In 1912, Thomas G. Moses received an invitation to a stag party, sponsored by the Pallet & Chisel Club. I encountered the bright orange envelope in the John H. Rothgeb papers at the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin. It was part of the contents in an unlabeled file in an unprocessed collection.
The back of Moses’ invitation noted, “Informal Stage. 8 p.m. This card admitting one only, must be present at the door.” It was a party hosted by the Palette & Chisel Club of Chicago. By 1911, the Palette & Chisel Club had one hundred members; we have no idea how many were invited to the party.
The Palette & Chisel Club was known for its remarkable parties. On June 5, 1921, the “Chicago Tribune” reported, “Some of the original entertainments of the club, given during the past years, are amusing to recall. “Il Janitore,” by George Ade, afterward became known as “The Sultan of Sulu.” At the time when newspapers were bringing influence to bear upon the Illinois Central to get them to electrify the roads into Chicago, the club produced a burlesque, ‘The Hog in Chicago’s Front Yard.” It might well be given again now. The electrification of the road is as much needed today as ever. ‘Carmine,” a take-off of the opera ‘Carmen,” was a marvelous production. ‘The Shredded Vast” was a huge comedy success. “Le Cabaret du Howard Pourii’ was another famous bit of humor and sarcasm” (page 79).
In 1906, the Palette & Chisel Club hosted Bohemian Night for Alphonse Mucha on the seventh floor of the Athenaeum Building Athenaeum Building. Before moving to their later quarters at 1012 N. Dearborn Ave., the club rented studio space in the Anthenaeum building on Van Buren between Michigan and Wabash Ave.
The May 18, 1912 event was at the new location – 59 E. Van Buren St. “The Shredded Vast” was designated “an operatic neoteric.” Musical selections by Offenbach, Bizet, Gounod, Donizetti, Planquette and Flowtow accompanied the book by Gordon St. Clair. The “Palette & Chisel Club Augmented Symphony Orchestra” included Emil Biorn, director, and Martin Baer, F. Tollakson, Max Gundlach, R. F. Ingerle, Max Boldt, Watkins Williams, Willie Marsh, W. J. McBride, and W. C. Kintz.
Scenery for the production was designed by Gus Baumann and executed by Watkins Williams, Gus Baumann and E. R. Burggraf. The costumes were designed by Baumann and “executed by wives & sweethearts.” Production notes included “Shoes by McBride. Beer by the gallon.”
The Synopsis of Scenes described “Scene 1 – sunset in wood in kingdom of Glum-Glum,” “Scene 2 – Twilight in studio of Artneo Teric. Elapse of one month,” and “Scene 3 – Throne-room of King Rum- Dum. Next day.”
The cast of characters included:
Rum-Dum [King of Glum-Glum] – R. F. Ingerle
Princess Palala [his daughter] – Holger W. Jensen
Artneo Teric [a futurist painter] – Ernest P. Thurn
Lord Beno [Vice reformer to the king] – Theo Lely
Chorus [woodsmen, soldiers, ballet, lords and ladies of the Court] – J. E. Phillips, George Ruckstaetter, B. A. Kleboe, Theo Lely, J. J. Grant
A final note stated, “Post-Ursine Vibrations by Fred S. Bersch and Glen C. Sheffer.”
Recognizing many of the artists, when I look at the list of names I am astounded at the room full of talent.
To be continued…
One of these programs has come down to me because Holger W. Jensen, was my great-uncle, married to my grandmother’s older sister, Agnes. Primarily a landscape painter, Uncle Holger was apparently very interested in photography. He is the only one of my relatives to have been taking interior shots during the early years of the 20th century and some of his photos reveal that he had set up a photographic studio in their dining room, complete with those white umbrellas that help with lighting. We have a photograph of him wearing a light-colored yarn wig with braids hanging down on either side of his head. Always thought he was dressed for a costume party until I read through the program for the “Shredded Vast”. We also have photos of Aunt Agnes and Grandma Grace (she stayed with them for a time) dressed up in men’s suits. Again, I always thought it was for a costume party, but what if the two of them decided to disguise themselves in order to crash the stag event and see Holger in the play? There is a group photo of a Halloween party (another Palette & Chisel Club event?), but the three of them are dressed quite differently. Does anyone have the script for this play?????
Thank you so much for your comment. I have just emailed you.