An excerpt from a 15 October ’45 News Tribune editorial praising the Hovey Players, “…expansion…would be the acquisition of a large building, possibly a barn structure would satisfy…” (It was ever thus…)

Courtesy of Ralph Tomao, Hovey Historian

• Fresh Fields
• Ladies in Retirement
• Sweethearts

By Victor Herbert

Directed by Edward Center

An operetta/musical comedy with a cast of 40, a number met or exceeded many time since.

Interesting Stuff: Hovey altered their rules and opened the casting call for the musical! ..and a trend was started.

Also in the audience that night long ago were members of the: Arlington Friends of the Drama, Auburndale Players, Vokes Players of Wayland and Friendly Society of Weston.

Performances: April 10 and 11, 1946

Courtesy of Ralph Tomao, Hovey Historian

Directed by William Partridge

A three act mystery.

More Interesting Stuff: At this and every production all ushers wore formal dress!! The pre-show curtain speech was followed by the playing and singing, in the dark, of the Star Spangled Banner. And to think that in 1961 we used it to get people to leave. Also at the end of the shows, after curtain calls, Vivian Phipps, on a borrowed organ from the Salvation Army, would lead cast, crew and audience in ‘America’.

Performances: February 7 and 8, 1946

Courtesy of Ralph Tomao, Hovey Historian

By Ivor Novello

Directed by William Partridge

A three act comedy presented at the Hovey Institute (as were all major productions from 1936 to 1953).

The review included this: “….after the final night all motored to the Old Mill in Arlington for supper and dancing…..Miss Vivian Phipps played for a Virginia Reel…..choruses were sung and a general social time was enjoyed”. Not like in my day when we went to a bar in Watertown Square, or up to Mamas’ or to Doc’s in Ipswich or the time Joel and I almost got arrested for stealing a car, or………

Interesting Stuff: Opening night attendance 600(!) from a membership of about 100 and season ticket holders of about 500 (that grew to 900 by season end). Makes a treasurer salivate, however, membership/sponsor/season tickets were $2.40/season, tickets at the door were $.90 except for this year’s musical ($1.50).

Performances: November 14 and 15, 1945

Courtesy of Ralph Tomao, Hovey Historian