as a concert promoter, was part of the original renovation crew. Today, the 45-year-old KU alumnus is the events and technical manager, responsible for booking the music as well as finding the films that play in the hall's two movie theatres that showcase independent films.
"My sister was front row at an Umphrey's McGee show, and she was calling me (a few rows back). When she was on the phone the lead guitarist (Jake Cinninger) grabbed her phone and played a slide guitar solo. They released the song on one of their podcasts."
A touch of Irish in downtown Lawrence 944 Massachusetts 832-8228
Brandon Davis, Mountain Brook, Ala. senior urged University students to take advantage of Liberty Hall.
Edited by Meghan Murphy
"One thing you need to do before you graduate is see a concert and a movie at Liberty Hall, where you can drink a Free State beer while you watch," he said.
Valk perceived the tremendous appreciation citizens and students
Over the past 142 years, the theatre changed its name, owner and design frequently, but one thing remained constant. The building that is known as Liberty Hall has hosted some of America's most important and influential artists in one of the most local and down-to-earth atmospheres around. From Charlie Chaplin to the Police, Buddy Rogers, a University of Kansas student from 1927 to 1928, to Muddy Waters, Liberty Hall is one of Lawrence's most treasured icons and will be for years to come.
events schedule
"Everybody that's been involved with Liberty Hall has a story to tell about it," he said.
of Lawrence have for Liberty Hall stemmed from experiences just like Littman's.
Upcoming Performances
Sat. Oct. 27- The Fisk Jubilee
Singers
Sun. Oct. 28- Yonder Mountain
Vander Bland
Wed. Oct. 31- Googol Bordello
Wed. Oct. 31- Gogol Bordello
Now Playing
Fri. Oct. 26- "Wide West Film
Through Nov. 1- "The Darjeeling Limited"
on campus
Through Nov. 1- "Two Days in Paris"
The Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy Annual Symposium will start at 8:30 a.m. in 203 Green Hall.
Cydni Treaster will present the lecture "Meeting the Health Needs of a Changing Immigrant Population" at noon in 633 Fraser Hall.
Mari LaCure will present the lecture "Gathered and Waiting: Cross-Cultural Experiences in Japan" at noon in 3002 Wescoe Hall.
Professor David E. Benson, Wayne State, will present the seminar "Small Molecule Imaging in Red Blood Cells through Combination of Metalloprotein Design with Quantum Dots" at 3:30 p.m. in 1001 Mallott Hall.
Men's and Women's Glee will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church.
W. George Lovell will present the seminar "Geography, Colonialism, and Maya Peoples in Guatemala" at 3:30 p.m. in Conference Hall at Hall Center.
The Mangiare Theatre Company from Ireland will perform the play "A Play on Two Chairs" at 7:30 p.m. in Inge Theatre at Murphy Hall. Tickets are $5-$10
"Looking at Jazz: America's Art Form" will start at 7 p.m. at Lawrence Public Library.
A 20-year-old KU student reported criminal damage valued at $1200 to his Harley Davidson near the 1000 block of Mississippi.
A 27-year-old KU student reported the theft of a bicycle valued at $825 near the 1300 block of Tennessee Street.
Seyla Benhabib will present the lecture "Is There a Human Right to Democracy? The Vicissitudes of Rawisian Public Reason" at 8 p.m. in Alderson Auditorium at the Kansas Union.
on the record
There will be free cosmic bowling offered at 10 p.m. in Jaybowl at the Kansas Union.
A 23-year-old KU student reported the theft of a Victoria's Secret duffel bag and various clothing items from her car near the 1200 block of Vermont Street. The items were valued at $870.
contact us
Tell us your news
Contact Erick R. Schmidt,
Eric Jorgensen, Daria Slape,
Matt Ericsson or Ashlee Keller at
864-8101 or
editor@kansean.com.
Kansas newsroom
115 Tauffer Pint Hall
132 Lawrence
Lawrence, KS 6k405
(785) 664-8410
The University of Kansas Department of Theatre & Film University Theatre and Student Union Activities Presents MANGiARE theatre company, Ireland A PLAY ON Two Chairs ... cheeky, energetic
... A hilarious, bizarre, and life-affirming comic escapade that will change they way you look at your furniture forever.
7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 26, 2007
William Inge Memorial Theatre
Murphy Hall
by Michael West
Directed by Darragh McKeon
featuring KU Theatre alumnus Jamie Carswell and Joanne Mitchell, both graduates of the Jacques Leeco School of Theatre in Paris
General admission tickets are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3928, Lied Center, 864-ARTS, and SUA Office, 864-7498, and online at www.kuheatre.com. Tickets are for $10 public; senior citizens; and KU faculty and staff, and $5 for all students. All major credit cards are accepted for phone and online orders.
The University Theatre is partially funded by the KU Student Senate Activity Fee; funding is also provided by the Kansas Arts Commission, a state agency, and be
The Manglare Theatre Company will be in residence at KU October 24 - 28. For a complete residency schedule, visit www.kutheatre.com.
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