SUNDAY
FEATURE
SECTION
SUPPLEMENT
REATRES
THEATRES
MUSIC
LITERARY
tZ , ir4igttrt 4:3attig.
SECTION
TWO
VOL. XXXI. No. 59. ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1920 PRICE FIVE CEN
WEALTH
OF
TA.LENT
AND
CLEVE:
NUMBERS
MAKE
UP
"MINSTRELSY
Will Rival Union
Opera Is Opinion
Of ShowDirector
PRODUCTION WILL BE NEW DEPARTURE FROM OLD GLEE AND
MANDOLIN CLUB RECITALS; BLACK FACE ARTISTS
AND MUSICIANS WILL STAR
(By Hugh W. Hitchcock)
Departing from the old style Hill auditorium glee club concerts, the first
production of the Varsity Glee and Mandolin club under the new direction'
of the Union, will show many radical changes. Under the present manage-
ment, facilities are such that productions can now be presented on a scale
of excellence vieing with that abhieved in past Union operas.
To make its initial bow under the direction of the Union, the Glee and
Mandolin club will be presented in a minstrel show, "Minstrelsy," on the
evenings of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week at the Whitney
theatre. Records show that the Union minstrel show in past days was always
something original and out of the run of usual black face numbers. The
management fells that in presenting "Minstrelsy," it is offering the best
entertainment possible to meet with campus favor.
Shuter Directs Play
E. Mortimer Shuter, under whose direction last year's Union opera,
"George Did It," won pronounced success, is in full charge of "Minstrelsy,"
and for the past four weeks has been working daily with the cast. Prof.
William Wheeler of the School of Music is directing the Glee club and critics'
declare him to be doing exceptionally
good work with that organization. In
R et w -i'sa seMr. Frank L. Thomas, also of the
School of Music, the Mandolin club is
KIDDIES AT HOSPITAL TO ENJOY XMAS'
Due In' City
During Week
WRITER CALLS "MINSTRELSY" RE-
IVAL -OF "GOOD OLD
DAYS"
(By T. . R.)
Lots of the "old boys" around Ann
Arbor pricked up their ears when it
was announced that the lost art of
minstrelizing was to put on a Renais-
sance act this year. It seems that, in
the days of "way back when," the
University produced a few minstrel
shows that pleased the box office and
the audience immensely.
Otto Hans, '04L, manager of the Ann
Arbor Press, managed the first black
face production that is on record.
And, according to reports, it was a
minstrel "as was a minstrel."
Victors Originated Then
The origin of "The Victors" is
bound'up in the story. It seems that
Hans wanted some music. He didn't
want to confine the songs to the reign-
ing "Avalon's" and "Wishing's" of the
day, but preferred to ring the bell with
a real Michigan song written by a
Michigan man.
Louis Elbel, '00, of South Bend, Ind.,
was the director of music for the pro-
duction. Hans told him what he
wanted and Elbel proceeded to get
busy. They say that he was a past
master at the art of caressing a piano,
and that some of his compositions had
already gained a reputation for him.
At any rate, Elbel wrote "The Vic-
tors," and the song was used for the.
first time in the minstrel show.
This all having occurred back in
the days before publicity campaigns
became effete, the minstrel had a
mammoth parade on the day of the
performance in which were intro-
duced some startling features.
Reg'lar Parade
The show officials bowed to the as-
sembled multitude of spectators from
hacks of an early vintage, and they
completed the orgy by crowning them-
selves with hats of the variety known
(Continued on Page Four)
fortunate in having as director an un-
usually capable musician and an able
leader.
Ranging from soft shoe dancing to
classical instrumental selections, the
well balanced program is replete with
original and novel numbers. One of
the feature acts that is bound to be a
big drawing card is that of Knight
Mirrielees, '21E, and George Roderick,
'21E, both of whom are well known to
the campus for their excellent work
in past operas and Spotlights. This
will be Mirrielees' farewell appear-
ance, for he will graduate in February.
An entirely new program of songs has
been selected for this act, some of the
music having been written by Rode-
rick especially for the performance.
Care has been taken in staging the
performance to obtain the real atmos-
phere of the old-time but ever-popular
minstrel show. The rising of the cur-
tain will disclose the musical clubs
arranged in minstrel effect. The Union
orchestra will be in the pit. Follow-
ing the overture, the Glee club will
sing its opening chorus, "In Old
Japan."
Minstrel Stars
Between each number minstrel fea-
tures with humor adapted to local and
modern happenings will be inter-
spersed, with James I. McClintock,
'21L, as interlocutor, and the follow-
ing end men: Hilliard Rosenthal, '21,
Arden Purvis, '22, William Michaels,
'22, and Robert F. Deebach, '23D.
After the Glee club opening chorus,
Robert McCandliss, '22M, sings the
"Prologue," from "Pagliacct" "Heart
of Her" is the solo in which Kemp
Keena, '20, will be heard. One of the
two quartettes, neither of which have
been definitely decided on, so good is
the abundance of material available,
appears next, after which the popular
"Romeo and Juliet" burlesque will be
sung. Another quartette number, and
the Glee club sings "Plantation Love."
Kemp Keena will sing another solo
followed by the entire cast and chorus
in the chief number, "The Question of
the Flag." Part one of the program is
to end with an old-fashioned cake
walk.
Part two will open with a comedy
(Continued on Page Four)
Christmas presents for the home folks is the aim of these youngsters in the children's department of the
Homoeopathic hospital as they plait bright papers into mats or paste the links of fragile chains, in their occupa-
tional therapy classes. The older patients weave baskets which they sell through charitable organizations in the
city to earn money for their Christmas giving.
The children themselves will not be lacking in holiday cheer if the plans for the Christmas party to be held
on Thursday afternoon in Lane hall work out. The hospital youngsters and other needy children who will not be
otherwise provided for are to be entertained there, with stunts, music and eats. The success of this party depends
upon the cooperation of students who are not giving through any organization. It is hoped that sufficient funds
will be obtained to provide happiness and comfort for many at this time.
I-
Chimes Ready
To Introduce
New Feature
"HOT OFF TAE DIAGONAL" ADDED
TO MAGAZINES MANY
ATTRACTIONS
(By Irving B. Goldsmith)
"Hot Off the Diagonal" is the new
feature of the Chimes which will ap.
pear for the first time in the Decembe
issue. And it is all its name imports, a
section devoted to discussion, scintil-
lating and humorous, scientific and
radical, expressing the opinions of
vxarious members of the student body.
"Hot Off the Diagonal" fills a great
need. It accentuates the truthfulness
of Chimes' slogan, "A magazine de-
voted to Student Opinion." Hereto-
fore, student manuscripts have been
regretfully returned either because
they were not suitable for feature ar-
ticles or because they upheld a doc-
trine which was contrary to the policy
which Chimes felt itself duty-bound to
uphold.
Overcomes Difficulties"
But in "Hot Off the Diagonal" these
difficulties are overcome. Short ar-
ticles will be published and literary
style will not be considered. It is a
section solely for opinionated articles,
for the sentiment of the student body,
and Chines' own policy will not act
as a censor upon their tone.
The student body is requested to
contribute. "Hot Off the Diagonal"
has as its fundamental purpose the
discussion of campus policies so that
helpful opinions and criticisms may
be brought to the light. And it wel-
comes the assistance of every studeni
in making this goal possible.
While the expression of studeni
opinion is the most important scope
of the Chimes, still the alumni an
faculty are not forgotten.
Alumni to Wrle
With this in mind a series of caree
articles will, be inaugurated in the
December beginning with "The Ro-
mance of Work Well Done," by James
Rowland Bibbins, '99. The January
issue will contain the second of thiE
series. Roy D. Chapin, '04, presiden
of the Hudson Motor company, will
write an article on business. These
two articles will be followed by the
discussion of other careers written by
some of Michigan's most illustrious
alumni in their respective fields.
Prof. Robert Wenley's "The Lit," was
the first of a series of articles by mem
bers of Michigan's faculty on their re
spective departments. In the Decem
ber issue "The Engineer," by Prof. J
C. Parker, will continue this series t
be followed in ensuing months by
"The Law," "The Medic," and othei
articles of the same nature.
The result of Chimes' story contest
has been declared satisfactory. Thirty.
two manuscripts were received. The
judges, Prof. John R. Brumm, Dr
Harold P. Scott, and Mr. Edward
Everett, awarded the first prize of $1
to Emma Jacobs on her story, "Once
to Every Man;" second prize of $10 tc
"Honor Bright," written by Wesse
Smitter; the third of $5, to Mildre
Bartdn's, "The Butterfly of Happi
ness," and honorable mention to Nel
son Eddy, who wrote "When the Cal
Sounded."
These stories will be published i
succeeding issues in the order of thei:
merit. The other contributions will b
retained for possible use in the future
Glancing through a dozen-odd pub
(Continued on Page Four)
e7instrelsy" OCu tdoes Percy
9
"Reliques"
(By Stewart T. Beach)
Fond memories of Lew Dockstader,
"Honey Boy" Evans, and the other
famous black face comedians who
helped to make the minstrel show a
purely American institution, are to be
combined with all the glamour of
burnt cork, enormods lips, and other
antecedent "props" by the Glee and
Mandolin club this week when for
three days the campus attention will
be held by "Minstrelsy," E. Mortimer
Shuter's latest bid for popularity as a
director of Michigan productions.
And the peculiar thing about this
particular minstrel show is the fact
that Mr. Shuter assures the public-at-
large that the affair in question is not
going to be a minstrel show at all-at
least not in the accepted technical
sense of the word.
. Presupposes a Lot
To begin with, a minstrel show pre-
supposes a lot of things, the most im-
portant of which is the indulgence of
a gullible public. To entirely enjoy
the real article, a delicious state of
intellectual coma must be included in
the price of admission, for it is highly
doubtful if a sanely minded person
could thoroughly interest himself and
laugh honestly at the humor of an
honest-to-goodness minstrel show.
Many unquestionably minstrel show
features are to be included in "Min-
strelsy." It must be admitted that
there are to be end-men, soft shoe
dances, and a solo or two, but the
campus is assured that all of these
are to be of such excellence and of
such a different character from the
usual run of material of that sort that
they will be among the main features
of the show.
And then there are other things-
such attractions as have never before
been gathered together in any min-
strel show-the program varying from
the sublime to the ridiculous-from
classical music to "jazz" in a way
Mencken
AND HIS LATEST WORK-
"PREJUDICES-SECOND
SERIES"
(By G. D. E.
Should I herald Zane Grey, Harold
Bell Wright, or J. Oliver Curwood as
great writers the whoops of applause
would deafen me. I should be the,
object of roistering condescending
slaps on the back-I might even run
for class treasurer and be elected.
But I wish to force no such emetics
on myself.
In launching into an encomium of
H. L. Mencken, I must fortify myself
behind more plenipotent quills. Here
goes:
Hugh Walpole of England says that
Mencken is one of the four American
writers who interest him, the others
being James Branch Cabell, Theodore
Dreiser, and Joseph Hergesheimer.
The Mercure de France says that
(Continued on page Three)
which will leave not a dull moment
in
the entire show.
Funny Start, They Had
Funny thing, the way minstreY
shows got their start. To begin with,
apparently, they weren't the hilarious
burnt cork travesties which in the lat-
ter half of the nineteenth century they
became. An historical treatise on
minstrels in general might be quite
out of place in the Supplement but one
can't help smiling at the thought of
the Glee and Mandolin club setting
out in the old manner which minstrels
assumed, travelling about the country'
singing songs and playing on harps.
Bishop Percy, who lived, it is as-
sumed, about the time Will Shake-+
speare was travelling around in short
breeches-that doesn't hold because
they all wore them in those days, but
the idea is clear-did quite a bit of
research work for the volume which
he published entitled "Reliques of
Ancient Poetry," and in which is con-
tained the following comment:
"The minstrels were an order of
men in the middle ages who united the
arts of poetry and music and sang
verses to the harp of their own com-
posing, who appear to have accom-
panied their songs with mimicry and
action, and to have practiced such
various means of diverting as were
much admired in those times, and sup-
plied the want of more refined enter-
tainments."
"Minsteelsy"-Combination
And that is just what "minstrelsy"
came to mean in the old days: the
(Continued on Page Four)
U
GRAHAM
oohs
for
MA
GRA HAM
Both Ends of Diagonal Walk
TWO STORES
Cbristmas