Kohler Distinguished Guest Series is a series of lecture and performing arts programs began in 1944 with a current venue at the Kohler Memorial Theatre in
Kohler, Wisconsin.
History
The Kohler Women's Club formally established the Distinguished Guest Series in 1944. The series arranged for guest lectures and art performances on a semi-regular basis during a
season than ran from fall to spring the next year. "Through this series it is the club's purpose to bring to the membership impartial discussion of important events of the day by outstanding authorities. Programs of a purely artistic nature are for cultural uplift".[1] In the early years, the events were primarily arranged by Ruth DeYoung-Kohler.[2]
The
Kohler family had previously on occasion sponsored guest speakers and performers. In 1925, the
John Philip Sousa band performed in Kohler for a crowd estimated at 30000.[3] On November 29, 1930,
Admiral Richard Byrd appeared before an audience of about 2000 at the Kohler Recreation Hall to talk about his flight over the south pole a year earlier.[4] Admiral Byrd returned in 1947 and appeared as a formal guest during the fourth season of the series.
In the early years, most of the events were limited to members of the Women's Club and were held in the
Waelderhaus in
Kohler, Wisconsin. Growing popularity of some of the musical events that were opened to the public necessitated that they be held at the Kohler Recreation Hall. In 1952, attendance for the Leslie Bell Singers totaled over 1500.[5]
In May 1953, the
Kohler Foundation announced that it would join the Kohler Women's Club as a co-sponsor of the series. This change followed the death of Ruth DeYoung-Kohler in March, 1953.[6] The events were primarily open to the public and in season 11, all but two of the events were held in the Kohler Recreation Hall.[7] The recreation hall opened in 1927 and was located in the Kohler store building, at the corner of Orchard and Highland St, in Kohler.[8] Most events were held in the Kohler Memorial center, at the Kohler High School, after it was completed in 1957.
Beginning with the 1970–1971 season, the afternoon lectures and the evening arts performances were separated with the Kohler Women's Club continuing the lecture series[9] and the Kohler Foundation continuing the arts programs under the Distinguished Guest Series title.[10]
The arts series has continued and as of the 2018–2019 season was in its 75th year.[11]
List of notable guests
This is a selected list of guests who have appeared in the series. The selection criteria are based on documented appearances and the existence of Wikipedia articles. Announced schedules are not considered authoritative due to some speakers and events being rescheduled or cancelled.
^"Three Dog Night will kick off Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 5 Oct 2000. p. C3.
^"Ailey II, Dance troupe coming to Kohler as part of national tour". The Sheboygan Press. 25 Jan 2001. p. C1.
^"Grammy Award-winning Sweet Honey in the Rock to perform in Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 12 Apr 2001. p. C3.
^"Waverly Consort to perform in Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 22 Nov 2001. p. C7.
^"Boys Choir of Harlem in concert it Kohler Memorial Theatre". The Sheboygan Press. 7 Feb 2002. p. C5.
^"London City Opera to perform 'Madame Butterfly' in Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 16 Feb 2003. p. C4.
^"The Ten Tenors to open Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 2 Oct 2003. p. C3.
^"'Forbidden Broadway' spoofs the goofier side of the Great White Way". The Sheboygan Press. 5 Feb 2004. p. C6.
^"Singing Sisters, The Roches, will perform for Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 25 Mar 2004. p. C5.
^"Swing with Shanghai Circus". The Sheboygan Press. 13 Jan 2005. p. C1.
^"Salzburg Marionettes Theater will be pulling the strings for 'Hansel & Gretel'". The Sheboygan Press. 17 Nov 2008. p. 6.
^"Hal Holbrook bringing legendary 'Mark Twain Tonight' show to Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 9 Mar 2009. p. W.
^"One red hot show with 5 Browns". The Sheboygan Press. 8 Feb 2007. p. C3.
^"They're Toxic, but oh so tantalizing. Unusual acapella group next for Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 22 Mar 2007. p. C4.
^"Distinguished Guest Series offers 'An Evening with Dr. Maya Angelou.'". The Sheboygan Press. 10 Apr 2008. p. Weekend 5.
^"Russian National Ballet : Troupe bringing classic fairytale to Kohler stage". The Sheboygan Press. 15 Jan 2009. p. C1.
^"'Opera without the boring bits' hallmark of crowd-pleasing Ten Tenors: Australian group to perform Aprill 22 for Distinguish Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 9 Apr 2009. p. B2.
^"Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap Kids coming to Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 18 Mar 2010. p. B3.
^"Diane Schuur and Bobby Caldwell swing into Kohler Friday, Feb. 12". The Sheboygan Press. 4 Feb 2010. p. B1.
^"Ballet with a Latin beat : New York's Ballet Hispanico will cha-cha and rumba on Kohler stage". The Sheboygan Press. 20 Jan 2011. p. B3.
^"Following his dream : versatile John Tesh makes music a priority". The Sheboygan Press. 31 Mar 2011. p. B1.
^"Cellicentric coming Feb. 18". The Sheboygan Press. 9 Feb 2012. p. B6.
^"This is it! : Grammy Award-winner Kenny Loggins to close out 2012 Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 12 Apr 2012. p. B1.
^"Amazing acrobats : new Shanghai Circus show is part of Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 7 Mar 2013. p. B1.
^"A demand for supply : Distinguished Guest Series hosts veteran music group Air Supply". The Sheboygan Press. 31 Oct 2013. p. B1.
^"Blast from the past : Distinguished Guest Series presents "Five Guys Named Moe'". The Sheboygan Press. 13 Feb 2014. p. B1.
^"Itzhak Perlman to perform April 5 in Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 13 Mar 2013. p. B1.
Kohler Distinguished Guest Series is a series of lecture and performing arts programs began in 1944 with a current venue at the Kohler Memorial Theatre in
Kohler, Wisconsin.
History
The Kohler Women's Club formally established the Distinguished Guest Series in 1944. The series arranged for guest lectures and art performances on a semi-regular basis during a
season than ran from fall to spring the next year. "Through this series it is the club's purpose to bring to the membership impartial discussion of important events of the day by outstanding authorities. Programs of a purely artistic nature are for cultural uplift".[1] In the early years, the events were primarily arranged by Ruth DeYoung-Kohler.[2]
The
Kohler family had previously on occasion sponsored guest speakers and performers. In 1925, the
John Philip Sousa band performed in Kohler for a crowd estimated at 30000.[3] On November 29, 1930,
Admiral Richard Byrd appeared before an audience of about 2000 at the Kohler Recreation Hall to talk about his flight over the south pole a year earlier.[4] Admiral Byrd returned in 1947 and appeared as a formal guest during the fourth season of the series.
In the early years, most of the events were limited to members of the Women's Club and were held in the
Waelderhaus in
Kohler, Wisconsin. Growing popularity of some of the musical events that were opened to the public necessitated that they be held at the Kohler Recreation Hall. In 1952, attendance for the Leslie Bell Singers totaled over 1500.[5]
In May 1953, the
Kohler Foundation announced that it would join the Kohler Women's Club as a co-sponsor of the series. This change followed the death of Ruth DeYoung-Kohler in March, 1953.[6] The events were primarily open to the public and in season 11, all but two of the events were held in the Kohler Recreation Hall.[7] The recreation hall opened in 1927 and was located in the Kohler store building, at the corner of Orchard and Highland St, in Kohler.[8] Most events were held in the Kohler Memorial center, at the Kohler High School, after it was completed in 1957.
Beginning with the 1970–1971 season, the afternoon lectures and the evening arts performances were separated with the Kohler Women's Club continuing the lecture series[9] and the Kohler Foundation continuing the arts programs under the Distinguished Guest Series title.[10]
The arts series has continued and as of the 2018–2019 season was in its 75th year.[11]
List of notable guests
This is a selected list of guests who have appeared in the series. The selection criteria are based on documented appearances and the existence of Wikipedia articles. Announced schedules are not considered authoritative due to some speakers and events being rescheduled or cancelled.
^"Three Dog Night will kick off Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 5 Oct 2000. p. C3.
^"Ailey II, Dance troupe coming to Kohler as part of national tour". The Sheboygan Press. 25 Jan 2001. p. C1.
^"Grammy Award-winning Sweet Honey in the Rock to perform in Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 12 Apr 2001. p. C3.
^"Waverly Consort to perform in Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 22 Nov 2001. p. C7.
^"Boys Choir of Harlem in concert it Kohler Memorial Theatre". The Sheboygan Press. 7 Feb 2002. p. C5.
^"London City Opera to perform 'Madame Butterfly' in Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 16 Feb 2003. p. C4.
^"The Ten Tenors to open Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 2 Oct 2003. p. C3.
^"'Forbidden Broadway' spoofs the goofier side of the Great White Way". The Sheboygan Press. 5 Feb 2004. p. C6.
^"Singing Sisters, The Roches, will perform for Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 25 Mar 2004. p. C5.
^"Swing with Shanghai Circus". The Sheboygan Press. 13 Jan 2005. p. C1.
^"Salzburg Marionettes Theater will be pulling the strings for 'Hansel & Gretel'". The Sheboygan Press. 17 Nov 2008. p. 6.
^"Hal Holbrook bringing legendary 'Mark Twain Tonight' show to Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 9 Mar 2009. p. W.
^"One red hot show with 5 Browns". The Sheboygan Press. 8 Feb 2007. p. C3.
^"They're Toxic, but oh so tantalizing. Unusual acapella group next for Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 22 Mar 2007. p. C4.
^"Distinguished Guest Series offers 'An Evening with Dr. Maya Angelou.'". The Sheboygan Press. 10 Apr 2008. p. Weekend 5.
^"Russian National Ballet : Troupe bringing classic fairytale to Kohler stage". The Sheboygan Press. 15 Jan 2009. p. C1.
^"'Opera without the boring bits' hallmark of crowd-pleasing Ten Tenors: Australian group to perform Aprill 22 for Distinguish Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 9 Apr 2009. p. B2.
^"Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap Kids coming to Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 18 Mar 2010. p. B3.
^"Diane Schuur and Bobby Caldwell swing into Kohler Friday, Feb. 12". The Sheboygan Press. 4 Feb 2010. p. B1.
^"Ballet with a Latin beat : New York's Ballet Hispanico will cha-cha and rumba on Kohler stage". The Sheboygan Press. 20 Jan 2011. p. B3.
^"Following his dream : versatile John Tesh makes music a priority". The Sheboygan Press. 31 Mar 2011. p. B1.
^"Cellicentric coming Feb. 18". The Sheboygan Press. 9 Feb 2012. p. B6.
^"This is it! : Grammy Award-winner Kenny Loggins to close out 2012 Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 12 Apr 2012. p. B1.
^"Amazing acrobats : new Shanghai Circus show is part of Distinguished Guest Series". The Sheboygan Press. 7 Mar 2013. p. B1.
^"A demand for supply : Distinguished Guest Series hosts veteran music group Air Supply". The Sheboygan Press. 31 Oct 2013. p. B1.
^"Blast from the past : Distinguished Guest Series presents "Five Guys Named Moe'". The Sheboygan Press. 13 Feb 2014. p. B1.
^"Itzhak Perlman to perform April 5 in Kohler". The Sheboygan Press. 13 Mar 2013. p. B1.