Callboard Network

Callboard Network was an early electronic bulletin board and conferencing system operated by the University of Alberta’s Alberta Section of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) from 1985 into the early 1990s. It served as a primary means of communication among theatre technicians across North America, long before the rise of the public Internet. It linked professionals working in live production, technical direction, stage management, lighting, and sound.^[1]

The Alberta Section of USITT launched Callboard in 1985, with support from the University of Alberta and later the University of Calgary. It became the “electronic communications backbone of USITT,” connecting technical directors and production managers via text-based forums on monochrome terminals.^[2]

By the late 1980s, Callboard expanded to include members across the United States and Canada. It supported threaded discussions, digital newsletters, and resource sharing. Users dialed in using modems (300–2400 baud), often incurring long‑distance charges, to participate in group conversations and working groups.^[3]

Callboard operated as a bulletin board system (BBS), initially hosted on institutional servers at the University of Alberta. It later transitioned to a Unix-like environment using early Internet protocols as connectivity improved.^[4]

The system functioned through text-only interfaces and was accessible by terminal emulators over dial-up modem connections. Most users accessed the platform using modem speeds ranging from 300 to 2400 baud.^[5] In the early 1990s, some users gained access via Telnet as institutional Internet access became available.

Although similar in structure to other BBS platforms like The WELL or FidoNet, Callboard was distinguished by its focus on technical theatre and semi-official support from USITT. It served as a discipline-specific virtual meeting space at a time when few other networks offered this capability.^[6]

Callboard played an important role in the foundation of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT) in 1990. Its communication infrastructure allowed Canadian and U.S. theatre professionals to collaborate in real time, facilitating the early organizational structure of CITT and its eventual independence from USITT.^[7]

One of the most notable uses of the Callboard Network was the development of the MIDI Show Control (MSC) specification. Beginning in late 1989, Charlie Richmond created a forum on Callboard to coordinate international discussions about theatre-related messaging over the MIDI protocol.^[8]

Between January and August 1990, developers participated remotely — without a single in-person meeting. Dozens of users logged in via dial-up to collaboratively draft the specification. The final MSC protocol was approved by the MIDI Manufacturers Association in 1991.^[9]

This is considered one of the first international standards created entirely through virtual collaboration.

The success of Callboard helped demonstrate the viability of long-distance collaboration in the arts. It was used not only by individual designers and directors but also by institutions such as the Stratford Festival (Canada) and US regional theatres, which explored online coordination for touring productions and technical troubleshooting.^[10]

The structure and culture of Callboard directly influenced later initiatives such as:

• the USITT Listserv (launched in the mid-1990s),
• early email-based working groups for stage safety and lighting standards,
• online communities in platforms such as Stagecraft Mailing List and eventually forums like ControlBooth.^[11]

By the mid‑1990s, widespread access to the public Internet and the emergence of the World Wide Web rendered proprietary systems like Callboard obsolete. However, its pioneering model of asynchronous communication among professionals shaped how technical communities organized online.^[12]

Callboard is now seen as a precursor to modern digital collaboration platforms in the performing arts, with lessons from its usage echoing in today’s Slack groups, Discord servers, and remote theatre production tools.^[13]

• A Bit of MIDI Show Control History – ControlGeek
• MIDI Show Control details – Richmond Sound Design