Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 December 1955 — Page 4

4—The Indianapolis Recorder, Dec. 31,1955

Backward Glance at 1955 Reveals Year Full of Social Activity

Social Sc

cene

BY RICHARD HENDERSON

The close of another year occasions much reminiscing, and it's only the coming of the new year which really occasions the hilirity customarily associated with New Year’s Eve. I thought it might be somewhat nice to look back over the year, perhaps causing some of you to think with pleasure of a particularly enjoyable affair. Admittedly, I have probably missed as many things as I remembered, but thus it goes. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did getting it together: JANUARY: There were at least four enjoyable purely social affairs—the formal dinnVr-dance of the Ritz Bridge club, the formal dances of the Doghouse Gang and the Gay Caballeros and the Meta Hotairon dlub’s midnight buffet luncheon on New Year’s Eve out at Whispering Winds . . . Speaking of memories, it’s too bad we don’t still have it with us! Sorority-wise, members of the local Zeta Phi Beta sorority chapter held their annual “Founders’ Day,” a very pretty affair, at the home of Mrs. Willie M. Johnson, while the local Deltas joined with those at Bloomington to present the national president, Miss Dorothy I. Height, as speaker at a dinner at the Union Building on the Indiana University campus. FEBRUARY: Two perfectly delightful Valentine dances, both sponsored by women’s groups—the formal done by Las de ci Mesdaraes at the Walker Casino, and the one presented by the local Tau Gamma Deltas at the 1BEW Hall. (1 remember searching for hostess at the latter one and always just missing her!) Also interesting partv-wise were the affair at which the Progressive Mothers feted their husbands at the home of the Harry Pettries and the “get acquainted” party of the newly-formed Inter-Alumni Council at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cary D. Jacobs. A couple of cultural ffairs were the Grace Bumbry recital at Caleb Mills Hall, sponsored by the Indianapolis Music Promoters, and the one-man show of paintings by Rossie Wade at Leiber’s. One or two teas were of interest—the interracial tea sponsored by the human relations committee of the Indianapolis Council of Churchwomen. the Alpha Home Tea. while the AKAs and Phi Gamma Deltas marked “Founders’ Day.’’ Phi Delta Kappa kept up tq its usual standard with its “rhildren’s Hour," and there was the Ten Penny club’s card party ait Ayres. The Zeta Phi Betas’ “Better Womanhood Week” was most interesting. Personality-wise, there was the very beautiful coffee hour at which Mrs. Henry L. Greer entertained fellow-teachers at Attucks honoring Mrs. Rufus C. Kuykendall. MARCH: ~ Dance highlights included the Twelve-Mo and Angels clubs’ formalss the Bachelor Benedicils had a fine time at the Bambod Inn dinner and the YWCA provided two highlights with a teen talent show and a charm clinic. Outstanding teas included those "of the Me-De*-Phar Guild and St. Monica’s Guild of St. Philip’s Episcopal Churcli. A major cultural contribution was the presentation of the Karamu Ensemble of Cleveland at Second Christian Church. APRIL: The Recorder Women Sponsors’ "Easter Parade" kept everyone here very busy, but rewardingly so. As satisfying as usual was the D-eUas’ “Jabberwock," while the YWCA "Promenade of Nations" •the same night, remember?) was also attractively done. Enjoyable dances were the formals sponsored by the AKAs (one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever attended*, the Enright Social club and the Yearlings. The Flanner House Junior League. Phi Gamma Deltas and \oung Adults of St. Philip’s provided the month with card parties. Also, there were the Tau Gamma Deltas’ “Fashion Tea." the concert of original compositions by Mrs. Lavinia Toles, sponsored by the Indianapolis Council of Negro Women; the Phi Delta Kappa’s “Professional Hour", and the sixth anniversary dinner *1 got stuffed> of the Southside Peace Time Charity club. An attractive home affair was the partv at which Mr. and Mrs. Leland V. Bailey’ honored Mrs. Marvin P> Ecklord, visiting from New Yo?k‘City. *■' ;*• J - MAY: May was loaded! Indiana State Medical. Dental and Pharmaceutical Association convention. Alpha. Home “Donor's Day’" dinner, Flanner House Guild tea. antique show sponsored by the Lydi^ Guild of Phillips Temple CME Church, the fashion tea of Mt. Zion Baptist Church’s Life Lin? club, the Fortnightly Literary club’s "Guest Day” unusually beautiful) and the Rose Tea sponsored by the Mary Campbell Missionary society of Bethel AME Church. For Indianapolis, the month was culturally more profitable than usual—the Lincoln University choir. Jon Lei’s “Concert Je Danse” and the “Artists of Tomorrow" program of Gamma chapter of Phi Gamma Delta sorority Also, there were the AKA “Kollege Klinic,” the Links club’s baby contest and the Gaillard Auxiliary card party. Keeping us busy dancing were the affairs sponsored by the HRAI club. El-Amigos Walker C^mpamMDelfti Sigma Theta sorority, Shakes club and Lotus Men. AsM reirumlber rnhink all but one were formal. JUNE: ! The highlights of .thfc llwfaitfi. m many people’s opinions, the year) was the Cosmo Knights formal at the Indiana Roof. Other enjoyable dances of the month were those of the Tripolettes, Pixies. Lilly Company, Alpha PhLiJAlpha. - YWCA Residence Girls and the NBG club (for youngsters,!-but fun just the same!). Always looked forward to that.month is the FAC breakfast-bridge, and the YWCA Young Adults launched a series of bridge parties. One of the very prettiest affairs of the year (I wanted to use a picture this week, but the July 4 fire had taken care of that!) was the Guest Day of the Green Thumb Garden club, at the Holcomb Garden House, Butler University. The bar xarnrnation passing of Mrs. Marriette Bailey Conn occasioned a- few nice affairs. Billie Smith Douglass prevented her “Dance Workshop" recital, which was as entertaining as ever, while the Phi Delta Kappas marked Founders’ Day." The move outdoors was emphasized in the Flanner House Guild’s garden party at the home of Mrs. Beard Whiteside, AKA picnic at th home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Greer, and the Quettes’ barbecue at the Thomas Sleety home. ‘ JULY: Still outdoors with the Progressive Mothers’ picnic. Women Sponsors' Tea Party, seventh annual garden partv of the Southside Peacetime Charity club at the home of Mrs. William Elliott and I enjoyed uur choir picnic and Sunday school picnic. A group of people from here enjoyed a lavish weekend party at Val-du-lac, and the European trips of many occasioned, several goingaway parties. Dinner-wise, there were the Ritz Bridge club’s dinner at the Lincoln Hotel and the dinner party given by Mrs. C. J. Hughes and Miss Lillian Naomi Wortham at Tony’s honoring Mr and Mrs. William Richardson of Anqapolis. .MVj. ithat one was really fun)). Club women over tlfe rejnicey at the re-dedication of the home of the Indiana State/.r%ik*ration of Colred Women’s Clubs newly remedied. . AUGUST: J By August, people were much too hot to do anything but relax, .so the celebration of the golcten anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Hatch had only to ilfene the social spotlight with the party at which Kappa wives of t >Four law-mi a kers were honored. •SEPTEMBER: \ *' The Turning Leaves stiH'would#’'t go inside, having their picnic this month, while the NAAOj wents’a little “social” with a Freedom Fund Tea at the home of Mw/Essie^Ray. The YWCA open house and regional Phi Gamma DeU*'-7CT^etipg attracted many. A beantiful affair tim>t&oiith was- the “Millinery Premiere ’ sponsored by the St. Philip’s Atpdjen’s Auxiliarv. OCTOBER: October, rather quiet, : saw the 'Enright club’s picnic, and enjoyable Halloween party sponsored by Phi Gamma Delta sorority and the Tau Gamma Deltas presenting* Miss Roberta Church, minority groups consultant for the Department of Labor, as speaker. NOVEMBER: 4 This month got rather hectic^ \ghat with the AKAs doing a bangup job of presenting Dorothea Towles at the Indiana Roof, the Alpha Chi Pi Onfegas holding "J-^undo^’- Day" and doing a praise-worthy thing with their “Best of the YWCA’s “World Fellowship Soiree” and the "Ja^aft^gjyjyur" sponsored by the Women’s Service club of Second Chlrt^teje^Oluirch. The City Federation oC'flolor#d Women’s club marked its annual "Women’s Day,” Mrs. Arthur Dodson launched a series of dinner parties, the Decors had a ' delightful—and beautiful—smorgasbord, the Zeta Phi Betas sponsored a c^fd party, the Frontiers club presented Jimmie Bryant and Miss Dana Glover in recital, and the Big Wheels and Gay Caballero^ tfrovifced dances. DECEMBER: - With December still with hardly seems necessary to remind you of anything. There w$3 too. .much of it anyway. As I said, the year was wonderful, it was sb.gayfMay 1956 beat it in every way! Happy New Year to all of

1. COSMO KNIGHTS FORMAL, Indiana Roof, June. 2 ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY'S FOUNDERS' DAY, I. U. Medical Center, February 3. HRAI FORMAL PLANTATION CLUB, May. 4. DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY DANCE, IBEW Ha'I, May. 5. WOMEN SPONSORS FIRST REPORT MEETING, home of Mrs. Richard Lewis, December. 6. WOMEN SPONSORS' EASTER PARADE, Attucks high s:hool, April. 7. ALPHA HOME DONOR'S DAY DINNER, Alpha Home, May. 8. LIONEL F. ARTISES GREET ALFONSO D. HOLLIDAYS, Artis home, August 9 GAY CABALLEROS' FORMAL, St. Rita's Hall, December. 10' DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY'S JABBERWOCK," IBEW Hall, April. 11. CAHS INDUSTRIAL ARTS CLUB BALL, CAHS boys' gym, December. 12 KAPPA LEGISLATORS' WIVES HONORED, Severin Ho'-el, August. 13'. ALPHA CHI PI OMEGA SORORITY'S "BEST OF SEVEN REVIEW," IBEW Hall, November. 14 TAU GAMMA DELTAS PRESENT AWARDS, Bethel AME Church, October. 15. DECORS CLUB'S SMORGASBORD, Flanner House, October. 16 CHURCHWOMEN'S INTERRACIAL TEA, New York Street Evangelical United Brethren Church, February. 17 EUROPEAN TOURISTS HONORED, home of Dr. and Mrs. H. N. Middleton, July.

Dear Richard: We know you're as busy as we afe this holiday time. —and probably as happy, knowing that much of your effort is going to help somebody else. However, we just had to take time out from the ‘‘extra-curricular work" with the * Christmas Cheer Fund long enough tft kay ffafppy, New Year C v to all our many friends—and we mean it! Sincerely, BETTY TAFT