Kathleen Airdrie's Blog
Posted by Kathleen Airdrie
Generally speaking, whenever Ancient Theatre is mentioned, people think of the Greeks and Romans. In Canada, and many nations, the first people performed dances and dramatic storytelling at festivals and ceremonies. They were very important to the development of the people. Their history is carried through those performances.
Indigenous Theatre Arts in Canada: Storytellers and Performances Since Ancient Times
Many of the stories, songs, and dances are told and performed in this 21st century.
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Posted by Kathleen Airdrie
It's amazing how much we learn when we dig around the roots of our family trees. It's not an easy task, but well worth the exercise.
Sometimes all we have at the start is a box of unlabelled photographs. If we have been listening to family stories (and written them down), we may be able to determine the identies in the faded old photos. Perhaps there's a vehicle or house or workplace in the photo that will help.
Years ago, I started collecting stories, writing them down. There was no real form to the the notes. They were just reminiscences written as they were spoken. I typed up a few, asked more questions then, because of heavy work schedule and personal responsibilities, I put them all away.
When the workload lessened and I obtained my first computer, I dragged out the notes and boxes, determined to put the tree together. I admit to overspending for a while when I discovered where grandparents and more ancestors were born or died. I just had to have copies of original documents.
Then, with everything spread out on a large table, I worked to put my family 'book' together. Good thing that I had another table for meals, for the task took quite a while -- months, a year, more. The records and stories I found were amazing. I was able to dispute some family myths. Every family has its tall tales, I suppose.
One of the important aspects that I enjoyed most was discovering the stories of the women in my family. Too often I read something like, "He married ? and had four children". A miracle in our family?
The results were pleasing, the family members pleased. As I discover more about our ancestors, I promise to include it. Another great result of the work, I met some of my relatives through searches on Rootschat.com (see first article in list below).
I hope these articles are helpful:
National Registration File of 1940 (Canada)
Fraudulent Claims in Genealogy
Genealogy Enhanced by Anecdotes and Stories
Halliday Surname History in Scotland
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Posted by Kathleen Airdrie
Actors, actresses, and others involved in theatre are purported to be extremely superstitious. If they're not at the top of the list of professionals with superstitious habits, they're close. Apparently when the more experienced see or hear a newcomer doing something that 'is forbidden', they quickly inform that person.
Superstitions in the Theatre: Witches, Cats, Peacock Feathers, and Ghost Lights
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Posted by Kathleen Airdrie
With these biographies, I want to show the people who invented, discovered, became famous or were listed as notorious. Also, I want to show something of the lives of people who accomplished great things, but were not necessarily acclaimed, or were forgotten. Many times when we read about historical events, we wonder about the people who were there, the 'ordinary people'.
Oldsmobile Cars Inventor Ransom E. Olds
Novelist Frances Brooke of Lincolnshire, England
Rose Fortune Was an Independent Woman
Winnipeg Journalist Ella Cora Hind
Tignish, Prince Edward Island Artist
Luther Burbank the Wizard of Horticulture
Punch Dickins Canadian Aviation Pioneer
Cabinet Maker William Brodie's Double Life
Pauline Johnson, Mohawk Writer
Rosemary Brown First Black Woman Legislator
Florence Lawrence -- First Movie Star
More article links will follow in future blog posts.
Posted by Kathleen Airdrie
Are you interested in the acting profession as an observer or participant? Do you have questions about the origins of professional role playing? How did theatrical production evolve? Who were the promoters and patrons? Who were the strolling players and where did they perform? What people, organizations or events threatened the success of theatre in history?
Entertainment for Queen Victoria
Roman Coliseum Spectacles Banned by Church
Athens, Greece Dionysian Festivals
Roman Theatre and Early Comedies
Etruscan and Oscan Influence on Roman Culture
Comedie Francaise, Moliere, and King Louis XIV
Greek Theatre Development in Ancient Times
Blackfriars Theatre in Renaissance London
Restoration Theatre Companies in England
Adelaide Neilson of Yorkshire, England
Theatre and the Church of Scotland
Dublin Theatre Royal of Smock Alley
Restoration of Restoration Theatre in Dublin
Performer Catherine Clive of Drury Lane
Great Playwrights of Comic Drama in Athens
Sisters Fanny and Carlotta Addison
16th Century London Theatrical Venues
Drew and Barrymore Theatrical Family
Lionel Barrymore of Famous Theatrical Family
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