1923 Northwest Missouri May Day Fete

In the early 1900s, Northwest Missouri staged May Day celebrations each year. This AI animation of dance in 1923 (published in the 1924 Tower Yearbook). Below is a story about the 1923 event.  Costumes in this presentation were designed by Olive de Luce for whom the Fine Arts Building is named

MAY DAY FETE TO BE GIVEN TODAY WILL COMMENCE AT 5 O’CLOCK TONIGHT ON THE CAMPUS BAND CONCERT
Musicians From All Over the County Will Join In Final Program Of Music Week
Weekly Democrat-Forum and Maryville Tribune, May 10, 1923, Page 1. via Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/weekly-democrat-forum-and-maryville-trib/196701937/

The May Day Fete will be held on the campus of the State Teachers College at 5 o’clock this afternoon. It was to have been given last night, but was postponed only because of the cold weather. The play to be given is called “The Coming of Spring.” It is an interpretation of the elements’ workings. The play opens with the appearance of Darkness. The Earth, Ocean, and Flora are all under the spell of Winter. Darkness is jubilant over its supremacy.

The North Wind is called in to aid him, and blows with all its fury. Finally, Snow appears, and Darkness and cold still hold sway.

The second scene opens with the Sun and her rays threatening the reign of Darkness and Cold. Darkness battles with all her might but is soon put to flight by the steady approach of warm and light. Flora awakens, and Ocean dances in joy at the defeat of Winter.

The West Wind comes and sways in joyous delight at its successful conquest.’ Trumpets blow, and finally, the May Queen and her train appear. Her crowning is celebrated by song and dance. The villagers wind the Maypole, and then all await the triumph of the Spring.

The playing and swing of the East Wind opens the third and final scene. However, the Clouds appear, followed by Rain, Thunder, and Lightning. Suddenly, the storming is over, and the South Wind tosses and turns in lazy motion and soon brings forth the Fairies and Nymphs who proclaim that Spring is really here.

Cast of Characters

• Darkness–Ruth Miller.
• Flora–Ruth Cline. Ocean–Dot Davis.
• Earth–Mable Hale.
• Time–Lola McNeal.
• Snow–Irene Lowry, Anne Kennedy, Lela Ulmer, Fay Willis, Mcle Fisher, Fanny Blacklock, Helen Garten, Mildred Massy, Mary Scott, Anna Mae Holt, Helen James, Rowena Hull.
• North Wind Evelyn Raines, Lena Frances Ham, Helen Hankins, Agnes Mahoney, Martha Kennedy, Celeste Holtom, Habel Pugh, Mildred Garti, and Hazel Dodds.
• The Sun–Goldena Jarrett.
• Sun Rays–Frances Phares, Mary Henderson, Gertrude Garten, Ruth Hays, Helen Reavis, Helen Leet, Mary Ann Bovard, Doris Wray.
• West Wind -Mabel Cook, Grace Brookshire, Ruby Riley, Gladys Busby, Orpha Stewart, Dorothy Newsome, Winifred Thompson, Nadine Neal.
• Trumpeters–William Gaugh, Marvin Westfall.
• May -Lethel Gartin.
• Queen’s Attendants–Marie Landfather, Mabel Raines, Katherine Gray, Helen Manifold, Marie Cloud, Russell Allan, Floyd Lunsford, Floyd Foreman, Earl Miller.
• Crown-bearer Helen Dorothy Felix.
• Jesters–Ernest Ellis, George Smith
• May Pole Dancers–Ruby Hagan, Laura McDonald, Lillian Hall, Nell Gaylord, Agnes Gromer, Bernice Holt, Thelma Hunter, Edna Florea, Treva Phipps, Helen James, Clara Snyder, Hallie DeWitt, Jennie Enders, Fanny Blacklock, Catehrine Harrison, Vira Fitz, Phoebe Lowry, Alma Appleby, Frances Miller, Mae Stouffer, Mildred Garten, Dorothy Rowley, Crystal Hall Reah Schell.
• East Wind–Irene Ballenger, Fay Croy, Pauline Hardwick, Mary Irwin, Frances Miller, Lila Browning, Iona Devers, Esther Higdon, Ruby Swartz, Hallie De Witt. Clouds-Ardell Chick, Beulah May White, Maxine Holt, Betty Hellmers, Virginia Miller, Bertha Clare Garten.
• Thunder–Lucile Spencer.
• Lightning–Ruth Houchens.
• Rain–Crystal Hall, Ruth Lawrence, Thelma Brown, Opal Schnitker, Bessie Haskell, Verla McGinnis, Lettie Wagenblast, Reah Shell, Irene Acton, Cora Lee Rounds.
• South Wind–Helen Miller, Nellie Castle, Gladys New, Mary Busby, Laura Belle Nicholas, Rowena Hull, Ethel Wallace, Ora Mae Condon, Grace Dietz, Gertrude Belt, Irene Lowry.
• Flowers–Gladys New, Laura Bell Nicholas, Hazel Pugh, Fay Willis, Helen Garten, Irene Ballenger, Nadine Neal, Gladys Busby, Nelle Castle,e Pauline Hardwick, Ethel Wallace, Anna Mae Holt. Recessional.
• Music: Orchestra led by C. D. Kutschinski;
• pianist, Hilda Denny;
• Flute Harvey Bush;
• Violin, Margaret Dietz.
• Pageant Director–Mary L. MacLeod.
• Assistant Director–Nell Hudson.
• Costumes–Miss Anthony. Design–Miss DeLuce.
• Singing-Mr. Gardner.
• Dramatic Scene–Miss Dow.
• Properties–Mr. Glenn.

A joint band concert featuring 100 musicians will be held in the College auditorium tonight, starting at 8:15. Nearly every town in the County is sending representatives to the concert.

This concert is under the direction of Prof. C. D. Kutschinski of the music department of the State Teachers College.

Facebook Discussion

1924 Tower Yearbook 

1. They say the May Day Fete drew thousands, which makes sense: free interpretative dancing on the Administration Building lawn is the original outdoor streaming service.

2. The bands played so loudly the Administration Building thought it was getting a standing ovation — from four blocks away.

3. Students did interpretative dances to celebrate May Day. Faculty interpreted those dances as “final exam avoidance.”

4. Thousands attended the concerts — mostly to see if the band leader would finally let someone solo on a kazoo.

5. The lawn was packed, the bands were in harmony, and the dances were interpretative — which is historian-speak for “we’re not sure what just happened, but it looked sincere.”

6. The Administration Building had front-row seats every year. It still insists it prefers chamber music, but it was never asked.

7. When the whole town shows up for a college fete, you know the band played well — or Mrs. Henderson’s picnic potato salad was on the line.

8. Faculty judged the dances, students performed them, and the bands provided accompaniment — the only time administration, academia, and art agreed on anything was when the picnic schedule said: “music: mandatory.”

9. The May Day Fete: where the bands rehearsed at full volume and the interpretative dancers rehearsed at full mystery.

10. After one fete, an alumnus remarked, “It felt like everyone in Maryville was there.” The bandleader replied, “Not everyone — I counted three people who left early for supper.”

11. They called it May Day Fete — mostly because “massive lawn gathering with questionable choreography” didn’t fit on the poster.

12. The bands played so many marches that even the trees started pacing.

13. Students practiced interpretative dance moves called “exam stress” and “laundry day” — very expressive.

14. The Administration Building watched every year like a proud parent — then complained the grass needed trimming.

15. Faculty tried to judge the dances but gave up when every performance ended with “and… improv.”

16. Thousands came for the music, stayed for the dancing, and left convinced they’d seen a modern art movement.

17. The bands were so loud that the town calendar listed “May Day Fete” as a local weather event.

18. Admission was free, but the real cost was explaining to Aunt Mabel what “interpretative” meant.

19. The bandleader kept cueing crescendos until someone handed him a pie — apparently a local musical tradition.

20. Students used the fete as a networking event: who needs internships when you can choreograph the dramatic fall?

21. The Administration Building got so many compliments that it started insisting the lawn be called its “red carpet.”

22. After the concerts, everyone agreed the bands were excellent — historians only argued over whether the dances were ahead of their time or just ahead of good taste.