Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-05
Pageant Spectacle,
Artistic Production
Soon to Be Exhibited
Church Aid Society Prepar-
ing for Presentation of
The East Room" the Eve
ming of October 81.

A tremendous enthusiasm character
ICES the active preparations now being
made for the presentation of Mrs. w.
Wayne Wirgman's pageant spectacle.
THE East Room" in the Willard ball
room on the evening of Friday, October
"a, under the auspices of the Rector's
Aid Society of st. Margaret's Church
enthusiasm and keen interest in the
present day portrayal of the many
events of historical Importance and
social magniflcence in past years that
have taken place in this famous room
in the White House. For the colorful
spectacle will present, in part, at least,
procession of families of distinguished
Americans who have been chosen by
the American people to occupy the
White House from time to time, as we'll
as the equally distinguished guests who
have played their part in the story of
the east room-every inch of which is
crowded with events in the drama of
the Nation-the gayety and brilliance of
social gatherings of many kinds, inter-
spersed with the heights of Joy and the
depths of sorrow.
Three of the IL episodes In 'The
East Room" will be presented. according
to history, in an unfinished east room
1899 just prior to his death. Mr.. Carl
ton Van Valkenburg will appear as
Washington in this scene, accompanied
by Martha Washington and Nellie Gus
tbs. The White House was called the
Presidents Palace then, and although
our first President never lived in the
house, he visualized the glory of the
Nation in the days to come. 1t is sale
that he was never under the White
House roof except on this one occasion
of his visit there.
Abigail Adams, will play a role IN the
second episode of the pageant, for it
was she who evolved home out of the
chaos of the ''palace"-unfinishe no
light, no heat, no bells, no garden, nor
even a yard in which to hang the
wash. But the magnificence of the
European courts will come before her
eyes, and kings and queens will for
the moment rule the picture. Among
the leading roles in this picture will be
that of Queen Charlotte, TO be played
by Miss Marie Rutledge; and the
Marquise de la Fayette, by Mrs. Eugene
Byrnes.
Even in the time of President JEFF
ferson, the inaugural reception was held
in the red room of the Presidents
Palace" and procession of guests
wended their way through the unfur-
nished east rooms; guests that included
the bellies and beaux of old Washington,
the cliff jewellers of Georgetown and
countless others, for the hospitality of
Jefferson was lavish. In person, many
of these guests will be portrayed by pop
ular girls of the present, Miss Lucille
Swift, Miss Betty West, Miss Eleanor
Daniel and others, and in a later scene,
Miss June Cushing will take part as a
guest at the Madison tea, actually held
for the first time in the completed east
room.
Many Original" costumes will be
worn by popular society folk appearing
in the Kaleidoscope episodes Miss Mary
Elizabeth Macarthur, a niece of the
new chief of staff, Gen. Douglas Mac
Arthur, will appear as one of the guests
at President Buchanan's reception to
the Prince of Wales in 1860, and will
wear her grandmother's gown, which
was morn on that suspicious occasion