Our Past Is Present October 30, 2018

October 30, 2018

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Sometimes when we have seen a movie, play or have watched something on television, we begin to share the story with someone, but don’t want to reveal too much, so we stop and say: “I don’t want to spoil or ruin the story for you… you need to see it yourself.”  Well, in a mysterious play titled “The Bat” the audience was asked to be sure not to reveal the ending of the play to anyone for just that reason.

            Halloween is tomorrow and we thought it would be interesting to look at that play, which was performed in March – rather than October - at the City Theater in 1922.  Remember the City Theater is also referred to as the Opera House at the corner of Seventh and Jefferson Streets in Junction City.   Again, the title of the play was “The Bat.”

            Avery Hopwood and Mary Roberts Rineheart co-wrote the play.  Mary Roberts Rinehart was often called the American Agatha Christie.  “The Bat” is a mystery/comedy.  Cornelia Van Gorder and guests spend a stormy night at a rented summer home.  While there, they end up searching for stolen money they believe to be hidden in the house.  They find themselves stalked by a masked criminal known as “The Bat”, whose identity is not revealed until the last act. Thus, there is a need for secrecy in order to not spoil the ending for those who have not seen the play.

            This play and its adaptations inspired other comedy/mysteries with similar settings and influenced the creation of the comic book super-hero “Batman.” 

            And that’s today’s story from the Geary County Historical Society.