{"product_id":"opera-house-to-night-closing-recital","title":"Opera House To-Night: Closing Recital by Miss George and Class in Elocution and Delsarte (Michigan, 1896)","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e(Central Michigan, ca. 1895-1898). Broadside, 10.5 x 4.5 inches. With a band of sunning at the top edge and old creases, VG+. Handsome typography and interesting squiggly dividers. The exact date and location are unknown, but the program includes a handful of distinctive names, such as Fern Swarthout, that have been traced to Barry County, Michigan, and whose dates suggest the young lady participants were in their late teens to early twenties.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFrancois Delsarte's \"System of Expression\" was introduced to the U.S. by his pupil, Steele MacKaye, after Delsarte's death in 1871. An \"Americanized\" system evolved, emphasizing the physical aspects of expression that became ingrained in American culture and education from around 1885 through the 1920s, with adaptations for dance and theater, as well as physical culture, education, and light popular entertainment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe evening's highlights included \"Pantomimes expressing Expectation, Listening, Looking, He Comes, Affection, The Vow, Anger, Sorrow, Joy, Fear, Devotion, 'Parting is such Sweet Sorrow.'\" The program evokes the comically melodramatic depictions of Delsarte in novels and period dramas. But it's worth remembering that the Americanized Delsarte was dominated by women such as Genevieve Stebbins (of unknown relation to participant Gertrude Stebbins), Emily Bishop, and Anna Morgan, all of whom published major popular guides. What might seem like a frivolous way to pass afternoons for women whose academic studies had concluded could also be an opportunity for \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eexperiencing bodily autonomy and artistic expression in a sanctioned format.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMiss Bessie George, class leader, is listed as an elocutionist in the Grand Rapids, MI, directory in 1894, and is mentioned in Michigan newspapers for performing at events ranging from political receptions in Owosso (\u003ci\u003eTimes\u003c\/i\u003e, 5\/24\/95, p4), to an Epworth League recital in Middleville \u003ci\u003e(The Sun,\u003c\/i\u003e 2\/28\/1896, p8), to a \"Ladies' Minstrel Entertainment\" in Lansing \u003ci\u003e(State Republican\u003c\/i\u003e, 2\/7\/1895). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBessie George Webb (1871-1955) married William Earl Webb (1872-1959) in Barry Co, Michigan, in 1898, and continued her career as Bessie George Webb, at one point touring with the Lincoln Lyceum Bureau, bringing Chautauqua programming to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Her WWI-era performances featured pro-peace selections and writing by contemporary women authors, with frequent readings of \"In the Vanguard\" by Katrina Trask.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHer husband was principal and director of Webb Academy in Grand Rapids, which she helped run until 1925, when they moved to Los Angeles. Bessie appears sporadically in newspapers as a featured reader, always with a remark upon her skill and charm. They never had children. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eLast photo in listing from the Clements, for reference only. Ref.: \"Bessie George Webb\" Findagrave.com; \"Ranks very high among local schools,\" \u003cem\u003eGrand Rapids Press\u003c\/em\u003e, 8\/27\/1913, p. 8; \"Mrs. Bessie G. Webb is Heard by 500\" \u003cem\u003eJackson Citizen Patriot\u003c\/em\u003e, 5\/7\/1915, p. 16. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"On Chautauqua Tour,\" \u003cem\u003eGrand Rapids Press, 6\/5\/1914.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"[polite entertainment]","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46423515267222,"sku":"Q2413","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0315\/9778\/9229\/files\/haec_city-189_158896d4-c7ce-4cbd-8526-5a123a77138e.jpg?v=1781899130","url":"https:\/\/alsobooksbooks.com\/products\/opera-house-to-night-closing-recital","provider":"Haec City \/ Also Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}