Carol Truax
Encyclopedia
Carol Truax was an American music administrator and an author of many cookbooks. She was noted both for her time as Executive Director of Fine Arts at Colorado College
(1945–1951), and also as consultant in Fine Arts to the State University of New York
. As author, Miss Truax’s most famous publications include Liberace Cooks (1970). She was the sister of author Rhoda Truax
.
to Justice Charles Henry Truax of the New York State Supreme Court and his wife, Caroline Sanders, Carol Truax came to Colorado
in 1920 to improve her health and for many years operated a prominent bookstore in Colorado Springs. In 1940 she became manager of the Colorado College
Bookstore.
Youth Orchestra concert in June 1941 (at Colorado College), she was called upon to handle all promotional details. This led to her becoming first Promotional Secretary of the college, then Executive Secretary (1945) and finally Executive Director (1947) of the Fine Arts Departments - Music, Dance and Drama.
During her affiliation with the college she served on the Board of Directors of the Civic Players, the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
.
Highlights of the Truax administration at Colorado College were the growth of the composition and piano departments during the residencies of husband and wife team Roy
and Johana Harris
(1943–48) and of the voice department under John C. Wilcox (1946–49); the residence of the LaSalle String Quartet (1949–54); and the excellent summer sessions which brought to the Colorado College campus such musical celebrities as Burrill Phillips
(1946), Nicolas Slonimsky
(1947–49), Louis Persinger
(1949–50), Paul Hindemith
(1949), Virgil Thomson
(1950), Willi Apel
(1950–52) and many others.
She resigned from the college in the spring of 1951 to accept a position as treasurer of the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies and Director of Publicity for the Aspen Festival. Only two months later she was invited to direct a fine arts research survey for the 33 colleges of the State University of New York
and was awarded a full professorship from that institution. Carol Truax later married Renaissance musicologist Gustave Reese
.
From 1961 she was director of the Broadmoor International Theatre in Colorado Springs, booking such artists as Liberace
, the Smothers Brothers
, Dinah Shore
and many others. In 1968, a Gazette Telegraph entertainment columnist wrote, "Carol has been fortunate in being able to attract the big names each year, paying them less than they could command in some of the metropolitan areas, simply because they like it here. In most cases, the personalities are willing to take the cut in price because they could combine a vacation in beautiful Colorado Springs with a few days or a week's work." Whilst this was true, some entertainers also used Broadmoor as a testing ground for their act, before unleashing it on Las Vegas
.
and Ladies Home Journal and was a regular contributor to Gourmet magazine. She also collaborated with Liberace
, publishing Liberace Cooks (Doubleday, 1970), a cookbook of recipes from the seven dining rooms of the flamboyant pianist and showman.
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
(1945–1951), and also as consultant in Fine Arts to the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
. As author, Miss Truax’s most famous publications include Liberace Cooks (1970). She was the sister of author Rhoda Truax
Rhoda Truax
Rhoda Truax Silberman was an American author.Born Rhoda Truax in New York City to Justice Charles Henry Truax of the New York State Supreme Court and his wife, Caroline Sanders, she was a graduate of the Horace Mann School and Barnard College in New York.Rhoda Truax wrote 12 novels & historical...
.
Early life
Born and raised in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Justice Charles Henry Truax of the New York State Supreme Court and his wife, Caroline Sanders, Carol Truax came to Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in 1920 to improve her health and for many years operated a prominent bookstore in Colorado Springs. In 1940 she became manager of the Colorado College
Colorado College
The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
Bookstore.
As Music Administrator
On the occasion of the StokowskiLeopold Stokowski
Leopold Anthony Stokowski was a British-born, naturalised American orchestral conductor, well known for his free-hand performing style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from many of the great orchestras he conducted.In America, Stokowski...
Youth Orchestra concert in June 1941 (at Colorado College), she was called upon to handle all promotional details. This led to her becoming first Promotional Secretary of the college, then Executive Secretary (1945) and finally Executive Director (1947) of the Fine Arts Departments - Music, Dance and Drama.
During her affiliation with the college she served on the Board of Directors of the Civic Players, the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center is an arts center located just north of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. Located on the same city block are the American Numismatic Association and part of the campus of Colorado College....
.
Highlights of the Truax administration at Colorado College were the growth of the composition and piano departments during the residencies of husband and wife team Roy
Roy Harris
Roy Ellsworth Harris , was an American composer. He wrote much music on American subjects, becoming best known for his Symphony No...
and Johana Harris
Johana Harris
Johana Harris was a Canadian pianist, composer, and music educator. She had highly successful career as a concert pianist, making numerous recordings and appearing as a soloist with almost every major American symphony orchestra. She made over 100 solo recordings, working with such labels as...
(1943–48) and of the voice department under John C. Wilcox (1946–49); the residence of the LaSalle String Quartet (1949–54); and the excellent summer sessions which brought to the Colorado College campus such musical celebrities as Burrill Phillips
Burrill Phillips
Burrill Phillips was an American composer, teacher, and pianist.-Biography:Phillips studied at the Denver College of Music with Edwin Stringham and at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, with Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers.In 1929 he married Alberta Phillips ; they had a daughter, Ann...
(1946), Nicolas Slonimsky
Nicolas Slonimsky
Nicolas Slonimsky was a Russian born American composer, conductor, musician, music critic, lexicographer and author. He described himself as a "diaskeuast" ; "a reviser or interpolator."- Life :...
(1947–49), Louis Persinger
Louis Persinger
Louis Persinger was an American violinist and pianist.Louis Persinger trained at the Leipzig Conservatory, before finishing with Eugène Ysaÿe in Brussels. He became leader of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra and the Royal Opera Orchestra in Brussels. In 1915 he was appointed leader and assistant...
(1949–50), Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
(1949), Virgil Thomson
Virgil Thomson
Virgil Thomson was an American composer and critic. He was instrumental in the development of the "American Sound" in classical music...
(1950), Willi Apel
Willi Apel
Willi Apel was a German-American musicologist.Apel was born in Konitz, West Prussia. He studied mathematics from 1912 to 1914, and then again after World War I from 1918 to 1922, in various universities in Weimar Germany. Throughout his studies, he had an interest in music and taught piano lessons...
(1950–52) and many others.
She resigned from the college in the spring of 1951 to accept a position as treasurer of the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies and Director of Publicity for the Aspen Festival. Only two months later she was invited to direct a fine arts research survey for the 33 colleges of the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
and was awarded a full professorship from that institution. Carol Truax later married Renaissance musicologist Gustave Reese
Gustave Reese
Gustave Reese was an American musicologist and teacher. Reese is known mainly for his work on medieval and Renaissance music, particularly with his two publications Music in the Middle Ages and Music in the Renaissance ; these two books remain the standard reference works for these two eras,...
.
From 1961 she was director of the Broadmoor International Theatre in Colorado Springs, booking such artists as Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, the Smothers Brothers
Smothers Brothers
The Smothers Brothers are Thomas and Richard , American singers, musicians, comedians and folk heroes. The brothers' trademark act was performing folk songs , which usually led to arguments between the siblings...
, Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
and many others. In 1968, a Gazette Telegraph entertainment columnist wrote, "Carol has been fortunate in being able to attract the big names each year, paying them less than they could command in some of the metropolitan areas, simply because they like it here. In most cases, the personalities are willing to take the cut in price because they could combine a vacation in beautiful Colorado Springs with a few days or a week's work." Whilst this was true, some entertainers also used Broadmoor as a testing ground for their act, before unleashing it on Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
As author
Carol Truax wrote or edited over 20 cookbooks, including many for Woman's DayWoman's Day
Woman's Day is aimed at a female readership, covering such subjects as food, nutrition, fitness, beauty and fashion. The magazine edition is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines....
and Ladies Home Journal and was a regular contributor to Gourmet magazine. She also collaborated with Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, publishing Liberace Cooks (Doubleday, 1970), a cookbook of recipes from the seven dining rooms of the flamboyant pianist and showman.
Selected publications
- The 60 Minute Chef (with Lillian Bueno McCue), Macmillan Co, NY, 1947 (hardcover)
- Ladies Home Journal Cookbook (Editor), Doubleday, NY, 1960 (hardcover)
- The Weekend Chef, Doubleday, NY, 1961 (hardcover)
- Ladies Home Journal Dessert Cookbook (Editor), Doubleday, NY, 1964 (hardcover)
- Father was a Gourmet, Doubleday, NY, 1965 (hardcover)
- The Art of Salad Making, Doubleday, NY, 1968 (hardcover)
- The Cattleman’s Steakbook (with S. Omar Barker), Crosset & Dunlap, NY, 1970 (hardcover)
- Liberace Cooks (co-author), Doubleday, 1970 (hardcover)
- Gourmet Entertaining on a Budget, Doubleday, 1972
- The Soup and Sandwich Cookbook, Bantam Books, NY, 1973 (paperback)
- Cheese and Wine, Ballantine Books, NY, 1975 (paperback)
- The Woman’s Day Chicken Cookbook, Simon and Schuster, 1977
- 500 Super Stews, Ballantine, 1977
- The Woman’s Day Book of Thin Italian Cooking, Houghton Mifflin, 1978
- The Woman’s Day Book of Salads, Dutton, 1980
- All About Steam Cooking, Doubleday, 1981
- Woman's Day Buffet Cookbook, Ballantine, 1982 (softcover)
- Woman’s Day Simply Delicious Cold Dishes, Doubleday, 1987
- The Woman’s Day Book of Light Italian Cooking, Random House, 1988