The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-04-28
ELKS PLUNGE INTO
SOCIAL SWIM WITH
A RECORD SPLASH
First Annual Ball Sets Pace For
Future Entertainers
ADD UNUSUAL FEATURES
Beautiful Decorations, Large At
tendance and Excellent Music
Make Enjoyable Evening.

Bennington lodge of Elks took its
first plunge into the gayer side of the
social life OF Bennington Wednesday
night and created a splash that will
be the talk OF the town for weeks
Carrying through the preliminary de-
tails and the actual performance of a
ball such as took place at high
school hall usually depends for its
success upon the efforts OF experts
but there was not trivial incident
suggesting that the members of the
local lodge had not been profession
ally educated in the business OF en-
tertaining. The hand of the novice
was nowhere in evidence, and If those
who had part in the arrangements
are today more than little satisfied
with the success of their initial VEN
ture who shall say that their pride is
not justified?
No more elaborate. more largely
attended or enjoyable entertainment
of the kind has been given in Ben
nington in two decades. II was not
merely a ball, but Il was ball with
features, one Of which was not down
on the program. During the concert
the fuses blew out with consequent
sudden darkness but the audience.
which had been prepared for few
surprises by preliminary announce
ments, was not in the least disturbed.
Everybody laughed and waited for
something to happen while the or
chestra struck into "The Star
Spangled Banner Fortunately, q
new connection was soon made in the
wiring and the few who knew, what
had actually occurred quickly reeoy-
cred from their momentary attack of
nerves.
The low ceiling at high school hall
does not lend itself readily to any ar
tistic scheme of decoration, but the
handicap was effectually overcome
by Maurice f. Rudd and his assist.
ants The arrangements Of fes-
tooned incandescents were simple but
at the same time in keeping with the
! interior The insignia of the order
in white In contrast to the violet Of
! the general scheme created u pretty
effect The national colors, OF
course were In evidence.
The concert by the augmented or
chestra, which was one of the most
pleasing programs given here in
years, was an indication Of what was
to be expected by the dancers and
these expectations we're more than
realized. A few over hundred couple
artic'pated in the grand march,
which was led by Exalted Ruler and
Mrs. ]. Burton Powers and directed
by Joseph A. Evans, but good judges
of gatherings declare that not more
than half the people present took
part in the walk around"
| A touch of 81 roadway was given to
the entertainment by the vaudeville,
two dancers from the Keith circuit,
Russell Howard and Miss Tobin.
with the floor cleared and the spot
light shifting with their movements
the pair brought the cabaret life Of
the Great White Way right down to
the minute Those in attendance
who had never been actual obsery-
ers had seen similar acts reproduced
on the screen and knew that they
were looking at the real thing.
The surprise nun0er on the pro
gram was the balloon dance when
the dancers swirled through a cloud
( of different colored balloons that gy-
rated from floor to ceiling and filed
the hall with their continuous explos'
ions
! While it was not intended by the
lodge that the ball should be consd-
cred a formal affair, the number of
evening gowns was unusually large
and many of them were exceptionally
pretty and the changing lights added
to the general color effect.
At the mystic hour of II all activity
was suspended for the impressive
Ellis toast given by Frank e. Howe
During intermission refreshments
we're served in the domestic science
department of the building and con
sisted of fruit salad with grapefruit
chicken salad, rolls, ice cream, fancy
cakes and coffee, The tables were
prettly decorated with carnations
and were arranged with unusual
taste. The Illuminating of the tables
accomplished by the use of different
! colored dron lights. the work of II. II
Warren, added materially to the
general effect,
Name cards were issued to those
taking part in the grand march and
the follow ng were returned; Mr.
and Mrs. Thomas f. Fitzgerald. j. b
p. ODonnel and Miss Margaret Hayes
Louis Levin and Miss Frances Levin
Mr.and Mrs Maurice e Rudd, Mr.
and Mrs. George w. Williams, Mr.
and Mrs. c. S. Perry Fred G. Martin
and Miss Stella Vangorder, Mr.. ant
Mrs f. Haviland Sibley Mr.. ant
Mrs. NJ. ]. Murphy, Mr.. and Mrs. W
n. Siblev. Mr.. and Mrs. William 7
Hogan. Clarence Hon ker and Miss
Nina Saverv of Pownal. Mr. ant
Mrs. Fred Thebarge, Walton Harwoot
and Miss Alice Morrissey, Mr. ant
Mrs. James Mcclure, Mr. and Mrs
James A. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. lr'
B. Hnbbell Thomas Donovan ant
Miss Elizabeth Powers, Mr.. and Mrs
William Hurley, Mr.. and Mrs, Ed
ward Whitney, j A. Winn of Sprine
field, Mass, and Miss Mime Levin