In 1963, schoolteachers Ronald and Phyllis Patterson originated the Renaissance Pleasure Faire as an outgrowth of school projects. The first Faire was held in North Hollywood as a fundraiser for radio station KPFK and drew some 8,000 people for the one-weekend event. The Patterson family's company, Theme Events Limited, and its non-profit affiliate, The Living History Center, are generally credited with developing the Renaissance Faire concept as it exists today.
Since that original event, Renaissance Faires have sprung up all over North America, most unconnected to the original Faire. Examples include large gatherings in Texas, Minnesota, Arizona, New York and Florida. Faire vendors, participants and crew often work the "faire circuit", going from event to event as one faire ends and another begins.
For decades, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire was held in the spring at the Paramount Ranch located in Agoura, CA, and in the fall at the Black Point Forest in Novato, CA. The event showcased a large ensemble of performers, fine artists and craftspeople and crew. These yearly events drew on the rich variety arts movement in Los Angeles, and the explosion of outdoor public events. Interactive environmental theatre and stage shows were overlaid with large scale processions featuring giant puppets and courtly displays. The London-based Reduced Shakespeare Company, San Francisco's i Fratelli Bologna, Tutti Frutti, St. Stupid and the Los Angeles Fools Guild all developed from improvisationally-focused ensembles that initially worked together at the Pleasure Faire. Famous actors who worked at the Pleasure Faire in their youth include Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Rosanna Arquette and Penn Jillette.
In 1995, the Patterson family sold the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire to Renaissance Entertainment Corporation ("REC"), a publicly-traded company operating faires in several states. Several years later, Kevin Patterson (the son of the Faire's originators) and his wife, Leslie, incorporated As You Like It Productions (later Red Barn Productions), and produced smaller faires until 2005. In 2007, REC sold the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire to Renaissance Entertainment Productions. The newly formed company promises to bring new magic to the original Faire.
In 2004, following cancellation by REC of the Northern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire, participants of the original Patterson faires formed Play Faire Productions, Inc., a self-funded, participant-owned corporation which presently operates the Northern California Renaissance Faire at Casa de Fruta in Hollister, CA.
