The Schmitt Brothers Stage
Building the Stage
When the book about the Schmitt Brothers was published, the author wondered why there was no memorial dedicated to the quartet that helped put Two Rivers on the map. Former Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt, who is also a son of the quartet’s lead singer, thought it was a good point.
He approached Two Rivers City Manager Greg Buckley with the idea, and Greg had a great solution. The city was planning a $1.6 million renovation of Central Park in the heart of downtown, complete with a new stage. What better way to honor the Schmitt Brothers than by naming the stage after them?
Along with his four brothers, Jim approached the extended Schmitt family with a proposal to finance the $100,000 price tag for the naming rights. For most families, it would have been impossible. But the Schmitt family is huge — the Schmitt Brothers’ parents had 17 children and more than 100 grandchildren. They met the goal, and with help from some barbershop friends, presented a check for more than $122,000 to the city in November 2022.
The extra funds were used to create two huge bronze plaques. One tells the Schmitt Brothers’ story, and the other is dedicated to the entire Schmitt family. A family committee led by Christine Beck, daughter of quartet member Paul, designed the plaques as well as the donor wall.
One month after the Schmitt family presented the check, city public works, parks, and electric utility crews began preparing the site. In January, construction crews erected support columns and raised the roof for the new stage. Concrete was poured, the roof was completed, and lighting and sound equipment was installed in April. High school students designed and fabricated the metal panels for the back of the stage. With little more than a month before the dedication ceremony, the bronze plaques and engraved donor stones ornamented the stage, and landscaping was planted. Despite the Wisconsin weather, the dedicated crews completed the project on time!
Dedicating the Stage
On July 15, 2023, the city of Two Rivers officially dedicated the Schmitt Brothers Stage. Hundreds of people were involved in building, funding and celebrating the stage’s dedication.
Jim, Father Carl, Bill, Tom and Tony Schmitt (sons of lead singer Jim) spearheaded the fundraising efforts. Christine Beck (daughter of quartet baritone Paul) chaired the design committee responsible for the stone donor wall and huge bronze plaques that tell the stories of the Schmitt Brothers quartet and their family. John Gorski (nephew of the quartet) managed the efforts of the Schmitt Brothers Eleven, Inc., the family organization that not only helped fund the stage but plan the celebration.
Vice President of Chapter Development for the Clipper City Chordsmen Jim Rasmus and Bill Schmitt (son of lead singer Jim) coordinated the talented line-up for the three-hour Harmony Show, emceed by 2004 International Senior Quartet Champion and Downstate Express lead singer Bruce Odell, Land O’Lakes District President Jay Althof, and Barbershop Harmony Society CEO Marty Monson.
Throughout the day, the park was filled to capacity. Many took advantage of taking a photo while sitting on a park bench with a life-sized cut-out of the Schmitt Brothers.
Commemorative Book Celebrates
Two Rivers and the Schmitt Brothers
Published just months after the dedication, a new book puts the whole story together – from the beginning of the park in 1880 to the building and dedication of a stage in the same park where the city welcomed the Schmitt Brothers home after they won the championship.
The full-color, hard cover, 8-1/2” x 11” coffee table book boasts 112 pages filled with more than 240 photos plus nearly 40 newspaper clippings and photos of historic memorabilia, such as the tickets to the SPEBSQSA competition and the medal each member of the quartet received in 1951. The book is available at schmittbrothersbooks.com.
The Schmitt Brothers Stage begins with the founding of Two Rivers and explains how the Schmitt Brothers were discovered by O.H. “King” Cole at the Hotel Manitowoc and skyrocketed to fame. The book also details every moment of the dedication, including the ribbon cutting, speeches by special guests, and the barbershop show featuring many award-winning quartets and choruses.
