A Chanticleers’ Shining Star

Tom Bullock

By Floyd Wayne

Shining Stars will feature stories of deserving actors, directors and people who by their efforts help grow the Chanticleers Players and Theatre into what it is today.

The troop began its sixty-two year history in 1948, when a small group of actors from the Castro Valley Women’s Club formed a drama entourage called "The Castro Valley Little Theatre Group". They started rehearsing in an old, cold, former chicken coop. In 1951, they held a city-wide contest to select a new name for the theatre company. The appropriate name “Chanticleers” was chosen because it means a loud, singing rooster!

In September 1951, Chanticleers presented its first major production, The Mystery of the Whispering Bell. During the following season, 16 plays were presented in various local schools. In 1958, through the efforts of members John Hayes and our current Shining Star, Tom Bullock, we acquired our first permanent location - The Old Palomares Elementary School, more fondly known as The Little Red School House. Sadly, fire destroyed our charming theatre after 50 productions - Born Yesterday being the last show in 1976.

Again Chanticleers was homeless. For three years, performances were held in whatever school or church hall was available - until 1979 when, with community help and the leadership again of Tom Bullock (who had insisted that Chanticleers have fire insurance on The Little Red School House), we were able to obtain a lease from the Hayward Area Recreation District (H.A.R.D.) for our current facility on Quail Avenue in Castro Valley. Because of Tom Bullock (pictured above), Chanticleers remains alive and crowing at 62 years, the second oldest such theatre in the Bay Area. We have performed 180 productions at our current location.

Tom Bullock now lives in Hayward and is 97 years young. He was born in Oakland, November 18, 1912, and attended Daniel Webster Grammar School, Lockwood Jr. High and Fremont High School, where he graduated in 1929. He worked as a mechanic before embarking on a 46 year career with Bank of America. Tom opened the first Bank of America in Castro Valley in 1948. Tom married his wife, Carolyn Kragle in 1938. The couple had two children – Tommy, born in 1938 and Karen in 1945. Tom served his country in the National Guard and retired from the Guard in 1974 as a Colonel in the reserves. Carolyn worked for many years as the ticket chairwoman for Chanticleers. Son, Tommy was a featured performer in the musical Hair that toured in the 1960’s.

I’ve known and worked with Tom Bullock the actor, director and theatre president since 1969. Tom liked to act, but enjoyed directing better (because he never liked learning lines!), but he always enjoyed helping the theatre and those associated with it. Some of the fine Bay Area actors who performed at Chanticleers and were encouraged by Tom’s energy are Mary Simon, Helen Cartwright, Barbara Perry, Mary Lou Ramirez, Earl Jansen, Len Brizzolara, Kay Mountjoy, Larry Nord, Betty Smith, Ross Starr, Bob Vinson, Loretta Pattillos, Jay Stuart McIntyre, Glen B. Eakin and myself, Floyd Wayne. Tom still helps the Chanticleers by attending performances and giving good advice to the current Board of Directors on practical matters, as well as historical facts about the theatre that would otherwise be lost.

Members of Chanticleers thank and honor Tom for his service to the theatre. Volunteers from all over the Bay Area come together at this oft overlooked Castro Valley treasure to bring quality theatre to the public. After 62 years, Chanticleers remains an intimate, up close and personal setting where audiences continue to thrill at productions as grand as Fiddler on the Roof and as intimate as Same Time Next Year and are then thanked by the actors after the show! Volunteers give their time, hammer, paint, sing, rehearse, and greet patrons – all for the love of theatre. May Chanticleers continue in the true spirit of community. Because of Tom Bullock, John Hayes and many others, Chanticleers has brought 246 productions to our audiences.

Chanticleers thanks all our patrons who have supported us over the years - come back soon and bring a friend! If you are new to Chanticleers - come and enjoy a great theatre experience. See you at our theatre!