February 11, 2016 (Thursday)
When I was a student at Baylor, the Baylor Theater occupied a building that was unique. It had three stages, and some productions utilized all three. The audience sat in swivel chairs so that they could comfortably watch all three stages. Dr. Paul Baker, who was head of the Drama Department, was considered a genius in theatrical innovation. A personal friend of Charles Laughton, the famous actor, and others in that industry, he was consistently being praised by his peers. He was very proud of his small, but innovative, theater.
Shortly before my graduation, the Baylor Theater was demolished so that the Tidwell Bible Building could be built at that location. I remember the day in 1953 that giant machines began digging a big hole for construction. Above a machine was a banner–possibly placed by upset drama students–with a Scripture reference, “Proverbs 26:27.” That’s all it said. When I looked it up, I found that it read, “Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein!”
Last week as I searched for old pictures to complement my blogs about my ancient days at Baylor, I ran across this picture:
If I am not mistaken, the white building behind the “VE” on the banner was the theater. I should be certain, because I had two classes there, one from Dr. Gene McKinney (son of the great B. B. McKinney) and the other from Dr. Baker himself. Ten years after the mysterious banner appearance, in 1963, Dr. Baker left Baylor when Dr. Abner McCall, Baylor’s president, closed down a Eugene O’Neill play, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” Dr. McCall ordered Dr. Baker to delete the profanity in the play as “not in good taste for a church-related university.” Dr. Baker refused. When he resigned, the entire drama school faculty resigned also.
I wrote about the theater and the incident in a blog on February 15, 2011. Click here to read it if you like.
Here’s the Tidwell Bible Building, where it has now stood for more than 60 years.
