Evening star., 1949-12-18
Ground Broken
AT Site Of Sesquii i
Amphitheater
Chapman Dedieotes
Coming Celebration;
Miss Pinzo Sings

Ground was broken yesterday
for one of the principal construc-
ton projects for next years
Sesquicentennial celebration-the
100000 amphitheater in Rock
Creek Park.
The theater, which will seat
1000, will stage a historical drama
to be written by Paul Green,
Pulitzer Prize winning playwright,
as part of the celebration of the
Capitals 150th birthday.
The first spadeful of earth for
the project was turned by Secre-
tary of the Interior Chapman.
Despite the cold, about 500 per-
sons, including business and Gov
leaders, turned out to witness the
ceremony on the brink of the val
ley where the theater will be built.
Claudia Pima. daughter of Ezio
Pima and a Metropolitan opera
artist in her own right, sang The
Star Spangled Banner" and other
selections.
Chapman Dedicates Sesqui.
Mr.. Chapman, who was the
principal speaker, dedicated the
Sesouicentennial celebration to
the Four Freedoms and said I'VE
dedicate ourselves to the principle
that only free men can achieve
the full Towering of the human
spirit
The new amphitheater. located
In Rock Creek Park. south OF
Morrow drive near Sixteenth
street NV, is scheduled to be
completed by June Is and will be
built largely on private contract
by the National Capital Parks
Office.
The National Capital Sesqui-
centennial Commission has ear
marked 100000 for the project
and the way now is clear to re-
move the trees in the valley that
stand in the path of the project.
Park authorities plan to call for
bids for the construction, prob
ably next month.
Chapman Praises Green.
"It is fitting that this celebra-
ton of the sesquicentennial of the
Establishment of our National
Capital has been dedicated to free
dom and that the amphitheater
for which we are breaking ground
will house the symphonic pageant
that will portray the dramatic &C
complishments of the Founding
Fathers who wove the principle
of freedom into the fabric of our
government Mr.. Chapman said.
He paid tribute to Mr.. Green,
who now Is at work on the SYM
phonic drama, which-will be CEN
tered around George Washington.
Mr.. Chapman said he is deeply
interested" in watching the de-
velopment Of the drama.
Pointing out that "our National
Parks are not restricted for the
few" Mr.. Chapman declared I'VE
must insure that the freedom and
equality of every citizen is guar
anteed. that opportunity for every
Individual is limited only by the
Individual himself-his character
his willingness to work and his
own capacity for success"
He called attention to the fact
that Washington was planned as
no other capital city had ever be-
fore been planned"
Stresses Principal of Freedom.
Let us not forget that these
men who shaped the clear line!
of the most dynamic and progress
sive instrument for human better.
ment that history has ever known
worked in times of difficulty anc
doubt just as those who visual
lied the clean lines of our capi.
tai city worked in wilderness anc
swamp" he said Their founda-
tion rock was their faith in the
principle of freedom.
When Mr.. Chapman had con-
cluded, Miss Pima handed him a
gilded shovel, tied with red, white
and blue ribbon. He then turned
the first sod, Signalling the start
OF the amphitheater.
Edward Boykin, director. of the
sesquicentennial commission, well
coined the audience.
The Army Band, under direction
Of Capt. Hugh j. Curry. played
and Miss Pima then sang "The
Star Spangled Banner" accom-
panied by the band. Miss Pima
also sang the song which hel
father made famous, Some En-
chanted Evening"" and responded
with an Italian folk song as ar
encore.
Green Outlines Plan. i,
Joseph c. McGarraghy, chair
man of the commission execu-
tive committee, pointed out that
the amphitheater will be. "a per-
manent addition to the cultural
life of the city,"
Mr.. Green, told the audience
he will try in his drama to "por-
tray some of the dramatic spirit
that underlies the meaning oil
this country" He said he viii.
strive to show "the everlasting
truth to which George Washing
ton was devoted"
HE sought only the right thing
to do - and if we do that, we will
have nothing to fear" said the
dramatist. Here we dedicate
this sacred SOIL"
The closing music was "Tht
Battle Hymn of the Republic" by
the Army band.
Among the invited guests were
Assistant Secretary of the interior
William E. Warne, Edgar Morris
representing the United States
Chamber of Commerce; William
H. Press, executive secretary OF
the Board of Trade; Attorney Will