The motivation for Rotary Revels came from a style show in drag that Rotarians Ryan Hall and Bob Clark created n the early summer of 1953, with fellow Rotarians as models.

The show was to provide the entertainment for the Ohio Altrusa Club state convention that year in Hamilton. It was so successful that requests for other performances followed.

Ralph Colegrove, president of Rotary then, was searching for a program that might involve all club members, that would be entertaining for the public, and could raise funds for charitable purposes. He had seen the style show, and so, asked Hall and Clark if they could develop a program, or show to meet the club’s needs.

Thus was Rotary Revels born!!

That fall a meeting was held in Dr. Joseph Baker’s office. The Hall-Clark duo invited Cy Bullock and Russell Katz to participate in planning. Bullock had an extensive music background. He had been a Navy Band soloist, had played with Paul Whiteman’s orchestra, and many others, and had directed a pit band. Katz had designed sets for both Broadway and Chicago shows.

The decision was made to develop a variety show, featuring skits, music and dance specialties. Ryan Hall suggested the name Rotary Revels, which was approved. Bullock would be director of music, Katz director of sets and lighting. Clark would become stage manager. Baker would serve as director of properties and stage construction.

Hall would become producer and director of the show.

The style show was made the centerpiece of this 1954 show. Feminine models were cast to contrast with the males modeling the same garments. Hall wrote the script for the style show and some of the other skits used.

Bullock wrote the music for “Rotary Revels,” the song that became a trademark finale. Lyrics were by Ann Kelly and Hall.

The old Hamilton High School (at 6th & Dayton Sts.) auditorium was the location for the first show. Performances were scheduled for just two nights. To the surprise of the planning staff, both nights were sell outs. Obviously Hamilton was eager for live entertainment.

The same production team that created the first show teamed together for the next two Revels. Harold Frye, as lighting director, was added to the team. Frye had held the same post for the famous George White Scandals. Hall wrote, produced, and directed the two shows.

The 1955 production was still a variety show. The “Train Skit” was considered one of its outstanding features. In 1956, for the first time, the script called for a theme, or plot, for the show, a mini-musical comedy.

The team that had produced the first three shows requested a rest in 1957, and so a professional producing company was brought in to stage the show. It met with somewhat less success.

Thus in 1958, the original team of men came back together to create “Diamonds Afloat,” an original musical comedy. The book was written by Ryan Hall and the music by Dudley Mecum, an A.S.C.A.P. writer, who’s best know tune, “Angry” was featured along with five new songs.

C.C. Fracker became director of the show, the first of many he was to successfully lead over the years to come.

Jack Smith, who had starred in the early shows, again displayed his comic talents. He also was destined to direct future shows.

Now that Rotary Revels had become a Hamilton tradition it was obvious that its future could not depend on original material year after year. The decision was made that, beginning in 1959, Broadway musical comedies would be presented.

The era of original material had served its purpose. It was the best of Broadway for the future.

Ryan B. Hall