Back in Iowa - depots, chatauqua and lessons - June 26, 27, 28, 29 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entries:
Monday, June 26, 1911
We washed - rather Mother did most of it.  After lunch, Famie here to practice.  We all - F and F and I - went up town.  Gadded with Cleo.  At 7, Fam and I went out to Row's in Hill's auto.  Nice time.  Played lots.  Home about 1.  Fama here all night.

Rita's mother and father

Tuesday, June 27, 1911
Took early train for State Center.  Mrs. R. met me.  Went to her studio.  I played a little.  Very much pleased.  They are cmapers at Chatauqua.  Dandy time.  Played in the orches. at afternoon and evening performance.  Stayed all night with them in tent.  Very nice.

Wednesday, June 28, 1911
Home at 9.  Went direct to studio to take Mrs. R's pupils as she wasn't coming down.  Phoned home.  Mother said I had company.  Wouldn't tell who.  Bro't Oma up.  Lunch at Y. W.  Rested after noon.  Gadded more.  Saw parade, etc.  After supper Fran - Connie, Clare and I went to Rex and Elite.  Dandy time.  me all in.  4 lessons.

Thursday, June 29, 1911
Slept late.  Took Oma's dress to Mrs. N. to be fixed.  McCords for lunch.  Gadded in afternoon.  H. B. and I took Onia to train at 7:55.  Rested and read.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Performances by Chatauqua groups in tents set up in rural areas were an important entertainment.  I believe this June performance was the first by Rita in such a group.  Later in 1912 and 1913, she will travel the American West doing performances as part of the winter circuit of chatauqua.  The great tents and more famous performers of the summer are replaced in the winter by lesser know and smaller acts that perform in schools and churches.  Much more later in Rita's 1912 and 1913 diaries.  For now, she seems happy "gadding" back in her home town.
Trains were the main form of transportation and Rita will be seeing lots more than just the Marshalltown depot (above) when she is off performing.

TODAY:  The end of June 2011 is filled with conflicts between President Obama and the Congress.  Things are not getting done.  Perhaps the Republicans don't want the economy to get better because they really want to win the Presidency in 2012.

Changes (weather and same-sex marriage) - June 25, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Sunday June 25,
Sunday school in A. M.  Good  visit.  Mr. Rubee offered offered me $2 per!!!!  Helen here all afternoon.  Too hot to do much.  Played a little.

IN RITA'S DAY: Rita may have felt hot in Iowa, but on June 25, 1911 the state of Kansas was setting records.  It was 114 degrees!  The spring and summer of 1911 was exceptionally hot from the middle of May until the middle of July...

TODAY: Things are heating up in the political arena... The bill to legalize gay marriage passed in New York!  Of course, Iowa legalized it years ago (because it is only fair).

Chicago to Iowa to North Dakota to Florida - June 23, 24, 1911 and 2011

Rita is going from this:

to this:

Rita's Entry: Friday, June 23, 1911
Hated to say goodbye to Father and Leslie.  Mr. P. went with us to train.  Poor Mother hated to have us go.  Hot, hotter, hottest.  Maude S. and Alice Manney joined us at Cedar Rapids.  Great gang to meet us.  Granny and Mother all in.  Neighbors nice with "welcome home's"  Ha. Ha.

 Thursday, June 24, 1911
Tired.  About all in.  Talked hard.  Went up toward evening to see Mrs. R. and bunch.  Up in evening with F and F.  Saw hosts of people.

IN RITA'S DAY:  I'm certain ladies didn't dress up to go into the Iowa cornfields, but the pictures above give a little bit of the different atmospheres in Chicago and Iowa. 

TODAY:  Today there is a bigger similarity in different sections of the country, I think, even though there are stereotypes of country and city.  The big difference today (June 24, 2011) is the different kinds of horrible weather each section has... too much water in North Dakota (see picture of Minot below) and too dry with horrible fires in Florida.(above)

Nora Bayes and Dr. Ziegfeld (goodbye Chicago) - June 21 and 22, 1911

Rita's Entry:  Wednesday, June 21, 1911
Mrs. S. and I took Mr. Peeler shopping with us.  Nearly killed him, I guess!  He took us to lunch at Fields.  Tin and Leslie off gadding.  Mr. P. and Mrs. S went to Grand Opera.  Mary and I and Tin and Leslie went to "Miss Fix-it." - not together however.  Dandy time.  Nora Bayes was fine.  Rested and packed.

IN RITA'S DAY: Nora Bayes (above) was originally a big star in the Ziegfeld Follies, which was produced by the Flo Ziegfeld, jr.,son of the Chicago Musical College's director, Dr. Florenz Ziegfeld. Sr.  She was quite the tempermental star and made her "beau" (who was also her co-star in Miss Fix-it) be a sort of assistant - walking her dog, etc.  When Sophie Tucker became a surprise hit in one of the Follies, Nora insisted that Sophie be fired.

Thursday, June 22, 1911
Down to school at 10.  Dandy talk with Mr. Brune.  No Lesson.  I saw Dr. Ziegfeld... worked him a little.  Finished packing and got trunks off.  After dinner Tin and I went to Bargmans.  Sylvia is certainly a wonder - played one of her compositions for us.  Marvelous for so young a girl!

IN RITA'S DAY:  Dr. Ziegfeld (above) was much more conservative than his son, the famous Flo.  Dr. Z. was assigned to be the musical director for the Chicago Exposition in 1893 and he sent his son to find musicians from Europe.  Flo, the younger, did get a few classical musicians but also brought in a bunch of more "low-brow" entertainment (like marching bands and a strong man).

Chicago Beach - June 18, 19 and 20, 1911

Rita's Entries:
Sunday,June 18, 1911
Sunday school at 9:45.  Goodbye to the class.  Mrs. Houston thinks she could get jobs for me to play next year.  Dandy to us.  After dinner, Tin and I went to Crowls.  Fine time as usual.  Went to Chicago Beach and park.  Music.  Ralph sang for us!  Ed more sedate, but which is nicer?

Monday, June 19, 1911
Lesson about 10.  Nothing doing but marking a new etudes.  Hour and a half!  "I would like you play in the auditorium next year like Miss Vitto - you never can tell."  Mrs. Crowl ill so we couldn't go over tonight.  Spent afternoon at Bargman's playing.  Called at Barler's for a few minutes after dinner.

Tuesday, June 20, 1911
Went to Mary's early.  Got our lunch and took it to Jackson Park.  Had a dandy visit and rest.  Came home and waited for our guests.  Esther Ratge and Helene Anderson came.  We went to little park and took pictures.  Watched the swimmers at Chicago Beach.

IN RITA'S DAY:  These last few days in Chicago seemed to be filled with goodbyes and outings to parks and Chicago Beach.   The hotel was built in 1890 in preparation for the Exposition of 1893.  In 1911 access to the beach was limited to members of the hotel, but by 1915 the city bought adjacent land and constructed bath houses so the public could use the beach.  Too bad Rita was gone by then.

Commencement - June 17, 1911

Rita's Entry
Saturday June 17, 1911
Rain, rain!  In afternoon I planned to call on Miss Abbott.  Too much dampness.  Went to Sylvia's for "a few minutes."  Talked for an hour and a half!  Commencement Program was fine.  No flowers!  Why buy them after making such strong remarks to the contrary?  Not as happy as I might be.

IN RITA'S DAY:  I thought I might have a copy of the Commencement Program, but no such luck. I did find the above notice of Rita's completion of her courses.  She took the teaching exam and passed as the diary said in May.  I also found a picture of the envelope in which the notice of her graduation came... but the actual notice (in the envelope) has gone missing...

Good -bye Chicago Musical College - June 15, 16 -1911 and 2011

Rita's Entries:
Thursday June 15, 1911
Harmony at 10.  Mr. Brune liked my melody - not harmonized as beautifully as might be.  Dandy visit.  He doesn't like Thais at all!  Rather knocked Mr. Sebald too.  Hard luck - still "I lof heem."  Mr. S. as grand as ever.  Gave Knudson Tin's picture to deliver.

Friday, June 16, 1911
Practiced in P.M.  Went shopping and then to Auditorium to practice for commencement.  Went to school for Tin.  Saw Dr. Ziegfeld about scholarship etc.  Am to play for him Monday and see.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Commencement occurred at about the same time that it does today.  Although colleges usually get out in May so the summer session can start.  Rita's commencement is on June 17 and she will leave Chicago for good on June 23.  She will go from a city with the famous "L"(above) to a town surrounded by farm machines.

Opera and Broadway - June 14, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry:  Wednesday, June 14, 1911
Practiced in a. m. Mrs. S., Tin and I went to hear Aborn English Opera Company give "Thais."  Mighty good - especially the "Meditation."

IN RITA'S DAY: The Aborn English Grand Opera Company tried its hand at Broadway in March and April of 1911 with something called The Bohemian Girl (I think).  Guess it wasn't too successful, but Meditation from Thais became probably Rita's favorite.  You can hear Itzhak Perlman playing it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGd4Rs-O3ws

Judy's Entry: Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Long day.  Off to senior center for singing and zumba.  Home for lunch and phone call to Bruce.  We are still trying to get Aunt Collette's Estate in order.  Then grocery shopping.  Then went to pick up the repaired screens.  Didn't go to thrift store for Pack 'n Play because can't figure out which ones were recalled.  Watch a Netflix tonight.

TODAY ON BROADWAY:  Spiderman Turn Off the Dark - the most expensive Broadway musical (so far anywat) - finally opens tonight.  The critics have been super critical about it.  Cables have broken and some actors have been hurt.  Still, I'd like to see it.  The sets look fabulous.

Good-bye Chicago Theater - June 12, 13 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entries:
Monday June 12, 1911
Lesson at 10.  Pretty good.  Much gossip in the hall.  Left fiddle at Wagners to be fixed.  Double quartette rehearsal at 4 - rather later.  Mrs. S., Tin, and I went to last performance of School of Acting.  Dandy!  4 plays - 3 dramas - rather heavy.  Rainy.

Tuesday, June 13, 1911
Ma Smith and I washed all A.M. and part of afternoon.  I slept rest of the time.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Judging from the entries, Rita was very close to her landlady and landlord, Mr. and Mrs. Smith.  They did a lot of things together and in these last days before Rita leaves Chicago, she starts to call Mrs. Smith "Ma" at times.  It will be a big adjustment for Rita leaving the life of Chicago to return to Iowa.  Pictured here are some of the theaters she visited in 1911.

Judy's Entry: Sunday, June 12 and Monday June 13, 2011
After church on Sunday, Doug came over to fix windows.  Then Diane and I went to Danbury to get a gift for her husband's retirement - an I-Pad.  Later Doug and Cathy took me and Mom out to dinner.  They told us they are going to "elope" to Las Vegas.  I say "Good for them!"  Monday I had a mammo and then Mom and I went to mall.  Mom bought 3 tops and got her hair done.  Later in the day I took a long walk with Diane.

TODAY:  Tony awards on Sunday night.  Best play "War Horse."  I really want to see it and also "The Book of Mormon" which won the most awards!

Children and Horses - June 11, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Sunday, June 11, 1911
S.S. for Children's Day.  After dinner, I slept most all afternoon.  Smith and Mr. N. went to park.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Children's Day was celebrated in most Protestant church on the second Sunday of June.  This started in the late 1800s and was still going strong in 1911, I guess.  In recent years the U.S. has celebrated it on different days, but seems to be going back to second Sunday in June.  Not as big as Mother's Day or Father's Day because every day is Children's Day now!

Judy's Entry: Saturday, June 11, 2011
My Children's Day.  Spent morning with oldest child.  Doug helped me fix some windows and screens and then his friend came to give an estimate on installing a new door and two windows.  Spent afternoon with youngest child.  Liz, Mike and I went to Buy, Buy Baby to start picking out things.  Looked for two hours and still didn't find everything.  Back next week.

TODAY:  Today was the last race in the Triple Crown... the Belmont Stakes.  The winner was Ruler on Ice.  Neither the Derby winner or the winner of Preakness finished in the money.  I mention this because in 1911, New York stopped the Belmont Stakes due to new anti-gambling laws... and for two years - 1911 and 1912, there was no Belmont.

Hotzell (Hot as Hell) - June 9, 10 - 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entries:
Friday, June 9, 1911
Took Frances to train.  New N. W. depot is perfectly gorgeous.  Miss Baker and Mr. Stuart bro't Fama down.  Ralph Crowl bro't stuff from Mary.  Gene there too.  Delightful.  Fama had roses!!!  Gene and I examined depot.  Came home and went to bed.  Hot -Hotter - Hottest.  Wretched headache.  Talked with Mr. N - "What does this mean - sitting in the dark?"!   Mr. S., Tin and I went to lake to cool off.  Ice watch on back porch.

northwest depot in 1911

Saturday, June 10, 1911
Found broken A string at 8 when started to practice.  Hotzell but walked to Belmont and back.  String broke five times!  Took L down to Belmont and returned or exchanged said string.  Got in about hour and a half.  Sewed etc.  Mr. and Mrs. S. and Mr. N. went off no one knows where.  Came back and went off again.  Tin and I went to drugstore with draft.  "Miss Chamberlain"!?  Bo't candy (!) and took a little walk.  Lugged umbrella to keep off rain.

IN RITA'S DAY: June 9 and 10, 1911 set heat records for Chicago.  It was 98 degrees both days, but that was just the start of a long hot summer.  For three days in early July 1911, the heat was over 100 degrees.  I believe it is a record that still stands.  I love the way Rita writes "Hotzell."  It was hot all over the country in 1911.  The picture above shows people cooling off in NYC by licking ice.

Judy's Entry: Thursday June 9 and Friday June 10, 2011
It was pretty hot here on Thursday... up in the 90s.  Mom and I went with the seniors to see "Singin' in the Rain."  It was quite good and of course theater was air conditioned.  We got home just minutes before a cold front came through with heavy rain, winds and more hail than I've seen for a long time.  Electricity out from 6:30pm until 4:30am.  When we lose power, we also have no water - which is much worse!  Friday is much cooler but temps still about 10 degrees above normal.

TODAY:  These last few days have seen record breaking temperatures.  Washington DC hit 102 degrees and in Philly it was over 100.  Above is a picture of a man selling water bottles that he froze over night.  A little different than licking ice like they did in 1911!

Still saying good-bye - June 8, 1911 and 2011

Rita's Entry: Thursday, June 8, 1911
Harmony at 10.  Mr. Brune like my "tune" very much - showed me how to vary it and make it more effective.  Played Faust with Mr. Sebald.  Not perfect by any means but last lesson.  To have little pieces now.  Went down with Fran to say goodbye to Lu - buy music, carry home junk, etc.  Hated to leave Lucy.  Fran called over to see her aunt.  The Smiths, Mr. N, Tin and I walked the lake and Sheridan.  Ice cream.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Just like when I was in college and in college towns today, students have their last lessons and get together their stuff as they prepare to go home.  Wonder if Rita ever looked like the coed above from University of Chicago 1910??  I feel a little sadness in Rita's entry - although an evening walk by Lake Michigan with ice cream sounds nice!  Rita is leaving Chicago Musical College and Fran is leaving The Art Institute.

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Went to meeting at firehouse to find out what time bus leaves tomorrow.  Stayed and played bingo.  Went grocery shopping and then made veggie wraps.  Starting to watch diet once again.  Had to go to PO to overnight forms related to dear Aunt Collette's estate.  Still working on illustrations for children's book.

TODAY: Speaking of saying goodbye, a lot of people are hoping the U.S. can say goodbye to its involvement in Afganistan.  Troops should start coming home this summer, but their government is not stable and I think a lot corrupt.  Is it our job to police the world? 

Entries for June 6, 7 -1911 and 2011(end of school year)

Rita's Entries:
Tuesday, June 6, 1911 
Home all day.  Fran at lunch at YW and at Crowl's with Fama and Lucina for dinner.  Home with Lu all night.  At 5:30 Tin dressed in new gray.  I at once decided Leslie was coming.  She would say nothing definite.  Mr. and Mrs. S. and she left about 8 or 8:30.  I sewed, played, sang, wrote and played solitaire until 11 then retired. At 11:30 they bro't him [Leslie?] home to sleep with Mr. S.

Wednesday, June 7, 1911
Leslie was very nice, but not as we expected.  Seemed on fine terms with Mr. Smith.  After breakfast, he and Tin went for walk.  I began practicing.  Mr. S. called me out to meet "Mr. Nordwell."!!!  Jokes on me.  Played it on Fran at lunch.  She really expected Leslie so was even more surprised than I.  Tin and I went to Gertrude House [above] for closing exercises.  Folk dances.  Nice time.

IN RITA'S DAY:  Rita and her friends are getting ready to leave Chicago since the school year is drawing to a close.  In June 5th entry, she speaks of going on a farewell "toot."  Although I'm not sure what they did, Rita in her ledger indicates the "toot" costs her 25 cents.  Gertrude House [above] was a place young ladies, especially teaching students, could live for the term.  It also seems that Tin's "young man" named Leslie came to see her and stayed in their landlord's room.

Judy's Entry: Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Went to singing and zumba at the senior center.  Was thinking about Rita as we sang the old, OLD songs, like "Keep the Home Fires Burning" and "Bells of St. Mary's."  I wonder what songs she was singing.  This afternoon I had a doctor's app't and learned that I gained 15 lbs in a year!  As a result, I will probably start doing more blogging and less eating!

TODAY:  Hot, hot weather in the middle of the country.  102 degrees in Minneapolis.  Heat is coming this way tomorrow.  Wild fires in Arizona are out of control.  The news seems to be dominated by weather events!

June 2, 3, 4, 5 - 1911 and 2011(cops and the theater)

Rita's Entries:
Friday, June 2, 1911
Rained all day.  Couldn't do lots of things I'd planned.  Practiced.  Gene, Laura and Crystal came and we all went for a walk.  Poor Crystal nearly frightened to death at tho't of policeman or "cop."

Saturday, June 3, 1911
Worst headache I've had in ages.  Tho't I was a deader sure.  After sleep and "medio" it left.  Gene, Mary, Fran and I saw "Madame Sherry."  Good, but not up to our expectations.  Went to Phi Kappa Sigma dance.  Time of my young life!  Great night - good floor - nice partners - peachy music, etc.  Strolls between acts.  (O, you Mr. W. with the three dances!)

Sunday, June 4, 1911
Tin and I went to S.S. and church.  Hottest day in ages.  Expected lots of company, but disappointed by some.  Fama came for a while.  Also Gene, Crystal and Miss McNally.  Grand evening.  Awfully cool.  Wrote letters.

Monday, June 5, 1911
Lesson at 9 as usual.  Pretty good.  Nice man anyway.  Didn't practice an awful lot.  Fran home early.  Went to Millers on a farewell "toot."  Made ourselves sick anyway.  Played for about an hour in dark - Fran sang.  Retired very early.

IN RITA'S DAY:  The reference on June 2 to Crystal being frightened of a "cop" reminded me that this was the period that organized crime was growing in Chicago.  Al Capone was still in NYC, but in 1911 racketeers from NYC came to Chicago to fight a gang called the Black Hand.  Between Jan 1 and March 26, 1911 38 members of the Black Hand were assassinated.  At least 19 of them were killed by someone known only as Shotgun Man. Dozens of people witnessed him killing people, but police did nothing.  No wonder Crystal was frightened!

Judy's Entry: Thursday June 2 to Sunday, June 5, 2011
Now that our art class is over, Mom and I have been working on the little book we are trying to write and illustrate for Elizabeth's baby.  We also have planted some flowers at her new home.  They hope to move in soon.  Friday was pot luck Mah Jongg.  Did some shopping on Friday morning.  Lovely weather.  Took many long walks over the weekend.

TODAY:  In the papers - lots of stupid stuff... John Edwards, former Presidential candidate, was indicted for using campaign money to cover up his affair.  Another politician, Weiner, supposed set pictures of his aroused privates (in underwear, thank God) to young women.  We may not have the racketeers like in Rita's day, but still a lot of sh---!

June 1 - 1911 and 2011 (Sebald and Brune)

Rita's Entry: Thursday, June 1, 1911
Harmony at 10.  Jollied Mr. Brune about leaving before his sonata was finished.  He's a peach!  Good lesson - exercises.  "Can see much improvement in them" (my fingers are more sure of themselves).

IN RITA'S DAY:  At the Chicago Musical College, Rita had two main teachers - Alexander Sebald for violin and Adolf Brune for Harmony lessons.  Mr. Brune was born in the Netherlands in 1870, so he was in his early 40s.  I can't find an birth year for Sebald.  He was born in Budapest.  Below is a photo of him in 1909 in which he looks fairly young, so I'm pretty sure he was closer to Rita's age (Rita was 18 going on 19).  She got along much better with Mr. Brune.  I suppose she felt more comfortable with him.  Wish I could find a picture of him!

Judy's Entry: Wednesday, June 1, 2011
It's been unusally hot.  I went for an early morning walk and was sweating when I got home.  After getting cleaned up, went to the store and came home and made lunch.  Put some chicken in the crock pot while we went to the final class of "Drawing and Painting in Harmony."

TODAY:  Hot weather with a cold front behind it is causing some wild weather.  Large tornado in Mass. (see above).  First since the 50s.  Actually, this season has seen more tornadoes than for years!  130 killed in Joplin, Mo.