Our History

The Community Players started in Streeters Opera House, Giving a home talent play each year of 1918, 1919, and 1921. In 1922 they gave their first play at the Regent Theatre “Nothing but the Truth.” The cast for the play read like a professional list from Broadway: C.A. Sirrine, Harold Tripp, Craig Bentall, Gordon Kroft, A.S. Butler, Abbie Smith, Alice Cook Hare, Dorothy Austin, Rita Eckert, Winifred Congdon and Evelyn Kraft. This play went over big. In 1923, they put on the History Class Vaudeville and in 1924, “Around the Clock with Debutantes.”

Some claim that the Community Players were not organized until the summer of 1923 after Graig Bentall has played a season with Bonstelle Players in Detroit. In the autumn of 1924, the players were re-organized under the direction of Abbie Smith and four plays were presented during the years 1923-1924. Each year sees the organization vastly improved by past experience. Those that took part had no thought of personal financial gain, but sought only self-improvement and to render needed aid to local benevolent organizations. It has been their constant endeavor to give the public only high class plays, and this in one of the organizations that the City of Allegan has grown to be proud of. During the first three years they turned over to other organizations for benevolent and community welfare better than $2,250.00. It was very interesting for the writer to go back through the scrapbooks for the Community Players. They read like an Allegan Who’s Who, each player having carved a place for himself in the history and legends of Allegan, via our own living theatre marques, on Broadway. The players have had their ups and downs, their dark years, their war years. However, they always bounced back with some wonderful plays: Life with Father, Bus Stop, Carnival, Little Women, and Craig’s Wife.

Each play must have its director and one must only walk in the Griswold Auditorium when they see upon the wall a plaque that reads “To Honor Abbie B. Smith for her many years of unselfish devotion to the little Theatre Arts though which this community has enjoyed much wholesome entertainment.” Dedicated May 15, 1949 by the Allegan Community Players. Mrs. Malcom Smith known to everyone as “Abbie” was at home whether she was coaching a play, painting the scenery, or making costumes. She often toured the factories, mills, stores and offices in search for new talent. She used the theory that everyone has some dramatic instinct, and when she found someone who would fit into a play, she was quite likely to introduce herself, and offer them the role right then and there. Most of her new players were only given a dew lines at their first appearance, but many worked in more important roles very soon.

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We have had a number of folks that haver served as Directors. After Craig Bentall and Abbie Smith, there was Dorothy Schmitz, Ruth Abernathy, Mrs. Robert Purkey, Russell Warner, Ruby Follett, Julia Cortright, Anda Schelahas, Lynn Nahikian and Carleen Krickow.

While it is, and always will be, the actors who receive the most credit, we must not forget the folks who work back stage, and to who much of the success of a production is due. We have many such workers on the players staff, but there is one conscientious, tireless worker who has gained knowledge and skill through the hard school experience, who means more to the success of the production than any one person. His consecration to his favorite avocation has made the new stage in the Griswold Auditorium what it is, to him is due the credit for the excellent lighting and other stage equipment. He has spent untold hours studying and working to get the best possible working arrangement and enough cannot be said in praises of his efforts. This person is the Stage Manager who has served us so faithfully for years, Mr. Clair McOmber.

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All the World’s a Stage. There have been many hundreds from our community who have crossed in front of the footlights, that have furnished us with much entertainment. They have got enjoyment, as well as the audience out in front of the curtain. Come of the actors have been professionals, and the rest of them, oh well, the rest have done the very best they could. There has always been a full house, to watch the performance whether it was a musical, a melodrama, a comedy, a minstrel or a juvenile show. too much cannot be said through the years as they practice to put on another production. One cannot estimate how many hours of pleasure the Community Players have brought to the people.