Cook, Doris

The Federal Theatre Project was one of four arts projects set up in the summer of 1935 under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It came to San Francisco in 1936, where it mounted productions at the Alcazar Theatre. In mid-February of 1939, the Federal Theatre Project began its Treasure Island "run" at the Golden Gate International Exposition. The Federal Theatre Project was closed down on June 30, 1939.

From the description of Doris Cook Federal Theatre at Golden Gate International Exposition collection, 1937-1940 ( bulk 1939). (San Francisco Public Library). WorldCat record id: 497873608

Biographical/Historical note

The Federal Theatre Project was one of four Arts projects set up in the late summer of 1935 under the Works Progress Administration as a work relief program to employ thousands of jobless writers, artists, musicians, actors and others in the theatre. Informed by the changing politics and shifting social order of the day, the Federal Theatre sought to create theatre that was not simply entertaining, but also relevant to all Americans. This aim resulted in such unusual productions as The Swing Mikado, One-Third of a Nation (an expose of housing conditions in New York City) and the topical "Living Newspaper" plays. In keeping with its grassroots precepts, the organization formed regional units in cities and states all over the country, and presented its productions not only in city theatres, but also "in Catholic convents and Baptist churches, circus tents and university halls, police stations, showboats and CCC [Civilian Conservation Corps] camps." The Federal Theatre's repertory consisted of children's plays, Shakespeare, O'Neill, new African-American plays, Yiddish musical theatre, Gilbert and Sullivan, circus performances, puppet shows, and productions in French, Spanish, Italian and German. Inherent in the Federal Theatre Project's threefold design --as a relief measure, a work program, and an artistic experiment-- were unresolvable conflicts that led to the project's demise in June of 1939 when appropriations committees in Congress did not approve continued funding.

The Federal Theatre Project came to San Francisco early in 1936, when it began to mount productions at the Alcazar Theatre. In mid-February of 1939, the Federal Theatre Project began its Treasure Island "run," occupying the entire south end of the northeast wing of the large Federal building (designed by Timothy L. Pflueger) at the Golden Gate International Exposition. This wing consisted mainly of a fully-equipped theatre designed both for the Federal Theatre Project and the showing of government-produced motion pictures. While the theatre's seating capacity was only 473, it played to consistently full houses: a total of 75 performances to some 16,817 paid admissions during its five months' residence. After the Federal Theatre Project was closed down nationwide on June 30, 1939, the theatre on Treasure Island was devoted entirely to the presentation of documentaries produced by the government; the same program was carried during the GGIE's second season in 1940.

Doris Cook, who collected these papers, served as Assistant Director of Information for the Federal Theatre on Treasure Island from January 20, 1939 until July 14, 1939. The June 30 shutdown of the Federal Theatre Project is ironic in light of the Treasure Island unit's success, particularly with the "Swing Mikado" show, which newspaper reviews not two weeks earlier had hailed as a production that would turn around the fortunes of "that sick man of Treasure Island show business, the Federal Theatre."

From the guide to the Doris Cook Federal Theatre at Golden Gate International Exposition Collection, 1937-1940, 1939, (San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library)