Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

oth groups thought the idea to be a good one. so on
February 16. I978. the Boards of Directors of the two
community theatres met in the basement of St. Paul's
Lutheran Church in Anamosa. That night the Directors
of the Anamosa Community Theatre voted to join
Starlighters ll. and a new county-wide community
theatre was born.
The move tumed out to be a fortuitous one. for the
combined membership made for a strong and
progressive new group. During the decade to follow.
Starlighters II staged thirty-three productions
beginning with "The Sound Of Music." the theatre's
first musical. It was the first show to be presented in
both Anamosa and Monticello.
From I978 to 1983 Starlighters ll moved ahead at a
frantic pace. producing an average of nearly five shows
a year. After this period of expansion. the group
tumbled into a surprising period of inactivity. From
December of I983 until April of 1985. Starlighters ll
put on only one production. causing many within the
organization to wonder whether or not the community
theatre would survive. The answer came during the
spring and summer of 1985. That time period saw the
influx of many new faces and many familiar faces who
were returning after self-imposed leaves of absence
from the Starlighter II stage.
One of the new faces belonged to Virginia Danielson.
who. along with Steve Nassif. directed "You're a Good
Man. Charlie Brown" in July of 1985. This was the first
production staged in Anamosa in almost two years. The
show sparked a renewed interest in Starlighters II.
It was the May 1986 production of "Oklahoma" that
marked the return of Starlighters ll as an
entertainment force in Jones county. Ron Ketelsen.
back from Wichita. Kansas. was at the helm as director.
with Donna Oltmann and Anna Mary Boots assisting.
"Oklahoma" was a resounding success. setting
Starlighters II records in the areas of budget outlay.
attendance. and proflts. During the show's run. the
membership of Starlighters II increased by over 900
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1987-1 988 Starlighters II Board ofDirectors — Front
row. left to right: Bob Furino. Jayson Stover. Monte
Kramer: back row: Brian Rohr. Steve Nassif. Virginia
Danielson. Mary Sue Vernon. Anna Mary Boots. Ron
Ketelsen. (Photo submitted by Anna Mary Boots)
percent.
Four shows have been produced since that time
including "Vanities". "Feiffer's People". "Life With
Mother Superior". and the most recent show. "South
Pacific". The annual meeting in August of I987
ironically saw Ron Ketelsen elected as president of the
group he founded thirteen years before. Ketelsen and
the other eight members of the Board of Directors will
be leading Starlighters II into its most ambitious
season to date. Six productions are scheduled for the
I988 season. and two others. "Come Blow Your Horn"
and "An Old-Fashioned Christmas". are on tap for the
remainder of I987.
For Starlighters II. Inc.. the future looks very bright.
In January of I988. Starlighters II purchased the
former Coast to Coast store building in downtown
Anamosa and had their flrst permanent theatre.
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Anamosa. Iowa
The symbol of Three-Quarters Club
June 10. I910. marked the flrst official meeting of the
Three-Quarters Club of Anamosa. The members were
an exclusive group of young men of the community
who took great pride in having been chosen for
membership in the unique organization. The Preamble
and by-laws read as follows:
Three-Quarters Club
submitted by Mildred Barker Brown
i
"In order to encourage sociability and fellowship. and
maintain a high standard. morally and physically. we
the young men of Anamosa. form the Three-Quarters
Club and adopt the constitution and by-laws.
By-Laws I. Each member shall sign the by-laws of
the club at the time of initiation.
2. intoxicating liquors are strictly forbidden in the
club rooms and any violation of this rule shall mean
immediate expulsion.
3. The initian fee. dues and associate’ membership
fee shall be five dollars. one dollar. and twentyfive
cents. respectively."
The officers. elected at that first meeting. were
William Fisher. president; Emest Corwin. vice
president; W.M. Johnston; Earl Fisher.- treasurer. On
the Ways and Means Committee were Avert Corwin.
Earl Boyer. Edd Powers and Will Johnston. Others
attending the first meeting were Clifford Corwin.
Harold Pelton. Chas. Kratzer. Vincent McGreevy and
Ross Fife. Other members who joined in I910 were
William Donnelly. Armour Gould and Clifford Lang.
The club leased the third floor of the Opera House
Building (north and east of the hallway) from Clifford
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