Central Point, located near the border of Medford, Oregon is host to a one Savoy Theatre (1912-1917). Although this town is not very popular in regards to other Oregon cities, Savoy Theatre was among their few forms of entertainment. Whether this theatre was host to its local high schools Glee club, or for its spectacular plays, it was seen as a community forum where townspeople could get their fill of performances. Located in this picture was just one example of the events that would be held at this theatre. A play known as "Graustark" that seemed to be very known was to play on Tuesday and Thursday night for all guests to capture the six acts that this play would include. Among this promotion was the announcement for the new management over the theatre, who would be H.L. Hall and T.M. Riley. This isn't the first time that Hall and Riley have hosted multiple plays and community events. Savoy Theatre has also opened their doors for the "young people of the Methodist Church" to put on a comedy. Much like what we discussed in class, this theatre was popular among its townspeople because of the promotions that it would provide. One specific way that they would advertise new events was by giving out free matinees on specific days, appealing to those who do not wish to spend much. On some days, regular showings would be before and after these free shows, allowing the theatre to gain profit while also bringing in new customers to take advantage of the free showings.
Finding this research was nothing short of a challenge, due to the minuscule size of Central Point, Oregon. Because of the size, the information provided for Savoy Theatre was scarce compared to widely known towns such as Portland, Oregon. However, that does not mean that it was impossible. The Historic Oregon Newspapers website provided many editions of the Central Point Herald newspapers, from which this photo is from. Similar to this photo, the images provided included promotions for events, community gatherings, and high school performances. Getting a look into the purpose behind this theatre was really intriguing to read about, especially since I had to really look deep in order to get a closer look at this theatre and its city. At times, it was conflicting to get some more knowledge regarding the specific logistics of the theatre, but discovering local performances can be just as rewarding to the research process, as it allowed me to digest the diverse usage of the theatre. Leading me to become more curious as to how this theatre operated and the ways in which the local newspapers reflect that.
