davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-01-06
Mount Vernon Players Have Made Local Stage History

speare based his Comedy of Errors" and
THE Shoemaker's Holiday" and tickets
were going rapidly for THE Funeral at
this writing
The enterprising nature of the group
can best be brought out by noting that
THE Duenna," Sheridan's play, is being
produced March II to % with original
music for the show being written by one
Of the cast Chief Yeoman Albert Berk-
owitz, United States Maritime Service.
Yeoman Berkowitz, native of New
Rochelle, N. Y, joined the players three
weeks after coming to Washington and
appeared in 'The Shoemaker's Holiday"
He Joined the group early enough to
compose music for two of the Eliza
bethan songs in that play.
When a capable understudy appears
to handle an important part of the
groups activities, Mangum never hesi-
tates to give that person leeway to show
his talents. Capt. Andrew Miles, Chi
cago lawyer who entered the Army
in June, 1912, and came to Washington
in the AAF in January, 1914, had pre-
'Aouoiy ohCSeCo llttic tIlcdIcT groups
in his home city. He joined the players
last March, taking charge of the music
for Noah" This year he directed
"The Twins" and THE Funeral" His
wife, Mrs. Angela Kreuser Miles, played
Lady Brumpton in the latter show.
Tickets Are Free
The group has a unique method of
paying for their plays. Tickets, even
reserved seats, are without charge.
During the acts a player explains that
the productions are paid for by contri-
buttons from the audience and a group
of attractive usherettes pass the plate,
With "The Shoemakers Holiday" the
Mount Vernon Players hit the $1,000
mark in gross receipts for the 12 per-
formances, a phenomenal mark when
the 300 audience seating capacity per
performance is considered. Beginning
with "The Beautiful People" in Febru-
ary, 1945, the players have made profits
averaging more than 5000 a show.
Physical aspects of the theater have
improved since the players first began,
but the great popularity of the group
will necessitate even further improve
ments in the future if the crowds anxi-
GUS to see the productions are to oe
Evening star., 1946-01-06
The Old Army Headquarters Building

listed in the name of N. Towson, pos
slbly son of the general of that name.
To the south, on Seventeenth street, at
that date, some of the intervening
property was assessed in the name of
Samuel M. Mexican, while the corner
lot at New York avenue belonged TO
Harriet Mexican.
Old War Department Building
At the north end of where now stands
the State, War and Navy Building, just
west of the White House, once stood the
old War Department Building, where
much American history was made. 1t
was not begun until 1918 and not oc-
cupied until about 1920 It's usefulness
covered period of many years, or until
it was demolished in 1879 to make way
for the completion of the present State,
War and Navy Building. During the
Mexican War it was naturally a very
busy place, and during the Civil War was
Evening star., 1946-01-06

was recommended to the Methodist
sponsored group by the drama organiza-
ton at Catholic University. Her hus-
band is Thomas Goldstein, former as
sistant stage manager of Erwin Piscator.
A glance at the cast for THE Beautiful
People speaks well for the Mount ver-
non Players. Miss Gettinger took the
part of Agnes Webster, 1t. Ronald
Marwood, an English naval officer, was
Dan Hillboy; Harry Traub, former New
York State boxing champion, was Will
liam Prim; Ralph Wallace, a retired
real estate man, was Jonah Webster;
Josephine Booth, professional dancer,
was Harmony Blueblossom; William
Dalzel of the United States Merchant
Marines, was Father Hogan, and George
Lytle, a Government clerk, was Owen
Webster.
Government workers predominate in
the players, as is to be expected in a
town like Washington, but all branches
Evening star., 1946-01-06

old home of DR.. James s. Gunnell, the
dentist, at the northeast corner of
Pennsylvania avenue and Madison
place, which was erected by Dr. Gunnell
in 1886, and here he died between the
years 1850 and 1859, for in the latter
years we find that Helen M. Gunnell,
widow of James S., was residing on
Twentieth street NV. After the death
of DR.. Gunnell it was occupied for a
time by Postmaster General Samuel D.
Hubbard and later by 1t. Lafayette
Maynard, who was living there on Feb
ruay 27, 1859, when Daniel E. Sickles
shot and killed Philip Barton Key close
to his residence.
"Dr. Gunnel," according to Madison
Davis, writing in 1902, was born in
Loudoun County, Va, in the year 1888,
and was educated at the Leesburg
Academy, afterward-in l820-graduat-
ing in medicine at the University of
Evening star., 1946-01-06

In 1941 Room Service" was given by
the players. This production proved to
be the vehicle opening membership to
interested persons outside the church.
In that cast were 1st 1t. j. Roccoford
Mccain, a Catholic; Austin Brannen. a
Baptist, and Martin Brock, an Episco-
palian. After that the players was open
to people of all faiths and creeds.
Finest Plays
-Four years later, in February. 1s45,
the players put on Saroyan's "The
Beautiful People" The lead character,
Miss Webster, was played by Lilli Get
finger, Jewish refugee who recently
came to this country. Miss Gettinger,
who played Shakespearean and German
classic roles in Florence, Italy, where
she was forced to flee during the war,
Evening star., 1946-01-06

of professional and business men and
women are members.
An Amazing Growth
The growth of the players in men,
bership, program and audiences is
amazing. The group started in 1896
with 20 young people 1t now has more
than 100 active and apprentice men,
bers plus an additional go associate
members.
AT the beginning one-act religious
play for one night stand was con-
sidered satisfactory goal. The first
step from this program was the turning
from religious to secular plays with the
production of Oscar Wilde's THE I'm
portance of Being Earnest" for two nights
in July, 1887. The following fall Little
Women" John D. Rabold's dramatiza-
Evening star., 1946-01-06

Pennsylvania. Before this he had been
a lieutenant of light horse in the War
of 1912. After graduating he settled in
Washington, and there pursued the
practice Of his profession. He was mar
ried and had family of six children"
DR.. Gunnell was appointed postmas-
ter of Washington in 1889 and served
faithfully for two years, when his prede-
cessor, DR.. William Jones, succeeded
him in Office.
At the close of the Civil War a bank
was chartered here for colored people.
Indeed, it was intended to be strictly for
them, and the funds of the institution,
known as the Freedmens Savings &
Trust Co., were to be invested only in
United States stocks and bonds, but this
latter restriction, it is said, was defeated
Continued on Page C-5)
Evening star., 1946-01-06


accommodated. The players first began
without dressing rooms on small stage.
The scenery was built next door to the
church and the set for production on
Monday could only be put on after
church services Sunday night. That
meant the staff often worked through
the night getting the stage ready,
worked at their jobs next day and were
back again the following night to put
on the show. 1t was enthusiasm like
this that kept the group going despite
all handicaps.
Today the sage, though small. Is
equipped with modern devices There
are dressing rooms and makeup room,
with large wing space to store material
and other equipment. The settings can
be put up as early as desired and the
cast usually has dress rehearsals on the
set for week before opening night.
The department of drama is more
comprehensive than even an outline
of the players activities suggest. It
also includes a study group in panto-
mime called The Mummers," a MARION
ette theater producing plays on an adult
level, children's group and courses in
play writing and play production.
Their Fame Has Spread
The fame of the group has spread to
other parts of the country and letters
from churches and civic bodies from
States as far West as the Coast and as
far South as the Gulf of Mexico come to
Ed Mangum asking him now how such
department of drama works. Last
summer Mangum lectured to the Con-
ference on Recreation of Methodist
Church of Virginia at Lynchburg on
how such program can be set up. This
coming August he has been invited by
the Northeastern Jurisdiction of Metho-
ist Churches of America to advise a
Conference of Young Peoples how to 90
about putting into effect this kind of
activity.
Ed Mangum is the Sparkplug behind
the organization. A native of Texas.
Mangum is graduate of. East Texas
State College where he was editor of the
student weekly. president of the press
club and of Sigma Tau Delta and secre-
tary of Alpha Chi. He came to WASH
ington in 1896 to study at American
University Graduate School for foreign
service but the call of the drama proved
too much and he soon switched his pro-
fession. At first he worked for the Gov
ernment as claims deputy in charge OF
the multi-State section of the District
Unemployment Compensation Board.
He started subsequently to take a mas
ters degree in drama at Catholic Uni.
versity and is completing the thesis for
that degree this year.
Mr.. Mangum took over the players
soon after he joined the Mount Vernon
Place Methodist Church in 1896. En-
couraged by DR.. Rustins and other
church members understanding of what
the players was trying to do, he has
since built up the group to place where
it has become community influence Of
great good. This fits in with the far
sighted church program, one that has
become outstanding in it's capacity for
civic work in the District.
Though the 1867 program has not
yet been outlined, Mangum is sure to
come up with something that will make
Washington theatergoers look forward
to next year. The players have become
an institution in the District, one whose
legend will increase In stature aS time
goes on.
Evening star., 1946-01-06

Came to Stay" and ''The Hill Between"
were produced. The first two ran for
six performances each, the third for
nine and THE Hill Between" for 10
showingS. A total of 1880 persons saw
the productions in the 300-seat audito-
rum beneath the church. Last year,
1944-5, Alice in Wonderland" The
Beautiful People" "Fraternally Yours"
and Noah" were put on. The last
three ran for IL performances each
with Alice" adding four additional
shows. The audiences numbered 10,969
persons.
New Plays Brought Here
This year the organization decided to
bring to Washington plays cultured peo-
pie had read but never seen performed
1t was hazardous undertaking, with
strong possibilities that failure might
affect the future development of the
group. Mr.. Mangum, confident in the
appeal of the theater to lovers of the
live drama scheduled THE Twin Men,
aechmi,'' by Plautus; THE Shoemaker's
Holiday" by Thomas Dekker; "The
Funeral, or Grief la Mode" by Richard
Steele; THE Duenna," by Richard
Brinsley Sheridan, and probably "Cy-
rano de Bergerac," by Rostand
On September 20 the lead editorial in
the Washington Post, headed "Plautus
in Ninth Street." declared "it seemed
to us that it had a spontaneity and en-
thusiasm that the best of professionals
might not have been able to provide" I"
The writer added, after listing the rest
of the plays scheduled for the season,
that this notion of giving plays that
almost all of us have heard of. and
some of us may have read, but which
very few of us have ever hoped to see,
strikes us as both enterprising and
original"
Crowded Houses
The editorial brought the players to
the notice of many Washingtonians not
usually interested in amateur theatre
Gals. Crowded houses witnessed "The
Twin Menaechmi," on which Shake
Evening star., 1946-01-06

a 24-hour- day establishment. Here
President Lincoln was frequent visitor
upon tense occasions, when he would go
there to be close to the telegraph Office
or to confer with Simon Cameron, his
Secretary of War, and later, Edwin M.
Stanton, who succeeded to this office
1t was in this building that Gen. Scott,
himself, was once approached with an
offer to join the Southern cause, and
Senator Stephen A. Douglas is RESPONSE
bic for the following interesting state
ment, as published by Hay and Nicolay,
and which Douglas made on his way
home to arouse the great West in aid of
Lncoln's proclamation:
81 have been asked whether there is
any truth in the rumor that Gen. Scott
was about to retire from the American
Army. 1t is almost profanity to ask
that question. I saw him only Saturday.
He was at his desk, pen in hand, writing
his orders for the defense and safety of
the American Capital. Walking down
the street, met a distinguished gentle
man, a member of the Virginia Conven-
ton, whom I knew personally, and had
a few minutes conversation with him.
He told me that he had just had an
interview with 1t. Gen. Scott; that he
was chairman of the committee ap-
pointed by the Virginia Convention to
wait upon Gen. Scott and tender him
the command of the forces of Virginia
in this struggle. Gen. Scott received
him kindly, listened to him patiently
and said to him:
az have served my country under the
flag of the Union for more than so
years, and as long as God permits me to
live I will defend that flag with my
sword, even if my own native State
assails it,
"An eyewitness reports that the re-
buke contained an additional feature Of
unusual impressiveness. When the
spokesman of the committee, man of
venerable years and glittering lure of
wealth and honor which Virginia held
out that the general could catch the drift
of the humiliating proposal, Scott held
up his hand and said emphatically,
Friend Robertson, go no further. 1t is
best that we part here before you COM
pei me to resent mortal insult"
Secretaries of War
During the existence of the old main
War Building many great men occupied
quarters within its walls as Secretaries
of War. These, in order, included John
c. Calhoun, James Barbour, P. B. Porter,
John H. Eaton, the second husband of
Peggy ONeil, and whose marriage dis
rupted Jackson's cabinet; Lewis Cass,
B. F. Butler, Joel E. Poinsett, John Bell,
James M. Porter, John c. Spenser. Will
liam wilkins, William L. Marcy, George
w. Crawford, Charles NJ Conrad, Jeffer-
son Davis, John B. Floyd, Joseph Holt,
Simon Cameron Edwin NJ Stanton,
Ulysses S. Grant, Lorenzo Thomas, John
M Schofleld, John A. Rawlins, William
w. Belknap, Alphonso Taft, father of
Chief Justice William Howard Taft; j.
Donald Cameron, George N. ,McCrary
and Alexander Ramsey.
But, as stated, there are still many
old buildings remaining in the neighbor-
hood, although many have long since
been removed. One of the latter is the
Evening star., 1946-01-06

ton OF Louisa A Alcotts novel, ran for
three nights to more than 1000 persons.
Starting with 1884 four full-length
plays year were scheduled for the
players. In that year Brief Music"
Imaginary Invalid THE Lady Who
The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1946-01-24
PNA LADIES SOCIETY HAS
INSTALLATION AND TEA

Officers of the Wyandotte Ladies
Society. Group 1890, Polish Ma
tional Alliance, were installed Sum
day. January Is, followed by a tea
at the home of Mrs. Louis zaSad-
ny, 245l Seventeenth street.
Two silver candelabra centered
By bowl of cut flowers frightened
the tea table presided over by Miss
Jayne Dudzinski, past president.
Recipients of the Polish dolls
were Daniel Wroblewski and Mrs.
e Bojarski.
Helen Zasadny was installed as
PIMA president for 1916. Others who
took office were Helen Dormetko,
first vice-preSident; Theresa Kury-
10. second vice-president; Virginia
Figurski, financial secretary; Irene
Loniewski, recording secretary;
Mlcholene Pietrucki, trea Surer;
Mary KurzatkowSki, Mic h len e
Pietrucki, delegates.
Mary Kurzatkowski, state PIMA
president, acted as toaStmistreSs.
The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1946-01-24
Blackstone COMING
Public To
Be FOOled--
By Magician

The worlds super magician, Har-
~ Blackstone, called the last OF
the Great Magicians, has been
booked for a return engagement at
the Shubert Lafayette theater, De-
troit, beginning Monday with mat
inees on Wednesday, Saturday and
Sunday.
The return brings his 32nd ami
versary magical revue, THE Show
of 1901 Wonders" to an ever in
creasing audience. A company OF
go assistants coupled with the mag
netic personality of the mystery
man make his show unique in myS-
teal entertainment
Many of the so mysteries cannot
be explained without reSorting to
the supernatural, Blackstone ex-
plains. Formerly magicians used
dimly lighted stages to give an
eeriness of the supernatural to their
performances but this master Of
mystery fools his audience from a
fully lighted stage.
Advance notices declare the ma
gician holds his audience SPELL
bound for the entire evening. Not
only does Harry Blackstone achieve
this but he holds YOU mentally un-
der his spell for hours after wit
Messing his performance"
The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1946-01-24
Mrs. Newell
New Church
Head

Mrs. Wilfred Newell was chosen
president of the Wyandotte Council
OF Church Women at the annual
meeting Wednesday afternoon, jan
uary Is, in the First Baptist church.
Others named to office were:
Mrs. Frank kits, first vice-pres-
ident; Mrs. James Pollock, second
president; Mrs. Carl Goolsby,
recording secretary; Mrs. Merle
Goss, corresponding secretary; Mrs.
A. r. Daw, treasurer.
Mrs. George Severance will con-
tinue as chairman of the Big Sis
tel work in Wyandotte and vicin-
ity; Mrs. Erwin Conant as chairman
of the Christian Family Life COM
mittee, Mrs. Frank kits, chairman
of Christian social relations, Mrs.
j. B. Warmer, chairman of Mis-
Sionary education, Mrs. James Pol
lock, international justice and good
will, Mrs. Frank FirnSchild, histo-
rian, Mrs. Rolla Beal, parliamenta-
Ran. Mrs. Ernest Shove will re-
ceive subscriptions to the Church
Woman, official publication of the
United Council of Church Women,
New York City, of which the local
group is a unit.
The Wyandotte council represents
the following churches:
Christian, Congregation, First
Baptist, Ford Baptist, First Meth
odist, Glenwood Methodist, First
Presbyterian, Emmanuel Lutheran,
Riverbank Evangelical, Salvation
Army, st. Johns Evangelical and
Reformed, and st. Stephens Epis-
copal.
The annual World Day of Prayer
service will be held on Friday,
March 8, in the First Presbyterian
church with Mrs. Rolla Beal acting
as chairman of the planning COM
mittee.
The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1946-01-24
Marriage
Licenses
River Rouge

River Rouge
Chester S. Suchyta. %, Detroit,
and Maria A. Kujawa, Is, River
Rouge.
Willard Harris, 81, River Rouge,
and Johnnie NJ. McKeehan, IT, Riv-
er Rouge.
Carl Shelton, 81, River Rouge. and
Betty NJ. Robinette. %, River Rouge.
EcOrSe
James j. Mitulski, "a, EcorSe, and
Jacqueline d. Downs, 20. Detroit.
Joseph L. Prato, "a, Ecorse, and
Margaret NJ. Fisher, 20, EcorSe.
Dale D. IIendenhall, 81, EcorSe,
and Dorothy M. Roberts, 20, Wy
andotte
Lincoln Park
Rodney w. King, "a, Lincoln
Park. and Viola FarnSel, "a, Lin
co.n Park.
Edwin H. Ogger, %, Lincoln Park
and Anna NJ. Parent, Is, Lincoln
Paxk.
Arthur j. Borck, Jr.. %. Detroit,
and Lorraine v. Borck, &c, Lincoln
Park.
The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1946-01-24
Stork Calls

Boys were born the past week at
the Wyandotte General hospital to
the following:
Mr.. and Mrs. Adam Karwowski,
2l6 Poplar. January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lyman Roehrig,
1912 BackuS. January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wallace Chapman,
Lincoln Park, January IA.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dahrel Gottschalk.
Dearborn, January IA.
Mr.. and hrs. Frederick Steiner.
246l Seventeenth. January IA.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Marsh, Lin
coin Park, January IA.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Clinton,
1859 Twenty-second, January IS.
Mr.. and Mrs. James Gildersleeve.
3l3l Twenty January Is.
Mr.. and. Mrs. Lawrence Villaire,
S04 Kings highway. January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. Roland Walters,
1905 Second. January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. MERGED Pinon.
Ecorse, January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Morgan,
Rohulus, January Is.
MIR. and Mrs. Glen Mindling,
Lincoln Park. January II.
Stanley Swiecki, 2286 Ninth, jan
uayy Is.
MIR. and Mrs Harry Saucier, Riv-
er Rouge, January Is.
Girls were born to the following:
Mr.. and Mrs. Wallace Przygocki,
1925 Eureka, January 49,
Mr.. and Mrs. Albert Antalik, De-
troit, January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Blair, EcorSe,
January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. Alex Varga, Detroit.
January u.
Mr.. and Mrs. Michael Hickey,
1928 Van Alstyne. January y.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Khan, 1913
Sixth, January 13
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter StroShine,
S48 Orchard, January IA.
Mr.. and Mrs. Herbert Mosley,
Lincoln Park, January Is.
The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1946-01-24
Social Agency
Role Is Theme
OF Dinner Meet

Wyandotte residents are being
reminded Oh the annual dinner
meeting OF the Down River Con-
Sultation Service in st. Stephen s
church, Monday at $50 pm. The
dinner will mark the 18th anniver-
Sary of the organizations founding.
Consultation committee members
in charge are particularly anxious
TO have club representative arrange
for reservations by calling wy. O434
as soon as possible as the deadline
for al reservations is tomorrow.
The role of the family agency in
community life will be discussed by
the speaker, Miss Pauline Gollub,
who has been engaged in social
work Is years. She has been asso-
ciated with family agencies in Phil
aoelphia and Detroit and at present
IS director of Home Finding, Mich
igan Children'S Institute, Ann Ar
Dor.
Committee members who are ar
ranging the event which is open to
the public are:
Arrangements-MrS. GeGge Rob-
ertS, chairman, Mrs. Harold K.
Jacobson, Mrs. George Perry, Mrs.
Brazier Beecher.
Speaker - Mrs. Floyd Tucker,
chairman, Mrs. H. F.. Leeper.
Publicity Mrs. Ernest Fuller,
chairman, John Singleton, Mrs.
Frank Sunderland.
The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1946-01-24

Mr.. and Mrs. Lucien Gagneron,
1882 Lincoln, January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. Anader Kovacs, Lin
coin Park, January 10.
Mr.. and Mrs. Anthony Beck, 1882
Thirteenth, January Is.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Lybik, 1923
Vmewood, January II.
MIR. and Mrs. Hobson Hall, 767
Riverbank, January II.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Krastes, $40
Oak, January 10.
MIR. and Mrs. Jacob Cusumano,
1875 Third, January Is.
The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1946-01-24
Camp Fire Sparks
Workshops

A large group of guardians at
tended the Intercultural Ways
Workshops for Coordinated Leader.
ship January 16. At Inter
national Center, the ladies were
served a SuriyaN dinner by jap
aneSe Americans and were given the
recipe and demonstration on how
to cook the dish. Correct use of
cbopsticks was also demonstrated
After dinner, a talk on India was
given and an exhibit of handwork
art and clothing viewed. Native
scarfs were draped on several
guardians. The speaker was Mrs
Edward Malik whose husband was
a native of India but who is now a
Detroit Doctor.
The following guardians at
tended: Mines. Seavitt, Williams
Myrand, Mannausa and Leblanc OF
EcorSe, and Mines. Rocker, Smith,
Schieber, owens, Purdy, Knox
Roberts, Mary Ann Grathwhol and
Margaret Ridley, Wyandotte.
The next and last meeting of the
workshops was held at the CEN
trail YWCA Wednesday, January
%, at 7:3O pm.
Camp Fire Girl Catholic
COnclave
The Conclave, sponsored by the
Archdiocesan Committee on Camp
Fire Girls, will be held January rs
at l pm. at the League of Cath
Ole Women activities building, 12C
Parsons between Woodward and
CaSS).
Among the speakers will be FIR
Robert Brown, liaison person be-
tween national Catholic welfare
conference and the national Camp
Fire Girls headquarters. His topic
will be Camp Fire for the Cath
Ollie Girl"
Miss Elizabeth McStea, public re-
lations director for the national
Camp Fire girls, will speak or
What Camp Fire Does for the
Community" Mrs. ELIZABETH Spear
executive secretary of the Detroit
council of Camp Fire girls, will
speak on THE Role Of the Adult
Volunteer in Camp Fire" FIR. John
Woodstock, chaplain of Camp Fire
Girls in Detroit Catholic parishes
will explain the need of Camp Fire
girls in Catholic parishes.
There will be round table discus
sion for those interested in the
Bluebird program, the Camp Fire
program, and the Horizon Club
program.
The Conclave is open to anyone
interested in Camp Fire and youth
work, and Camp Fire personnel
There will be no admission charge