Blue Jacket Outdoor Drama Collection

This collection consists of documents, photographs, and recordings of First Frontier, Inc. and their premier production, Blue Jacket Outdoor Drama. The documents represent both the administrative and theatrical production endeavors of the company. For example, there are financial, administrative, and commercial records along with scripts, programs, and performance photographs. While the collection spans the entire history of First Frontier, the bulk of the documents are from the 1980s and early 1990s.

Series I, Board of Trustees, contains documents dealing with the organization and running of the board of the First Frontier, Inc. and is divided into two subseries. Subseries IA, Meeting and Committee Records, includes agendas and minutes for the Board of Trustees and the Committees. This subseries also includes reports delivered to the board during meetings. Subseries IB, General Administration, consists of documents describing the organization of the board, board correspondence, members' guidebooks, and the board mission statement. These documents detail the structure of the board as well as topics such as drafting the original script and employee management decisions. This series also includes documentation regarding The Institute of Outdoor Drama (IOD).

Series II, Finance, has been divided into two subseries. Series IIA, Financial Documents and Reports, highlights the financial history of First Frontier Incorporated. A great portion of these financial documents and reports are clustered between the periods that First Frontier was founded in 1977 until the opening season in 1982. The bulk of these documents consist of balance sheets, cash receipts and disbursement reports, treasurer reports, and estimated cash available and expense reports. Also note that Blue Jacket was an outdoor drama produced in the summer months, this is often reflected within the coverage of their financials. For what is available of First Frontier's financial history: the balance sheets cover this time in the most detail. This subseries also includes receipts for group sales during the summer months of 2004 and 2005. Subseries IIB, Grants and Fundraising, contains material documenting First Frontier's efforts at raising capital. Of pertinent interest to the researcher may be the folder labeled Capital Campaign Plans which documents how First Frontier tried to achieve this goal. Of equal interest may be the Grants Committee folder, which contains documents that would also give insight into First Frontier's capital plans. Many of these applications appear to be from the latter period of First Frontier's history, and could help determine how or why First Frontier wasn't successful in raising more capital.

Series III, Administration, is divided into two subseries and covers the administrative side of First Frontier Inc. It is broken into three subseries, Construction and Lease Agreements, and Employee Records. Subseries IIIA, Construction and Lease Agreements regards construction, leases, building permits and renovation information. This subseries also includes architectural drawings filed separately in the map cases. Subseries IIIB, Employee Records includes all employee records and contracts as well as company dealings with Actor's Equity Association, the nation union for stage actors.

Series IV, Marketing and Advertisements, has been divided into four subseries. Subseries IVA, Marketing, contains material directly related to First Frontier's efforts to promote their company. The researcher may find the folder labeled Marketing Budgets and Plans a helpful place to start. Some of the documents highlight the more significant events in First Frontier's history, such as the world premiere of Blue Jacket and the groundbreaking of the Cesar Ford Park Amphitheatre. Also documented within this series are examples of marketing materials First Frontier released to the public. Subseries IVB, Press Clippings, contains newspapers articles related to First Frontier or Blue Jacket. Series IVC, Programs and Guestbooks, contains the annual programs provided to audiences of the Blue Jacket Outdoor Drama. Very few examples from their other First Frontier productions are available. This series also includes two guest-books that were donated with the collection. Subseries IVD, Ads and Memorabilia, these binders are scrapbooks maintained by First Frontier that consists of a large variety of material types. Also included in this series are posters from Blue Jacket and other First Frontier productions.

Series V, Production Logistics, is divided into three subseries, Research, Scripts and General Production Information. It contains all documents related to day-to-day production of Blue Jacket and other plays. Subseries VA, Research, holds documents related to production research including maps, character studies and photocopies of relevant historical novels. Subseries VB includes a variety of scripts from most of the years Blue Jacket was in production as well as scripts from other productions and filmstrips. Of special not in this subseries is two copies of the original script produced by W.L. Mundell. Subseries VC, General Production Information, contains all of the technical logistics involved in the production such as electrical plans production notes and reports and various permits for the use of explosives and weapons. In addition to the technical aspects this subseries also includes administrative correspondence and other administrative functions directly related to production.

Series VI, Audio/Visual, contains various forms of recordings of the characters, actors, sets, and production of Bluejacket Outdoor Drama as well as computer records for First Frontier, Inc. Subseries VIA, Videos, includes video tapes of the production between 1984 and 2003, including complete recordings of the 1993 and 1994 seasons. This subseries also includes undated promotional spots, Bob Ford historical program, an Institute of Outdoor Drama Conference event, and fundraising videos. Subseries VIB, Photographs and Negatives, consists of still photographs, scrapbooks, and negative of actors, characters, productions, and sets. There are seasonal albums, including one from 1999 which documents the costumes for each character. There are also a significant number of unlabeled photographs and negatives in boxes 49, 50, and 51. Subseries VIC, Slides, includes three albums of slides used for promotional purposes that are primarily copies of photographs found in subseries VIB. Subseries VID, Digital Records, consists of computer files and audio recordings.