Gravenhurst Gambles On Theatre, Frank Johnston Biography

Original Works By Frank Johnston

IN THE GRAVENHURST LOCALE - THEATRE SUMMER - GETTING BUMS ON SEATS, THE BIG, BIG CHALLENGE

     I WAS A VOLUNTEER MEMBER OF THE FINAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FAILING……FAILED……AND GONE, MUSKOKA FESTIVAL BACK IN THE EARLY 1990'S. I WAS LOOKING AFTER ARCHIVES AND PUBLIC RELATIONS BUT BY THIS POINT, THERE WAS NO POINT. WHAT HAD BEEN A HUGE ATTRACTION AT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE, CERTAINLY IN THE HEYDAY OF THE EARLY 1980'S, HAD CRUMBLED AWAY INTO A GROUP THAT WASN'T ABLE TO PAY OFF ITS DEBT, LET ALONE REBOUND INTO ANOTHER SEASON. I HATED SEEING THIS HAPPEN BUT A LOT OF BUSINESSES WERE CRIPPLED AND CLOSED BY THE RECESSION OF THE EARLY 90'S, INCLUDING HOUSES LOST WHEN THE REAL ESTATE BUBBLE EXPLODED. WE NEARLY LOST OUR OWN HOUSE, WHEN VALUES DROPPED BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS. THE MUSKOKA FESTIVAL HAD ENJOYED SOME GREAT TRIUMPHS IN SUMMER THEATRE, BUT AS ANYONE IN THE TOURISM BUSINESS KNOWS WELL, A TREND CAN CHANGE IN ONE SEASON, AND FORCE IMMEDIATE NEED FOR REVITALIZATION. THE DYNAMIC OF MUSKOKA FESTIVAL WAS GOOD WHEN ATTENDANCE WAS HIGH, AND LACKING, WHEN IT WENT DOWN. AS AN EDITOR WITH THE LOCAL PRESS, I WATCHED THEIR TRIALS AND ERRORS FOR A LOT OF SUMMER SEASONS, AND ATTENDED MANY OF THEIR SHOWS, WHICH NUMBERED FOUR OVER EIGHT WEEKS…..AT LEAST THE ONES I REMEMBER. THE COMPANY WAS A BIG ADVERTISER WITH THE MUSKOKA SUN, AND WE, IN RETURN, GAVE THEM WEEKLY COVERAGE AND REVIEWS. THEY NEEDED US TO SURVIVE. WE NEEDED THEIR REVENUE TO EMPLOY SOME OF OUR STAFF. IT WAS A RECIPROCAL DEAL AND IT WORKED PRETTY WELL FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. THINGS CHANGE. RECESSIONS COME OUT OF THIN AIR.

     I HAVE LONG HOPED THAT ONE DAY, A PARALLEL THEATRE GROUP WOULD COME ALONG, AND REVITALIZE THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE, RESTORING THE SUMMER THEATRE TRADITION WE ENJOYED HERE FOR MANY DECADES, WITH A VARIETY OF GROUPS AND MANAGEMENT. BUT I DO REMEMBER THOSE FINAL YEARS OF MUSKOKA FESTIVAL, AND HOW THE MARKET-PLACE JUST SHUT THEM OUT. I REMEMBER LISTENING TO A PUBLIC PRESENTATION BY MICHAEL AYOUB, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS…….FINDING SHOWS THAT, AT THAT TIME, WOULD BRING BACK INTEREST IN THE THEATRE GENERALLY. OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE IN NEED OF A QUICK FIX. MONEY WAS OWING. SPONSORS IN SHORT SUPPLY. IT DIDN'T WORK THEN, AND IT HAS BEEN TRIAL BY FIRE EVER SINCE. SUCCESS FOLLOWED BY FAILURE, FOLLOWED BY THE SECOND VERSE, SAME AS THE FIRST. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HEART BROKEN THEATRE FOLKS, SHOW PROMOTERS, AND PERFORMERS, WHO EXPECTED TO DO BETTER…..BUT AT BEST ATTRACTED ONLY MODEST AUDIENCES, AND LOST MONEY FOR THEIR INVESTMENT OF TIME AND ENTHUSIASM. THERE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AT THE OPERA HOUSE IN RECENT HISTORY, THAT UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T, WITH THE GOOD VIBE, CREATE A STRING OF SUCCESSES, OR AN ENCOURAGING CYCLE OF EVENTS. A WINNER SHOW. A BOMB. PROFITABLE SHOWS. THE BIG LOSSES. IF THERE'S ONE THING THE OPERA HOUSE IN OUR TOWN HAS BECOME KNOWN FOR, UP TO AND INCLUDING TODAY, ITS GLARING INCONSISTENCY. PART OF THIS, IN MY OPINION, IS THAT THE TOWN LIKES TO KEEP MANAGEMENT TO THEMSELVES……THINKING THAT TO LET A BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAVE A GO, WOULD BE THE KIND OF PANDORA'S BOX, THAT WOULD OPEN UP ALL KINDS OF WEIRD GOINGS-ON OVER THERE. EVEN SUCCESSES WOULD BE LOOKED AT WITH MISTRUST. THEY ARE A STALWART BUNCH OVER THERE, UNRELENTING IN THE BELIEF THEY KNOW BEST…….EVEN WHEN IT'S THROWN BACK IN THEIR LAPS,  WITH CLEAR EVIDENCE, AS HAVING BEEN THE WRONG WAY TO HAVE TRAVELLED. THE HAIGHT BEQUEATH WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE. THE PUBLIC WAS RIGHT. I'M PRETTY SURE THE PUBLIC IS RIGHT ABOUT THE OPERA HOUSE AS WELL. WE'LL SEE HOW THIS WORKS OUT FOR OUR COUNCILLOR-ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMERS.  

     I READ THE ANNUAL TOWN OF GRAVENHURST LEISURE GUIDE, THAT I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL LAST WEEK, AND FOUND THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE SUMMER THEATRE PROGRAM, SCHEDULED FOR THE OPERA HOUSE, THIS SUMMER. HONESTLY I HAVE BEEN HOPING THAT ONE DAY, THE TOWN WOULD DROP ITS ROLE IN OPERA HOUSE PROGRAMMING, AND ALLOW AN APPOINTED LIAISON COMMITTEE TO HAVE GREATER CONTROL, AND EXERCISE GREATER DEMOCRACY THAN THE TOWN SHOWS ROUTINELY, WE HAVE BEEN CLEARLY, AND IN ONLY A FEW WORDS, "TOLD" WHAT WE CAN HAVE THIS SUMMER FOR A TREAT……..NOT ASKED FOR OUR OPINIONS. THAT GETS MESSY AND DRAWN OUT! SO WE'VE BEEN TOLD WHAT OUR OPTIONS FOR ENTERTAINMENT ARE, BASED ON THEIR BEST JUDGEMENT.  THEY KNOW US SO WELL, DON'T THEY? AS IF THE TOWN IS COMPLETELY IN TUNE WITH THE THEATRE INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR REGION OF ONTARIO. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE ALGONQUIN THEATRE AGENDA, FOR HUNTSVILLE AREA PATRONS, AND I WANT TO CRY……..WHAT'S IS WRONG WITH US?

     LET'S JUST SAY THAT THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST, IN ITS INFINITE WISDOM, HAS GAMBLED ON THE TWO-SHOW (PLUS ONE DINNER THEATRE) PROGRAM, FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER SEASON. EVEN HAVING FOUR SHOWS WAS A KILLER FOR MUSKOKA FESTIVAL, IN MEETING THE DEMANDS OF KEEN PATRONS…….THE FOLKS WHO ULTIMATELY JUSTIFY THE INVESTMENT AS POSITIVE, OR A WASTE OF TAX DOLLARS. I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING FOR SURE. OUR TOWN HAS PUT ALL ITS EGGS IN ONE BASKET AND THEY'RE RUNNING DOWN AN AWFULLY STEEP AND SLIPPERY SLOPE. THEY WERE STUBBORN WITH A PREVIOUS THEATRE GROUP, TO THE POINT THE PROMOTERS PULLED OUT ENTIRELY, WHEN ALL NEGOTIATIONS BOGGED DOWN…..AND THERE WASN'T MUCH ELSE TO SALVAGE. THEN LOW AND BEHOLD, WE'VE GOT A SECOND THEATRE PROJECT, AND PRESUMABLY THIS IS THE BEST ONE OF THE TWO. SO HOW DID IT COME ABOUT…..BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN KEPT PRETTY QUIET…..SO EITHER THE LOCAL PUBLICATIONS COULDN'T CARE LESS, OR THEY'VE BEEN KEPT IN THE DARK AS WELL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE FACT THE SECOND PROPOSAL……IF THIS IS WHAT IT WAS…..HAS NOT BEEN ON THE FRONT PAGES, AS THE PREVIOUS SUBMISSION WAS LAST YEAR. POSSIBLY A ROVING REPORTER MIGHT LOOK INTO THIS DEAL THAT APPARENTLY WASN'T NEWSWORTHY;  UNTIL NOW, WHEN IT HAS SHOWN UP IN THE LEISURE GUIDE AS A DONE-DEAL. YET IT IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW THINGS HAPPEN IN THIS TOWN. STRANGE BUT TRUE.

     THE TOWN HAS, IF NOTHING ELSE, DEMONSTRATED A LOT OF COURAGE HERE, ATTEMPTING TO PUT A SUMMER THEATRE BACK ON THE MAIN STAGE AT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO HAVE HAD MORE ABILITY TO COMMENT ON IT, IN ADVANCE OF READING ABOUT IT AS A DONE DEAL, BUT THE GREAT THING HERE, AND I MEAN IT, IS THAT COUNCIL HAS FIRMLY COMMITTED ITSELF TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. ANY FAILURES FALL DIRECTLY ON COUNCILLOR'S BROAD SHOULDERS. IF THEY HAVEN'T DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, AND RESEARCHED BACK TO WHY THE MUSKOKA FESTIVAL FAILED, AND PATRONS DECIDED TO STAY HOME THOSE LAST FEW SUMMERS, THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SHORTFALL. THEY HAVE MOVED FORWARD UNDAUNTED, AND I LIKE THEIR CONFIDENCE. I JUST HOPE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

     AS FOR THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. THE POSTURING HAS BEGUN. I'M ALL EARS.

     HAS MY SHARP EDGE RETURNED, AS ONE FRIEND CLAIMED I HAD LOST SINCE I STARTED WRITING ABOUT ANTIQUES? IT'S NOT INTENTIONAL FOLKS. SOMETIMES AS A TAXPAYER, YOU JUST HAVE TO SAY OR WRITE SOMETHING TO SEEK CLARIFICATION…….OR OTHERWISE IMPLODE. I'VE STAVE THIS OFF FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS, UNTIL SOMETHING ELSE REARS ITS HEAD MUNICIPALLY……THAT I CAN'T SIT ON…….AS THE CALM PERSON I AM.

ON A POSITIVE NOTE…….WITH SOME IMAGES OF AN OUTSTANDING GRAVENHURST ARTIST

     I am so pleased that the family of former Gravenhurst resident, Frank Johnston, has contacted me in the past few months, to lend support to a project biography, to showcase the late artist's work. I have been working on this biography for some time now, and I've received several generous offers of assistance from members of the artist's family, bolstered with many samples of his art work, and remembrances of times spent with him, at his Gravenhurst home / studio. Most recently, a grandson contacted me, with the offer of information for the biography, currently in progress, and two watercolor paintings Frank did of Toronto quite a few years ago. He was known in Gravenhurst, as the painter who had created the fabulous heritage studies of the steamship industry operating from Muskoka Wharf on Muskoka Bay…..that hung in the former Sloan's Restaurant on Muskoka Road. For the Sloan family, Frank Johnston did all their art work for advertisements, their menus, beverage list, and place mats. I believe he did the same for Ascona Place, and other Muskoka area businesses. He was a prolific commercial artist, and was well known for his greeting cards, he printed on his home press, and I have a special one, for Christmas, sent to me, as editor of The Herald-Gazette, from the then Treasurer of Ontario, Frank Miller, MPP for Muskoka-Parry Sound.

     What so many people, including his friends, didn't know at the time, was that Frank Johnston had worked as a print-maker for quite a few accomplished Canadian artists, first from his home in Picton, Ontario, where he was associated with Group of Eleven abstract artist, Harold Town. Town was immensely fussy about his art prints, and he knew Johnston was the master at his trade. As I mentioned previously, his work is mentioned in the book, "Hot Breakfast for Sparrows," the biography of Harold Town, as written by Iris Nowell. There is a photograph in the book of Town and Johnston laboring over the presses, late in the night, trying to get Town's perfect copies. Nothing else would do. There are also numerous references to the trips with Town and David Silcox aboard his cherished sailboat, the "Cara Mia," which was for years, tarped at the side of Johnston's house. As a biographer…..I would love to have been on that boat's deck for those get-togethers of Canadian art experts. Silcox, one of Canada's well known art historians, wrote the book, "Tom Thomson; The Silence of the Storm," with Harold Town. I have been promised a portrait of Frank Johnston done by Town, now in the possession of family. As a matter of minor irony, Johnston did my portrait for Hugh Clairmont, when the publication known as "Muskoka Today" was launched, that was used for my twice monthly column entitled, "Hometown Advantage." Hugh and Frank were good friends; and with his power of persuasion, Hugh was also able to get all the columnists illustrated this way……..and we were all honored to have this talented artist depict us for this new regional publication.

     While I probably repeat myself a lot in these blogs, I really do need to reiterate the connections I've made because of my assorted professions. The fact that I'm a writer most of the time, an historian some of the time, and an antique dealer wedged in between the other two, means that I am exposed to history, the arts, and antiquities, sometimes in the same conversation with a customer standing in our shop. I've been enjoying this connectedness for the past three and a half decades, and it certainly hasn't done me any harm. It has broadened my awareness of regional history especially. One of my very good customers, for about five years, at Birch Hollow Antiques, in Bracebridge, was Miss Audrey Judd, a former nurse, but best known as a member of the family, who were proprietors of the famous Lake Rosseau resort, known as Juddhaven. Audrey was a hobby historian herself, and I was a Muskoka history buff who readily admitted he didn't know it all. She was so incredibly patient, explaining how the resort developed and operated over the years, and characterized the regular customers, who stayed there year after year over the summer months. I never got bored of her stories. I benefitted from her knowledge, of what it was like growing up so intimate to the tourist industry, and identifying the differences between then and the modern era of the tourism economy. I was so happy to introduce her to my many Muskoka collector friends and customers, who were also spellbound by her charming personality, and insightful reminiscences. There were times we'd have four collectors at the same time, being regaled by Miss Judd, and we all benefitted from her generosity of information. This was never put into a book but should have been.

     The antique shop sales counter attracts a lot of elbows, a fair amount of posturing, historical banter, societal gossip, and collecting updates. We used to have so many entertaining conversations about our latest foibles, our best finds that week or month, and of course the tall, tall tales. I have made reference to the "LIARS CLUB," from a column once written by Toronto Sun columnist, Paul Rimstead, about his frequent visits to a favorite bar in Mexico, where he had travelled to, in order to work on his first novel. He had other assignments there as well, but largely, it was to explore his creative side……and we already knew how good he was as a daily columnist. He had one of the largest audiences of any columnist in Canada at the time. The LIAR'S Club, was really just a name for the afternoon debating society, and the folks who got in on the discussions daily…..good friends, trying to figure out the meaning of life. In the next few blogs, I'd like to share some memories, and even a few current events, where for me, the "LIARS club" of Rimstead's time, was replicated and paralleled for me, in whatever antique shop location I had at the time. Part of each day, for each week and each month, was spent in conversation with some pretty interesting folks…..who I dare say did know the meaning of life…….and now many of them are deceased. Did they leave this mortal coil knowing these truths? I hope so. They left me with a lot of wisdom, so I hope they put me on the right track for hitting those pearly gates with pomp and ceremony. I can't really explain, just how those friendships in the antique trade influenced my life thus far…..other than to say, profoundly so! Mine was not a bar, and the only beverage we had on the go, would have been coffee and soda pop. So we didn't get drunk and slobber on each other, about love lost and missed opportunity. Instead, we talked about history, particularly the Second World War, because we had numerous military collectors who used to visit and hang-out. It as like a history lesson every time they showed up…..individually, or by happenstance, as a group. I didn't like history lessons at school, but I sure enjoyed them over the counter of my antique shop. I also had the opportunity to handle hundreds of rare pieces of military history, including medals and uniforms, and it was the kind of hands-on experience, that was making a curator out of me by immersion. But we also debated and that was good sport. 

     It was great to have you drop by again for a visit. I hope you like the Frank Johnston paintings published at the top of today's blog. There are lots more to come in the future. I appreciate your ongoing support, and believe it or not, I'm always trying to improve this blog for your entertainment. It's been a hell of an adventure, since the first of November, 2012, when I began writing daily and with only a few exceptions, have been at this keyboard every day of the week ever since. I will be re-starting my "Muskoka as Walden" site by the Ist of April, with the assistance of the fine photographic work of Fred Schulz, a life-long resident of Kilworthy and Gravenhurst, one of the media veterans I trust most to represent the character of this magnificent region of Ontario. When we commence the writing / photographic partnership in early April, I will let you know via this blogsite. This is my own creative outlet, as it was for several years previous. I had to defer from it for awhile, in order to get this blog up and running successfully. It has now surpassed 70,000 hits since I began, with six hundred hits per evening. I am truly humbled. With monthly readership for my other columns, in "Curious; The Tourist Guide," (online as well as newsstands), and "The Great North Arrow," I am feeling honored but a tad overwhelmed by all the attention and emails…..and a little scared by the responsibilities of coming up with fresh and interesting material every day of the week. I appreciate your patience with a veteran writer, trying to gather up all the poop of a lifetime spent in good and stimulating company……in a fabulously exciting profession….or three. See you again soon. It looks to be a warm and wet week. Get out there and welcome the preamble to spring…….before we have a late season snow…..which is, of course, a tradition in Muskoka.