A large audience attended the Alton Y.W.C.A.’s May Frolic performance at Spaulding Auditorium on May 21, 1926. The Y.W.C.A.’s Physical and Health Education Department staged the program, with Miss Harriet Hyndman, head of the department, serving as director.
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The May Frolic began at 8:15 p.m. Miss Flora Damas made a beautiful appearance as May Queen. The first half of the program, described as natural rhythm and dances, featured children aged three to six. An article in the Alton Evening Telegraph the day after the performance stated, “All of the smaller children taking part were as much at home in their parts as could be expected. Harold Eyster, the only boy on the program, took his part well, while Bernice Miller and Kathleen Hyndman did creditably as ‘Leaves at Play.’”
The Saturday morning Y.W.C.A. dance class students, in dazzling costumes, performed Italian, Russian, and Spanish dances. “Lillian Mae Calame and Lucy Mae Oller, who will be remembered as the Gold Dust Twins in last year’s Bill Board, [appeared] in a Russian Dance, Hopak.” Next, dancers took the stage for “aesthetic dances,” including Vignette, Columbine, Pompadour, and a balloon dance. It was also the first year that American clog dances were performed at the May Frolic. “Snowflakes” was presented by the children in the pointe class, and Katherine O’Neill danced a waltz number to “Merry Widow.” O’Neill “danced her waltz with her usual grace and came back with a little jazz dance which was clever.”
The program ended with Miss Margaret O’Neill, as Prince Charming, meeting the May Queen at the foot of her throne, and the pair then dancing “Gavotte Directoire” to the music of “Glow Worm.” The “Gavotte” was made famous by Russian prima ballerina Anna Pavlova (alternative spelling Pavlowa). Pavlova (1881-1931) was a principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Johns Hopkins University has digitized the sheet music, which features Pavlova on the cover and can be accessed here:https://levysheetmusic.mse.jhu.edu/collection/184/109
Photos were taken at the Y.W.C.A. the day after the performance to be included in a memory book. It is possible that this memory book still exists, but likely that it was lost to time.
Sources
“Many Youthful Dancers to be in May Frolic.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), May 18, 1926.
“Dress Rehearsal for May Frolic Tonight.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), May 20, 1926.
“‘May Frolic’ of Y.W.C.A. To Be Given Tonight.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), May 21, 1926.
“‘May Frolic’ of Y.W. Pleases Big Audience.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), May 22, 1926.
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