"July 13, 1953, was...'the most exciting night in the history of Canadian theatre.'...the atmosphere was electrifying." Originally the idea of Thomas Patterson, a man who had seen plays in Europe as a soldier in WWII, he found that the in a comparison between theatre in Canada and theatre in Europe, there was none. There were no permanent theatres in Canada, and he determined to do something about it. Partly to boost his hometown's economy, …showed first 75 words of 1064 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1064 total…of tourists and money. It did not only have an economic impact, but inspired playhouses to be built across Canada, America, and even England and enriched the thousands of visitors who have been to see plays, musicals, readings and other performances there. The incredible success of the Stratford Theater Festival proves that both economically and culturally, the development of the "arts" can be a boon to economies and the cultural depth of a country alike.