Strollers Student Theatrics Society and Scarlet Mask Records
SPEC.TRI.SSM
Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
2.75 Cubic feet
1901-2004
The Strollers Student Theatrics Society and Scarlet Mask Society were student theatrical societies at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. The records contain programs, newspaper clippings, flyers, and a variety of other formats dated 1901-2004.
(5) 5" legal document boxes, (1) 2.5" legal document box
English
Ohio State University. Scarlet Mask Club.
Ohio State University. Strollers Dramatic Society.
Ohio State University. Strollers Student Theatrics Society.
Arrangement of Materials
This collection is arranged in two series; each series is further subdivided into two subseries.
[Series 1: Scarlet Mask](ref9)
[Series 2: Strollers Student Theatrics Society](ref14)
Acquisitions Information
Transferred from Strollers Student Theatrics Society.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Strollers Student Theatrics Society and Scarlet Mask Records, SPEC.TRI.SSM, Jerome Lawrence an Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University
Access to Materials
Materials in this collection are available for patron research, but may be used only in the Thompson Library Special Collections Reading Room.
Use of Materials
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.
Processing Information
Processed by: Nicole Miller, 2017 July; Finding aid written by: Nicole Miller, 2017 July
Historical Note
Scarlet Mask was a musical comedy group at Ohio State University. Scarlet Mask was organized as an offshoot of the men’s glee club in 1919, as the Scarlet Mask Club. Their first production “ ‘Taint So” was a musical comedy. Scarlet Mask presented original musical comedies, written by group members such as James Thurber. During school breaks, they would tour their productions throughout the state of Ohio and to neighboring states. One of Scarlet Mask’s most famous acts was a group of football players and other males in a chorus, who dressed in women’s clothing. Women were admitted to Scarlet Mask beginning in 1929. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Scarlet Mask performed at sporadic intervals and was noted as disbanding several times in the '50s and '60s. As of 2017, it is unclear when Scarlet Mask disbanded or merged with other groups.
Strollers Student Theatrics Society is an amateur theatre group at Ohio State University who generally produce three shows a year. As of 2017, Strollers is the oldest co-recreational group at Ohio State University. Strollers Student Theatrics was founded in 1892 by six Ohio State University students as The Dramatic Club. They produced their first show, Sheridan’s “The Rivals”, which was performed on May 11, 1893. In 1901, they admitted women for the first time and became the Stollers Dramatic Society, taking their name after the strolling minstrels of Medieval Europe. The group is not affiliated with the Department of Theatre, and is open to students of any major with the idea of providing theatre experiences to all students. Before World War I, Strollers produced their shows off campus at various theatres throughout Columbus, Ohio. After World War I, Strollers presented their productions on campus, including productions in University Hall. In the last decades of the 20th century, Strollers began holding performances off campus in local auditoriums and church halls. In 1978, Strollers became a community theatre group open to members outside of Ohio State University students. In 1981, Strollers merged with the OSU Student Theatrics to become Strollers Student Theatrics. In 1992, Strollers celebrated their 100th anniversary with six gala performances of “A Chorus Line”. Famous Strollers include: James Thurber, Elliot Nugent and Eillen Heckart.
Scope and Contents
The Strollers Student Theatrics Society and Scarlet Mask Records include materials related to the productions staged by both organizations, ranging 1901-2003. Included are programs, flyers, and photographs. Also included are administrative materials such as correspondence, financial records, meeting minutes, and newsletters, ranging from 1924-2004.
Ohio State University--History.
Ohio State University--Students--Societies, etc.
Ohio State University. Scarlet Mask Club.
Ohio State University. Strollers Dramatic Society.
Ohio State University. Strollers Student Theatrics Society.
College students--Ohio--Columbus--Societies, etc.
Community theater--Ohio--Columbus--20th century
Scarlet Mask
Series 1
1923-1959, 2004
Scope and Contents
This series contains programs for Scarlet Mask productions. Additionally, this series contains a constitution and correspondence.
Productions
Subseries 1.1
1923-1925, 1954
"A Twin Fix"
1
1
1923 January 11-13
"The Cat and the Riddle"
1
2
1924 February 4-6
"Tell Me Not"
1
3
1924-1925
"Quartet Contest"
1
4
1954 October 27
U-Hallsapoppin
1
5
undated
Administration
Subseries 1.2
1939-1959, 2004
Constitution
1
6
2004
Correspondence
1
7
1939-1958
Summer (William) Correspondence
1
8
1959 January
Strollers Student Theatrics Society
Series 2
1901-2004
Scope and Contents
This series contains materials related to The Strollers productions such as advertisements, newspaper clippings, flyers, photographs, and programs. Additionally, correspondence, financial records, meeting minutes, and newsletters, are included.
Productions
Subseries 2.1
1901-1909, 1920s-2003
Arrangement of Materials
This subseries lists productions chronologically, undated productions follow and are arranged alphabetically. Production photographs and yearbooks pages are listed last and have unspecified dates.
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes photographs and yearbook pages depicting unspecified productions ranging from the 1920s- 1980s.
"A Night Off" and "A Pair of Spectacles"
1
9
1901 December 31
"Seven-Twenty-Eight"
1
10
1903 January 9
"His Father's Honour"
1
11
1908 January 31
"When a Man's Single"
1
12
1909 April 23
"Three One-Act Plays"
1
13
1932
"She Runs Him Down"
1
14
1933 December 8
"Kempy"
1
15
1935
"First Annual Theatre Night"
1
16
1936
"Post Road"
1
17
1936 December 4-5
"The Petrified Forest"
1
18
1937 February 26-27
"Theatre Night:Traditions Week"
1
19
1937 May 20
"First Lady"
1
20
1937 December 10-11
"Stage Door"
1
21
1938 March 3 and 5
"Brother Rat"
1
22
1939 April 19
"The White Steed"
1
23
1940 November 29-30
"Golden Boy"
1
24
1941 February 14-15
"Nick of the Woods"
1
25
1941
"The Man Who Came to Dinner"
1
26
1941 December 5-6
"Ladies in Retirement "
1
27
1942 February 18 and 21
"George Washington Slept Here"
1
28
1942 December 4-5
"The Circle"
1
29
1943 February 26-27
"Hotel Universe"
1
30
1944 December 15-16
"Claudia"
1
31
1945 December 7-8
"Out of the Frying Pan"
1
32
1945 May 1-2
"A Director's Life is Not a Happy One"
1
33
1946 March 7 and 9
"Wistful Waiting" and "She Writes a Roof"
1
34
1946 February 5
"The Little Foxes"
1
35
1946 December 13-14
'Personal Appearance"
1
36
1947 December 5-6
"Room Service"
1
37
1948 November 18-20
"Strolloganza"
1
38
1948
"John Loves Mary"
1
39
1950 April 20-22
"Strollers Christmas Show"
1
40
1949 December
"A Woman's Privilege"
1
41
1949 May 3 and 18
"Girl Crazy"
1
42
1949 November 2-5
"The Skin of Our Teeth"
1
43
1959 December 1-2
"The Shining Hour"
1
44
1950 February 17-18
"Harvey"
1
45
1951 May 25-26
"Light Up the Sky"
1
46
1951 December 7-8
"Mood Moderne"
1
47
1951 January 24-27
"Our Town"
1
48
1952 May 17
"Double Door"
1
49
1953 January 30-31
"Boy Meets Girl"
1
50
1953 November 13-14
"The Male Animal"
1
51
1955 May 6-7
"Sabrina Fair"
1
52
1955 November and December 1-3
"A Streetcar Named Desire"
1
53
1956 February 22-24
"Carousel"
2
1
1956 November 30 and December 1
"Cocktails"
2
2
1956 November 14
"Born Yesterday"
2
3
1956 May 2-5
"Mr. Roberts"
2
4
1957 October 23-26
"Bus Stop"
2
5
1957 February 15-16
"My Three Angels"
2
6
11957 May 3-4
"Kiss Me Kate"
2
6
1957 November 15-16
"Reluctant Debutante"
2
7
1958
Detective Story
2
8
1958 February 14-15
"Rose Tattoo"
2
9
1959 February 13-14
"Waiting for Godot"
2
10
1959 March 2-5 and May 15-16
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"
2
11
1959
Time Limit February
2
12
1960 February 11,13, and 14
"Billy Budd"
2
13
1960 November 16-20
"Tea and Sympathy"
2
14
1960 May 11-14
"A Hatful of Rain" February
2
15
1961 February 15-18
"Death of a Salesman"
2
16
1961 May 10-13
"Pygmalion"
2
17
1961 November 15-18
"Sweet Bird of Youth"
2
18
1962 April 24-28
"Gaslight"
2
19
1963 February 13-16
"Night of the Iguana"
2
20
1964 May 13-16
"Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad"
2
21
1964 November 11-14
"Blues for Mr. Charlie"
2
22
1965 February 17-20
"The Glass Menagerie"
2
23
1965 November 10-14
"Waiting For Godot"
2
24
1966 May 3
"Buckeye Big Top"
2
25
1966 May 1-7
"Caesar and Cleopatra"
2
26
1966 April and May
"The Tiger and the Typists"
2
27
1968 November 6-8
"Luther"
2
28
1969 October - 1970 April
"The Fantasticks"
2
29
1974 January -May
"Godspell"
2
30
1980
"Don't Drink the Water"
2
31
1981 November and December
"The Wizard of Oz"
2
32
1981
"Holiday on Campus"
2
33
1982
"South Pacific"
2
34
1982 February- May
"The Jesse James Suite"
2
35
1982 October-November
"The Magic of Broadway"
2
36
1983 October-December
"Grease"
3
1
1983 January- September
"Jesus Christ Superstar"
3
2
1984 April 18-21
"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"
3
3
1985 February- April
"The Fantasticks"
3
4
1985 June-October
"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"
3
5
1986 February-March
"Once Upon a Mattress"
3
6
1987 April-May
"M*A*S*H"
3
7
1989 May 5
"The Curious Savage"
3
8
1991 December 5-7
"The Matchmaker"
3
9
1992 May
"Night Watch"
3
10
1993 March 5 and 6
"A Chorus Line"
3
11
1993 May 13-22
"Nuts"
3
12
1993 November- 1994 December
"Kit & Caboodle (A Variety Showcase)"
3
13
1994 October - November
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
3
14
1994 September- 1995 May
"The Diary of Anne Frank"
3
15
1997 September- November
"Kaleidoscope: A Variety Showcase"
3
16
1998 September-November
"Plaza Suite"
3
17
1998 March
"Remember When ...a 1930's and 40's Musical Revue"
3
18
1998 March- May
"Crossroads (Six One Acts)"
3
19
1998 September-November
"Two Gentlemen of Verona"
3
20
1998 November-1999 February
"Oedipus the King"
3
21
1999 March-May
"Twelfth Night"
3
22
2001 January- February
"A Few Good Men"
3
23
2001 May
"The Winter's Tale"
3
24
2002 January-April
"Guys and Dolls"
3
25
2002 May
"The Importance of Being Earnest"
3
26
2002 July-August
"Twilight"
3
27
2002 November-2003 February
"Agnes of God"
3
28
2003 April
"Double Indemnity"
3
29
2003 May 22-24
"The American Clock"
3
30
undated
"The Bear"
3
31
undated
"Bus Stop"
3
32
undated
"Come Back, Little Sheba"
3
33
undated
"The Farmer Takes a Wife"
4
1
undated
"The Good Doctor"
4
2
undated
"The Hobbit"
4
3
undated
"Laura"
4
4
undated
"Line"
4
5
undated
"Moon Children"
4
6
undated
"Much Ado About Nothing"
4
7
undated
"No Exit"
4
8
undated
"Oleanna"
4
9
undated
"Rhinoceros"
4
10
undated
"Rumors"
4
11
undated
"Sexual Perversity in Chicago and the Duck Variations"
4
12
undated
"Sorry, Wrong Number"
4
13
undated
"Street Scene"
4
14
undated
"You Can't Take It with You"
4
15
undated
Photographs (1)
4
15
1920s-1980s
Photographs (2)
4
16
1920s-1980s
Photographs (3)
4
17
1920s-1980s
Yearbook pages
4
18
1919-1969
Administration
Subseries 2.2
1924-2004
Awards, logos,and membership cards
4
19
1985-1995
Blank line notes
4
20
undated
Board meeting minutes
4
21
1936, 1947-1960
Board member pictures
5
1
1924-1956
Certificate of Recognition
5
2
1988
Constitutions
5
3
1954-1955
Correspondence
5
4
1951-1972
Correspondence
5
5
1954-1959
Correspondence
5
6
1957-1958
Correspondence
5
7
1960-1961
Correspondence
5
8
1961-1962
Correspondence
5
9
2002-2003
Council on Student Affairs Activity Funds request
5
10
1997-1998
Financial records and correspondence (1)
5
11
1961-1972
Financial records and correspondence (2)
5
12
1961-1972
Flyer
5
13
2003-2004
Guest Book
5
14
1993 May 15
National Honorary Dramatic Society Constitution
5
15
1991-1992
Newsletters
6
1
1987-1994
Newspaper clippings
6
2
1962
Ohio Community Theatre Association plaque
6
3
undated
Ohio Community Theatre Association services
6
4
undated
Student Organization handbook
6
7
1988