For many students, Robinson Theatre is just the name of another campus building. What they may not realize is that Horace Robinson, the man who built the University’s theater program, still lives in Eugene and continues to be active in the theater.
Joseph Gilg, development director of University Theatre, said that today’s program is a reflection of Horace’s values.
“He’s the man for our program,” Gilg said, who has known Robinson since 1973. “The program was built by him.”
Robinson first arrived here in 1933, accepting the considerable challenge of being one of the founding teachers at the university and later taking on the task of designing the theater.
Born in Apache, Okla., Robinson’s interest in theater began in junior high. Robinson graduated from the University of Iowa and later went on to receive a graduate degree.
When he arrived, the theater department consisted of only one other faculty member. Robinson began as the technical director and scene designer. He said that the theater program has changed considerably since then.
“It has increased, of course, considerably in size,” Robinson said. “We had a very active program at the time. We did six shows a year. It was, I guess, easier, because there wasn’t any TV competition and very little of the theater in Eugene. So the University Theater was the main dramatic outlet of the town at the time.”
The theater began with a lot of public interest.
“We had very good audiences. I would say, much more town participation than student,’ he said.
Robinson said that, over time, the theater has become a predominately student-oriented place.
Before the theater took Robinson’s name, the theater was named the University Theater. There was a move to change the theater’s name when Robinson retired in 1975.
Robinson said that the University’s theater was once the major theater in the Northwest and excellent by 1949 standards, but that it has not progressed to meet 20th-century standards.
“At the time, it was the best in the country,” Robinson said. “Things have progressed, changed considerably both in terms of plays and material and methods and technology and so forth and unfortunately the present theater hasn’t kept up with those. It is, shall we say, rapidly becoming an outmoded theater.”
The same can not be said for Robinson the man. Married for 76 years and having celebrated his 90th birthday last October, Robinson is still active in the theater community. He still finds time to do a little directing, acting and writing.
“But the opportunities for that are decreasing,” Robinson said with a laugh.
He added that he never misses a campus performance.
His “pet project” is a ten-year-old Readers Theater Group. Robinson said that they perform four or five shows a week, and that helps him stay active. They have performed over 900 performances and will reach 1,000 sometime in July, according to Robinson.
“It’s a welcome outlet for me because it still keeps me going,” he said.