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Art Cole: A true Midland treasure remembers the roots of the theater

8/8/2011

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By Jimmy Patterson

If your holiday spirit has ever been bolstered after sitting through a Midland Community Theater production of "A Christmas Carol," or if you have laughed yourself silly at a presentation of "Summer Mummers" or gaped wide-eyed like a child at the majesty of a Pickwick production, you might be surprised at the set of circumstances that made it all possible;  circumstances for which all theater lovers in Midland can -- and should -- be thankful.

You can first thank the United States Army Air Corps for drafting and shipping one soon-to-be engineer's assistant from the comfort and security of his Fostoria, Ohio, home to the dusty outpost of Midland, Texas. Art Cole liked what he saw when he was stationed at the Midland Army Airfield. Trained in theatrical arts, Cole was working for a traveling production company when he was sent to Midland, and on arrival he found there was no theater here, even though the changing makeup of the population was of an ilk that desired a strong fine arts presence in their town.

When he was taken into the combat zone aboard a ship bound for destinations in the South Pacific, the USAAC didn't exactly stock the ship with myriad reading options. Cole picked up some theater arts magazines he had brought along, and in those magazines were a series of articles on how to establish a community theater in a town without. Those articles served as the spark Cole would need to develop a desire to return to Midland and give his all to establishing that community theater.

Art Cole is a good first-impression man. It is obvious the minute you meet him you'll like him. Handsome and still presence-casting at 91, Art can still quietly take control of a room. He is one of Midland's most cherished treasures, a person of character for which there are few equals in the annals of this town.

His import reveals itself slowly through his measured words and memories. He carries himself in the dignified manner of many of the hundreds of thousands of members of his generation, people who served and fought bravely, and when the last shot had been fired returned stateside to make it an even better place; a country to which Cole and others like him had already given so much through their countless acts of valor, courage and sacrifice.

When Cole returned to Midland after World War II, he met with a group of theater devotees, headed by Naomi Lancaster, herself a legendary figure in the community. He offered to go to work for three months to establish a community theater, feeling certain that 90 days would be all it would take to effectively gauge whether it would be a success.

When he was done making his presentation that Sunday afternoon, a supporter in the back of the room, saying he didn't feel Cole could survive on just the $200 a month he said he would need to make a go of it, stood up.

"Heck," the man said, "We'll give you $250."

Cole relented, drew the extra $50 a month and, well, 60 years later, look at what that Sunday afternoon has wrought.

Like so many others driven by the desire to make a good place better, Cole shrugs off any notion of credit, preferring instead to pass off all he has done to the randomness of luck.

"Life was good," he said. "Everyone was having fun. And out of that time came a couple of really good museums, a hospital."

Cole can and will tell you that Midland's generosity streak dates at least as far back as his first days here, recalling the story of how both the hospital and theater conducted major fundraising campaigns at the same time in the 1950s.

"They got what they needed," Cole said. "And we got what we needed. It's an amazing thing, Midland."

Cole even remembers the weather and how it gave people fits 60 years ago. When a trainload of USAAC recruits disembarked in Midland, some of them commented on how it looked like it was about to rain. The veterans -- the ones who had been here for at least the three months prior -- scoffed the newbies' notion, "Oh, it's not going to rain, we've been here since February and it hasn't rained a drop."

But it did rain that day. And it hailed. And it snowed. And it all started with an April blue norther. It was Easter Sunday 1942.

After Cole and some buddies developed a short-lived routine of wandering to Odessa to have a few drinks on the weekend, Cole remembers how meeting the theater-conscious in Midland turned him in the right direction. When he partied particularly hard one night and woke up on the courthouse in Odessa, Cole met the group that welcomed him back -- and ultimately agreed to pay him $250 a month to Midland.

"These people could actually carry on a conversation," Cole said. "It was quite a switch from those drinking nights in Odessa."

Art Cole planted and nurtured a community theater empire in Midland. His name is rightly applied to the facility on Wadley, but his influence runs far deeper, down every hallway, in every wing and greenroom and dressing area; through every office, with each ticket sold and embedded in top-notch programs that still thrive today. He is literally the one man behind Mummers, behind the Pickwick Players and, with a little help from his friends, behind acquiring the Yucca.

He retired in 1981 and was named Director Emeritus and now, 30 years later, he sounds positively Yogiesque when acquiescing  that those who were with him then are for the most part all gone.

"Everyone my age is dead," Cole said, a wistful trace in his soft voice. "There's nobody around who was with me then."

Sadly, many have gone, but the contributions and accomplishments of those who were with Art Cole will very likely outlive us all.
---
Editor's Note: These are only a small portion of Art Cole's reflections. He will figure prominently in the book, "A History of Character: The Story of Midland, Texas," to be published in 2012.

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10 Comments
Joe Hathaway
1/29/2012 11:02:58 pm

Midland Community Theatre's main facility on Wadley Ave. is indeed named Cole Theatre, but it is named for the TEAM of Art and Ruth Cole, rather than either alone. MCT would not have blossomed into the internationally recognized institution it became, in by far the smallest town to nurture such a treasure, if Ruth Cole had not tirelessly handled all of the hundreds of chores--from mopping and scrubbing to bookkeeping and fundraising--that allowed Art the freedom to create amazing productions starring West Texans who had no idea they could sing, dance, and emote.

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Linda Bond
1/30/2012 01:01:11 am

Wonderful writing, Jimmy. Can't wait to read your next book.

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Joe Hill
1/30/2012 02:21:56 am

Just have to second Joe Hathaway. They were truly a dynamic duo. Such an odd coincidence they should "exit the stage" so close together. It was a true gift to have briefly known them both.

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Tammy booth
12/29/2012 03:07:55 am

Aloha! I was going on the mct web site trying to find any archive I could find photos of me from 1965 production of the sound of music📯seeing Art Coles name warmed my heart. What a sweetheart. He never passed me by without asking "how are you today?" I was 5 now 51 I have been living on the island of Oahu for 22 years...Who would have thought. My mother Lyn Booth passed 2006. We Lost a lot of family photos. Please if you know a way I could gain any photos it would make me sooooo happy😘😘😘

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Sonya Blocker Johnson
10/31/2016 10:44:15 pm

Are you Tammy Booth that went to James Bowie Elementary. Kim Hamilton hung out with us. You were good on the chin up bar and kicked the PE teacher in the head during a presidential fitness test. We went horse riding with Betsy Cotton

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Mae Dawson
2/20/2013 01:32:29 am

Knowing Art Cole since 1942 during our war years and Art being stationed at MAF and later in life when he returned from Guam.My days of knowing Art more when I was in MHS and loving the little Theater since I was 16.From1965 to 1995 I chaired,designed and constructed thousands of costumes for Art's shows.I am proud and always had been and always will be proud that I was friends with the Cole family.I am also proud being an Honorary Member of MCT.

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Bob Holmes
7/23/2014 11:07:25 am

Had the wonderful pleasure of acting in several plays under the leadership of Art Cole. My most memorable was Oklahoma. I was Will Parker. 1975. What fun and what memories. God's rich blessings to all who have walked through the doors of the Midland Community Theater.

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Brian Sayre
4/3/2016 12:41:54 pm

I knew of MCT just before leaving college in Butte, Montana, for my first job in Midland, with GSI, in the late '70's.
In 2 years ..... roles in Stalag 17, Heaven Can Wait, The Happy Apple, Crown Matrimonial ..... what immense fun. And what a great way to feel welcome in an environment so different than what I was used to.
My buddy Bill Salt and I still reminisce about "Art Cole speech number 17....", or whichever invaluable pearl of acting wisdom was about to be imparted.
Wondering how one would access any cast photos that may be archived from that period, 1978-80.
Carry on, MCT! A great theatre, a great town.

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Bob Holmes link
4/3/2016 04:08:28 pm

Brian, I totally agree with all you say!! I was privileged to have played in several rolls at MCT while living in Midland during the early 70's. Art was a super star at directing! He took all of us under his wing and worked with us until our rolls were perfected. And, you say, what immense fun - Yes it was. And working with the other cast members and the orchestra was fantastic. I only had rolls in two plays - Anne of a thousand days and the musical Oklahoma - In which I played the part of Will Parker. What wonderful memories.................. Blessings! Bob Holmes

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Brian Sayre
4/3/2016 08:18:24 pm

I never worked so hard in my life.
For free!

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    Welcome, and thanks for your interest in what will be a rewarding trip through our shared past. This "History of Character" blog is only the beginning. A book by the same name -- "A History of Character: The Story of Midland, Texas" -- will be published September 2014. Through this blog you'll be able to track the progress of the project and learn along with the book's author, Jimmy Patterson. If you have stories to share that you think deserve mention in the history of our city, drop an email to historyofcharacter@gmail.com.

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