After interviewing
both
Andy and Jim, I was told that initially Cloudcroft Light
Opera Company (name given to us by Jim Cadwallader) was
established mainly to draw and entertain tourist and give them
something to do with their evenings while visiting Cloudcroft.
At that time costs were covered by passing the "HAT"
at intermission. Everyone seemed to appreciate the
performance indicated by their donations to covers all initial
costs. Jim said it took all of the money he had in savings
to put on that first performance. He was involved with the
acting group in Alamogordo and by forming a group in Cloudcroft
would keep him from going up and down the mountain so often.
It seems once a person becomes settled in this area they just
dont care anything about leaving, even for short distances.
In Jim's case, this was and still is very much
appreciated. Andy took over the reins of choosing plays
and performances for the group. This was during the time
when Andy and Jim worked together to recruit people in town who
were interested in helping. Donations of time and
"stuff" were generously given to initially perform the
first Christmas show. All of the hard work and great
efforts by both Andy and Jim produced an outcome that is really
fantastic.
In the beginning, Andy was involved with an acting group in El
Paso and his participation here kept him on his beloved mountain
top. You can still see both Jim and Andy around town.
Jim's activities keep him in the town of Mountain Top and his
daily assistance is greatly appreciated at the nearby High Rolls
Senior Center. Jim says that with the problems he is
having with his breathing it is best he stay down there at the
lower elevation.
You can still see Andy running around town everyday and driving
Cloudcroft's ambulance. He is on call 24 hours carrying
people here and there for needed medical services and also,
serving the Senior Center in Cloudcroft weekly taking vital
signs. After a short visit to Maryland with VISTA
recently, Andy says that he will never leave this beautiful
mountain top ever again. He missed us - aren't we glad.
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