Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1917, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “I went to New York, November 22nd. Hustled up the ‘Hero Land Work.’ “Hero Land” was advertised as a “16-day Military Pageant, Theatrical Entertainment, Oriental Wonderland and Charity Mart; Devised, Created, Managed and Financed by One Hundred Approved National War Relief Organizations for the Benefit of American and Allied Relief” (New York Tribune, 24 Nov. 1917, page 9). Newspaper advertisements announced, “Hero Land is the Greatest Spectacle the World has ever seen, for the Greatest Need the World has Ever Known.” Its objective was to bring images of the war home to encourage American support.
“Hero Land” opened at the Grand Central Palace on November 24, 1917. The event ran until Dec. 12 and was open every day of the week from 11 AM to Midnight, except Sundays.
Legions of workers began to transform Grand Central Palace for the exhibition on November 10 that year. Advertisements listed the “Marvels at Hero Land” describing the attractions in detail. There were reproductions of forts, battlefields, bomb shelters, and trench lines. Special features were the Hindenburg Line and Britannia, a Mark IV British tank.
In addition to military-themed exhibits, there was an ice skating rink, submarine divers and the Street of Bagdad. Dining establishments included Café de Paris, Army canteen, Red Cross Tea Garden, the Allies Club, the Soda Water Fountain, and the Golden West Cabaret. The Old Cheshire Cheese, the “most famous chop shop in the world, which Samuel Johnson made his eating headquarters in London.” British chairs, tables, signs, recipes and cooks completed the picture. An area called Old Bowling Green, represented a past look when New York was known as New Amsterdam with Dutch Houses, fur traders and early settlers. There was also the Great Hall and Ballroom, a Louis XVI dancing pavilion and drill ground where balls, military parades and pageants were held throughout the event. There were also three moving picture theatres that featured Government war films taken at the front and shown for the first time to the general public. Films of battle scenes were accompanied by lectures. Additional live theatre entertainments starred “a galaxy of stage, opera and vaudeville stars, dancers and moving picture artists.” Holy Land was intended to be “the most memorable entertainment festival ever held in the country.”
Some of the special days at Hero Land included American Day, British Day, French and Alsace-Lorraine Day, Belgian Day, Jewish War Relief Day, Italian Day, Polish Day, Russian Day, Lithuanian Day, Canadian Day, Armenian and Syrian day, Scotch-Irish day, Serbian Day, American Red Cross day, United States Navy Day, United States Army Day, President Wilson day and American Red Cross Day.” Ethel Barrymore even presided over the auction at the Belgian Booth on Dec. 14, 1917
“The News Journal” reported “Most entertainments are to be held in the great hall and all have been arranged under the supervision of Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson, acting in conjunction with Arthur Voegtlin, former producer of the Hippodrome, who has been engaged to stage the spectacular features on the entertainment program” (Wilmington Delaware, 17 Nov 1917, page 7). Sosman & Landis likely provided scenery to accompany the live entertainment in the Great Hall. However, I have not located any specific mention of the firm.
To be continued…
