June 12, 2007
Tribute to Holley Webster - Teacher, Theater Reviewer, Founder of Stage Magazine, Friend
Friends,
It's impossible to sum up my feelings for Holley R. Webster in one article.
Holley and I go way back. More than 45 years. And during this week of her Memorial Service, I wanted to share some thoughts.
She loved when I told this story: One day as Student Council President of Swarthmore High School, I said something about how I "frequent" a certain restaurant. After the talk, Holley took me aside and asked, "Don't you know it's 'fre QUENT' when it's a verb, not 'FRE quent'?" Obviously I didn't.
But I've never forgotten it since!
But I knew Holley best as the Founder and Editor of Stage Magazine, the monthly newsletter of theater listings in the Philadelphia area.
For more than 30 years, she labored on this project without compensation - indeed, she gave her life and her dollars TO this publication because she so strongly believed in creating a Theater Community where everyone had access. And the Barrymore Awards and American Associate of Community Theaters honored her for her dedication.
I also knew her as the Reviewer for The Swarthmorean… she loved theater and told the world about it.
I also knew her when she worked for me in my photography business, helping to get the word out about it too.
My love for Holley will not stop with her passing. She kept telling me to "keep going" when we started StageMagazineOnline.com… and we're doing just that knowing that she is riding along with us and encouraging us every day.
And when she called me one week before her death, she wanted to tell me how much she cared for me and how proud she was that her ideals for Stage will live on in what we are now doing. And then she said, "Goodbye."
So… this Online Living Tribute to Holley Webster has been established right in the middle of a theater site so that everyone who ever knew Holley may leave a thought, a laugh, a grateful message so that generations from now, people will still know why we all loved and cared for Holley so much.
Please… leave a note in the Comment Area below. Let the world know how Holley touched you.
We will never forget….
Charlie Seymour Jr.
A Friend of Holley Webster
Filed under Blog by Charles Seymour Jr
Comments on Tribute to Holley Webster - Teacher, Theater Reviewer, Founder of Stage Magazine, Friend »
Ruth Goldman @ 10:00 am
Holley will be remembered for her keen intelligence and insights. She was always interested in the person she was communicating with and always asked about their families and friends.
Theater was her first love and she gave her entire life to supporting theater and encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to be involved in or at least attend theater.
She will be missed by many as she touched so many hearts and minds during her 90 years.
Ruth Goldman
Miriam @ 5:32 pm
From: sarosch@hotmail.com
To: Charlie@StageMagazineOnline.com
Charlie,
Pictures from my & Brian’s most recent show, A CRY OF PLAYERS on the Second Stage. Performance dedicated to Holley and my Aunt, who died at Christmas.
I am very proud of all these photos and these wonderful actors, most of whom you will recognize!
-Miriam
Bruce Nutting @ 5:57 pm
When I joined the Players Club of Swarthmore in 1964, Holley was already one of the pillars of the organization. Her devotion to the Club and to all theaters in our region was just amazing. For years, she was the "old timer" - writing a column for the Players Club's program (since the theater was really a private club in those days, the program was much more of a newsletter than today's programs).
Holley was an inspiration to all of us - not just because of her love of theater, but because she was always such a loving, caring, and giving person. Not that she was quiet or reserved in her opinions - she was always ready to stand up for her beliefs.
A quick anectdote - when I was a young man, living in this area for the first time, Holley kindly invited me to her home for dinner one evening. Upon my arrival,I was delighted to find that she had a teenage daughter. Holley then asked how old I was - upon being informed that I was 25, she turned to her daughter and said "he's over 21, so he is MR. NUTTING to you." I didn't really want to be "Mr. Nutting," but those were Holley's rules.
Marge Swider @ 9:37 pm
I didn't know Holley personally, but only through Stage Magazine. As Yardley Players started out in 1991, and I became involved in 1993, Holley was always so helpful with making sure our shows and auditions were published even when I called at the last minute. She was always patient and helpful in offering advice so that I, as a newcomer to theatre would gain knowlege of how to be more successful in serving community theatre. Her dedication and years of service are immeasurable and will always be remembered.
Myra C. @ 2:33 pm
I never had the good fortune to meet Holly but I sooooo appreciated her wonderful brochure:STAGE. I distributed hundreds of copies through my costume business, in South Jersey and if she could have seen actors' and theater goers' faces light up when I handed them a copy!! It was such a concise, informative & valuable tool to have. Thank you.
moira rankin @ 10:48 am
holley was such a source of information………. theatre theatre theatre
she was also very interested in our family and knew their names - amazing. i do miss her already.
Neill Hartley @ 7:58 pm
Holly was an amazing person and an inspiration for all. We in the Philadelphia theater community owe her a tremendous debt for all of her time and dedication. She will be greatly missed.