Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-12
Committee Will Ask ]. K.
Branch to Take General
Craftsmanship Today.
PUT COST OF PRODUCING
SPECTACLE AT 100000
Plans Are Discussed to Bring
Some Famous Producer
Here to Direct.
DISCUSS FINANCE PROBLEM
Event to BE Made State Affair and
Other Communities Asked
to CO-Opernte.

Definite decision was reached last
night ut meeting of the executive
roinmlttcc in charge OF arransinS
for the Historical Virginia pageant
to put of the spectacle until MAY.
1922. on the grounds that thsre is
not now sui!i"i.nt time to arrange
such stupcnduous event as Is
planned TO portray the history of
the Commonwealth. The meeting
was held at headquarters of Posi- N,
Travellers Protective Association,
T'i,ird and Mtin Streets. and moro
thnn fifty org ,-.izations were rep
.cscntcd.
II was ais, unanimously decided
u ask John ketr Branch. pres!den.
O! the Chamber OF Commerce and
prominent banker of Richmond, to
accept the general Craftsmanship OF
the executive committee. To this
end. Hugh Powell acting chair
man, appointed q committee OF four
- wait on MIR. Branch today at 1890
o'clock in his offices. and urge his
cooperation in making tho pageant
success. On the committee were
appointed J. Alston Cabcll. Mann S.
Nalentinc, r. Goodc and Miss Sallie
Archer Anderson.
Several Committees Authorized.
Resolutions calling for the ap-
n"iniment OF committee on public
ity, 10 consist of i've members, and
committee of five TO investigate
the merits of pageant directors, and
third committee To decide on n de-
N n, 4, ,t.,t,
posed os In order to dcfray pre-
l!minary expenses OF the organiza-
tIon. and also on ways and means
TO dispose OF these buttons. were au-
thorized. and will probably be ap-
pointed by Mr. Powell today.
Letters from various organizations
relative to the staging of the exhibit.
which ii is proposed 20 give. were
read before the executive committee.
one of which. from a prominent firm
~ Cincinnati. estimated the cost OF
the proposed pageant at about $780,
600. The letter also proposed that it
the committee was willing 10 under
write the expenses of the venture in
case negotiations were not closed be-
tween the city and the company in
regard TO this matter. a wcil-known
pageant director would be sent here
TO discuss the presentation of the pro-
posed historical spectacle.
This could be done soon, it was cx-
planned. and general details worked
out At once. as the director Is now
III the South on trip and could
easily be summoned to Richmond.
May Secure IioSton Director
Another suggestion was made by
one OF the delegates that n famous
director from Boston. who staged the
ST. Louis pageant. said to have been
one of the greatest In history. be
brought TO Richmond. and extensive
plans for defrayinG expenses Of the
trip were gone into. 1t was suggested
that If he could be brought to Rich
mond. his entertainment here would
be betrayed by friends in the city.
IL was the women members of the
executive committee. representing all
or the historic societies and orEaniza-
tons for the preservation of Virginia
history. that made tho motion that
the pageant be postponed until 1922
insufficient time in which to organize
and arrange such a stupendous cele-
bration was given as the reason for
the motion. This met with spirited
debate. some members OF the COM
mittee declaring that the spirit OF the
anair would suffer through the ex-
tension OF the time limit and that ths
loss OF vigor and vim now behind the
movement would be worse than the
hurry about completion of the plan.
When 1t was stated that from 5000
TO 5000 people would probably he
needed in the casts OF the various
events which it is planned to stage.
however. many OF the adherents Of
the early pageant were won over TO
the cause of the 1922 vent, and finally
unanimous approval was gained for
the postponement.
w. B. Cridlin. who originated the
pageant plan. outlined a general ten.
tativc plan for the event. which he
declared should begin on May 13 and
continue through the week He also
advocated that it begin with a cels-
hration at jamestown and then that
the center OF the event shift to Rich
mond and be continued here through
cut the week
Two Celebrations Daily.
AS tentative plan for financing
the affair. he suggested that two
celebrations daily be given either at
the Virginia Fair Grounds or at some
other suitable place, to which ad-
mittance should be charged. He
outlined such n tableaux as could ba
staged there. and also suggested a
Colonial ball. tournament and other
features. He also suggested that
each day be featured by some spe-
ciai event. such as "Discoverers'
no,
ary Day." Confederate Day" and
so on.