Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Soloist Kathryn Summersett sings Art is Calling for Me, in her portrayal of Lillian Russell, one of the most famous actresses and singers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, praised for her beauty and style, as well as for her voice and stage presence. Friends of Fashion celebrate Calumet’s 150th

CALUMET – Calumet Village continued its 150th anniversary Friday evening with Chassell Museum’s Friends of Fashion presentation of Corsets to Crinolines, a history of the Calumet Theatre.

The presentation was a historical review of the theatre from the perspective of fashions worn on and off stage from the period of the Calumet Opera House (now the Red Jacket Ballroom) in 1895, through the period of 1900-1910, the first decade of the Calumet Theatre’s rich history, through the Roaring 20s and beyond.

Many of the outfits worn Friday were not costumes, but clothing from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The presentation also provided a glimpse of life from the theatre’s perspective through the two world wars, into the 1950s, when in February, 1958, a professional New York producer would establish a summer stock at the Calumet Theatre, using Hollywood and Broadway actors augmented by local talent.

This was the launching of the Keweenaw Playhouse in June, 1958. It was during a presentation of the playhouse when actress Addison Lane forgot her lines and blamed the ghost of legendary actress Helena Modjeska, whom, she said, appeared to her from the second balcony and mesmerized her.

Among the hundreds of the attendees at Friday’s event was Village Manager Megan Haselden, who said she was happy with both the event and the turnout.

“It’s going just wonderful,” she said. “It’s so nice to see all the beautiful historic outfits, and all of the people who have really turned out for this show to kick off our 150th celebrations.”