MANCHESTER, Ohio — At an exclusive invitation-only event held Nov. 23 aboard the Showboat Majestic, moored near Moyer Winery ad Restaurant, southwest of Manchester, guests were able to get a glimpse into the historic vessel’s future in Adams County, and experience a little of its past.
The event began with a tour of the showboat, which was built in 1923 by Captain T.J. Reynolds and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. It was one of the last showboats built, and is now the longest-lived. In its prime, the Majestic toured the Ohio, Allegheny, Cumberland, Green, Kanawha, Kentucky, Monongahela, Muskingum, and Tennessee rivers, bringing entertainment to rural riverside communities in a tradition spanning from the early 1800s to the late 1940s.
After a word of welcome from Joe and Cortnee Brumley, who purchased the Majestic at a public auction in February this year, and have actively made improvements to it since, a short movie on the history of the vessel was shown.
Construction of the Majestic began in November of 1922, it explained, in the shipyards of Pittsburgh, Penn. In the fashion of all other showboats, the Majestic is not self-propelled; a gasoline-powered towboat named Atta Boy was built at the same time it was to push it along the river. Both projects were completed in just five months. Its captain, Thomas Jefferson Reynolds, was born April 6, 1888 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Reynolds was a man of the river; he was raised on a houseboat, and spent the majority of his life aboard the Majestic. He did not live in a home on dry land until he had nearly reached the age of 60. He was married twice, and had nine children, all of whom were raised on the showboat.
His children would leave school in March, the movie explained, and the Majestic would begin touring with one-night shows in early April, only returning to Point Pleasant in late October.
Shows would typically last one to two hours and the main performance was a family-friendly melodrama hit of the day, with vaudeville performed between acts. Snacks were sold during intermission, and the guests were given chances to win prizes, which guaranteed entertainment for the entire show. The Reynolds family lived aboard the Majestic and regularly took part in the shows held in its auditorium, filling various roles. They toured through the Great Depression, and took produce or items for trade in lieu of cash from those who could not pay.
When the U.S. entered World War II in 1942, strict wartime regulations made it difficult for traveling showboats to operate along their usual routes. The Majestic stopped touring for the first time since it had been built that year, and did not resume touring until after the war in 1948.
In 1948, Captain Reynolds agreed to lease the Majestic to the theatre departments of Kent State University and Hiram College. Drama students lived, worked, and performed on the showboat for the entire summer season, earning college credit for the experience. By 1949, the Majestic was the only showboat still performing one-night stands. At the end of the 1958 season, Hiram College and Kent State University ended their agreement with Captain Reynolds, who put the showboat for sale.
In August of 1959, the Majestic was purchased by Indiana University. It was used to promote the university’s theater department, traveling to four states: Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, and Ohio. It was during this time that the works of Shakespeare were first performed on the showboat’s stage.
In December of 1959, Captain Reynolds fell into the Kanawha River and drowned. The Majestic had its first new captain shortly afterward, who piloted the historic vessel until 1965, when it was forced into dry dock by the Safety at Sea Act, The Majestic was purchased in 1966 by the city of Cincinnati, where it arrived in 1967. Shortly after its arrival in Cincinnati, it was fitted with a steel hull and equipped with air conditioning. Its lighting and sound systems were also updated, and more space was added for actors on the stage. Shows on the Majestic enjoyed great success for many years in Cincinnati, and the showboat was declared a National Historic Landmark on Dec.20, 1989.
It was sold by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission at public auction in February this year to Joe and Cortnee Brumley, who brought the Majestic to Adams County. After the film, JoAleene Miranda gave a presentation on stage. She explained that she was a descendant of the Bryant family, which operated a popular showboat along the Ohio River from 1918 to 1942. She will be co-producing a documentary on the traveling showboat era’s history.
After Miranda’s presentation, West Union Performing Arts instructor Carl Schneider introduced the “Life on the Edge” band, a group of local high students who joined together out of a shared interest in country and gospel music.
On seeing live music being performed again on the stage of the Showboat Majestic, owner Cortnee Brumley said: “It’s breathtaking, honestly. It really is – to see it all come together and play again. To see the boat come alive is really something special.”
The next event to be held aboard the Showboat Majestic is scheduled for Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. “A Majestic Christmas” will feature live music from local artists, including the West Union Performing Arts Steel Drum Band, and “One Toy for Christmas,” a production for children that is sponsored by the Adams County Arts Council. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $7 for students. For more information, visit the Showboat Majestic’s website or Facebook page.
