G. Harry Wright Showboat Collection

Kent State University Professor G. Harry Wright had a fascination with river showboats that stemmed from his childhood watching the boats travel along the Ohio River. During the 19th century, showboats offered mobile entertainment, making stops along waterways and providing entertainment through vaudeville and big bands. Due to the rising popularity of the moving picture and the automobile, showboats slowly lost popularity and one by one, began shutting down.

Upon discovering an old showboat docked along the Ohio River in 1948, Wright had the idea of creating a summer theater for Kent State students. With permission from the Head of the School of Speech and the President of the University, Wright leased The Majestic for a summer and had a successful three-month run, touring the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers in the summer of 1948.

--Curated by Kathryn Clements