I missed Charles Dockins‘ birthday by a day if Facebook is to be believed. I’ve been sitting on these photos of Chuck (I don’t think any of us called him “Charles’) preparing for the role of Mr. Zuss in the SEMO play J.B.
I was hoping to find other pictures of opening night, but they’re hiding. (Click on the photos to make them larger.)
First production in new theater
Matt Sanders wrote an interesting look at the background of the Rose Theater in the April 19,2007, Missourian:
Construction on the theater began in 1964 as part of the Language Arts Building, which would later be named for Dr. H.O. Grauel, a longtime English professor and administrator at what was then known as State College. Two years later the Rose, originally called “The Theatre,” hosted its first production in fall 1966, “J.B.,” a drama based on the book of Job.
The last production was 42nd Street, performed in 2007. Shows since then have been performed at the River Campus.
Dockins, a Boy Scout hero
February 20, 1960, a 12-year-old Chuck Dockins rescued two girls from a burning car. Follow the link for the whole story and to see photos of him in Red Dagger plays at Central High School.
I’m going to slack off
I’m feeling pressure to get some projects done before I head back to Cape in October. I hate to break from my seven-day-a-week posting schedule, but I haven’t figured out a way to fit more than 27 hours in a day. I’m not sure what my temporary schedule will be, but sign up for the email notifications and keep an eye on Facebook to see when I have new content.
I loved the Rose Theater! It was so comfortable! I loved taking classes there over the years.
I hate to say it, but I’ve been to the River campus only once, and I left at the intermission. I’ve never been so uncomfortable in a theater. I got claustrophobia–no leg room and hardly any room between seats. It appears to me that they’ve sacrificed seat comfort in favor of that huge entry. I realize how unpatriotic I sound, but there it is…
I loved Dr. Grauel! Quirkiest teacher I ever had! When he taught Shakespeare, it was with authority!
Oops–What I meant was–I took my high school English classes to plays at the Rose! What a thrill it was for them!
I attended the play and thought, WOW what cool makeup for about 10 seconds and then I was lost in the acting. Chuck was great in this production. I did see several other plays over the years, Keith Kelly was in several too, not as a lead but he was their and enjoyed them.
Dr. Grauel was a member of my church I knew him growing up. I had a white over black vynal roof, 65 mustang with Goodyear Wide Ovals with thin white walls, that car was way cool. He was an elder in the church and used to help him deliever communion to people who could not come to church. He was a great guy. Dr. Bierk at SEMO was his friend for years and cared for him in Dr. Graul’s later life.
A note on Chuck Dockins, whenever I have a near death experiance, Chuck is the voice in the background that reads highlights and lowlights as my life flashes by. I guess all those years of Chuck doing plays in High School, College and announcing over the PA in a dark room did make an impression. Who is the voice that reads your life when it flashes by?
Ken – I’ll miss your daily posting but both my husband and I have been mystified by the consistency of your posts…They are always witty and worth reading,informative and funny so nobody can do that without a break! hope you enjoy the “time away” and altho’ I don’t do Facebook, I’ll keep an eye out for The Renewed.
I couldn’t exactly quit cold turkey, so there will be a post in the morning. You may get a few like this from time to time while I’m working on the other stuff.
Wife Lila get cranky when I call them “throwaways:” pictures that aren’t particularly exciting and don’t have much of a story associated with them.
Of course, I can never judge response. Some of the “throwaways” end up getting a dozen comments, not because the post was so good, but because it gets folks thinking of something else.
Thanks for sticking with me. It’s been fun cranking out 885 posts.
+By all means Ken, slack off for a few because those 27 hour days can wear you down. Take good care of Lila’s to-do list!
jOE wHITRIGHT