University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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avid Brenne The 1977-78 Cultural Entertainment Committee season introduced such notables as David Brenn er, Leo Kottke and Dimitri the Mime to UT CEC holders at reduced prices. Stu- dents were also able to purchase tickets to see the amusing Les Ballets Trockaderos de Monte Carlo and Prof. Peter Schick- ele: P.D.Q. BACH. Performances by the Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival, Count Basic and his Orchestra and the New York Touring Company delighted audiences. William Win- dom returned to do his impression of James Thurber, and because of last year ' s favorable response, the Hartford Ballet returned for a special engagement. Several troupes including Eliot Feld Ballet and the Paul Taylor Dance Company held classes or residency activities in dance, costume, theater games and mime. Among other events sponsored by CEC was a series of concerts by the Austin Symphony which performed David Brenner prepares to cast a spell over his audience in a comedic routine. Mahler ' s Fourth Symphony and Schumann ' s Concerto in A Minor. Akiro Endo, who has been with the symphony for three years, conducted the symphony for an evening of Rus- sian Music. As the lights slowly dimmed and the curtains opened, comedian David Brenner quickly set the pace for his Sept. 24 Austin appearance, An Evening with David Brenner. Fre- quently seen on the Tonight Show, Brenner dazzled the enthusiastic audience with his jokes, gestures, boyish person- ality and charm. In the middle of one routine, Brenner stop- ped to warn the audience, Don ' t get me started, I ' m a better laugher than I am a comedian. As Brenner left the stage the audience cheered and applauded the talent of the well-known contemporary comedian. 54 CEC

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A decorative proscenium arch frames the stage on which many great performers have appeared, such as the Ziegfield Follies. Orson Welles and Houdini. A representative for Actor ' s Equity inspected the tempo- rary facilities the following week and gave union approval, allowing Guys and Dolls to go on as planned. No profit was made from the production, but as the first full-scale show at the theater since Mister Roberts in the early 1950 ' s, Guys and Dolls was considered a worthy risk and proved to be a special event for Austin theater. Built by Ernest Nalle, the son of an Austin mayor, the thea- ter opened as the Majestic Theater in 1915, offering vaudeville acts. As part of a national circuit, the Majestic brought such performers to Austin as Katherine Hepburn, Will Rogers and the Ziegfield Follies. In the 1930 ' s, the theater was converted from running live shows to projecting first-run movies. During the 60 ' s and 70 ' s, when the city started expanding north and south, the Majestic suffered from the growth. Left to ruin, the theater was forced to show inferior movies. In 1975, the dying Majestic was rescued by John Bernar- doni who formed Paramount, Inc. He transformed the third- rate movie house into a center for live performances. In July, 1977, the building was designated a national historic land- mark, qualifying it for federal restoration funds. The first stage of the project involved revamping the front facade, the first lobby and dressing room areas. With the backstage remodeled, the theater was equipped to fulfill the lighting and sound demands of a Broadway production. The theatre ' s !950 ' s period marquee was removed and replaced with one of the 1930 ' s art deco style. Box seats were replaced and the theater completely reseated. Changes in the Paramount complemented the abundance of architectural assets in the theater. Among these are the nearly-perfect acoustics, the proscenium arch, the brass-railed stairway and the arched ceiling in the first lobby. Brass-railed stairways and chandeliers adorn the second lobby.

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real Musicians Series JT i ctujconedicraK. m ' s Concerto in A the symphony for m evening of Rus- curtains opened. Members of the Sequoia String Quartet relax after a performance in Hogg Auditorium. ud Brenner. Fre- tnner dazzled ibt line, Brenner siop- urle A I ' m a belter CEC 55