1946-47
Bob Elross (Co-founder of Shelton Studios) performs with Paul Desmond and Dave Brubeck in San Francisco and masters their first album while rooming with aspiring comic Woody Allen in North Beach.
1948
Jean Shelton (Co-founder of Shelton Studios) moves to New York, begins studying with Uta Hagen, signs with agent Eileen Ford.
1952
Ms. Shelton marries Broadway actor/director Wendell Phillips a Who's Who in American Theater, a member of the Group Theatre, and teacher/member of the Actors Studio; a colleague of Stella Adler, Harold Clurman, Lee Strasberg, Clifford Odets, Orson Welles, and other contemporaries of the New York acting community.
1953-1954
Ms. Shelton studies with Stella Adler, and Lee Strasberg, while performing in New York. Mr. Elross works on Broadway and performs on the television shows The Mortician.
1955
Mr. Elross directs the founding production of the San Francisco's Actor's Workshop. Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible is premiered and the company goes on to produce theater for the Lincoln Center in New York.
1956
Ms. Shelton performs the World Premiere of Tennessee Williams play Hello from Bertha in New York.
1958-1960
Mr. Elross returns to New York to act and direct in Theatre, Film, and Television including; The Fugitive Kind, Splendor in the Grass, The Hustler, and the television show Naked City. He begins directing/acting and teaching at the Actors Repertory Theatre.
1961
Mr. Elross and Ms. Shelton come to San Francisco and found the 14th Street Arts Center with beatnik priest/author Pierre Delattre. This establishes the Shelton Studios on the west coast. Students include; Richard Brautigan, Bill Graham, and Howard Hesseman. First public reading of Trout Fishing in America. First producing job given to Bill Graham.
1964
Traveling troupe is formed where they perform up and down the California central valley.
1970's
Playhouse Theatre Company founded. Danny Glover attends classes and performs. A Production of The Crucible is taken to inmates at San Quentin. Alumni found the One Act Theatre Company in San Francisco. Francis Ford Coppla attends classes. Ms. Shelton attends the Academy Awards with the Mario Puzo family for the Godfather. Harold Clurman and Stella Adler come to teach. Faculty members include: Broadway Director Jack Garfien and Broadway Actor/Director Wendell Phillips. Wendell Phillips establishes the Stage Group Theatre in San Francisco. Jean's daughter, actress Wendy Phillips marries actor Scott Paulin.
1980
Mr. Elross works with Sam Shepard at the Magic Theatre. Wendell Phillips' Stage Group alumni Stanley Williams founds the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre in San Francisco.
1984
Alumni Lisa Fruchtman wins an Oscar for The Right Stuff. Mr. Elross performs in Rob Nilssons independent feature Signal 7 to wide critical acclaim.
1985
Alumni Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Freidman win an Oscar for The Times of Harvey Milk. Stage Group alumni Linda Ayres-Frederick founds the Phoenix Theatre in San Francisco.
1989
Alumni Christian Phillips founds the Actors Theatre of San Francisco.
1991
Alumni Jim Wilson wins the Best Picture Oscar for Dances with Wolves.
1993
Alumni Matthew Shelton founds the Shelton Theater.
1995
Matthew Shelton directs veteran Bay Area actors Luis Oropeza, Bill English, Paul Santiago, Catherine Castellanos, and Bruce Mackey.
1998
Oleg Liptsin (Russian Avant-Garde Director/Actor) establishes artistic relationship with Matthew Shelton and the Shelton Studios.
2000
Filmmaker Terry Zwigoff attends classes.
2005
Alumni Bill English and Susi Damilano found the Playhouse Theater Company in San Francisco.
2006
Filmmaker Lourdes Portillo attends classes.
2007
Jean Shelton returns to the stage after a 30 year absence in A Trip to Bountiful by Horton Foote and receives critical praise from the author.
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