Code,400004
Subject,"Thomas Rathburn, tour guide for playhouse square"
Date,11/3/2005
Interviewer,Bridget Sekuterski
Abstract,"In this 2005 interview, Thomas Rathburn, a native Clevelander and accountant, describes his history as a theater volunteer since the mid 1960s, especially his experiences since 1988 as a volunteer tour guide for Cleveland Playhouse Square.  Mr.  Rathburn is a Baldwin-Wallace graduate, and studied theater as a graduate student at Bowling Green State University.  Mr. Rathburn tells stories about the history of Playhouse Square, including how the play “Jacque Brell is alive and well in Paris” saved theater in downtown Cleveland, after Cleveland’s theaters closed in the late 60’s.  He describes the theaters of Playhouse Square; how the theaters were renovated and restored to their grand early years; how the Playhouse Foundation works; and the role played by volunteers in keeping Playhouse Square vibrant."
Special Notes,"playhouse square, local tourism, urban development"
minutes:,
1,introduction and background
2,childhood trolley trips through downtown cleveland
3,education and family migration
4,
5,becoming both a dramatist and an accountant
6,"Music Carnival repertoiry company and temporary theatre (working with beverly sills, harry belafonte, martin luther king)"
7,
8,union agreement
9,
10,
11,"playhouse square in the early 1970s (""the time of hippies and beatniks"" and ""the show that saved the theatres"")"
12,
13,
14,
15,
16,working as a volunteer tour guide for playhouse square
17,
18,
19,"""it's not unlike being a teacher… a loud voice helps too"""
20,"""the volunteers were very involved in the restoration of the Allen [Theatre]"""
21,
22,
23,training volunteer tour guides
24,
25,
26,length and content of tours
27,
28,playhouse square educational programming
29,
30,partnership with WCPN-WVIZ Ideastream
31,
32,
33,
34,tour content
35,
36,
37,favorite local shows
38,
39,
40,economic importance of playhouse square to cleveland
41,
42,
43,collaborating with other historic theatres
44,
45,"[44:30] other possible interview subjects, including some biographical information on each"
46,
47,Euclid Corridor Transportation Project
48,
49,upcoming events
50,end
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