As a former member of the Barn Theatre for many years, having grown up in that illustrious group, I was wondering if anyone knows what happened to the photos that were taken of Barn Theatre productions? I was in a number of them, and worked on many others, and would like to obtain copies of these to have in my personal collection. My mom and Dad were founding members of this group, and I know Jean Freese had them for a long time...maybe Amorette knows what has happened to them or where I could get copies? Anyway, I welcome any input...and thanks in advance for any assistance that can be provided.

Barbara Boe Anderson ([email protected])

Hello, Barbara! I'll try to remember to ask Mom and Denise Hartse (current Barn president) about old photos. Dana Jablinski wrote me she has a few with her dad in them as well. Want me to connect you two?

Bill saw Bruce and Bruce's daughter at MSU a few weeks ago. Guess she is considering a film major. Wears all black so should fit in.

Amorette

Hi Amorette and Barb: Yes I do have a few pictures from the Barn Players. I would say circa 1960's... Mom has marked on the back of some of them: Pictured are Jean Freese, George and Marge Nelson, Gayle Lucas (former Mrs. Jim Lucas) and my father Leo Jablinske, plus a few other unknowns... I will try to scan them and email them to Amorette.

Is there a place on this website to download photos to share will others??

Dana

Well, we are sort of planning a Boe kid reunion in Miles City and will be in the area in April (hopefully) and it would be so fun to be able to sort through and find pictures of plays we were in or worked on--if anyone gets photos scanned onto a disk I'd love a copy. Dana, I remember your folks well--many a Barn Party was livened up with their presence! Anyway, maybe we can connect in April? Email me privately ([email protected]) and we'll set something up.

Barbara

Yes, Sarah (Bruce's daughter/my neice) will be at Bozeman next year, and my son Kris will start there in January 2007. His major will be Sociology/Criminal Justice, whereas hers will be film. I don't know that they will see much of each other, but they have always been good friends. I'm glad Bruce got to see Bill--I saw him a few years ago when Bruce and I were traveling back from Washington and stopped in Belgrade. It brought back a lot of memories. I'll bet you don't remember me babysitting you when you were little, do you?

Barbara

Barb: I am trying to scan them right now. I will forward them to you and to Amorette. Hopefully she can print them out or get them to Jean. I am sure she will remember who some of the other people are that are unnamed in these photos.

I am living in Two Harbors MN (by Duluth). Both Carmen and Kent are in Miles City. Carmen moved back there last fall with her new husband Brad Knutson.

Take Care, Dana

Dana:

How totally cool! I moved to Great Falls after living in Eden Prairie, Minnesota for twenty-three years. I have really enjoyed being back in Big Sky Country--Mom always said you can take the girl out of Montana but you can't take Montana out of the girl! I guess that's true...although I did move away from the cactus and sagebrush towards the mountains. I go back to MN every year or so to visit my girlfriends but my youngest son lives with us here, and the eldest is still in MN in St. Cloud going to college. Who knows where he'll end up?

I got the photos, but sorry--couldn't identify anyone more than you had. Jonathan couldn't either and said the only one he recognized was Jean Freese! Thanks for scanning and sending them though.

Barbara

I have to get my new printer hooked up and then see if Mom can identify. She has macular degeneration, so don't hold your breath, but may be able to figure out who is was if she can figure out which play had that cast.

Amorette

Amorette:

Have you heard back from Denise Hartse? Maybe she could email me directly...

Barbara

Haven't talked to Denise yet. Mom says some may be buried in the back of a closet but I haven't had a chance to look yet. THings get buried at Mom's house.

Amorette

I was a Barn player from 1955 to 1961 and have long wanted to get my hands on copies of the pictures that we took for each play. I could probably provide names for many of those players that remain unknown in the pictures. If I wasn't on the stage for a production, I was working behind the stage. Always there, and loved it. Especially loved our funky little theater that was contrived out of two boxcars and the old seats scavenged from the remodeled Liberty Theater in town. A bit of ancient history.

I worked with many of the early stalwarts: Leo Jablinske, Gayle Lucas, Jean Freese, John Metropolous, Harold Boe, Ella Rivenes. I'd love to see anythng you've got and can send along.

Pass my regards along to Jean, please.

Shari Swanson

Sounds like a summer scanning project. Problem, as I recall the scrapbook pages are larger than the regular scanner format. Cripes Larry, time for another contest (only the long time milescity.commies will know of what I speak). This might be a good project . . . must be some grant money out there for such a worthy cause.

Bart:

I have been in touch with Denise and offered my services to scan photos or photograph old posters or whatever surfaces. I can make a trip to Miles City quite easily, since I live in Great Falls, and will be there the end of April. Amorette was going to look and see about unearthing photos, etc. that your mom may have, and maybe Denise would put something in the Star about collecting memorabilia to create a permanent record of Barn Theater activities. About Grant money--feel like writing one?

Barbara

This whole grant thing sounds great, and will be lots of work if it gets off the ground. You mentioned posters. I'd also like to see some of the programs. I had programs from all of the productions I was involved in, complete with autographs and wonderful comments from my fellow players. I lost them during one of our moves, and that has been heartbreaking. Of course, the comments are gone, but I'd like to review the programs if that is possible.

Amorette,

It's been awhile since I perused this site, I have been extremely busy with my little business. I wanted to show you my latest creation, if you have the time. I don't want to clutter up this thread with unrelated musings, so here is my email address. [email protected]

Donna

I think it would be very interesting to go through the old photos--we used to have some from really early productions, but my Mom threw them away when she became ill and moved to Washington. I remember when my Mom made the stage curtains for the original Barn Theater, and when they moved, she modified them to fit the new stage. I know we had photos of that (black and white) which have since disappeared. Does any one know if there were copies made or or any photos taken of productions in the original Barn?