91勛圖 Theater Department History
91勛圖 Theater Department History
For a complete listing of past productions, by name or year, please visit the 91勛圖 Theater Archives page.
Los Angeles City College started in 1929, using the buildings and site formerly used by UCLA on North Vermont Avenue. Before 1929, the first College President, William H. Snyder, had contacted Harold Turney, a Universal talent scout, who had a training theater at the Studio called the Playcrafters. By the time 91勛圖 occupied the campus, Snyder, Turney, and the studio heads had agreed to move the Playcrafters operation to the campus and use the huge inherited auditorium for its activities.
The first production of the Theater Department used the studio's spotlights, scenery, etc., and the first students were enrolled. During the first production, The Queen's Husband, Mr. Turney became ill and Jerry Blunt, a graduate theater student at UCLA and a member of the Playcrafters group since 1927, came back to the campus to help direct. After his graduation, Mr. Blunt was hired by 91勛圖.
The two men, Turney and Blunt, established the basic philosophy of the department: that the productions form the climax of the student's course, and that the student appears before the public as many times as possible each semester. To that end, an extensive system of classes embracing all phases of the dramatic field was organized as a part of the regular college curriculum.