Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1985 - 12

however, comes the task of continuity;
proving the justification of creation by
day to day operation. The first year (as
\\'ere the next several years) was filled
with activity. In addition to maintaining its operational role as ANTA's U.S,
Center of the International Association
of Theatre Technicians, making ourselves known, financing the organization, and encouraging participation,
the Standing Committees (presently
known as Commissions)-Presentation, Administration, Architecture, Engineering, and Publication and Research-were very actively involved in
pursuit of projects of particular interest. Each committee held monthly
meetings (a practice which was to continue for several years) exploring and
exchanging ideas and experiences which
were duly reported to the membership
at large through the Newsletter. The
most active participants in the Institute
(the hard core, so to speak) attended at
least one meeting a week and often two
or three. For several years, it was not
uncommon for the Executive Committee, Architecture, and Engineering to
meet on successive nights.
The Second Annual Conference,
l'vlarch 3-4,1962 at Ponti Auditorium,
focused upon Community and Civic
Theatre. The sessions included were:
The Role of the Civic and Community
Theatre in the American Theatrical
Scene; Programming and Building for
the Community and Civic Theatre;
Fund Raising for the Community and
Civic Theatre; Contemporary Trends in
Theatrical Presentation for the Community and Civic Theatre. The focus of
this Conference was chosen because of
the greatly increased importance of
these types of theatre, From the largest
cities to the smaller communities, such
activities were achieving remarkable
success and being regarded as the phenomenon of the decade. They probably
led the way for the later expansion of
the regional theatre movement. At the
end of this Conference, the officer slate
was re-elected for a second year.
But 1962 was significant for contributions beyond the Annual Conference. The ewsletter, which had carried notice of new publications and
available material in the field of theatre
since the first issue in '61, broadened its
coverage to include listings of upcoming events (meetings, conferences, etc.)
in a variety of related organizations,
and an informational service to inform
to

Theatre Design & Technology/

members of the opening of new theatres
and auditoria. In addition, the practice
of arranging visits to new facilities to
examine, talk and hear from representatives of both the facility and its planners was introduced by a USITTsponsored open meeting at Philharmonic Hall at Lincoln Center in the fall
of '62. The speakers included the architect; acoustical, lighting and interior
design consultants; and the Director of
Operations at Lincoln Center. The
meeting was an unqualified success,
with members coming from as far as
Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. to examine the entire structure (both front and rear) to poke into
all corners and question. This examination of new or rebuilt facilities has
been a continuing practice to the present day, with choice of conference sites
sometimes being weighted upon the facilities to be seen in the area.
Examination of the year '62- '63
reveals that the Institute continued to
serve as a source of information and
literature dealing with theatre architecture and technology. The operational
role as A TA's U.S. Center of the International Association of Theatre
Technicians was maintained. The Institute strengthened ties with the Amer-

SITT/Spring t985

ican Educational Theatre Association,
American ational Theatre and Academy, American Institute of Architects,
ational Opera Association,
,y,
Chapter of A TA's Board of Standards and Planning, Actors' Equity,
United Scenic Artists, ational Recreation Association and a number of other
groups in an effort to promote mutllal
cooperation and assistance on projects
dealing with theatre planning and
technology.
USITT publications and reprints
dealt with such topics as fire codes, projection systems, dressing room requirements, acoustical design, and low voltage lighting. During the year, interest
in the Institute had led to informal Regional Institute meetings at Chicago,
Boston, and Toronto, thus forwarding
the original objective of a national organization, In fact, the inaugural meeting of the Toronto Chapter of USITT
in Canada was held at the University of
Toronto, May 9, 1963 with Wally Russell acting as Chairman. The Toronto
chapter was subsequently formed and
chartered, thus becoming the first chapter of the Institute. The 1963 conference \\'as held April 15-16 at Juilliard
School; the general subject \\as "Performing Arts Centers: Civic, Community and Academic" with the concentration on the Los Angeles Arts Center;

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1985