Winter 2024

124 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 4 A Renovation to Last Another Century Br ight Lights are Shining at the Golden Bough Theatre B Y M I CHA E L CHAT F I E LD I T ’ S AN OFT - REPEATED TALE OF C ARMEL HISTORY .T HE ORIGINAL T HEATRE OF THE G OLDEN B OUGH WAS BUILT BY E DWARD K USTER IN 1924 ON O CEAN A VENUE AND QUICKLY BECAME THE EPICEN - TER OF THE ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL LIFE OF THE CITY , WHICH WAS INCORPORATED JUST EIGHT YEARS PRIOR . I TS STAGE HOSTED AN IMPRESSIVE 50 PRODUCTIONS ANNUALLY , IN THE NINE YEARS IT OPERATED , IN ADDITION TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS , AS ANNOUNCED ON THE FRONT PAGE OF AN A PRIL 1924 ISSUE OF THE C ARMEL P INE C ONE : “C ARMEL , THE HOME OF THE HIGHEST INTELLECTUAL AND ARTISTIC ENDEAVOR IN C ALIFORNIA , IS TO BENEFIT BY SEVERAL INTERESTING COURSES WHICH ARE TO BE GIVEN UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE U NIVERSITY OF C ALIFORNIA EXTENSION DIVISION … AT THE T HEATRE OF THE G OLDEN B OUGH .” T HE P HOENIX R ISES …T WICE O NE ILL FATED PRODUCTION WAS MOUNTED IN 1935. “B Y C ANDLELIGHT ,” A G ERMAN PLAY ADAPTED FOR THE E NGLISH - SPEAKING STAGE BY B RITISH AUTHOR P.G.W ODEHOUSE WAS UNDER - WAY WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE THEATER , BURNING IT TO THE GROUND . U NDETERRED , K USTER REGROUPED AND BUILT AGAIN , THIS TIME ON M ONTE V ERDE S TREET BETWEEN E IGHTH AND N INTH A VENUES ( INCIDENTALLY , THE CHARMING BOX OFFICE BUILDING OF THE ORIGINAL THEATER STILL STANDS , TODAY HOUSING A CANDY SHOP , T HE C OTTAGE OF S WEETS ). T HE CAST FROM THAT EARLIER PRODUCTION OF “B Y C ANDLELIGHT ” CONVINCED THE THEATER OWNER TO RESTAGE THE WORK IN 1949, AND … THE G OLDEN B OUGH ONCE AGAIN WENT UP IN FLAMES . K USTER SPEARHEADED AN AMBITIOUS FUNDRAISING EFFORT AND REBUILT AGAIN , THREE YEARS LATER . T HE VENUE EVENTUALLY BECAME A MOVIE HOUSE , BELOVED BY THE C ARMEL COMMUNITY .