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.