Recognizing the need to document and preserve the development and unique heritage of Tampa and its government, the City of Tampa Archives was founded in 1987. Archives Awareness Week was established in 1992 by the City of Tampa Archives Advisory Committee. During this week, local archives come together to present their collections through exhibits and programs that convey the value of archives in the identification, preservation and conservation of historic records.  This year, the Museum is pleased to participate with the premiere of a short documentary film: Gems from Olivette.  After the film, join Dr. Charles McGraw Groh for audience questions and a brief look at highlights from the Tampa Bay Casino’s 1923 theatrical season.



Gems from Olivette recreates performances of the most popular songs from Edmond Audran’s Olivette, the musical comedy sensation that took Tampa by storm in the 1890s. It also furnished the name of one of Henry Plant’s steamships. The film combines costumed reenactments, archival images, and expert commentary to explore the tensions in American popular culture at the turn of the century. The original French version of Olivette was quite risqué, and the challenge for touring productions in the United States was anticipating the sensibilities of local audiences and adjusting their performances accordingly.
 
Following the event, be sure to visit the Henry B. Plant Museum’s current exhibit Imagined East: Decorative Arts and the Imperial Gaze. Water and light refreshments provided. Contact info: 813.254.1891, ext. 7303 or scarter@ut.edu.