All Hail and Well Met

1960 School Teacher Phyllis Patterson is having little pageants staged in her backyard in the San Fernando Valley. Costumes are made and some scripts written and maybe some improvisation is done.

1961 Phyllis Patterson is having little pageants staged in her backyard in the San Fernando Valley. Ron and Phyllis Patterson. Judy Cory, Rachel Rosenthall, King Moody, Therl Ryan and others do "Instant Theater" about this time.

1962 A small Comedia wagon about the size of a four by eight sheet of plywood is built.

According to Phyllis, "it began quite simply. Because we had made the cart for one special performance at the El Capitan Theater. That had been a lot of fun, and when it was over everyone of us was sad. Columbine cried. And I made a promise. We would do Comedia on the cart again, but this time in the proper setting….. under some trees… outside…where commedia dell’ arte should be performed!" . (Editor’s note could this Columbine have been Judy Cory?)

May 1963 Phillis and Ron Paterson put on the first Renaissance Pleasure Faire, it takes place in North Hollywood, California with attendance of 8000 people for the one weekend event ..

1964 In April the birth of William Shakespeare in 1564 marks the playing of complete versions of his plays back to back on Radio Free Oz KPFK, Radio.

The second Renaissance Pleasure Faire takes place attended by about 12,000 people and me. Booths are made of sticks and bed sheets. Some are in costume, but most are not. A number of us Valley Kids are totally blown away by the proceedings.

1965 The wife of Walter Brennan (Granpappy Amos of the girls and the boys and the family known as the real McCoys) objects to the Faire and it is somewhat closed. At my high school in the San Fernando Valley, some guys return with stories that the place is guarded by police. They ask you if you have business there, if you say, "Yes," they let you pass. If you say no, they say, "Say Yes." So those who went out there that year got to go to the Faire. I would dearly love to get some stories or photos from the 1965 Faire..

1966 The Southern Faire moves to the Parmount Ranch in Agoura, California.

1971 The sixth Northern Faire moves to Sartori Ranch in Marin because China Camp can't hold the numbers of people attending faire. This being the first Black Point Forest Pleasure Faire. The Faire calls this site Chipping Under Oakwood. I have my first Faire Booth selling hand made sculpted candles. The Southern Faire takes place in Agoura.

1970's Faire sets Guniess Book of World Record for selling the most beer during a event.

1989 The Southern Faire moves to San Bernadino, California.

1992 Phillis Paterson and her company merge with Renaissance Entertainment Corp of Bolder,Colorado..

Lord High Editor

Over and Out (Back)