“National Red Cross Pageant”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

The National Red Cross Pageant (1917) was an American war pageant that was performed in order to sell war bonds, support the National Red Cross, and promote a positive opinion about American involvement in World War I. This pageant was a production put on in support of funding for America's participation in World War I, also known as the Great War. It was also an all-star revue silent film, now considered a lost film,^[1]^[2] directed by Christy Cabanne.

Production background

On October 5, 1917, a live open-air pageant was held at the Rosemary Open Air Amphitheater on a private estate, Rosemary Farm, near Huntington, New York. It was also performed again a few weeks later at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Both performances drew large crowds whose numbers were in the hundreds, and consisted mostly of wealthy New Yorkers.^[3] The event was mainly the brainchild of Ben Ali Haggin, famous as a stage designer. His wife appears in one of the episodes. The earnings from the live pageant itself went to the Red Cross.

Presumably the filming of the pageant was made with a patriotic fervor in the wake of the United States entry into World War I in April 1917. The proceeds from the film going to the war effort, such as the Red Cross, War Bonds, etc.

A litany of famous Broadway and motion picture stars of the period participated in the production. Lionel, Ethel, and John Barrymore all appeared in the production but not together in the same scenes as they did in Rasputin and the Empress (1932).^[4] According to the National Red Cross Bulletin, 500 people appeared in the production and more than 5,000 spectators were in attendance.^[5]

The proceeds from the pageant were reported as having been in the amount of $50,000 which created a way for American citizens to make a difference for their country's participation in the Great War, and it also allowed these same citizens to feel a sense of national pride for their beloved homeland.^[6]

Its success was so remarkable, the National Red Cross later proclaimed December 7 National Red Cross Theatrical Day.^[7]

Synopsis

"In the open-air theatre at "Rosemary Farm," the Long Island estate of Mr. Roland R. Conklin was given, early in October, a most gorgeous pageant, which proved to be, at the same time, one of the most successful of war benefits. This pageant, which consisted of episodes from the history of each of the Allied nations, and the presentation of the case of each Ally before the bar of Truth, Justice, and Liberty, was organized by actors and actresses of the American stage as their contribution to the American Red Cross. It had been long in preparation, and many noted men and women had given generously of their time and effort, --an effort which found its reward, for this single performance brought a net profit of fifty thousand dollars, and the motion picture films which will carry the pageant all over the country will afford an additional income to the Red Cross for some time to come.

The book of the pageant was written by Joseph Lindon Smith, of Boston, and Thomas Wood Stevens, director of dramatic arts at Carnegie Institute and President of the Pageantry Association of America, and the rehearsals were under the personal direction of Mr. Stevens, Daniel Frohman, and B. Iden Payne, while decorators and artists collaborated in the settings and costuming. The result was a pageant of rare beauty and dramatic worth, as well as of historic accuracy and patriotic inspiration.

Of the two parts which composed this pageant, the first was given over to historic episodes in the lives of the Allied nations and presented a glowing and sumptuous picture. The prologue, spoken by Edith Wynne Matthison, dedicated an altar to Peace and was followed by rhythmic dancing by Florence Fleming Noyes and her pupils. A scene from early Flemish days followed, and four famous cities, Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, and Louvain paid their allegiance to Flanders, personated by Ethel Barrymore in the gorgeous costume familiar in Flemish paintings.

The Italian scene which followed was succeeded by the scene of the birth of English liberty, as represented by King John signing the Magna Charta, and Medieval Russia was personified by John Barrymore as a tyrant borne upon the shoulders of his serfs. Most dramatic of the events of this first part, however, was the French episode, in which Ina Claire appeared as Jeanne D'Arc riding her white charger and the whole audience sprang to its feet in silent tribute to France.

In the second half of the pageant, called "The Drawing of the Sword," each nation among the Allies appeared to present its case before the court of Truth, Justice, and Liberty. Serbia entered first and told her story of the opening of the war, to which Truth spoke assent. Belgium followed, and to her aid came England and France, while Russia came to the support of her ally, Serbia. Next, England called upon her overseas colonies, and Japan also, brought her pledge to maintain the cause of liberty on the Pacific. Armenia came to tell her wrongs; and Italy, shaking off the bonds of the Triple Alliance, cast her lot with the defenders of liberty. The grand climax was reached with the entry of America in the person of Marjorie Rambeau."

Jenna Kubly said the pageant described the United States' position in the war as "a nation involved in a just war to free all nation."^[8]

"Many of the leading theatrical stars of America contributed their services in The National Red Cross Pageant held on the afternoon of October 5 at the Rosemary Open-Air Theater, on the estate of Roland B. Conklin, Huntington, L.I. Five hundred persons appeared in the production, which was in two parts. The first was made up of festival scenes illustrating the spirit of the allied nations. The second, a dramatic statement of the Allies' cause in the war, was entitled 'The Drawing of the Sword.'

Critics reported the pageant one of the most elaborate and artistic dramatic events ever staged out of doors. Weather conditions were ideal. More than 5,000 people were in the audience."^[9]

Costume and Scenic Elements

The Rosemary Open-Air Amphitheater is an outdoor playing space that includes a stage area for the actors that is separated from the audience by a small moat. The audience space includes raked seating incorporated in the terrain. Behind the stage there are trees and flora that make up the background. The set of The National Red Cross Pageant included a large throne and an archway made of stone. There were many different costumes in The National Red Cross Pageant due to the great variety of roles including soldiers, mermaids, and personified countries.^[10]

Cast

See also

References

1. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/N/NationalRedCrossPagean1917.html |title=National Red Cross Pageant |publisher=silentera.com |accessdate=March 5, 2013}}
2. ^The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: National Red Cross Pageant
3. ^{{cite journal|last1=Kubly|first1=Jenna L.|title="Staging the Great War in the National Red Cross Pageant"|journal=The Journal of American Drama and Theatre|volume=24}}
4. ^The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1911-20, The American Film Institute, c. 1988, p. 652
5. ^{{cite journal|title=Many Theatrical Stars Help Make Red Cross Pageant a Success|journal=The Red Cross Bulletin|date=October 15, 1917|volume=1|pages=4}}
6. ^{{cite journal|last1=Kubly|first1=Jenna|title=Staging the Great War in The National Red Cross Pageant|journal=The Journal of American Drama and Theatre|date=2012|volume=24|issue=2|pages=49–66}}
7. ^{{cite journal|title=Many Theatrical Stars Help Make Red Cross Pageant a Success|journal=The Red Cross Bulletin|date=October 15, 1917|volume=1|pages=4}}
8. ^{{cite journal|last1=Kubly|first1=Jenna|title=Staging the Great War in The National Red Cross Pageant|journal=The Journal of American Drama and Theatre|date=2012|volume=24|issue=2|pages=49–66}}
9. ^{{cite journal|title=Many Theatrical Stars Help Make Red Cross Pageant a Success|journal=The Red Cross Bulletin|date=October 15, 1917|volume=1|pages=4}}
10. ^{{cite web|title=Image 2 of The New York times, October 14, 1917|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn78004456/1917-10-14/ed-1/?sp=2|website=Library of Congress}}

Kubly, Jenna L. "Staging the Great War in the National Red Cross Pageant." The Journal of American Drama and Theatre, 2012. ProQuest Research Library [ProQuest].