by Melissa Cleary | Sep 8, 2016 | Historic Documents, News, Press Release
An unexpected find: Academy of Music restores historic scenic curtain By STEVE PFARRER Time was when all kinds of places had them: theaters, town halls, grange halls, opera houses, or any place else you might stage some kind of artistic performance. Scenic backdrop...
by Melissa Cleary | Jul 30, 2014 | Historic Documents, News
This is the final post in our Academy of Music history series. Thank you for joining us on the journey! By Debra J’Anthony, Executive Director At the end of 1935, the Academy experienced two big changes – a woman on the board of trustees and a lease agreement....
by Melissa Cleary | Jul 24, 2014 | Historic Documents, News
By Debra J’Anthony, Executive Director The Northampton Board of Alderman voted to appropriate twenty thousand dollars to re-decorate the theater in the summer of 1930 and Smith President Neilson moved to order 700 chairs with “leather upholstery both back...
by Melissa Cleary | Jul 16, 2014 | Historic Documents, News
By Debra J’Anthony, Executive Director At the board meeting on June 8, 1929 with all members present, a discussion was had regarding the request made by Charles Rackliffe to replace the seats and re-decorate the auditorium. He further stipulated that the work...
by Melissa Cleary | Jul 9, 2014 | Historic Documents, News, Theater
By Debra J’Anthony, Executive Director Seven months after the Academy Players’ first production on the Academy stage, the Northampton lodge of Elks entered into a presenting arrangement with the theater’s general manager, Charles Rackliffe. The Gazette noted on...
by Melissa Cleary | Jul 2, 2014 | Historic Documents, News, Theater
By Debra J’Anthony, Executive Director Charles Rackliffe of Holyoke took over managing the Academy of Music on July 1, 1927 with a one-year profit sharing agreement of 50% of net earnings. He sites himself as general manager and employs an executive staff...