EDITOR’S NOTE: Betty Ann Murray Richardson, born at Willliams Wharf in 1928, sometime during her life wrote of the delight she and everyone experienced when the James Adams Floating Theatre began its summer run.

Founded in 1914, the James Adams Floating Theatre made stops in Gloucester and Mathews each summer from at least 1919 until the late 1930s. Williams Wharf was a perennial stop, and young Betty Ann was there to observe and to wait impatiently for the evening show. Betty Ann died in 2010, age 82, full of memories and stories, some of which she left behind. We thank her son, Sonny Richardson, for making this article available to us.

When someone looked out and yelled, “Oh! The show boat’s a-comin’” it meant more than just a show. It meant seeing people that one had not seen since last year and wondering if all the same troupe would be returning.

Some would, and those who did would bring news of those who had either retired and decided to keep their feet on land, or perhaps were taken by the bright lights of Broadway. But regardless, there would be new faces and personalities to fill their places on the bill to make up a great show.

They were Show Folks, but home folks at heart, making their home away from home The Adams Floating Theatre. Immediately upon docking, they would descend the gangplank, wave fond hellos and beam friendly smiles to those awaiting their arrival. Down the long pier they came to gather around the cracker barrel and relate the happening of the past season, usually with sarsaparilla and ginger snaps.

One could hardly wait until the sun would set and the moon would rise, illuminating the magnificent boat with so much concealed inside that would burst forth at the stroke of eight. You could almost smell the grease paint and makeup as the time drew near.

Would they have that same salt water taffy? Would they play “In the Good Ole Summertime?” Only the price of a ticket could reveal these mysteries, but usually one had saved all year for that little ticket. It wasn’t much but no one wanted to be caught shy when the time finally came.

Yes! There was taffy, prizes galore, and the best saw-playing you ever saw or heard. The band was really good and I remember “Pops” who played the bass fiddle, oh, so, well. I saw “Twelve Nights in a Bar Room” once! It was all great.

The atmosphere of the cast, and the crowds that came, you felt that you were a part of the show. Each applause brought an encore, because they too were grateful. After all, when their numbers ended, they asked with their hearts, “Do you like me?” When they found that you did, they could work till dawn. It was usually second love as most of them had their first loves at their sides.

All were sad when the time came to weigh the anchor, but we knew that there were others farther down the bay looking as we had for the show boat to come around the bend.

We hate to think that an era has passed when the show boat is a show boat no more. Will the movies leave the present generation with such fond childhood memories? I hope I’ll live that I might see.

Article and ad from the Gloucester Gazette of June 17, 1926, announcing the upcoming show boat engagement at Greenway Wharf in the Severn River.