Leonard Brecher Louisville theater history collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 1982_072-UA

How to Cite

The Leonard C. Brecher Collection contains business and financial records as well as programs for the theatre programs at the University of Louisville; University Players, The Little Theatre Company (LTC), and Belknap Theatre ranging from the 1940s to the 1970s. This includes the merger between companies over time. Information regarding the Macauley Theatre is also included. Playbills/Programs and scripts from various theatres across the country are also in the collection, along with a small amount of personal papers from Brecher. An account book thought to be owned by Mr. Tom Jones which is presumably a 1870s Kentucky Lottery Ledger and Scrapbook, also included are reviews of Macauley Theatre Productions and an obituary for Tom Jones.

Dates

1870s-1976

Creator

Brecher, Leonard C. (Creator, Person)

Language of Materials

English

Restrictions on Access

No restrictions.

Extent

1.75 linear feet (1 records center box and 1 manuscript box)

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

Leonard C. Brecher (1900-1976) was a noted preservationist and board chairman of the Columbia Manufacturing Company, originally a manufacturer of mantels, and later a furniture manufacturer in Louisville. The year before his death, Brecher received the American Motors Conservation Award, one of twenty-four given to that date. The award honored a lifetime of work in preserving the fossil beds at the Falls of the Ohio, the wilderness area of Mammoth Cave National Park, and the Indiana Dunes. Brecher had been president of the Beckham Bird Club, the Louisville Audubon Society, and the Kentucky Ornithological Society. He was also a member of the Downtown Lions Club and several other civic organizations.

He pursued a life-long interest in the theater and served as board member and president of the Louisville Little Theatre Company in the 1950s playing a major role in its successful merger in 1961 with U of L Players to create the Belknap Theatre Playhouse. Brecher was also active in keeping the Belknap Playhouse from demolition. He had also researched the history of the Macauley Theatre, and served as chairman of the project to restore the Macauley Theatrical Photographs in 1970-1973. During that same period, he served as chairman of the Loan Committee of U of L's Woodcock Society.

He was married to Mary Lou Brecher, who designed costumes for productions of the Louisville Little Theatre in the 1930-1950 period. They had one daughter, Mrs. Charles W. Lewis, and three grandchildren. Leonard Brecher died on April 16, 1976. A Brecher Scholarship Fund was established at the University of Louisville.