Evening star., 1925-04-12
BARE KNEES CENSORED
so TAKOMA "SCANDALS"
CAN BE STAGED SAFELY
Continued from First Page.)
sion assembled that their bare knees
really weren't so shocking, after all.
Show Name Changed.

At the same time sponsors of the
show, reveling iii the, publicity given
the production as a result of the out
pouring of ministerial wrath, an
nounced officially that the name of
the show has been changed to The
Takoma Park Scandals"
All the excitement out Takoma
Park way started when DR.. Clark
and one or two of the elders dropped
in on the dress rehearsal right in
the midst of the romper skit. The
chorus, made UP of daughters and
wives of some of the towns leading
citizens and church members, is sup
posed to act like a bunch OF school
kids making mud pies to the tune
of an appropriate song. The cos
tunes worn were gingham rompers
and rolled-top stockings or socks.
The knees of the II young ladies
were most bare, to say the least.
Shockingly, outrageously bare, in the
opinion of the minister.
Elders in Session.
The elders, trustees and deacons of
the church were called into eXtraordi-
nary session last night to discuss the
bare knees and what could and should
be done about them.
The discussion was exceedingly
so warm at one juncture, according
to some of those present, that Guy
Clinton, 81 years old, one of the ruling
elders, and Joseph u Jackson, So
years old. a church trustee, @clinche d
their fists as they arose from their
seats and threatened to mix in for
free-for- all. catch-as-catch- can
physical encounter. Their colleagues
Immediately squelched the excite
ment.
Press Kept Out.
When the meeting first convened
newspapermen walked in at the invi-
tation of Trustee c. HUFF, but DIR.
Clark and other members at once ex-
cluded the press from the proceed
ings.
The newspapermen waited outside
with Sergt. Earl II. Burdine of the
Montgomery County police force, who
said he was there to see that the law
was complied with. He strongly ap
proved the bare knees after an in
spection.
The general session, after long and
vehement wrangling as to how much
of the girls bare legs were exposed
in the romper scene and a to the
legal phases of the leasing of the
church hall to the Fire Department
directed the Committee on use of
the church building" to confer with
the fire department committee and
report back a verdict of some sort.
The committee, which was COM
posed of DIR. Clinton, chairman; c. r.
Normandy, Mr.. Jackson, w. NJ. Lea
witt and c. c. King, called in Walter
| Whitney, president of the Fire De
partment; ]. NJ. Barron, director of
! the show; A. A. Heale, chairman of
the show committee, and Addison
Ourand, J. w. Coffman and Mr.. Huff,
| members of the show committee.
show Sponsors Protest.
! The show sponsors protested Wig
| orously against the reflection" cast
on the show and the cast by the edict
issued against bare knees of the II
young ladies in the mud pie episode
and deRed any one to prove there was
anything "disgraceful" about the per-
formance, as charged by DR.. Clark.
Admitting, however, that "in their
| haste" Friday night they had prom
| ised Dr. Clark to hide the offending,
| but really innocent, knees inside Of
| long black stockings, the Fire Depart
| ment members announced they would
stand by their promise under pro-
| test"
| The committee on use of the church
| building filed back into the star
| chamber meeting and reported their
| findings, with the recommendation
| that the show be allowed to proceed
| as scheduled, minus, of course, the
| peek "a boo knees.
| About half an hour later DR.. Clark
emerged and notified the waiting
show representatives that their
proposition of the long black stock
| ings" had been duly accepted and
approved, and that the show could
go on. 1t was then that the show
representatives announced plans for
| the censorship" curtain.
Say, do you mean to tell us that
we acctuually have to wear old black
| stockings all the way up?' chorused
| the group of indignant romper girls
as the verdict was announced by
| President Whitney. -
We'll of all the nerve! Why we
| wear 'em to our knees on F, street
every day, rolled tops and abl."
And one of them echoed:
Believe me, I'm going to find the
| sheerest pair of chiffon stockings on
the market, just for spite."