Founded in 1910, the Forest Theater, in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, was one of the earliest outdoor amphitheatres west of the Rockies. Actor/director Herbert Heron is generally cited as the founder and driving force, and poet/novelist Mary Austin is often credited with suggesting the idea. Numerous groups presented plays and pageants. Original works by California authors, children's theatre, and the plays of Shakespeare were the primary focus.