yt COMMENT WEBER STATE COLLEGE January 1981 </ Two theatres named in honor of former professors _ Leland F. Monson Thatcher Allred By Arlene Wilson _ Known fondly as “‘the grand old } man of theater, “the late M. Thatcher Allred was involved in theatrical productions for more than 30 years, directing around 60 plays for Weber State, community and civic theater and serving as head of the WSC Theater Department. In addition to directing, Professor nationwide competition for non-professional playwrights. The one-act play, “Orchids for Margaret” was written to collaboration with his wife, the late Pearl Oberhansly Allred, and was widely used in high schools and colleges and printed in several play books. When the college moved to the new Allred also earned a reputation as a campus Professor Allred directed the when he performed in downtown Ogden theaters. Center. He served on a planning committee for the building. For many years he directed the popular “‘All Faces West,”’ and was the organizer and past president of the Ogden Community Theater. Recipient of many awards, Professor “tomantic actor” during the 1930's As a tribute to Professor Allred, Weber State College dedicated and "memorialized the Little Theater in the Val A. Browning Center for Performing Arts, as the Allred ' Theater. The brief dedicatory eeremonies preceded the performance of the play ‘‘Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ in November. The memorialization will remind _ patron of the theatrical contributions © @ of Professor Allred, who began his career as the only play director on the ~ }/ ‘downtown campus while the college was a junior college. His son, Dr. Gordon Allred, recalls, _“Lalways knew when Dad was ready to put on a play because the furniture in the front room began disappearing.”’ He was also author of some plays, one of which took first place in a play for the opening of the Browning The Cellar Theater in the WSC Browning Center was named in honor love, in its place,’’ said Dr. Monson. Because everyone can relate to ‘‘real’”’ characters with real problems, Dedicatory ceremonies preceded the play “The Real Inspector Hound” in with a teacher who loves his subject. “The greatest responsibility is to of Dr. Leland H. Monson, professor emeritus of English. December. Dr. Monson, 80, set an enviable record during his 42-year career, beginning in 1926. It is commonly said that students grew to love Dr. Monson’s classes. He opened many new doors to young people that would otherwise have remained closed. “Tt is true that students came into my classes hating Shakespeare and generally left interested in his works. I Allred received the ‘Distinguished took the characters, for instance King of Arts, Letters and Science in 1972, Award” and was honored at an Ogden approach - sorrows can be steps to greatness or sorrows can defeat you. The kindest, sweetest people in the University. Lear was autocratic and domineering and he changes through the course of the play. He had students keep a service award from the Utah Academy WSC Alumni “Distinguished Service Community testimonial He was also awarded grants during his career University of Iowa and dinner. scholarship at the Stanford Professor Allred’s three children, Dr. Gordon A. Allred, Ogden; Joan Allred Sanders, Smithfield, and Mrs. Bradley (Penny) Wright, San Anselmo, Calif., have followed the literary interests of their parents. Lear, and used a double-barreled world have suffered.” Dr. Monson pointed out that King record of King Lear’s quick temper and why he became angry. “Anger, if not conquered, leads to hatred, revenge, jealousy and envy. The only way anger can be conquered is to develop a good emotion, such as Shakespeare comes alive when studied motivate students to want to learn. You must love literature yourself to convey love into their hearts so they'll be motivated. I have emphasized that point in my teaching,’’ he said. As a young student at Weber Normal College, Dr. Monson was asked to teach Professor Blaylock’s history class for an hour. President Aaron W. Tracy sat in on the class, called him into his office and promised him a teaching position if he would go on with his education and change to English. Dr. Monson had not excelled in English before. His field had been mathematics but eventually he made the decision and said “‘it was the t decision I ever made in my life. I could hardly wait to get to class I loved teaching so much. I almost felt I should have paid them.” He married Ada Button and they had two children when he started back to college. He was working as a typist for the Ogden Union Railroad Depot and could type 132 words a minute before he was through with his job (Continued on page 2)