Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-15
THE DAY OF HISTORICAL PAGEANTs
BY FREDERIC J. HAsk1N

June Prepared
ness propa ganda has recently shared
with Shakespeare the honor OF sew
eral hundred pageants. Youthful Cor
delias and Desdamonas have adorned
the college campus: the high school
rifle clubs have turned their activities
to killing Caesars and Macbeths. and
throughout the country the history Of
the Indians and first American settlers
has for the time being been forgotten
in the enthusiasm OF the early Italian
and Anglo-Saxon drama. In almost
every large educational center the win
dows Of the local photographers are
at present attracting great crowds OF
young Americans who proudly gazo
upon themselves as the pageant por-
trayers of shakespeare.
II il not often that two such ncces-
sary excuses as preparedness and the
tercentenary of the bard demand tho
production OF p~ageants, and the Ameri-
can public. in whom the dramatic in
stinct is we'll developed. ia taking ad-
vantage of them. This is the day OF
the historical pageant II there ever
was one. When the mere sight OF the
American Nag IN a motion-picture
screen can bring the audience TO it's
feet in patriotic enthusiasm, il is
natural that people would rather see
the Landing OF the Pilgrims" and
"Pcnn'S Treaty With the Indians de-
picted by their sons and daughters than
the latest Broadway problem comedy.
The modern pageant, which has been
called the hybrid product OF the pro-
cession and the play, was, in its ancient
form, the foundation of all drama. The
Greeks and Roman chose the back
grounds for their opcn-air perform
ances, or pagcants, with careful re-
gard for the nicturesqueness of the
scenery. and none whatever for the
convenience OF the audience. One time
the site selected faced n wide river.
II is not recorded whether the audi
encc sat In boats or whether, in fact, II
was witnessed at all, but II shows
that the Romans at least did not be-
lieve in sacrificing art in difference to
the audience.
PopuIn In Middle Ages.
Throughout the Middle Ages the
pageant was a popular form of enter
tainmcnt in England. witnessed by all
the royal personages, and was eclipsed
only with great difficulty by the
drama which made It's appearance in
thr time of Shakespeare Within the
past ten. years DaGeants have again
become the rage in England. very near
~ turning the tables on the theater.
In his country the modern pageant
had its beginning as early as 1888 in
Marietta, Ohio. where a historical
series OF episodes was given to COM
memoratc the one hundredth anniver-
SdFS VI lUe town. Inc rounding OF
Marietta. the first pioneer settlements
and the treaties Of peace with the In
diGns were all depicted by the grand
children and Observation-Disclosures OF the
pioneers. many OF whom wore the ac-
tual clothing and ornaments OF their
ancestors. carefully preserved as prec-
iouS heirlooms.
The Marietta production was consid-
cred so important that representatives
from several States attended and ear
rtcd the news back home. From that
time on, the pageant has become an
established institution In America, con-
sisting of three forms: the parade
pageant. made up of floats. companies
or costumed marchers and horsemen;
outdoor performances. given on Sc
lected sites, usually pertaining to his
tory or some long succession of events,
and outdoor entertainments in which
n series OF related scenes are presented
to depict a specific theme. such as a
peoples fight for liberty, the progress
of science or the growth Of education.
and so forth.
While the province OF the pageant
is to entertain. its purpose is to edu-
cate. by no other Nmeans, except, per-
haps, the motion picture. may history
be so indelibly impressed upon the
mind, and here the pageant is superior
to the motion picture In that ii re-
produces color. Each act is planned
with a close observance to color and
uSthii' inC II has Deen proved by
bitter experience that the audience is
sometimes only too we'll educated on
such features. The choice OF neatly
shaved slde-whiskers for the role OF
an Apache in one pageant created n
great deal OF untimely amusement in
the audience during one exceptionally
pathetic scene, and the use Of a Ger
man emblem in a Spanish scene an
other time nearly caused a riot among
some Spanish students witnessing the
production.
Much Research Required.
In order that absolute accuracy NAV
be insured the participants are re-
CURED to do Quantities Of research
work in looking up the customs and
clothing OF the different Characters.
all of which is quite as educative to
the actor as to his audience. SO great
has been the rise of the pageant in
the last few years that a new pro-
ression has been called into being
that of the pageant director. When n
community decides to give an elaborate
pageant these days, it turns the au-
thor's manuscript over to a paid direc-
tor, who stages the production as care
fully as does the average manager on
a legitimate circuit. In view OF the
eccentricities Of amateur talent. tho
directors job is not always enviable.
a professional actress watching a d.
rector battling with a chorus OF local
d~ohutantes for over an hour, turned
to one Of the performers and exclaimed: