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...
by Melissa Cleary | Jun 25, 2014 | Historic Documents, News, Theater
By Debra J’Anthony, Executive Director In early June of 1927, the Academy board of trustees began negotiations with Mr. C. W. Rackliffe, owner of the Majestic and Suffolk movie houses in Holyoke. Earlier, the Goldstein Brothers Amusement Company had approached...
by Melissa Cleary | Jun 18, 2014 | Historic Documents, News, Theater
By Debra J’Anthony, Executive Director A decision was reached during the trustee meeting of January 17, 1927, to amend the Players contract, which allowed for six final weeks of performance. The plans called for no rentals until after April 1st, and in the fall...