Orchestra and Ministral Show [graphic]
| Title | Orchestra and Ministral Show [graphic] |
|---|---|
| Date | 1934-01-01 |
| Description | TIFF; 1 negative : ill. b&w ; 5 in. x 4 in. 1 original : ill. b&w ; 9 5/8 in. x 7 3/16 in. (24.5 cm x 18.3 cm) Roy Phelix Best (1900-1954) was Special Deputy Warden of the Colorado State Penitentiary prior to being appointed warden by Governor William Adams in mid-1932. Best came to Canon City after the destructive prison riots of 1929. He was given the responsibility of replacing almost the entire physical plant. He has been given credit for rebuilding the buildings at minimal cost to taxpayers. He also created a nationally respected industrial system which employed most of the prisoners under his care. His overall policy was "discipline without tryanny" and "No work, no play". These 111 photographs were taken about 1932-1934 during the beginning of Best's reconstruction programs. Black and white photograph shows a Colorado State Penitentiary musical group and ministral performers on stage in the multi-purpose room; 23 men on stage (14 in black-face) and 1 woman (or man dressed as a woman); all in formal dress in background; 10 men in prison orchestra sitting below stage in foreground; New Years Day celebration, January 1, 1934 for the prisoners; stage trimmed in starred bunting along edge; typed label attached to lower edge of photograph: "ORCHESTRA AND MINSTREL SHOW OF JANUARY 1, 1934". The fire during the Riot of 1929 destroyed the old chapel, A new multi-purpose room over the dining room in Central building was used for services on Sunday. It had new seating installed in Best's 1932 term. Movie equipment was acquired by Colorado State Penitentiary and installed in order to show weekly movies to the prisoners. The prison orchestra had 27 members at this point and the band 34. Best made sure the members of these organizations had time to practice. Best had specific rules of conduct and one rule was: "Lots of work and lots of play; no work, no play". |
| Subject | Photograph. Photographic. LHC Digital P88.019.004.003. Canon City (Colo.) sears Fremont County (Colo.) sears Prisons Colorado Department of Corrections. sears Orchestra Prisons. sears Events Ministral show. sears Colorado State Penitentiary. Best, Roy P. |
| Source | P88.019.004.003 |
| Publisher | Canon City Public Library |
| Rights | Restrictions: See LHC director. |
| Identifier | http://ccpl.lib.co.us/pictures/cd-2/P88-019-004-003-1.jpg |
| Collection | |
| Citation | "Orchestra and Ministral Show [graphic]," in Heritage West, Item #51304, http://heritagewest.coalliance.org/items/show/51304 (accessed June 19, 2013). |