Lake Placid News, July 15, 1927 An Adirondack Players production starring Rosalind Russell in Saranac Lake, June 10-12, 1929 Lake Placid News, Jin 19, 1931 The Adirondack Players was a summer stock theater group in Saranac Lake that featured the slogan "A Bit of Broadway in the Mountains." It was started in 1927 by former vaudevillian David S. Hall in 1928. 1, and run by Edward Casey, who had cured in the village, and Richard Bartell. 2 A 1932 magazine The Gateway To The Olympics (1932) described the outfit as "a company of professionals spending their Summer vacations in Saranac Lake, give six evening and two matinee performances weekly in their own theater during the months of July and August." 3 They performed in a Tent Theater behind the bank on Main Street, on the shore of the Saranac River. The Adirondack Players chief claim to fame is that they helped launched the career of Rosalind Russell in 1929.

Raymond Barrett was stage manager and Allen Mathes signed on as technical director. Jack Backes was the assistant to Mr. Mathes. Harry Kennedy was stage manager and Chester Park held the title "master of properties". Seymour Andrus was the assistant stage manager and Mrs. J. H. Reid, treasurer.

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Lake Placid News, June 3, 1927

'Adirondack Players' to Open in Saranac Lake

Summer Stock Company Will Present Broadway Hits with Metropolitan Cast

Sarannc Lake this summer will offer to the public a dramatic stock company to be known as the "Adirondack Players." The initial production of this company of experienced Broadway actors and actresses will be "Is Zat So," which will be presented at the Summer theatre, Saranac Lake, beginning Monday, June 6.

This production ran for two solid years in New York city, and is known as one of the hits of recent theatrical seasons. M. Elmer Buffman, well-known stock company manager, will direct this new company which from advance notices should offer an interesting theatrical fane this summer for the delectation of theatre goers in this section of the Adirondacks.

Lake Placid News, July 1, 1927

ADIRONDACK PLAYERS PLEASE LOCAL PATRONS

The Adirondack Players, the stock company now presenting leading Broadway successes in the Summer theatre in Saranac Lake, are attracting considerable local patronage.

Those who have been so fortunate as to attend the productions given to date are loud in their praises of the efforts of these Thespians who are bringing to the Adirondacks a notable collection of dramatic successes fresh from Broadway. In fact many of their productions have been shown in New York during the twelve months just past. Each play is presented with that sureness of touch that only long professional training can insure.

Good, clean amusement is always worth while. This the Adirondack Players are presenting in unstinted measure. Success should attend their noteworthy efforts. Their advent in the ranks of summer attractions in this section of the North Country is welcomed by all. They bring the breath of Broadway at its best to the pine-laden air of the mountains.

Lake Placid News, June 15, 1928

ADIRONDACK PLAYERS OPEN IN SARANAC LAKE

The Adirondack Players, appearing in the summer tent-theatre at Saranac Lake, presented the first three days of the current week, as their initial offering of the season, "The Baby Cyclone," a fast-moving, laugh-provoking three-act comedy by George M. Cohan.

Last year was the first that the company appeared in the Adirondacks. They attracted considerable patronage from Lake Placid. Many new faces are noted in the company of Broadway players this year, all of whom, if this week's performances are any criterion, will afford theatre-goers plenty of the best amusement during the summer.

Included in the cast are Allen Mathes, Pamela Robinson, Bentley Wallace, Albert Moore, Ralph Dorr, who was with the company last summer, Octavia Powell, G. B. Kingston, Wallie Palmer, Carlotta Davies, and Frank Lindsay.

The Adirondack Players are under the personal management of Fred DeBondy. Their first offering was most favorably received. The Players will be in Saranac Lake throughout the summer.

Lake Placid News, August 24, 1928

ADIRONDACK PLAYERS PLEASE IN PRODUCTIONS

The Adirondack Players, who are appearing for their second season in the tent theatre in Saranac Lake, continue to attract large audiences, as guests and residents of this section of the Adirondacks are evidently appreciative of the efforts which this company is putting forth to entertain them.

The company is under the management of Ralph Door and Edward Casey. Recently the big tent was remodelled in order to provide better accommodations for the audiences.

Lake Placid News, June 14, 1929

AD'K PLAYERS PLEASE IN OPENING BILL

Opening their summer season on Monday night in the big tent just off Main street in Saranac Lake, the Adirondack Players pleased a large and appreciative audience with their initial production, "This Thing Called Love."

The show was put on with all the snap and go that one would expect to find only on Broadway. All members of the cast were given a cordial welcome, particularly those who were known to the audience by their work in the company in past seasons.

Old faces noted were Ralph Dorr; Miss Eleanor Andrus, a Saranac Lake girl; Phil Van Zandt; Wallie Palmer; Sarah Kyles; and Edward Casey.

Newcomers include Miss Rosalind Russell and Jerry Lynch, taking leading parts; Richard Bartell, who is joint owner of the stock company with Mr. Casey; Anna May and Judith Alden; and Raymond Barrett. All are capable players.

Many of the company played in Broadway shows last winter, while others had leading parts in prominent stock organizations throughout the country.

"Charm" is the bill for the last half of this week. The company gives every evidence of more than living up to the standards set in past seasons and the advance notices with respect to this year's cast.

Lake Placid News, June 6, 1930

ADIRONDACK PLAYERS OPEN NEXT WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday, June 11, the popular Adirondack Players. Saranac Lake's well-known stock company, will open their 1930 season. All productions will be staged in the big tent at the rear of 58 Main street, Saranac Lake.

A new plan of billing is to be followed this year, it is announced by the management. Under this new plan there will be no performances on Monday or Tuesday. Only one production will be given each week, on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, with Saturday matinee.

Edward Casey and Richard Bartell are owners of the theatre and will manage the big company of players as well as take leading parts in the different productions. Several new faces are to be seen, it is announced. Ian Emery will be the new male lead, and Allen Moore, will be leading juvenile. Allen Mathis returns as technical director after a year's absence. Eleanor Andrus and Anna May are among the members of the company who are already in Saranac Lake rehearsing for the first production next Wednesday night. Only well-known hits from the New York speaking stage are to be offered by the Adirondack Players this summer, the management states.

Lake Placid News, August 15, 1930

ADIRONDACK PLAYERS TO PRESENT FAMOUS FARCE

The Adirondack summer theatre at Saranac Lake will be the locale of a notable attraction next week. The Adirondack Players present the famous A. H. Woods laugh success, "The Girl in the Limousine." This great farce hit is the work of Avery Hopwood, author of "Up in Mabel's Room," "The Gold Diggers," and "Fair and Warmer," and is considered the peer of any of these great mirth hits.

The plot of "The Girl in Limousine" revolves about the hold up of a well known society man by two highwaymen who rob him of everything, including his clothes, and leave his unconscious body under a bed in the very house towards which he has been headed as a week-end guest. From this point on the farce moves with irresistibly funny complications to its finale.

"The Girl in the Limousine" has been characterized the farce with a laugh every minute. It is a mass of comic confusion in which is mingled brilliant and side-splitting dialogue.

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Footnotes

1. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, February 1, 1965
2. Plattsburgh Press-Republican, Sara-Placid Edition, June 12, 1982, p. 12.
3. Adirondack Daily Enterprise, January 27, 1955

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