The Brown Grand Theatre

How Much is that Chair in the Theatre?
by Susan Cantine-Maxson
(Sung to the tune of “How Much is that Doggie in the Window?”)

How much is that chair in the theatre?
How much is that beautiful chair?
How much is that chair in the theatre?
It’s form is so graceful and rare.

I must buy a seat in the Brown Grand.
To purchase a seat shows I care.
I must buy a seat in the Brown Grand.
We might even buy a sweet pair.

How much is that chair in the theatre?
How much is that beautiful chair?
How much is that chair in the theatre?
It’s form is so graceful and rare.

I don’t want a magnet or a letter
I want a brass plaque, don’t you see?
Yes, one with my name written on it
Emblazoned for eternity.

How much is that chair in the theatre?
How much is that beautiful chair?
How much is that chair in the theatre?
It’s form is so graceful and rare.

“Adopt a Chair” is a way that you can actively participate in meeting the needs of the Brown Grand Theatre.  Individuals, groups & businesses who wish to “adopt a chair” for $250 will have their names prominently displayed on a  brass nameplate which will be attached to the  back of the chair.  We will start with the first row and work our way to the back of the theatre so you can see how many seats have been sold when you attend events at the theatre.

You may wish to buy a chair as a SPONSOR or you may wish to buy a chair IN HONOR OF  a loved one or IN MEMORY OF a friend or family member. If you would prefer not to pay the entire amount at once, you can set up installments.  When you have completed your installment payments, your plaque will be attached.  If you are doing this in honor of someone who can’t attend the theatre because of distance or physical limitations or if you live too far away to visit the theatre, we can take a picture of the chair with his/her/their name plate so that you can share it or see it.  On the donation form, please print clearly the wording that you would like to have engraved on the nameplate.  Businesses, as well as individuals, may Adopt a Chair. The brass plaques are approximately 3 inches long and 1.5 inches high and will be fastened on to the back of the chairs so that individuals sitting behind that chair can see who the donors are.

History of the Brown Grand Chairs:  The current chairs are not original to the Brown Grand.  The original chairs were green leather and had a leather pin cushion on the backside of each chair so that the ladies could pin their hats to the chair in front of them. The original chairs were taken out when it was turned into a movie theatre in 1929. There seems to be little record of what happened to the original chairs. We don’t have any at the theatre. We do have the original wooden caned chairs that adorn the box seats but the actual theatre seats seem to have disappeared. When the movie theatre seats were removed during the restoration, the committee sought chairs that would complete the ambiance of the 1907 restoration period.  At the time of the restoration in 1980, Presser Recital Hall at Bethany College in Lindsborg KS was undergoing a renovation. The college gave their old chairs to the theatre. The committee then had them reupholstered in the Brown Grand traditional green.  According to an American Chair manufacturing representative, these chairs were made sometime around 1921.  A little known fact is that some of the chairs are wider than others. The next time you are in the theatre, look at the backs of the chairs. You will see that the backs of some of the chairs are slightly wider than others. This allows the chairs to fill the rows and still be staggered so that one chair is not directly behind another. 

Where your money will go:   The backstage area is badly in need of renovation. Most of the wooden pulleys, stairways, catwalk and ladders are made of wood that is 104 years old.  A structural engineer has informed us that for safety reasons, these structures need to be reinforced with additional support. In addition, thirty years have passed since the restoration.  During the restoration, much of the rope to the curtains was replaced with nylon garden rope which has stretched over the years. In addition, this type of rope makes it impossible to attach sand bags for counterweights to a majority of the pipes holding curtains and scenic drops. All of this rope (more 10,000 feet ) needs to be replaced. Another issue is the curtains themselves. Many of them are 30+ years old, have lost all fire retardant and are full of holes. This project from beginning to end will cost approximately $150,000. The Board hopes to complete the project in three phases but before the project can start, money must be set aside to help pay for these measures, with completing the safety measures as the first phase.
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Mark me down for the Adopt a Chair Program _____ I wish to adopt _____ chairs.
Please send the information you want on each chair.
Print your name:____________________________
          Address: _____________________________   Email______________________
                        ______________________________  Phone______________________
My plaque should read: (please print clearly or type)
Chair 1:SPONSOR ____           IN HONOR OF_____      IN MEMORY OF______

NAME ON PLAQUE:________________________________________

Chair 2:SPONSOR ____           IN HONOR OF_____      IN MEMORY OF______

NAME ON PLAQUE:________________________________________

Additional chairs: Please write on separate sheet.

___My check for the full amount is enclosed
Plaque will be placed when installments are paid in full.
___I wish to pay in 2 installments--2 times a year. ($125 per chair x 2 payments)
___I wish to pay in 4 installments--4 times a year. ($62.50 per chair x 4 payments)
___I wish to pay in 5 installments—5 times a year. ($50 per chair x 5 payments)