GRAHAM THATCHER

In Memory of Graham  Thatcher 1939-2018 

written by Ron Reed

                Graham  Thatcher was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the son of an opera singer father and  actress mother.  Both of Graham’s parents worked in the Sioux Falls Community Playhouse in the 1930’s.  He appeared in his first acting role at age 5 and received his first makeup kit when he was 8.  His grandparents leased a cabin at Camp Remington, three miles North of the Black Hills Playhouse; and  his  extended family would meet there during the summer.   Graham’s  godfather, an avid fan of the Playhouse, took 10-year-old  Graham  to see his first production in 1949 when performances were done in a tent across the road from Legion Lake. 

                After a two-year hitch in the Navy, he enrolled at San Francisco State.  As a junior with lingering memories of the Playhouse, Graham  applied to be included in the 1963 company.  He was rejected.  Not discouraged, he quickly appealed, submitting a pile of letters, newspaper reviews, and photographs and was accepted. 

                I met  Graham  that summer, my 4th season at the Playhouse.  I was the technical director, and  Graham  was assigned to the scene shop.  He was also cast in the first show and then on and on and on.  In the first show, he was an old man.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that this actor was a hard worker who liked the shop.  I also learned that he would be required to take a tech theatre test when he returned to college.  If he passed, he would not have to take that course.  I began teaching him about scenery, lighting, and sound; and he spent one show in the costume shop, making a dress for a show.  He passed the college test, and a friendship and lifetime relationship was born. 

Dashing young Graham Thatcher

                Following graduation, he entered the master’s program at USD and returned to the Playhouse for several more seasons.  After graduation from USD in 1966,  he took a teaching job at Northern State College.  Graham  enjoyed teaching;  but longing to be with comrades in the arts, he spent weekends in Vermillion.  I had returned to SD to become the Chairman  of the Theatre Department, and  Marian and I had moved our mobile home to Vermillion.   Graham  slept on our sofa on weekends. Dick Wilcox was already at USD as Designer and Tech Director,  and we were just beginning the growth of the Department. 

The Mikado, Director, Graham Thatcher, Set and Photos, Menno Kraai

                Graham, Dick, and I had long conversations regarding where we wanted to take the Theatre program.  I lobbied the new USD President for an additional staff member to teach the growing theatre enrollment.   He approved additional funding to enable the College of Fine Arts to add a staff member for the Theatre.  I was delighted, for I planned to hire  Graham.  Doc Lee, however, had other plans for that addition to the staff: a  choreographer for the Black Hills Playhouse.  He hired Bob Twitchell without discussion. 

                Soon after, the Theatre was awarded another position; and this time I got  Graham.  He taught the Intro. to Theatre course which was used to satisfy a fine arts requirement.   Graham  was a star.  He made the course so interesting and fun (as he did all his courses) that we had to add another section to satisfy the demand.   Graham was a superb teacher, actor, and director. 

A Couple of Blaguards, Jeff Kingsbury, Graham Thatcher

Crimes, Causes and the Courtroom Produced by Periaktos Production

                The Black Hills Playhouse is a unique place. It brings young people together to celebrate Theatre; to discover their passion for their art and build upon it.  It also creates friendships that last a lifetime as mine did with  Graham. 

   At the Playhouse, Doc Lee would gather the company together in the theatre to share the history of his dream of the BHP. Many of those present chose to become a partner in fulfilling his dream.  Graham  was one of those who became a member of the Dream as are the members of the fraternity that return for many seasons to perform and those who attend annual reunions.   Graham  was a member since he was 8 years old.   

Milt Lee, Graham Thatcher, ? Legend of Devil’s Gulch

For those who read this and do not know  “The Legend of Devil’s Gulch,” Doc Lee’s  play that ran every Monday night for years at the Playhouse, let me explain.  In the first scene, Aaron Pribble, the leading role played by Hap Haberman, would introduce the play, and shake hands with a member of the audience.  His line was, “How does it feel to shake hands with a dead man?”  The morning that Anna Marie called to tell me  Graham  had passed away, I raced across Rapid City to see him one last time.  He was lying in bed.  I took his hand to say my last goodbye.  Before I could say a word, I swear I heard him say, “How does it feel to shake hands with a dead man?”  Once again, he had had the last word. 

Friend for life. 

submitted by Ron Reed

BHP 1960-68

The first of a two-show series called “Memorial Cast Party starring Neil Graham Thatcher,” produced by Anna Marie Thatcher, his leading lady for 48 years, provided a fitting final act for a much-loved and admired teacher, writer, actor, friend, and self-described “happy guy.” The show played to a full house - a cast of about 175 people - who joined in the celebration in the Historic Theatre of the Performing Arts Center in Rapid City, SD.