I was thrilled when Kate Kelley, The Photo Angel® sent The Kennebunkport Historical Society an old picture of Dock Square Kennebunkport. Kate’s passion is in reuniting old photographic portraits she finds at antique stores with the subject’s descendants by tracing their genealogy. This time, because the picture she found was of a Kennebunkport location, we were the lucky recipients.

The first thing I noticed, when I had an opportunity to study the details, was that the sign above the corner storefront in the building that now houses Compliments says, “The Garrick Players this week’s attraction the right hilarious comedie Twelfth Night by Master Will Shakespeare.”

The only time The Garrick Players performed Twelfth Night was during the company’s 1937 season.

That notice caught my eye because a small speaking role in Twelfth Night began and ended my acting career with the Boston Shakespeare Company during my late teens. I played the maid, of course, and apparently it was an unremarkable performance. But I digress. My next thought was that with knowledge of the scheduled Garrick Players production, I might have what I need to date this photograph.

The Garrick Players were founded in Kennebunkport in the summer of 1933. According to Robert Currier, the previous summer, when he was just 21 years old with $2 in his pocket, he had met playwright Booth Tarkington at his Floats near the Kennebunk River Club and together they had formulated a plan to “put on a few plays” at The Olympian Club building on Temple St.

The only time The Garrick Players performed Twelfth Night was during the company’s 1937 season. On June 23rd, of that year, Currier purchased the old Merrill Farm on River Road across from the Golf Links from the estate of Harrison A. Wells.

During the winter of 1939-40 Currier remodeled the barn of his home on River Rd as a state-of-the-art summer theatre with 300 seats. The new Kennebunkport Playhouse opened in 1940. A World War intervened. Currier enlisted to do his part in the war by procuring entertainment for troops at Victorville Air Force Base in California. The Kennebunkport Playhouse was dark from 1942-1945. Enthusiastic patron, Booth Tarkington passed away on May 19, 1946, just missing the re-opening of his beloved Kennebunkport Playhouse by six weeks.

Author and Playwright Booth Tarkington at his Floats near the Kennebunk River Club.

During the winter of 1939-40 Currier remodeled the barn of his home on River Rd as a state-of-the-art summer theatre with 300 seats. The new Kennebunkport Playhouse opened in 1940. A World War intervened. Currier enlisted to do his part in the war by procuring entertainment for troops at Victorville Air Force Base in California. The Kennebunkport Playhouse was dark from 1942-1945.

Help me to thank Kate Kelley, The Photo Angel® by giving her lots of love and support! See the video below.