MONDAY, MARCH 12, 191?
UNION OPERA EXTRA
PAGE THREE
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1917 PAGE THR~
HISTORY OF PAST OPERAS
SHOWS FORWARD STRIDE
AN NUAL PRODUCTION iSECOND T1 0
FOOTBALL ONLY IN
I'NTEREST
Second only to one of the big foot-
ball games, stands the Michigan Union
Opera as a big event in the college
year.
After the Union discontinued its
circus and county fairs, the first at-
tempt in the line of operas, "Michi-
Fox, '12L, as "Doris" and the song
"Just Eyes" were the much applaud-
ed features of the play.
Just a year later, "The Crimson
Chest," written jointly by Arthur
Moehlman, '12, and Francis Riordan,
'12, made its appearance. Robert T.
Moreland, '11, Arthur Fornier, '121,
and Eari V. Moore, '12, share the
honors of having written the music.
"Carissima" outdid Michigan's senti-
mental songs, while the acting of New-
ton Fox, was a pleasure to the audi-
ence. Frank Bechman, '11, made a
campus reputation for himself with
the singing of "My Dear."
Though the setting of the opera was
not in Ann Arbor, Michigan customs
and expressions were strikingly em-
ployed.
Depicting an Egyptian King who,
after 40 centuries awakens in Ann
Arbor, "The Awakened Mameses," af-
forded a novel thing in the line of the
Union operas. Joseph Hudnut, '12E,
the author reverted back to Univer-
sity scenes, using the college atmos-
phere, and "taking-off" well-known
professors. Rowland Fixel, '12-'14L,
composed the music; Karl B. Mat-
thews, '13L, and Frank Picard, '12,
contributing the lyrics.
Arthur Cohen, '13L, acted the part
of "Rameses," while "College Love,"
and "My Girl at Michigan," sung by
Fixel, became the best sellers.
The spring of 1913 saw "Contrarie
Mary." the sixth opera, played.
"Things They Never Say" was the
song success, though closely rivaled
by "Wildflower," which was sung by
Kenneth Westerman. Waldo Fellows,
'14, and Durward Grinstead, '16L, be-
gan their opera career with "Con-
trarie Marie." The book was the work
of Robert G. Beck, '13L, the music of
Willis Diekema, '14, and Rowland
Fixel, '12-'14L.
"A Model Daughter," shown in
March, 1914, ranks as the most suc-
cessful of all the operas from a finan-
cial standpoint, as well as being ac-
credited as the most finished play. Ar
innovation this year was the substitu-
tion of a dancing chorus for the form-
er "broilers." W; R. Melton, '13, was
the author of the plot, Willis Diekema,
'14, and Waldo Fellows, '14, composed
the music, while the lyrics came from
the typewriter of Sylvan S. Grosner,
'14L, the writer of the next year's
opera. The scene of the play was laid
in a studio of Paris.
Compositors of the music were, Wil-
liam It. Mills, Abraham B. Gornetzky,
'19L, and Seymour B. Simons, '17E.
W. A. P. John, '16, wrote the lyrics
an(i collaborated with iiarold Schrad-
zki, '15L. in writing the book for "Tres
Rouge" which appeared a year ago.
while Abraham Gornetzky, '19L, pro-
duced all the musical numbers. Wal-
ter Atlas, '18, as Ilezekiah Gregg made
the soberest of the audiences laugh.
Grant Cook, '16, taking the difficult
part of Mrs. Gregg performed admir-
ably.
A[
A-
~ ~ ~
IfD
5I7
St.
Patrick's
Day
in the old days was a dress-up
event, and times have not changed.
As each lad tried to look his best for
his colleen then, so it is now. And St. Patrick's Day
comes at the right time-just as you really need Spring
Clothes.
We don't know who Si. Patrick's tailor was
but we do know who ought to be your tailor.
"DRESS SUITS FOR HIRE"
J. K. MALCOLM
604 East Liberty St. Malcolm Block
Earl V. Moore, Musical Director.
genda," was produced in February of
1908, at the Whitney theatre. Since
then the Whitney has been the scene
of all the operas, some of which ap-
peared in the fall of the year, though
recently the time has been switched
to -the spring months in order to give
more opportunity for polishing the
plays.
"Michigenda" was written by Donal
H. Haines, '08, who has since success-
fully entered the field of short story
writing. The music was composed by
Roy Welch, '09, now a professional
song writer. Harold Patterson was
the star of the play, while Robert
Bazley, '11E; sang the song hit," When
Night Falls Dear." A noticeable thing
about the first opera is the fact that
it was rehearsed and played within
17 days.
Public opinion warranted the per-
petuation of the affair as an annual
event, so the Union made plans for
the second opera, "Culture," showing
it in the fall of 1909. The book and
the lyrics were again contributed by
Haines and Welch. Earl V. Moore,
'12, at present head of the organ de-
partment of the school of music, bi oke
into competition for the music writ-
ing of the operas with one song for
"Culture." Local color,: with Ann Ar-
bor as the setting, and Ypsi frequently
alluded to, was a characteristic cf the
second production.
Then in December of 1909, "Koanza-
land" brought in foreign setting and
color, one of the scenes being laid in
the Dark Continent's jungles. Donald
Kahn, '11, and Fred Lawton, '11, wrote
the book and lyrics, ivith Earl V.
Moore, '12 and Robert T. Moreland,
'11, composing the music. Newton,
Carlos Z.-I e11i as "T'he Spanish (Girl"
D irector Charles P. Morgan Jr.
MAJESTIC BILLIARD HALL
Pool and Billiards 30c an hour
The place for Students to spend their time when out of their work.
Fresh tobaccos, cigars, pipes, cigarettes and Candies. Special whole-
sale prices for Fraternities. We cash checks without objection.,
CHAS. the mananger.
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Cl C 1othes for College
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