The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-29
By LEROY HALE
President Lincoln A Cappella Choir

Lincoln's progressive music de-
partment found It out when work
vas started on the student-written
OF Men and Models"
Not only Is the Job Of writing
words and music n 20-song
revue difficult. hut the continuity
and lines. costumes designs. stage
settings. arrangements and direc-
tion come in the list Of no-easy
tasks. too.
Three Lincoln students.
Eunice Wolters, Leonard Tes-
sier and Leroy Hale, with the
aid of Mrs. Margaret Rawson
Goheen, are responsible for
the book and story of In "Of
Men and Models"
The history OF the original pro-
duction dates back to last years
"cavalcade OF American Music,
the 1910 concert. II was then that
thoughts Of an original operetta
were discussed and passed on as
too difficult work for high school
students. But the "cavslcade"
turned out TO he quite original
its short continuity and scene di-
visions all being worked out by
Lincolnites.
During the following summer,
however. this group furthered
their idea by outlining first, a
story-a story that was far dis
tant from "of Men and Models
q story Of circus life.
Nothing much more was done
until plans for the 1871 concert
were initiated. Was the choir to
present an opera. a sequel to the
"cavalcade," or what?
operettas and musical comedies
were looked over. There was
Countess Martha" THE Fire
fly" THE Merry Widow" and "of
Thee I Sing" None Of them
suited the student committee as
signed for the survey.
Gee. il would be swell to write
our own musical" someone said. /
But what about the music, Tyr
les and above all the terrific work
in writing your own operetta ?"
The choir of 1871 was ready.
willing, and even able to do it
They knew they could accomplish
their hopes-and so they started.
The circus story was abandoned /
and several other ideas were sug-
gested. until finally a plot about |
some football players and some
New York models was worked
out.
There should be plenty of must
cal ability in the school-there
was Paul Galloway's Moon Dust"
that everyone was talking about,
alumnus Marion KAY of KMO had
plenty of good music, Leroy Hale
had a few songs they could use.
Mrs. Goheen could assign her
Music II class TO write some origi-
nal compositions - certainly they
could get the songs
Then there were the lines of
musical comedy "A terrific job
even for any Manhattan or Holly
wood playwright.
But the same group of four
started in, with the helping heads
of Phyllis Watts and Lois Mecum,
and soon brought forth a script
that b. C. DeSylva would be proud
of-a three-act musical comedy.
Phyllis Field, Alice Person, Jack
Raphael and that same group of
four started on lines for the songs
that were without words.
Warren Hill and Frank Nielsen
burg worked out stage settings for
the desired three acts.
Helen Hegge, Shizue Tamaki
and Leonard Tessier thought of
costume and gown designs.
Then someone thought of the
history-making IDEA Of holding
contest to find 13 models for the
mannequin positions
Shizue Tamaki was name d
chairman and on Friday. February
81. "Lincolns Is most beautiful
girls were chosen from bevy
of lovely lassies. Since that day.
these girls have given "Of Men
and Models" more publicity than
MGM gives Hedy La Mari.
Even after this work had been
done, the musical was still known
merely as the opera" Something
had to be done about the title.
One sixth period. several
choristers were in the music
room with their heads deep in
thought for suitable name.
The story was of football men
and lovely models. A book ON
Mrs. Goheen's desk read "Of
Men and Music" nv Deems
Taylor. Warren Hin piped mp
with "Of Men and Models
and the new musical comedy
had its name.
Further work was completed
orchestrations were started hy In
str7ir1e1tal Direction Erark Anarrie