es ee en PRAMS 1981 Ree January rT COMMENT WEBER STATE COLLEGE — Two theatres named in honor of former professors Dr. Leland F. Monson Thatcher Allred By Arlene Wilson “mantic actor’ during the 1930’s “when he performed in downtown Ogden theaters. 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 “ceremonies 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, _“T always knew when Dad was ready to put on a play because the furniture inthe front room began disappearing.’ He was also author of some plays, one of which took first place in a 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 campus Professor Allred directed the play for the opening of the Browning 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 Dedicatory ceremonies preceded the play ‘“‘The Real Inspector Hound”’ in 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. “It is true that students came into my classes hating Shakespeare and generally left interested in his works. I Allred received the ‘‘Distinguished service award from the Utah Academy took the characters, for instance King WSC Alumni “Distinguished Service greatness or sorrows can defeat you. Community testimonial dinner. He was also awarded scholarship grants during his career at the University of Iowa and Stanford Dr. Monson pointed out that King Lear was autocratic and domineering Lear, and used a double-barreled of Arts, Letters and Science in 1972, approach - sorrows can be steps to Award” and was honored at an Ogden The kindest, sweetest people in the world have suffered.” University. 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. and he changes through the course of the play. He had students keep a 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 with a teacher who loves his subject. “The greatest responsibility is to 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 bantimaitiiededhe Allred also earned a reputation as a wife, the late Because everyone can relate to ‘real’ characters with real problems, Shakespeare comes alive when studied hi-ho State, community and civic theater and serving as head of the WSC Theater Department. {naddition to directing, Professor ) was written to collaboration with his love, in its place,’ said Dr. Monson. a Sen ete productions for more than 30 years, ' directing around 60 plays for Weber non-professional playwrights. The one-act play, “Orchids for Margaret”’ The Cellar Theater in the WSC Browning Center was named in honor of Dr. Leland H. Monson, professor emeritus of English. 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 greatest 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) é ) ma of theater, “the late M. Thatcher " Allred was involved in theatrical nationwide competition for a Known fondly as ‘‘the grand old