In the 1950s, Ralph Peterson of Ann Arbor, associate professor at Eastern Michigan University, proved the timeliness of individualized instruction in a rural setting with his novel and popular outdoor motion picture shows in Washtenaw County’s small communities.

This unique venue was a theater under the stars as Peterson magically converted a schoolyard, village square (see above photo of the Village Green, Dixboro), a vacant lot or a cow pasture into the expanse of an outdoor movie house.

At the peak of the summer, the schedule would include feature film presentations in 20-25 different communities per week with an excess of 100 residents at each show.

“Television was still a new-fangled invention to most people,” recalled William Thornton, a friend who assisted Peterson in staging the shows, “Motion pictures remained a popular form of entertainment.”

Peterson and his crew - including his son Duane - became the popular showmen of the county. It was a special evening for the homefolk to gather and watch the giants of Hollywood perform on film. Peterson’s tools of production included a 16mm projector and an ingenious, homemade movie screen familiar to most as a bed sheet! Why, the film image of each movie star was as magnificant as the theater silver screen. Well, almost.

“I can visualize Ralph and I climbing these tall ladders, balancing somewhat precariously, and stretching this large piece of fabric across the back wall of an one-room schoolhouse,” Thornton said, spreading his hands as he described their gymnastics. (see the above photo of the back wall of the Dixboro Schoolhouse)

At dusk, the parade of citizen ants filed into the grounds from all points, including most of the area farms. The evening shadows would soon obscure the assorted lawn chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. It was a lovely evening of family entertainment for adults and children of all ages.

“Remember, not only were there few television sets in homes, but the Internet had yet to be imagined as well as multi-screen, giant theaters,” commented Duane Peterson, who grew from an 8-year-old into a teenager of 17 over the period of the summer shows.

“At times I saw it only as a job, but I also remember the excitement and apprehension when the show was about to begin.”

What was the price of admission to the program? Surprisingly, no charge. “Dad had a good working relationship with many of the out-County country stores and gas stations. He would drop in a week prior to the show to ask for their support as a gesture of community spirit. He seldom walked away empty-handed,” Duane said.

Although each community had their favorites, “Westerns and romantic” films were generally the most popular. The celluloid performances included comedies and an assortment of film shorts.

“A back-to-back series of adventure films, a star biographical movie and/or cartoons seemed to hold the audience’s attention the best,” Duane recalled. He laughed, “The sound of the crickets were louder than our movie-goers who remained relatively quiet during the show. Of course, there was always a crying baby that needed to be comforted by its mother.”

Once Duane earned his driver’s license, Dad Peterson began to quietly pass the project-baton on to his son. As they say in tinsel-town, Duane soloed admirably.

“Now that I am older, Duane said, “I have some nostalgic feelings and pleasant memories of all the family togetherness.” All that was required to entertain the folks was a simple movie projector, some films, a white sheet and a dad and his son named Duane.

Photos: Top right, the rear of the Dixboro School; Ralph and Evelyn Peterson

Dale Leslie is a lifelong friend and admirer of the Peterson family who populated the Ann Arbor Public Schools for at least a decade. Ralph and Evelyn Peterson’s children were: Phil, twins, Duane and the late Doris; Ralph (Pete) and Big John. They lived at 1426 Marian Ave.