Guide to the Valerie Post Starlight Opera Collection
MS 60
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
March 23, 2017
Title: Valerie Post Starlight Opera Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 60
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.75 Linear feet
(3 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1946-1978
Abstract: This collection contains programs, newspaper articles, and other papers regarding the San Diego Civic Light Opera Association
(also known as Starlight Opera) compiled by performer and board president Valerie Post from 1946 to 1978.
creator:
Post, Valerie
Biographical / Historical Notes
The San Diego Civic Light Opera Association, commonly known as Starlight, was established in 1946, opening with an inaugural
performance of The Mikado. The company changed its name several times, including Star-Light, Starlight, Starlight Opera, Starlight
Theatre, Starlight Musical Theatre, and then finally back to San Diego Civic Light Opera Association. The company’s mission
was to bring light opera and musical theatre to San Diego, as well as to provide opportunities for local performers to acquire
training and performance experience. The company brought numerous Broadway hits to the San Diego stage, and its yearly casting
calls attracted actors, dancer, and musicians from all over the county.
The first two seasons were held in the San Diego Zoo’s Wegeforth Bowl. The company’s first president, Robert J. Sullivan,
was also a Zoo director. There were several problems with the venue, which was used for seal shows during the day, including
a moat between the stage and seats that had to be drained daily, and noise from nearby animals. In 1948, Starlight moved to
the Balboa Park Bowl. It remained at this location until 1968, when financial concerns made it necessary to move again. The
company collaborated with the United States International University (USIU) and moved performances to the San Diego State
University amphitheater and later to the Wegeforth Bowl. By 1974, Starlight had regained full control again. Performances
were moved back to the Balboa Park Bowl, which was later renamed Starlight Bowl.
Valerie Post (b. 1904; d. 3/23/1993), was born in Russia and moved to the United States with her family as a child. She received
two degrees in Chemistry from the University of California Berkeley. It was during her college years that she first decided
to pursue a career as a musician, after attending a concert at the university. From there she performed with the San Francisco
Grand Opera Company, the Los Angeles Opera Company, the New York Opera Company, and the Columbia Grand Opera Company. In 1927,
she married Lauren C. Post, a professor of geography at San Diego State University. She performed the lead in the first Starlight
production and played roles in many productions throughout the years. She was the first female member of the Starlight board
of directors, and served as president of the association from 1964-1969. She was involved in the formation of the Starlight
Women’s Society, an auxiliary of the San Diego Civic Light Opera Association. She also taught voice lessons to San Diego students
for many years, and some of her students went on to perform for Starlight.
Mrs. Post was also active in a fundraising association known as COMBO, or the Combined Arts of San Diego. COMBO hosted auctions
to raise funds for local performance groups such as the Old Globe Theatre, the San Diego Ballet, the San Diego symphony, and
Starlight Opera. This collection mainly reflects Mrs. Post's involvement in COMBO II in 1967; the first COMBO auction took
place in 1965.
Scope and Content
This collection contains programs, newspaper articles, and other papers regarding the San Diego Civic Light Opera Association
(also known as Starlight Opera) compiled by performer and board president Valerie Post from 1946 to 1978. Other papers include
invitations to events, newsletters, photographs, audition notices, promotional materials, and information regarding the performing
arts fundraising organization Combined Arts of San Diego (COMBO).
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by material type and subject.
Preferred Citation
Valerie Post Starlight Opera Collection, MS 60, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Julia Cagle in March 2007 and Samantha Mills in March 2017.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Combined Arts of San Diego (COMBO).
Music Teachers' Association of California .
San Diego Civic Light Opera Association.
San Diego Civic Theatre.
Starlight Opera.
Starlight Women’s Association.
Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
Opera
Programs
San Diego (Calif.)
Box-folder 1:1
Starlight Programs,
1946-1950
Includes:
Programs for: The Mikado, The Chocolate Soldier, H. M. S. Pinafore, Naughty Marietta, Barber of Seville, Hansel and Gretel,
the second summer season, Eileen, The Pirates of Penzance, Countess Maritza, The Vagabond King, The Merry Widow, and selections
from the 1950 repertoire.
Box-folder 1:2
Starlight Programs,
1955-1961
Includes:
Programs for: The Mikado, Wonderful Town, Kismet, Show Boat, Anything Goes, Destry Rides Again, The Red Mill, The Chocolate
Soldier, and Flower Drum Song.
Box-folder 1:3
Starlight Programs,
1956-1965
Includes:
Programs for: Kismet, South Pacific, Damn Yankees, The King and I, Li'l Abner, The Music Man, Destry Rides Again, The Wizard
of Oz, Bye Bye Birdie, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Carnival, Little Me, and the Salvation Army Centennial Musical Salute.
Box-folder 1:4
Starlight Programs,
1962-1965
Includes:
Programs for: The Music Man, Can-Can, The King and I, Song of Norway, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, Sounds of Starlight,
Carnival, Little Me, and Peter Pan.
Box-folder 1:5
Starlight Programs,
1966
Includes:
Programs for: Flower Drum Song, Kiss Me Kate, Tom Sawyer, and South Pacific.
Box-folder 1:6
Starlight Programs,
1967
Includes:
Programs for: Sounds of Starlight '67, Finian's Rainbow, Oliver, Gypsy, 100 Years of Musical Comedy, Walking Happy, and a
season program for "Starlight Musicals at the Zoo."
Box-folder 1:7
Starlight Programs,
1969-1970
Includes:
Programs for: My Fair Lady, Stop the World- I Want to Get Off, My Cousin Josefa, Man of La Mancha, Oklahoma, and Mame.
Box-folder 1:8
Starlight Programs,
1971-1973
Includes:
Programs for: The Sound of Music, Oliver!, The King and I, South Pacific, The Music Man, 1776, Show Boat, and Once Upon a
Mattress.
Box-folder 2:1
Newspaper Articles,
1947
Includes:
Articles on The Pirates of Penzance.
Box-folder 2:2
Newspaper Articles,
1963
Includes:
Articles on The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Box-folder 2:3
Newspaper Articles,
1964
Includes:
Articles on Song of Norway, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, and Here's Love. Also includes articles on new Starlight
director Richard S. Kyber, and Valerie Post being elected president of Starlight.
Box-folder 2:4
Newspaper Articles,
1965
Includes:
Articles on Carnival, Little Me, and Peter Pan.
Box-folder 2:5
Newspaper Articles,
1966
Includes:
Articles on Kiss Me Kate, Flower Drum Song, Tom Sawyer, and South Pacific. Also includes articles on the death of William
Adams, 1965 Starlight House Manager; the death of Ruby Hays, local actress; and the formation of the Starlight Women's Association.
Box-folder 2:6
Newspaper Articles,
1967
Includes:
Articles on Sounds of Starlight, Finian's Rainbow, Oliver, and Gypsy. Also includes articles on Starlight Theatre moving to
Civic Theatre, Starlight financial difficulties and postponement of productions, and COMBO fundraising.
Box-folder 2:7
Newspaper Articles,
1968
Includes:
Articles on Walking Happy and 100 Years of Musical Comedy. Also includes articles on Starlight’s return to San Diego Zoo.
Box-folder 2:8
Newspaper Articles,
1969
Includes:
Articles on My Fair Lady, Stop the World I Want to Get Off, and My Cousin Josefa, as well as Bruce Farley being elected president
of Starlight.
Box-folder 2:9
Newspaper Articles,
1970
Includes:
Articles on Man of La Mancha, Oklahama, and Mame, as well as the 25th anniversary of Starlight Opera.
Box-folder 2:10
Newspaper Articles,
1971
Includes:
Articles on The Sound of Music, Oliver, and The King and I, as well as the death of Carmen Conger.
Box-folder 2:11
Newspaper Articles,
1972
Includes:
Articles on Giselle, South Pacific, The Music Man, and 1776.
Box-folder 2:12
Newspaper Articles,
1973
Includes:
Articles on Show Boat and Once Upon a Mattress.
Box-folder 2:13
Newspaper Articles,
1974
Includes:
Articles on Fiddler on the Roof, The Student Prince, and Camelot.
Box-folder 2:14
Newspaper Articles,
1975
Includes:
Articles on Paint Your Wagon, Hello Dolly, and Brigadoon.
Box-folder 2:15
Newspaper Articles,
1976
Includes:
Articles on My Fair Lady, Carousel, and The Sound of Music.
Box-folder 2:16
Newspaper Articles,
1977
Includes:
Articles on Cabaret, The Desert Song, and The King and I.
Box-folder 2:17
Newspaper Articles,
1978
Includes:
Articles on Music Man, Kismet, and Annie Get Your Gun.
Box-folder 2:18
Starlight Invitations,
1964-1976 and undated
Includes:
Invitations for opening nights, planning meetings, family and corporate luncheons, Starlight Women’s Association events, dinner
receptions, and other events.
Box-folder 2:19
Starlight Season Ticket Forms,
1965-1978
Box-folder 2:20
Starlight Miscellanea,
1947-1977 and undated
Includes:
Seating chart for Wegeforth Bowl; audition notices; association envelopes and letterhead; tickets; membership cards; stage
set rental brochure; poster for Naughty Marietta; correspondence; newsletters; Starlight Women’s Association events and membership;
and newsletters.
Box-folder 3:1
Combined Arts of San Diego (COMBO),
1967-1978
Includes:
Brochures, description of beneficiary coordinating committees, correspondence, a newsletter, and an arts calendar.
Box-folder 3:2
Applause Magazine,
1974-1978
Box-folder 3:3
Photographs (Valerie Post),
undated
Box-folder 3:4
Miscellanea,
1961-1975 and undated
Includes:
Business card for R.R. Richardson; lists of music libraries and plays; brochures, programs, or tickets for other music libraries
and theatres (Music Library of New York, Valley Music Theatre of Woodland Hills, Harding Theatre of San Francisco; Bakersfield
Community Theatre, Casa Manana Theatre of Fort Worth), programs for Music Teachers’ Association of California recitals, schedule
of events for San Diego Community Concourse, and San Diego Community College newsletter “Within Reach.”