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ChautauquasTo Canadians born after 1930, the name "Chautauqua" will mean very little; yet for ten to fifteen years previous to that date the Chautauqua was a commercialized movement bringing to the smaller towns of the western prairies pleasing entertainment of a high standard, with a degree of "culture" placing it in a distinctive role. ...
For many years, one impressario, Wallace Graham of Toronto had booked small groups of outstanding Canadian musicians and entertainers into nearly every town in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Headliners among these were Jimmy Fax, comedian; Maude Buschlen, violinist; Ruthven Macdonald, basso; Arlene Jackson, comedienne; Jessie MacLachlan, Scottish soprano; Mark Hambourg, pianist and Boris Hambourg, ‘cellist, and the Swiss Bell Ringers.
Nearly every one of these companies had their printing done by Enterprise Show Print. It was intriguing to have to deal with the peculiar notions some had as to the style of posters and other printing they used. ...
In 1925, a company was organized with a Dominion charter under the name of Community Chautauquas Limited. There were seven shareholders, six being local Rouleau people along with Graham. ...
Community Chautauquas was the only one of the many set up on the North American continent to show a profit on its first year of operation. .. (Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 93-95)
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Daughter Jessie McBain talks about the chautauquas.21 October 2003
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Winnipeg was, this was the western chautauqua and Wallace Graham was the fellow who first started this and made his headquarters in Rouleau because of the printing availability.He would get the acts, the performers, excellent speakers and soloists, and artist who could draw something one way and turn the picture upside down and it was something completely different.
Us kids thought that was great. Dad worked very closely with Wallace Graham on that. It was so educational. The winter groups that toured through the small towns were a certain type of entertainement and then in the summer they were under canvas.
Did a lot for the small town. And I can see that we didn't keep some of the folders that dad printed.
We had a string quartet from Toronto, a Hawaiian orchestra one summer. It was very varied, but always good, good speakers.
Jessie McBain
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The Emeralds Woodblock in Yellow1 January 1920
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Musician with Bow Tie Zinc Woodblock in Black King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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Various Performers Zinc Woodblock in Blue King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1940
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A Lady Singer Zinc Woodblock in Blue King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1940
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Cowboy Singer Zinc Woodblock in Blue King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1940
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Cowboy with Lasso Zinc Woodblock in Blue King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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Cowboy with Lasso 2 Zinc Woodblock in Blue King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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McClory Star of Stage, Radio and TV, Zinc Woodblock in Blue1 January 1920
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Green the Magician Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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Doug Autry Singing Cowboy Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints17 August 1920
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Dancing Waters Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
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