Project Overview

Chautauquas were a wholesome and morally respectable vaudeville of the early 1900s. They provided an opportunity for people to come together to be entertained, improve their minds and renew their ties to one another. The goal of a Chautauqua is to offer challenging, informational, and inspirational stimulation to rural and small-town communities.

Chautauquas began in 1904 and by the 1910s could be found almost everywhere presenting the message of self and civic improvement to millions of people. Theatre was a solid part of the Chautauqua experience, as was music.

Chautauquas first came to Canada and Olds in 1917 and continued until 1931. To the folks from rural communities like Olds, Chautauqua season added something very special, a brief immersion in a twilight place where everything was tinged with the magic of the unfamiliar, and nothing was ordinary.