The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1949-08-18
AcAo44MeDe4kI
By ]. William Hunt, in the Cumber-
land Sunday Times


berland) Times) to fully cover the
week-long celebration of Oakland $
centennial which ends tonight with an
extra performance of the outdoor
pageant, "Song of the Oaks" On an
other page of the Sunday times will
be found a group of pictures taken
Thursday night while the pageant
performers were preparing for the
second of the four shows scheduled
during the week. Because of my in
terest in history and drama this col
umn will be limited to the pageant
feature which | witnessed Thursday
night
AS the beautifully presented story
of Oakland's 100 years took shape, |
wondered what must be the emotion
al response of two special guests that
night.
One was the only surviving grand
child of Mr.. and Mrs. Isaac McCarty,
founder of Oakland. By coincidence,
Miss McCarty now resides in Oakland,
California. Despite her SO years, she
made the rans-continental trip to at
tend the celebration and has been on
the go ever since her arrival. What
must be her thoughts as she see re-
enacted the scenes in which her
grandparents participated 100 years
ago? And how proud she must be to
see the attractive county seat munich
palty that has evolved from the
Yough Glades lands once owned by
her forebears!
The other special guest Thursday
night was Robert Garrett, Baltimore,
a grandson of John w. Garrett, the
great president of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, in whose honor Gar
rett County was named. As the trib-
utes to his grandfather were repeated
in the pageant before 2000 onlOokers,
what emotion must have welled up in
his heart! Here he sat in the midst
of those who were paying honor to
his family whose name is perpetu-
ated in Maryland's youngest and
largest county!
But you didn't have to be a Nc
Carly OF an Armstrong or Garrett
to enjoy the Song of the Oaks" Tho
Oakland Centennial pageant, entire
ly product Of the community, is an
achievement that reflects tremendous
credit on its authors, producers,
actors and workers. In an outdoor
setting of unsurpassed natural beauty
a central and two adjoining stages are
lighted with a professional artistry
that cvokes highest admiration. The
action takes place alternately on the
two side stages, one being dark while
the other is lighted for the dramatic
'goings on"
OF first importance in the success
of the Oakland pageant are the choral
and instrumental intcrludes and the
background music. Directing the
music is Rev. Felix G. Robinson,
whose return to his native heath
came at most opportune time.
Search the nation over and no one
better qualified for the pageant's
musical feature could have been
found.
The text of Mr.. Robinson's Ballad
of Oakland" was sung in part by the
chorus to link together the episodes
selected for dramatic treatment. The
instrumental ensemble of students
from Harvard University, "The Trail
Blazers" provided accompaniment
and background music throughout
the performance, and showed versa
tility by doing both the square dance
music and then appearing as for
NAL orchestra for the ballroom scene
typical of Oakland's social zenith.
1t is too bad that the official
souvenir program does not list the
principals in the pageant cast, be-
cause some of them gave outstanding
performances and all acted with sim
cerity and a complete understanding
of the parts allotted them.
Joseph Sollars, who authored the
show and was narrator, was parti-
cularly effective in the latter role.
To Mrs. Lewis r. Jones, chairman of
the pageant committee, and to Mrs.
Robert Ruckcrt and Mrs. Ray Crow
theirs should go great share of the
credit for the interesting drama
that was unfolded Thursday night
in the gorgeous outdoor setting on
the edge of Oakland. 1t will repay
anyone who has not seen the Oakland
Centennial pageant to make the eff
fort to be on hand for the final pre-
sentation tonight, an extra perform
ance that was decided on Thursday
to accommodate the hundreds unable
to see it during its three weekday
showings.
Among the scenes in the Song of
the Oaks" is a reproduction of the
massacre of the Malott family which
took place nearly 200 years ago with
in sight of the very pageant grounds
on which the re-cnactment takes
place. The pioneer school scene; the
arrival of the Armstrong; and the
McCartys; the method of mail deliv-
cry a century ago; the square dances
and other social activities; the visit
of George Washington to the Friend
family near the site of the present
town: the building VI the Baltimore