Moyer, L.E.
Biography
L.E. Moyer grew up in Gage, Oklahoma. One year out of high school, he joined the Redpath-Horner Premier Circuit as crewman in 1922. In 1923 he transferred to the five-day Sterling Circuit as superintendent. Moyer continued working with the Redpath-Horner Chautauqua system each summer for about six years as he attended the University of Oklahoma in Arts & Science, followed by Law School. During the 1928-1929 season, Moyer was manager on the tour of Naughty Marietta, and moved to the Redpath office in Kansas City in January of 1929.
Charles F. Horner, who managed the Redpath office in Kansas City, eventually moved to Washington, D.C. in 1933. A couple of years later, his son, Bryan, moved to Kansas City following college. Moyer and Bryan worked together about seven years, operating as Horner-Moyer, Inc., a concert management entity, until 1943. Soon after this, Moyer moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma as Executive Director of the Tulsa Community Chest. He lived there for four years, then moved back to Kansas City, Missouri as Executive Director of the Kansas City Community and Council of Social Agencies. He and his wife eventually wound up in California, where he was an officer in the Men's Garden Clubs of America.
In a letter dated December 4, 1960 to Cliff Hotchkiss, author of the book The Chautauqua, An American Phenomenon, Mr. Moyer writes, During Bryan Horner's and my time with the business, we operated concert & lecture management from Coast to Coast, with tours of the Tipica Mexican Orchestra, Ted Shawn & His Dancers, and others, that extended from Symphony Hall, Boston to the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco. It was the most extensive, geographically at least, that the business ever operated. Our tours extended through Canada also, and to Cuba, and one season for Shawn that included His Majesty's Theatre, London.
Citation:
Author: Jacque Roethler, July 2005Found in 1 Collection or Record:
L.E. Moyer Papers
Photos, appointment diaries, correspondence, and other material related to Moyer's responsibilities as a crewman and superintendent on the Redpath-Horner Chautauqua circuit, as well as manager of a touring play and later a partner in the Horner-Moyer booking agency.