Sorting through "junk" in my basement, I recently ran across several souvenir programs (25 cents) from 1959 and 1960 Starlight Musicals that once graced the bygone Hilton U. Brown Theatron at Butler University. Many who enjoyed musicals and headline artists would reserve seats in the outdoor theater and look forward to a warm, hopefully rainless evening under the stars for entertainment not far from Broad Ripple.

Looking at the programs was "a walk down memory lane." Among the advertisers were Allisons, division of General Motors, for its Powerama exhibit-Take a Trip to the Moon. The Ready Kilowatt character, sporting a top hat, advertised for Indianapolis Power & Light Company whose ad boasted, "Better homemaking from an All-Electric kitchen and laundry." Indiana Bell (then the only phone company) advertised, "Double your money's worth after 9 p.m., when you call Long Distance station-to-station. . . " This only applied to calls between two Indiana telephones. How many of you remember party lines, station-to-station and person-to-person calls, reversing charges, and operator assistance?

Other advertisers were the Republican Party (a full-page ad), Standard Oil Company, Fertigs Ice Cream (for 48 years), the Marott Hotel where the guest stars stayed, Howard Johnson dining at the Meadows, Citizens Gas, Wilking Music Company, sparkling Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Hoosier Coal and Oil, Peale's Dance Costumes, and Red Dot Potato Chips. Stokely-Van Camp advertised its three new health and energy drinks, Ping, Pong, and Pi-Li.

The theater depended on guarantors and donations to present affordable entertainment. The program touted, "Stars under the stars. . . presenting Broadway musical hits for your cool and comfortable summer nights entertainment." Unfortunately this claim was often met with a sultry, stifling hot Indiana summer night!

I almost forgot to mention the programs were from the "King and I," "Silk Stockings," and "Li'L Abner." Tickets were sold at Ross and Babcock Travel Office, Claypool Hotel, American Fletcher, and Indiana National Bank. In 1959 reserved seat prices were $1.50, $2.00, $2.50, and $3.00 except Fridays and Saturdays when there was an added 50-cent upcharge. General admission on Fridays and Saturdays was $1.00 and $1.50. Those were the days!

Hilton U. Brown Theatron has been replaced by Butler residence halls, but memories still linger. One special night when The Beach Boys were performing comes to mind. There with a group of friends, my husband and I had champagne toast to announce our engagement at intermission. Although this evening was not long before Starlight closed, it marked a beginning for us under the Hoosier sky and stars.