The "An Honored Tradition" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just getting ready to deliver my photos to Aaron at the Fulton Opera House. The Fulton Opera House, also known as the Fulton Theater or simply The Fulton, is a theater located in historic downtown Lancaster, PA. It originally was known as Fulton Hall, named after Robert Fulton, Lancaster County's steam engine pioneer, and was built on the foundation of Lancaster's pre-Revolutionary jail. It is also known as one of only three theaters recognized as National Historic Landmarks (the others are the Walnut Street Theaterin Philadelphiaand the Goldenrod Showboat in St. Louis, Missouri). The Fulton is operated by the Fulton Opera House Foundation, a non-profit organization and is home to it's own actor's company, which stages seven theatrical productions per year. The Fulton Opera House Foundation was founded in 1963 and is run by a Board of Trustees who are community leaders. Aaron is the Managing Director and oversees the daily operations of the Fulton. A few years ago he saw one of my manipulated Polaroid prints at the Tag Shop, located a block from the Fulton, and fell in love with it. He decided that it would be given as a gift to board members who were retiring from the Board of Trustees. I was honored that he chose my photo to be given as the gift that honored members for their service to the Fulton. Ever since that time, I annually frame copies of the photo, which I retired from sale, with a small plaque at the bottom of the print. Most years there may be two or three retiring members, but this year there are eight. And ..... I received six days notice that they were needed for the next board meeting. Cutting the mats and making the prints is an easy chore, but the plaques are a different problem. A quick call to Kurt at Brown's Graphic Solutions, with a promise to have them done in time, solved my problem. I sign them as well as identify them with "Fulton Opera House" and number them (example: 13/150). I figure that with a print edition of 150 I should be save to supply them for many years to come. Picked up the plaques at noon today and rushed home to put the finishing touches on the framed photos. Now, my next big chore is to locate Aaron with the finished results before the board meeting tonight. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - photos frpom the top are: original site of the Fulton which was a pre-revolutionary jail built in 1763, photo of the original Fulton as it appears in 1900 (notice the horse-drawn carriage), the Fulton on North Prince Street in 1950, and the almost completed award showing the Fulton as it appeared in 2006.