Oakhurst in Madera County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Gold Rush Entertainment Lives On
Photographed by Grub-Gulch Chapter 41-49
1. Gold Rush Entertainment Lives On Marker
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Gold Rush Entertainment Lives On. . Melodrama, a caberet style play with music, based on a hero, a heroine, and a villain, provided entertainment and escape from the harsh realities of the gold miner's lives. Troupes of actors and musicians traveled from camp to camp setting up canvas theaters to perform their plays. Melodrama flourished in the mining camps and became one of the staples of the miners social events. A venue that began in the heyday of the gold rush still exists today as line melodrama. The Golden Chain Theater represents entertainment of that bygone era, and opened with their first play, "The Drunkard” in July 1968 at the Oakhurst Community Center. They moved to this location which was the Snowline Bowling Alley in 1974. This is the oldest continually running melodrama in California.
Melodrama, a caberet style play with music, based on a hero, a heroine, and a villain, provided entertainment and escape from the harsh realities of the gold miner's lives. Troupes
of actors and musicians traveled from camp to
camp setting up canvas theaters to perform
their plays. Melodrama flourished in the mining
camps and became one of the staples of the miners social events. A venue that began in the heyday of the gold rush still exists today as line
melodrama. The Golden Chain Theater represents
entertainment of that bygone era, and opened with their first play, "The Drunkard” in July 1968 at the Oakhurst Community Center. They moved to this location which was the Snowline Bowling Alley in 1974. This is the oldest
continually running melodrama in California.
Erected 2013 by Grub Gulch Chapter 41-49 E Clampus Vitus.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1968.
Location. 37° 21.751′ N, 119° 38.592′ W. Marker is in
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Oakhurst, California, in Madera County. It can be reached from California Route 41. Marker is in front of the Golden Chain Theater. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 42130 CA-41, Oakhurst CA 93644, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley, specifically in the Central Valley, and in the Sierra Nevada. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2020, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. This page has been viewed 491 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2020. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of the theater building. • Can you help?
