Throwback Thursday: Thalian Hall history, burn ban, and student mentorship in 1995

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — This week’s Throwback Thursday looks back at April 1995, highlighting a unique piece of theater history at Thalian Hall, fire safety concerns during a drought, and efforts to connect students with careers.

At Thalian Hall, a rare theatrical device known as the “thunder roll” was featured as part of the venue’s history. One of only two remaining in the world, the system uses wooden troughs and cannonballs to recreate the sound of a thunderstorm.

“It is the only one in the Western Hemisphere, and it’s really a piece of theater and technological history as far as technical theater goes. At the time, it was the best thing that you could use to recreate a thunderstorm,” one expert said in 1995.

At the time, the system was expected to require years of restoration before it could be used again. Today, visitors can experience the effect during special events at Thalian Hall, including a Community Day event happening this weekend!

Also in April 1995, dry conditions across the Cape Fear led to a burn ban, as officials warned of an increased fire risk.

“We are really not out of the danger zone because we haven’t had enough rain to thoroughly soak everything in the forest lands that we need to soak, and what we’d like to do is just ask people to be very, very careful about burning at this time,” an official said.

This week’s segment also revisits WWAY’s participation in Bring Your Daughter to Work Day, an event designed to give young people a closer look at careers.

“You know, I think it gives her a chance to see what I do day to day, and it gives her an opportunity to come in and actually see what I’m talking about when I come home at night and talk about what I do all day,” one employee said.

The annual event has since expanded to include both boys and girls and continues to be held each April. This week, WWAY hosted seventh-grade students from New Hanover County, continuing its tradition of mentoring the next generation.

The segment is part of a new weekly Throwback Thursday series that will feature stories from WWAY’s historical news archives. That archive can be accessed here.