On Sunday, May 6th at 3pm, the Elling House Arts & Humanities Center will host Favorite Friends, Famous Poems, a beloved annual event of poetry readings. Each friend is invited to read his/her favorite famous poem. Favorite friends for the 2018 event include Patti Henry (artist and scenic designer from Butte), Dave Walker (musician from Virginia City), Karl Marcu
s (stone mason and poet from Sheridan), Chris Harris (woodworker from Butte), and others.
Following on Thursday, May 10th at 7pm, the Elling House presents “Me & Martha: Intimate Reflections of Dora DuFran About the Real Life of Calamity Jane,” a portrayal by Mary Jane Bradbury.
The name Calamity Jane brings to mind an iconic character of the American West. Accounts of Calamity – whose real name was Martha Canary – are legion and she has achieved mythical status in the lore of the frontier. She lived and traveled throughout Wyoming, Montana, and the Dakotas from 1867 to 1903, during some of the West’s wildest days. The voracious Victorian press sensationalized her activities, and as a flamboyant character in popular dime novels, Calamity Jane’s legend grew until the person behind the character all but disappeared.
Who better to give insight into the real story than madam Dora DuFran, a Black Hills pioneer, entrepreneur and close friend of Calamity’s. Ms. DuFran built a successful red light business during the rambunctious early days of the western frontier in Deadwood, South Dakota, and has a unique perspective about how wild it really was. Ms. DuFran knows better than anyone the life of Martha Canary and Calamity Jane, two quite different women, one legendary, one all but forgotten.
Admission to these events is by donation and open to the public. Additional financial support is being provided by Humanities Montana and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Elling House, with its historic architecture and location in Virginia City, Montana, is an ideal setting for a cultural resources center. As a nonprofit organization, Elling House Arts & Humanities Center operations serve a variety of educational, entertainment, and hospitality purposes. Presenting programs in the arts, sciences, and humanities, the Elling House encourages active and enthusiastic participation from its members, its audiences, as well as its performers and presenters. Learn more at www.ellinghouse.org. The Elling House is located at 404 E Idaho St. in Virginia City.
