Aiken Playhouse marks decade of stage growth and plans
The Aiken Community Playhouse recounts ten years of progress from humble venues to a larger Virginia Acres building and a 20 foot extension in 1974. The group notes stable membership around 527, with plans for an 80 by 80 foot expansion and an orchestra pit while continuing four plays a season.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aiken Community Playhouse
Aiken Jr. High School
Virginia Acres
Jim Moore
Playhouse
The
Fantastics
Moore
Augusta Players
Aiken
Arkenites
Hopeland Gardens
Usc-Aiken
Aiken County Today Briefs Open New Year
Local page notes January 1 1980 happenings in Aiken County with short items on community events and notices. Officials remind residents of holiday schedules and service changes as the new year begins.
Rose Hill Art Center Growers in Aiken Through Decade
The Rose Hill Art Center in Aiken began in 1971 when Nancy Wilds and Pat Koelker repurposed Miss Claudia Lea Phelps estate stables and outbuildings to create a new arts venue. It evolved from crafts to fine arts, affiliated with USC Aiken, offering classes, studios, and a print shop, with funding from tuition fees, USC Aiken support, and fundraisers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rose Hill
Nancy Wilds
Pat Koelker
Claudia Lea Phelps
Aiken
Wilds
Usc-Aiken
Elizabeth Hamilton
Elizabeth O’neill Verner
Aiken Library Moves to Banksia in 1974 Renovations
Head librarian Maurine Lackey notes 1974 relocation to Banksia marks a decade of growth despite funding cuts. Nellis Smith highlights rising circulation from 115 229 in 1968 69 to 146 758 in 1978 79 and stock from 109 383 to 168 402, helped by regional library support and state grants. Plans for Banksia include a possible second floor renovation with meeting rooms study areas and more.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dibble
Banksia
Aiken
Maurine Lackey
Nellis Smith
Aiken- Bamberg-Barnwell
Aiken Civic Ballet Grows Despite Small Town Size
The Aiken Civic Ballet Company led by Carl W. Crosby nurtures semi professional dancers who perform in New York Canada and Europe while maintaining a junior company for younger talent. Alumni like Dennis Michaelson and Marshall Haggins have joined national companies and tours with Scott Crosby noting a peak year and plans for a regional arts center.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Africa Civic Ballet Company
Carl W. Crosby
New York
Canada
Europe
Aiken Company
Aiken
Crosby
Aiken Civic
Michael Plunkett
Perfo
Dennis Michaelson
Marshall Haggins
New Ellenton
National Company of
Civic Ballet
Hopeland Gardens
Columbia
Camden
Orangeburg
Hopelands
John McMahan
Aiken arts memories capture 1970s theater and exhibits
A series of captions recalls 1970s Aiken Community Playhouse rehearsals for Dames at Sea in May 1976 with McMahon Rodgers Beaumont Loftin Ewing Lamphard. Rose Hill Art Center exhibits. King of Hades visit. promotions with Lisa Bell Lou Ann Clyburn Megan Turne. Banksia library move in 1974. pottery workshops by John Formo. Tammy Butler chalk art in 1976. Lady of the Tiger cast from 1972. and the Aiken Choral Society May 1976 spring concert under Antoine Cordahi.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John McMahon
Eddie Rodgers
Marc Beaumont
Wayne Loftin
Mike Ewing
Kevin Lamphard
Aiken Community Playhouse
Rose Hill Art Center
Ann Adele Lee
Rose Hill
Aikenites
Canadian Opera Company
Friends
Lisa Bell
Lou Ann Clyburn
Megan Turne
Aiken Civic Ballet Company
Hopeland
Banksia
Jackie Cato
Princess Barbara
George Cole
Sanjar
Aiken Choral Society
Antoine Cordahi
Aiken Community Concert Association marks decade of growth
Norman Howard notes ten years of rising support with 1990 memberships selling out the 930 seat Aiken Junior High auditorium. The Howards say new younger members and patronage funds boosted finances as a fifth concert was added with grants from arts groups.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aiken
Arkenites
Howards
Aiken Choral Society History and Baroque Festival
Music writer Jan Boylston recalls the Aiken Choral Society's 1971 founding by Hugh Clark Vic Montengohl and Paul Parks. The group grew, split in 1975 with a fall concert by women, and later embraced Baroque works including Bach and Vivaldi with Cordahi as conductor. The society funds concerts through dues and donations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aiken Choral Society
Hugh Clark
Vic
Will Cole
Antoine Cordahi
Benjamin Britten
Gloria
S.C. Arts Commission
National
Jowment For the Arts
Oere
Also Mentioned on This Page
Jim Schubert
Steven Boutwell
Alexis Gregorian
Kim Maddox
Playhouse History
Anne Frank
Aitken Standard
Aiken County
Faye Schoolcraft Rice
Arts Center
Lynne Katonak
Sarah Caskey
Plie
Evelyn Mappus
Aiken Civic Ballet
Jan Boylston
Betty Groh
Baroque
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!