STIERMAN, Vern

Stierman in the first play performed by the Playmakers. Photo courtesy: Telegraph Herald

STIERMAN, Vern. (Dubuque, IA, Aug. 21, 1920--Shreveport, LA, June 9, 1998). The advent of FM radio initially meant an increase in music broadcasts as predicted by Vern Stierman, associate program director of KDTH-FM. (1) In 1949 Stierman was also introduced to the community as the president of Playmakers, Dubuque's Little Theater group which chose to incorporate as a non-profit organization in January of that year. (2) In October, 1949 the group presented its first play, "Petticoat Fever," to the public in the auditorium of WASHINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. Stierman had the principal role. (3)

Stierman had a long history in stage productions going back to being a member of the Holy Trinity Players in its 1941 production of "Alfie." (4) In 1951 he directed "The Playboy of the Western World" and appeared as the play's young hero. (5) The same year he appeared as one of the two main characters in "Outward Bound," the first drama produced by Playmakers. (6)

Stierman was the narrator in the MOTION PICTURES The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972), The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1977), and The Being (1983). (7) He was the weatherman for the Texarkana-Shreveport NBC Affiliate Channel 6 when "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" was filmed. (8)

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Source:

1. "FM Emphasizes Music Program," Telegraph Herald, April 11, 1948, p. 18

2. "Playmakers to Air Drama," Telegraph-Herald, December 18, 1949, p. 18

3. "Playmakers' Debut Set for This Week," Telegraph-Herald, October 16, 1949, p. 10

4. "4 Additional Entries Made in Play Meet," Telegraph-Herald, April 17, 1941, p. 14

5. 'The Playboy' Satirizes Hero-Worship," Telegraph-Herald, April 1, 1951, p. 2

6. "Playmakers Will Present Unusual Drama," Telegraph-Herald, January 21, 1951, p. 13

7. Vern Stierman, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0830113/

8. Vern Stierman, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0830113/bio