ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY
The Department of Theatre Arts originated from the Department of Elocution and
Oratory which formed around 1898. In 1914 the department changed its name to become
the Department of Public Speaking, and in 1942 it became the Department of Speech
and Drama. The department name changed again in 1967 to become the Department of
Theatre Arts. Since 1996 the name has been the Department of Theatre, Film and
Dance. The first drama courses offered for credit were held in the summer of 1922
and the 1923-1924 academic year and they were taught by Alexander M. Drummond (also
referred to as A.M. Drummond).
The Cornell Dramatic Club (CDC) formed in March 1909 and its first production, staged
at the Lyceum Theater, was "An Enemy of the People" by Henrik Ibsen, directed by
Professor Smiley Blanton. Professor Blanton served as the CDC's director until 1911
when Lew D. Fallis assumed the responsibility for a year. Alexander M. Drummond
became the director in 1912 and served until 1947. Walter H. Stainton served from
1947 to 1952 and George McCalmon served from 1952 until his death in 1965. Cornell
University Theatre (CU Theatre) was created in 1930 by the Trustees of the
University to bring together the theatre-related activities at Cornell. CU Theatre
was supervised by the Department of Public Speaking, and Professor Drummond served
as its director until 1952 when he retired from the University. George McCalmon took
over as director after Drummond's retirement.
