City in Sound; McDowell House Christmas Play

This is Jim Hurl, but contemplating with you, the city and sound. In our city, as in all cities at the Christmas season, the sound of the voices of our children measures the happiness of the entire community. And no matter where they live or where they go to school, Christmas for our children is a happy time busy with the occupations and pre -occupations of the Yule Tide season. At the Merlin McDowell House at 46th and McDowell, youngsters of all ages are earnestly rehearsing their Christmas play. So are you girls valentines over on this side? No, the girls at the other side are there. What do you girls over here? Flowers. May flowers? What do you have to do with May flowers? Oh, you'll see right now. I'll see. I'll watch it. And there they go. The May flowers are in action waving red banners looking very lovely indeed. What'd you do

to it wrong that time? No, you're all right. They're good to me. There you go again. Now the four May flowers are twirling and coming around the back of the stage, waving their red streamers. They're not quite as step perhaps, but they're very enthusiastic. You still can't get out there? What happened any time?

I think so. Did you made the circle to speak? Oh, I see. Well, it looks

like that time they made the circle the right size and the May flowers are all on the center of the stage facing each other. Now they kneel and it looks as though maybe the May flowers are finally giving way to the summer flowers. I was thinking of Daisy's. Would you go through it once more so I can see that in this light? No. Sorry, girl. What happened that time? She wanted to do it over. Oh, I see. What is your name? Brind Davis. Brind, why did you want to have them do it over? So that I can see what kind of a flower I'm going to make for the props. These red streamers are not May flowers. I'm the daytime program supervising.

A brother, but my group workers do the work. I just get the credit and make the flowers. And make the flowers, right? Your name is Bob Frederick. That's right. What's your job here at McDonald? My job is at a teenage and young adult program supervisor. And out here you're involved in great many things. That's very true. Bob, first of all, you tell me something about the background about the Mary McDonald settlement. Well, the Mary McDonald settlement is 64 years old. It was founded as the University of Chicago settlement. And probably the person most responsible was William Rainey Harper, the first president of the university. And he went to Jane Adams, who was then Director of Hallhouse, and asked her to secure a head resident for this settlement. And the person that she chose was Mary McDowell. Who had been a social worker with Ms. Adams. That's right. That's right. That was Ms. McDowell active here herself for a long time. She was active here until her death in 1937. And the

settlement took its name from her, of course. That's right. They did that two years ago. And now McDowell Avenue, the settlement is actually on McDowell Avenue. Is that two names after Mary McDowell? That's right. The answers who come here to the settlement come from quite a very neighborhood together. They do. This is the back of the arts community, as you probably know. And these children here who come to the settlement all live within the back of the arts. Now, what are the activities that go on here at McDowell besides the Christmas play? All there's really a host of activities for small children from age of five on up to the old ages, 65 and 70. As I came on the door, Bob, I thought I heard a basketball game in progress. That's right. That was the unicorn midgets in the gym playing a team from another part of the city. How do the unicorn midgets look this year? Oh, they are quite optimistic, perhaps overly so. They look like pretty happy kids that I saw out there active in the basketball game and out on the dance floor. I suppose this dance activity that's going on out

here is a part of the rehearsal for the Christmas play. That's right. Is this a new thing this year that Christmas plays? No, the Christmas play goes back as long as anyone who is personally connected with the house can remember. How long do they start rehearsing for the Christmas play? Not too long in advance, probably very little before December 1st. Is it a pretty well -established sort of thing? Is it a matter of tradition? Do you each year put on the same play or is it something that is adapted to the circumstances in a particular year? No, the play varies each year. The only thing in which there is any continuity is the last scene of the play each year which always consists of a nativity scene. In planning these for these productions, we are primarily concerned with planning a play which can include a great number of children. This year's cast I believe includes 85 different

children. They do a number of different things I gather in the play. That's right. Also the play is planned in such a way that the children have a part in planning their own scenes. For example, you say you were watching one of the dance groups rehearse. Well, this particular group of girls had an opportunity to make a decision as to what type of dance they wanted to put on. There seems to be a spirited competition for the various roles in the play. Because I heard one little girl say to one of the counselors, is that what you call the actors to work with them? Yes. I heard her say, well, you promise me I could be an autumn leaf. I'm not sure when you can't be an autumn leaf. That's very good. Well, as I say, we do try to include everybody who is interested in participating in the play. I mean, this is not any finished production. I've been here five years and this time I have never seen a play here which is a finished production. We don't like to disturb the spontaneity of the kids in this sort of

thing. They take it very seriously though. They do. Maybe I better get out and talk to one of those autumn leaves. Fine. Your girls are going to be what in the play? In this particular dance we're doing out here. We're going to be on the list. What's your name? France, Florida. Yours? Kathleen Kowalski. Well, you two, the sort of the head autumn leaves, are you? Well, I'm the first because I'm the littlest. And she's the second because she's the second littlest. I see. Now, what do you have to do to rehearse to be an autumn leaf? You tell me, Jenny. I mean, I saw you coming up to the stage. You have to come up to the queen. Is that what you're doing? Yes. We have to bow to her. And then we have to twirl over on the side. Well, after you come up to the queen and you were twirling over to the side, is that the leaves falling? I guess so because when we bow up to the queen, and then we twirl over, then we're at nowhere on the stage. Oh, I see. Then after you twirl off the

side, you're falling off. Well, before you get up to the queen, what do you do? About. Oh, but before that, when you're out on the floor, out there on the gym, I saw you all coming up with very nice measured steps. Oh, I guess that when we come up, that we're bowing to the queen because we're leaving her something. I see. What are some of the other girls doing in the play? There's a whole lot of plays for the Christmas. Like what? Well, like the pick -feast are going to hand out programs. And some of the children are going to be, we're going to have Santa Claus. Oh, yeah, that one. And she knows, Francis knows more than I do. Really? I think you're doing well. How about it, Francis? What are some of the other things? The Irish joke they're going to hand him. The Irish joke? Yeah. Is that right? Who's going to do that? Well, some girls and boys, they're going to do it. Are there a lot of fellows in the play, too, as well as girls? Well, I don't know. Have you seen any of the boys

rehearsing? No, I haven't. They talk about it a little. I haven't heard it. Of course, you've got to have some boys in the play, don't you? Yeah. What's your name? Rosie, it's Bitski. Are you an autumn leaf, too? Yes. What are some of the other things you do besides the play? What do you have of various things that you're active in? Oh, we have clubs. Yeah, what club are you in? Starlights. Starlight, got a good club? Yes. What are the starlights, too? Oh, we have been getting our club in order. And after the Christmas play, we're going to probably get together and go out and out in trips. Oh, is that so? I have trips out to the forest reserves and things like that. What grade are you in in school? Seven. Seventh grade. You go to school nearby? Yes. Hamline. Hamline. About all the girls and the starlights about the same age? Yeah. It's from 10 out to 13, 10 to 13. 10 to 13. Are you in a club, too? I'm in the Ravens. The Ravens? But they do about the

same thing the starlights do? Or do you have a... Well, we're making jewelry right now. Christmas. Oh, good. What kind of jewelry do you make? Well, we're making cufflinks right now and then we're going to make our necklaces. It feels like a good presence. Do you make a lot of them? I've made two pairs. Two pairs of cufflaces. And how about the necklaces? I've made two of those. You've got people already picked out to give them to them, right? Yes. How about your club? I'm in the Girl Scouts. Oh, are you? Are you in the intermediate Girl Scouts or in the little Girl Scouts? Little is the Brownie? It's an intermediate Girl Scouts. Intermediate Girl Scouts. How old are you? 11 and a half. 11 and a half. What do the Girl Scouts do? Do they have a special program down here? Well, we're sending a candy off to the veterans' hospital for Christmas. And we're making little things for the child's orphanage. Oh, is that what kind of little things do you make? Like stuffed dals and dogs and horses. You do a lot of things.

All of you girls seem to be doing a lot of things for other people and not do very much for yourself. We don't care about ourselves too much. Very busy at this time of year is the director of the play. What is your name? Del Martinez. You're on the staff. I am. I am. Now, besides being director of the play, you have other activities that make dull, right? That's right. Let's talk about them for a moment before we talk about the play itself. What are some of the other activities of a counselor at McDonald? I'm in charge of all afternoon clubs that meet in the house. The Girl's Club is particularly. And what part of this is just assigning junior leaders like roles here to lead the clubs and then having them come in and meetings and stuff and talk about problems and stuff that they... Well, I come up during the course of their meeting. Do you have club meetings every day? No. All clubs meet on Monday afternoon. Are there a lot of clubs? Yeah. I know that there's the Ravens and the Starlites and the Girl's Gobs and all these different... Ravens, Starlites, the Blue Diamonds, Avalon, the Junior Jets.

About it in the Girl's Clubs. And then we have Boys Clubs Black Hawks. I've talked about Frederick about some of the Boys Clubs. How about the play rehearsals? Does this take a good deal of time? Well, the rehearsing was done... I guess primarily with each of the individual leaders working with their clubs. I know I talked to the girls and they said that they didn't really know what the other groups were doing. What are some of the other things besides the... I'm an expert now on autumn leaves and what are some of the other things? Well, we'll have, let's see, one of the other clubs will be doing something for Oleang Zayn, which is the month... I mean, you know, which will be picked on the January and then we have one for June. A flower dance for May and something for... Well, a heart stands for February for Valentine's Day. And I wish dance for March and I wish June probably. Do you think that Christmas and a Christmas play is something that most of the youngsters just look forward to most of all the activities here in

McDonald's? Does Christmas mean as much to the kids in McDonald's? Does the kids everywhere? I would imagine so I don't think... Well, primarily because I don't think the kids here are any different than those anywhere else. So Christmas to them is a big and important thing. And do they work on the play? Do they really put their hearts into it? Do they get out there and do a great job? I think they do. I guess that you're not the only director that you have a co -director on the play. That's right, that's Erwin France. Erwin, the last time I saw you a few minutes ago, you were standing in for the queen of the play. It is almost nothing that you don't do for these kids to get this play on the way. That's true, we find ourselves playing many different roles and getting ready for the play. Are you from the neighborhood out here too? No, I'm not, I'm from St. Louis as a matter of fact. I've been on staff here, this is my second year on staff. What are your duties in addition to the directing of the play? Well, I work with club groups in both evening and afternoon program, which means both youngsters and teenagers, in addition to being the staff person responsible for a junior leadership training course. What does that mean to you? Well, this involves the training of a group of

teenagers who supposedly are committed to leadership and have come to us to get the skills of leadership that's necessary. Many of these youngsters work with our groups and some of them are rehearsing various groups for the play at this particular time. I got to the roles as one of those. Yes, the roles Mercack here is one of those junior leaders who's involved in our program and who has a club group works with a group of younger girls and is working now on the play. Well, before I talk to roles and I do want to talk to roles, I want to ask you a little bit about the boys in the play because up till this time I'm not really sure. There are going to be any boys in the Christmas plays. The Ravens haven't mentioned anything about it. The Starlights haven't told me anything about the boys and perhaps you could fill me in. Yes, as a matter of fact, there are a number of boys that are going to be in the play. The wise men and the shepherds that will be in the nativity scene will be boys, of course, and come from one of our younger evening clubs, the name of which is the Unicorn Juniors. The Unicorn Midgets, a group of younger boys who meet in the

afternoon, will be doing the set from August, the camping scene. And also, we have a Boy Scout program in the house and most of these boys are also in other clubs, but they will be doing the July scene, built around the Declaration of Independence. The boy is doing the August camping scene. Apparently, it will be closely connected with Rose's group on that autumn leaf theme. Yes, and they will precede them. I guess we're over to Rose. Rose, are you from the neighborhood here, too? Yes, I am. I live right on 47th and eight. And were you at McDowell for a long time when you were young? About four years. What about this leadership training program? I think it's a good thing. I think it's wonderful. What do you learn? What is how to deal with people? You know, how to get along with kids and train them to what you want to do? Do you have problems when you handle a group? I think there's problems in any place. Yeah, you have quite a few. I noticed that one of the youngsters didn't want to be an autumn leaf didn't want to be something else. These are the problems of leadership to settle

with them. Oh, yeah. There it is all sorts, big and little. Like what? Well, just as you said, the problem of someone wanting to be here and someone didn't. So you just have to straighten it out. Do you spend a good deal of your time at McDowell? I'm here every day. Well, not all day long. No. I usually come right after school. Where are you going to school? Gage Park. Gage Park High School. Yes. Are you a senior at Gage Park? I'm a junior. I'm getting back to McDowell. I gather that you're not by any means the only one involved in the leadership training program. No, I'm not. There's quite a few other kids. Boys and girls? Yes. There's about eight boys and eight or nine girls. Are they all working on the play all the way? Yes. I know most of the girls there. I don't know about the boys. I find the boys are pretty active over in the gym and not quite as active over here. Well, they've got their game today. Unicorns. Yes. I hope they win. So do I. We've walked into one of the rehearsal rooms now, whereas some of the speaking parts are rehearsing their parts and the Christmas

play. And it is time we did our part to help them have half of your lives through finer holidays. Each one of you should take a month and through the whole year long, they plan to celebrate the fist with dancing, phones, and songs. I'll take Christmas. Since you were so old, it shall be yours. But bear in mind what I say. First, you must do some kind deed every day. And when four months have passed, come back and show me that you have gained the wisdom that you now seem to lack. These girls will tell you which month they will be given. In four months, I will call you back for a report. Welcome, angels. I'm glad to see that you have done your part. Tell me, did you bring great happiness to men? Did you give to them the things they really need? What have you to say, January? The clock struck 12 a new year's eve. And we danced to sweet music and song. The

strange bowling sign, the echoes filled the streets. What a time we had for the night was through. My mission brought me lots of fun and joy. I found the valentine for every girl and boy. I let them dance and play all day with the partners that I chose for them. I brought much fun to everyone as we celebrated St Patrick's Day with children from all over the island. We danced in Ayushcheek. They did so well. I brought them here to dance for you. It is very hard to tell the beauty of my mind for it is the Easter story. Able to be story in flowers and countless growing things. It is filled to every song to Christ, the Lord which men in angels sing. You have done well. And I rejoice that you have brought joy, each and your ways to sound. Jerry, you have been working on what you recognize as in his brain? Yes. We have been rehearsing pretty much every day getting these people ready for the

speaking parts. They have the major speaking parts in play. They are very sincere in their work. Yes, they are. They have worked very hard on this. Do they do other dramatic shows throughout the year? Well, not too regularly, but from time to time we do put on plays in this kind of thing. And these people usually have some of the leading roles because they enjoy doing it. Clear to me. Do not know what Christmas really means. Go. And do not return until you have gained some wisdom and have learned the truth behind this lesson day. Go. Over here watching another part of the rehearsal, the Valentines and the May flowers I am informed, find three more fellows watching the rehearsal. What is your name? Richard Laugh. Here's? Peter Artiga. Richard Barakis. What do you fellow is going to do in the play? We are going to do it in August. Yeah. In the month of August? In the month of August? Well, how do you represent the month of August? Well, I can't show how we go to camp fire and we are going to have a bus. We are going to do all sorts of things and sing

in that. We are going on a bus, show what happens out there and make up rhymes and tell them. Really? You are all going to do the same thing? Yes. The first day of August, we meet in front of the settlement, the bus is there and everybody is meeting there. Oh, in front of the settlement, you are going to go out on a trip, out on a camp, a trip from the settlement here. Yes. And it is actually going to do that right in the play. What are you going to do to drive the bus? No. We are going to meet out here in the settlement. When we get there, we are going to go. And then when we get there, we are going to take our luggage off. And then we are going to sleep in cabins, I think. Oh, really? Yeah. And you are actually going to have the cabins right up on the stage, right? No. Just pretend, huh? Yes. What else do you do at the settlement? Oh, we play basketball. We come skating. There used to be dancing. No more dancing? No, there is dancing. Yeah, there is dancing. You are all the guys? What are you? Our club. What is your club? The unicorns. You all the unicorns? Yeah. Hey, the

unicorns played the basketball this evening. Did you guys play? Yeah. We won. You won, huh? 34 to 28. Yeah. Gee, that's great. Congratulations, fellas. We knew those unicorn midgets would come through, and we're looking forward to the play. And that's the city and sound with Jim Herbert holding high the microphone. George Wilson doing the engineering. Next week, the sound of rescue and relief. Thank you.