Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 December 1948 — Page 17

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INTERMEDIATE CHOIR Pupils of Public School 2

es NATIVITY. SCENE Delores Camden. Wilma Zahnd and Donel Grubbs

- JUNIOR ST. CECELIA CHOIR" St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church

Photos by John Spickiemire and Bill Oates, Times Staff ‘Photographers, By LOUISE FLETCHER, Times Woman's Editor

| WAS JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS four years ago.

Someone had set up a single Christmas tree on the

south. steps of the Soldiers and Sailors’ Monument in

‘downtowdi Indisnapolis. Beside it, in ‘the deepening twilight, a little group was singing Christmas carols Shopgifts “and homeward-bound “Workers slowed their steps so they might listen to the songs rising into the crisp air.* Some of the pedestrians came close enough to notice that the pianist, over at one side of the singers, had to wear gloves to keep fingers from going rigid in the cold. That was the beginning of the Monument Place Christmas Music Program which, four years later, has grown into a major part of the Yuletide observance in the Hoosier Capital. Only a month before, K. Mark Cowen, recreation superintendent of the City Park and Recreation Department, had brought the idea of a “Musical Christmas Tree” to Miss Ruth Smith, the department's 2 supervisor. Miss Smith, who later became one of the glove wearing accompanists, began rounding up: choirs and choruses for the programs. Her first day's work brought in 12 groups, Before she finished that year, there were 22 groups, representing some 250 singers, lined up for appearances on the evenings preceding Chrisman,

MORE "SUPPORT Tor the project “came early. the following September. A group. of civic leaders, lunching in the Columbia Club, agreed that the programs drew public attention “to the need for lasting peace on earth.” Even earlier than the 1944 program, in the years that saw the start of World War II, some of the civic-minded had suggested a program of that kind. Out of the luncheon meeting in 1945 grew the Indianapolis Christmas Committee which now has a big part in arranging the annual programs. Now, in place of that one lonely Christmas tree, greenery arrives by the truckload and city firemen spend days decorating the Monument. In one wreath, on the Monument’s south facade, there's almost a quarter-ton of material. (The wreath, this year, will be hoisted into place by the Niman Transfer and Storage .Co. which volunteered to do the job to prevent safety risks by the firemen.) And that comparatiyely small company. of singers which started the whole thing in 1944 has now grown into 80 groups with a membership of between five and six thousand. What's more, the program has grown beyond the city participation with which it began. Choirs from out in the state will join in-this year's events which have their official start on Wednesday, Dec. 15. For the 7:30 p. m. program that day, the Indiana University: Men's Concert Choir will be here from Bloomington. Soloist with the group will be Miss ‘Violet Marie Hadden of-Indianapolis. On Dec. 23 the St. Meinrad Students Choir.will be here. There will be one from Canterbury Collége. So many choirs are there that both midday and evening programs are scheduled.

” ” = # » o MANY OF THE GROUPS come from local high-schools and include brass ensembles as well as choirs. The three trumpeters pictured are from Technical’'s Brass Ensemble: Smaller school

- children take part, too. The School 2 Choir, part of which is pic-. ~~ tured. -trudges from Walnut and Delawire Sts to sing each year. ¢ The Trinity Lutheran School Choir is another which takes part. This year there will be a Nativity pantofhime by the University.

Heights Grade School Drama and Pageantry Group. Young pers sons’ organizations, such as the Camp Fire Girls.and the Park ‘Department - Teen -Chorus,. also. take: part- -Church groups are widely represented. One of these is the Junior St. Cecelia Choir

of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Then there are student groups .

like the Methodist Student Nurses Chorus and the Combined Chorus of Butler University and Jordan Conservatory. Business firms-send-their musical organizations, foo, .. the Ipalco Chorus, the Eil Lilly Combined Male and Female Choruses, the Allison Men's Chorus, — : -Along with the others, from Scouts to fraternal organizations,

~—there—witt-be—a-tttie-group-from-the-Marion -County-Soclety. for...

the Crippled. Members call themselves the Sad Sacks and Happy Hoboes . ~..and, like all the rest, they'll let their hearts’ lift in

Christmas song.

Toons +. + +20 Clubs . . 26, 27 “Food PAPE 24 “Society 28; 29Gardening . 25 Fashions ee 3! ;

i Mrs. Gonard A. Felland. 't Barbara Chambers and Judy LaFollettd

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“TRIO OF TRUMPETERS * Bill Eslick, Delbert Dale and Ronald Beechler