The Winslow mail., 1926-11-12
Twelve Thousand
People Witnessed
Arizona Pageant

P1fOENIX-AriZona's first state
historical pageant has gone into
history in blaze of glory that
has brought pageantry to the state
to stay.
Twelve thousand people saw the
Arizona State Pageant presented
last Friday, Saturday and Sunday,
November 5, and Z, at the Casa
Grande National Monument as the
initial production of the Arizona
Pageantry association. They came
not only from every part of Ari-
zona but from a dozen outside
states; Flagstaff and Nogales,
Douglas and Yuma, rubbed shoul-
ders with Phoenix and Tucson,
Prescott and Globe-Miami, Flor
ence and Casa Grande. California
visitors sat next to tourists from
the East. They came to see, and
they were conquered by the magic
romance of Arizona's history, pre-
sented on stage that was the
ceremonial chamber of a prehis-
toric race of irrigation farmers fiji
teen hundred years ago, in ver-
6ant desert that soon will be re-
turned to rich farm land by the
San Carlos project.
From an artistic and dramatic
standpoint the pageant was superb
capable acting, beautiful lighting,
and splendid costumes and set
tings making an excellent produc-
tion in the hands Of Garnet Holme,
famous pageant master of the Ma
tiOnal parks, who wrote and direc-
ted the play. Nearly four thous-
and cars were handled without
confusion, and the seating capa-
city was. adequate except on the
last night, when the crowd ex-
ceeded all expectations. More i'm
portant, the pageant was finan-
cial success, and started the state
pageant movement on self-Sup-
porting basis.
In personnel of the three hun
dred actors, in physical and finan-
cial support, and in every other
way, the pageant was truly state
wide. Women's clubs and Organi-
cations were especially active in
its behalf, and the State Univer-
sity, Tempe Teachers College, and
| numerous high schools gave val
liable assistance. Chambers of
Commerce throughout the state
| Joined the Arizona Industrial
Congress in giving the pageantry
association invaluable aid in de-
veloping Arizona pageantry as a
national advertising asset.
Although it was the states first
effort in pageantry, the production
at the Casa Grande Ruins brought
| Arizona wide advertising. News
papers of the state gave wonder
| fur aco-operation in the publicity
campaign which was directed for
the pageant by the Industrial Con-
gress, and which resulted in
scores of articles appearing in the
press in neighhoring states. Thru
Influence Of the congress, the Los
Angeles Chamber of Commerce
was interested, and conducted an
extensive publicity campaign in
Southern California, while the
Southern Pacific land Santa Fe
railroads contributed valuable ad-
vertising. One of the most i'm
portant aids came from the Phoe-
nix bureau of the Associated Press
which made the pageant the basis
of a story on Arizona's ancient in
habitants which was included in
that worldwide news organiza
tons general mail service and
went to 1,200 of the largest papers
in this and other countries.
The pageantry association is al
ready beginning plans for next
years productions, and with the
first Arizona Pageant widely
advertised success, and with the
Industrial Congress, chambers of
Commerce, Auto Club Of Arizona
and Phoenix and Tucson advertis-
ing clubs cooperating in adver
tising pageantry as one Of the
states tourist attractions, the pa
geant movement promises to be-
come a great factor in preserving
Ari1oOo'C rOmanca for tho nation