From the 1930s through the 1970s Lawton's biggest arts, society and civic institutions, most still around today, were formed. It was an era, rich and refined in the cultural history on our part of the short grass prairie. There were locals who hobnobbed with some of the times most respected names in the arts. There are reminders of "back in the day" that come along every so often -- such as the two paintings which coincided with the annual spring recital of the Storey & Barton School of Dance, held earlier this month at McMahon Memorial Auditorium.

Now owned and operated by Cheryl Hartung, a Lawton native and alum of the school and of its late instructors Jack Storey and Don Barton, Cheryl has kept the name of the school to help preserve its legacy.

The paintings of Jack and Don, hanging in the auditorium lobby, are by their late friend Freddy Wittop. The Storey & Barton recital sort of kicked off the season of dance recitals, (there are six schools in Lawton and at least that many in the area towns). Many of these recitals will be at the city auditorium.

The portraits were donated to the City of Lawton's Art Collection by the families of Storey and Barton. The collection falls under the care of the Arts & Humanities Division. That office researched and came up with much of the following.

Known as the "designer who created Dolly's 'Sunday clothes'," Freddy Wittop won a Tony Award for creating the musical matchmaker's dazzling wardrobe and more, for the Broadway hit "Hello, Dolly!"

Also among his costume-design assignments were "The Roar of the Greasepaint, The Smell of the Crowd" and "I Do! I Do!" with Mary Martin and Robert Preston. His designs were worn by Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, Martha Raye, Betty Grable, Pearl Bailey, Phyllis Diller, Ethel Merman and Dorothy Lamour.

Freddy retired for 11 years to Ibiza, off the coast of Spain, before returning to Broadway to design costumes for "The Three Musketeers."

He designed for the Brussels Opera, the Ice Capades, and in Paris, for the Folies Bergere and other music halls creating hundreds of costumes, including for Josephine Baker.

He retired again in 1986 to Tequesta, Fla., still making trips to Athens, Ga., where he was an adjunct professor in drama at the University of Georgia.

A native of The Netherlands, he received five Tony nominations over his career as a designer and a dancer. He died at age 89 in 2001. Freddy Wittop has been called "one of the most admired costume designers in
American theatrical history" -- and he had friends in Lawton he would visit. Don't you know those were some witty and fascinating cocktail parties!

Samples of his handiwork can currently be seen hanging in the auditorium lobby during business hours on weekdays and during auditorium functions. Viewing is free.