The Wilmette Park District's Wallace Bowl in Gillson Park as it looked in 1937.
Plans to rehabilitate the Bowl as near as possible to its original state are underway.

By Rita Kallman

Broadway Hits Delight Audiences At Wilmette's Wallace Bowl

Once a WPA project and now under control of the Wilmette Park District, the outdoor Starlight Theatre has become the community's favorite summer entertainment spot where young and old alike enjoy music and drama.

A hush settled over thousands of theatergoers attending opening night of "Oliver!", the first in a series of free productions presented this past summer by the Wilmette Park District. A voice welcomed them and called for the houselights to be dimmed. A rumble of laughter spread through the crowd because the sun had not yet set and daylight still permeated the amphitheatre.

Wallace Bowl in the Park District's Gillson Park has been the scene of free concerts since 1937. The setting, overlooking Lake Michigan, is splendid. Some 3,000 spectators can sit on flagstone terraces to watch the performances, and there is space for thousands more on the expanse of grass that fronts the stage. Giant evergreens form a natural back curtain.

The tradition of free concerts in Gillson Park began two years before the Bowl's completion. Music lovers were gathered at the Wilmette Waterworks Pavilion to hear the Illinois Symphony Orchestra perform in a series of outdoor concerts. During 1935 more than 70,000 North Shore residents turned out, and a contemporary observer termed the concerts "the most important musical events ever given in Wilmette."

Although the musicians were paid through Works Progress Administration (WPA) funds, all other costs were paid by sponsors. Full page ads elicited donations ranging from a dime to hundreds of dollars. While the orchestra was performing to packed houses at the Waterworks, WPA workers were building the Wilmette Amphitheatre in the adjacent park, designed by Gordon Wallace, superintendent of the Wilmette Park District from 1938 to 1968. The Bowl later was renamed for him.

Gillson Park was known as Washington Park when it was acquired by the park district in 1911. In 1955, it was renamed Gillson Park after Louis K. Gillson. the first president of the Park District Board of Com-

Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 November/December 1983

"The success of 'Fiddler on the Roof' prompted the Park District to name the Bowl
programs Starlight Theatre and to include three musicals the following season."

missioners.

The amphitheatre's stone terracing, initial landscaping and a temporary band shell were completed in July, 1937, and the concert series moved to its new home.

There were weekly concerts in the late 30s and 40s, but the orchestra was disbanded when Congress abolished WPA projects. However, the free concert format did not end. The Park District Board and the Recreation Board filled the gap with a variety of musical events.

The Fifth Army Band and the Navy Band appeared regularly on the program. The popularity of the concerts eventually led to additional performances. The 1951 schedule included band concerts on Tuesday night, choral concerts on Thursday night and recorded music on Sunday afternoon. Under the guidance of Russell Perry of the Wilmette Recreation Department, many musical groups performed. Among them were the Johnson Wax Choir, the New Trier Choral and Band combined concert group, the Wilmette Recreation Board Summer Band, the LaGrange Municipal Band, the Kraft Choir, and the U.S. Men of Steel.

In July, 1946, a permanent stage was dedicated. Charles A. Feltman, a Park Board Commissioner from 1937 to 1947, had contributed the $10,000 needed to build the stage, and the Great Lakes Blue Jacket Recruit Choir presented a program of sacred music to celebrate the occasion.

The North Shore Concert Band and the North Shore Harmonizers, two Park District affiliates, began performing in the Bowl in the early 1950s and have appeared annually ever since.

During the 1960s and '70s, television, movies and air-conditioning drew many away from the Bowl, but the beautiful setting of the outdoor amphitheatre still attracted many others.

When the Park District and the Recreation Board merged in the early 70s, the Park District took over Bowl programming, adding opera for children, band and dance concerts, puppet shows and other events.

In 1979 the Wilmette Children's Theatre, a park district program, produced Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" in the Bowl. The same production methods which have brought the Chidren's theatre national acclaim were used, and while the audiences were small, the concept of outdoor shows seemed to warrant additional testing.

"You've got to pick a pocket or two, boys, "says Fagin, played by Howard Meron, Skokie, in the Wilmette Park District's production of "Oliver!" in the free Starlight Theatre at the Wallace Bowl. Thousands attended the seven performances. The show received rave revues by newspaper critics and audiences. "Hello, Dolly!" also was staged in the outdoor amphitheatre. (Rita Kallman photo)

The following year, the Park District presented "Fiddler on the Roof." A professional staff, under the direction of producer Rick Owen, and local actors and actresses presented the Broadway favorite. The response was overwhelming. Thousands turned out for the six performances, many returning and bringing their friends. Attendance at subsequent programs increased substantially.

The success of "Fiddler on the Roof" prompted the Park District to name the Bowl programs Starlight Theatre and to include three musicals the following season. "Oklahoma!" "The Fantasticks," and "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off" drew capacity audiences. Attendance that season topped 50,000, the largest in 25 years.

Sponsors were sought to finance the expanded programming. The 1981 and 1982 seasons were partially funded by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council. Since the 1981 season, First Federal Savings of Wilmette has made generous annual donations.

In addition to the three musicals, a Gilbert and Sullivan Night, jazz and brass ensembles, dixieland, bluegrass and big-band concerts lent variety to the program. The 1981-82 seasons expanded still further to include Folk Night and big band concerts with the audience dancing under the stars. The dance night proved so popular that a repeat performance was scheduled, and "Brigadoon" and "Man of La Mancha" topped off the season.

The smash Broadway hits "Oliver!" and "Hello, Dolly!" were presented this year, along with a dance concert by Ensemble Espanol and an Aloha Night with the Polynesian dancers. A Cabaret Night and Folk Night dotted the schedule and the popular dancing under the stars to big band music was offered twice. A Gilbert and Sullivan Night featured the Savoy-Aires in a condensed version of "Princess Ida." The Wilmette Chorus and the Wilmette Community Band also performed. The North Shore Concert Band returned for its 28th season and the North Shore Harmonizers celebrated its 31st anniversary in the Bowl.

The years have taken their toll on the Bowl. Redwood benches originally attached to stone terracing deteriorated and were removed. The

Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 November/December 1983

stone has delaminated, and the septic system servicing the toilet facilities collapsed, to be replaced by portable washrooms.

Drainage is poor because of the Bowl's proximity to the lake. Storm water run-off is practically nonexistent and the water level in the area dividing the stage and the seating is within inches of the surface. Old age has not been kind to the evergreens that form a semi-circle around the stage. Mature when planted close together in 1946, they have become so crowded that many have grown spindly or died.

This year, the Park District selected the firm of Barton-Aschman to provide architectural and engineering plans for rehabilitating the aging Bowl. After extensive research the firm provided several alternatives.

Sound of Music came to Wallace Bowl in 1982 with Barbara Rosin (left), Wilmette, and Jo Ann Minds, Northbrook, playing star roles in the popular musical.

Based on the study, the Park Board has recommended restoring the historic site as close to its original state as possible. "Those familiar with the Bowl of the 1930s will feel they have taken a giant step back in time," says Tim Ubben, Park Board President.

The $450,000 project includes new stone terracing with Douglas fir benches, improved drainage, minor stage modifications, and new landscaping.

The Ouilmette Foundation, a nonprofit organization, was founded in November, 1982, to help finance Wilmette's parks and performing arts programs. Its first project has been the planning and implementation of a fund-raising campaign to cover the cost of restoring the Bowl. Reconstruction began as soon as this summer's series ended. Trustees serving on the Foundation's Board are Lloyd Allison, Warren Burmeister, Renee Crown, Bill Lambrecht, Carl Stanley and Park Board Commissioners Phyllis Cossarek and Tim Ubben.

Although the Bowl is slightly tarnished those who continue to enjoy an evening's entertainment still find it anything but dull.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rita Kallman, publicist for the Wilmette Park District, is a graduate of Andover Academy in Massachusetts and Northwestern University (Bachelor of Music in Applied Piano). She formerly was a model. Ms. Kallman turned to recreation and leisure profession after becoming a curling instructor

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 November/December 1983