''The National Red Cross Pageant'' (1917) was an American war pageant that was performed in order to sell war bonds, support the National Red Cross, and promote a positive opinion about American involvement in World War I. It was also an all-star revue silent film, now considered a

lost film A lost film is a feature Feature may refer to: Computing * Feature (CAD), could be a hole, pocket, or notch * Feature (computer vision), could be an edge, corner or blob * Feature (software design) is an intentional distinguishing char ...

, directed by Christy Cabanne.

Production background

On October 5, 1917, a live open-air pageant was held at the Rosemary Open Air Amphitheater on a private estate, Rosemary Farm, near Huntington, New York. It was also performed again a few weeks later at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Both performances drew large crowds whose numbers were in the hundreds, and consisted mostly of wealthy New Yorkers. The event was mainly the brainchild of

Ben Ali Haggin James Ben Ali Haggin III (20 April 1882 – 2 September 1951) was an American portrait painter and stage designer. Life A grandson of the multi-millionaire James Ben Ali Haggin, he was born in New York City. After extensive education, he beg ...

, famous as a stage designer. His wife appears in one of the episodes. The earnings from the live pageant itself went to the

Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and ...

. Presumably the filming of the pageant was made with a patriotic fervor in the wake of the United States entry into

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

in April 1917. The proceeds from the film going to the war effort, such as the Red Cross, War Bonds, etc. A litany of famous Broadway and motion picture stars of the period participated in the production. Lionel, Ethel, and

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...

all appeared in the production but not together in the same scenes as they did in ''

Rasputin and the Empress ''Rasputin and the Empress'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Richard Boleslawski and written by Charles MacArthur. Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the film is set in Imperial Russia and stars the Barrymore siblings (John, a ...

'' (1932). According to the National Red Cross Bulletin, 500 people appeared in the production and more than 5,000 spectators were in attendance. The proceeds from the pageant were reported as having been in the amount of $50,000 which created a way for American citizens to make a difference for their country's participation in the Great War, and it also allowed these same citizens to feel a sense of national pride for their beloved homeland. Its success was so remarkable, the National Red Cross later proclaimed December 7 National Red Cross Theatrical Day.

Synopsis

The pageant consisted of episodes from the history of each of the Allies. The case of each Ally before the bar of Truth, Justice, and Liberty, was organized by actors and actresses of the American stage. Decorators and artists collaborated in the settings and costuming. The first of two parts consisted of historic episodes in relation to the Allied nations. The prologue, spoken by Edith Wynne Matthison, dedicated an altar to Peace and was followed by rhythmic dancing by Florence Fleming Noyes and her pupils. A scene from early Flemish days followed, and four famous cities, Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, and Louvain paid their allegiance to Flanders, played by Ethel Barrymore in the costume seen in Flemish paintings. The Italian scene followed and then the scene of the birth of English liberty, as represented by King John signing the Magna Carta. Medieval Russia was played by John Barrymore as a tyrant borne upon the shoulders of his serfs. In the French episode, Ina Claire appeared as Jeanne D'Arc riding her white charger. In "The Drawing of the Sword", the second half of the pageant, each nation among the Allies appeared to present its case before the court of Truth, Justice, and Liberty. Serbia entered first and told her story of the opening of the war, to which Truth spoke assent. Belgium followed, and to her aid came England and France, while Russia came to the support of her ally, Serbia. Next, England called upon her overseas colonies, and Japan also, brought her pledge to maintain the cause of liberty on the Pacific. Armenia came to tell her wrongs; and Italy, shaking off the bonds of the Triple Alliance, cast her lot with the defenders of liberty. The grand climax was reached with the entry of America in the person of Marjorie Rambeau. Jenna Kubly said the pageant described the United States' position in the war as "a nation involved in a just war to free all nations." The Red Cross Bulletin wrote:

Many of the leading theatrical stars of America contributed their services in ''The National Red Cross Pageant'' held on the afternoon of October 5 at the Rosemary Open-Air Theater, on the estate of Roland B. Conklin, Huntington, L.I. Five hundred persons appeared in the production, which was in two parts. The first was made up of festival scenes illustrating the spirit of the allied nations. The second, a dramatic statement of the Allies' cause in the war, was entitled "The Drawing of the Sword". Critics reported the pageant one of the most elaborate and artistic dramatic events ever staged out of doors. Weather conditions were ideal. More than 5,000 people were in the audience.

Costume and scenic elements

The Rosemary Open-Air Amphitheater is an outdoor playing space that includes a stage area for the actors that is separated from the audience by a small moat. The audience space includes raked seating incorporated in the terrain. Behind the stage there are trees and flora that make up the background. The set of ''The National Red Cross Pageant'' included a large throne and an archway made of stone. There were many different costumes in ''The National Red Cross Pageant'' due to the great variety of roles including soldiers, mermaids, and personified countries.

Cast

Edith Wynne Matthison Edith Wynne Matthison (November 23, 1875 – September 23, 1955) was an Anglo-American stage actress who also appeared in two silent films. Biography She was born on November 23, 1875, in England, the daughter of Kate Wynne Matthison and Henry ...

- Prologue *Douglas Wood - Herald, Flemish episode * Ethel Barrymore - Flanders, Belgium; Flemish and Final episodes * Kitty Gordon - Bruges; Flemish episode *Margaret Moreland - Ghent; Flemish episode *Adelaide Prince - Ypres; Flemish episode * Olive Tell - Louvain; Flemish episode * Irene Fenwick - Herald; Italian episode *Montgomery Irving - The Alps; Italian episode * Annette Kellerman - The Mediterranean; Italian episode *Josephine Drake - The Adriatic; Italian episode *Ethel McDonough - Leader of the Lakes; Italian episode * Norman Trevor - Herald; English episode *George Backus - King John; English episode *Marjorie Wood - Queen; English episode *

Maclyn Arbuckle Maclyn Arbuckle (July 9, 1866 – March 31, 1931) was an American screen and stage actor. He was the brother of actor Andrew Arbuckle and cousin of comedian Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Early life Arbuckle was born in San Antonio, Texas, on July ...

- Baron Fitz-Walter; English episode (billed as Macklyn Arbuckle) *

Lumsden Hare Francis Lumsden Hare (17 October 1874 – 28 August 1964) was an Irish-born film and theatre actor. He was also a theatre director and theatrical producer. Early years Hare studied at St. Dunstan's College in London. Career Hare appeare ...

- The Archbishop of Canterbury; English episode * Frank Keenan - The Secretary; English episode *Frederick Truesdell - The Papal Legate; English episode *Mrs. Ben Ali Haggin - Dance, The Pavane; French episode * Clifton Webb - Dancer, The Pavane; French episode *

- Dunois, Defender of France; French episode * Ina Claire - Jeanne D'Arc; French episode *Guy Favières - Charles VII, the Dauphin; French episode *

- The Tyrant; Russian episode *George F. Smithfield - The Fugitive; Russian episode * Alice Fischer - Herald; Final episode *

Howard Kyle Howard Kyle (April 22, 1861 – December 1, 1950) was an American stage and screen actor and lecturer active for over 50 years. He was a founding member and one-time recording-secretary of Actors' Equity and a sixty-year member of The Players ...

- Justice; Final episode * Blanche Yurka - Truth; Final episode * Gladys Hanson - Liberty; Final episode *

Tyrone Power, Sr. Frederick Tyrone Edmond Power Sr. (2 May 1869 – 23 December 1931) was an English-born American stage and screen actor, known professionally as Tyrone Power. He is now usually referred to as Tyrone Power Sr. to differentiate him from his son ...

- Servia; Final episode (billed as Tyrone Power) *

E. H. Sothern Edward Hugh Sothern (December 6, 1859 – October 28, 1933) was an American actor who specialized in dashing, romantic leading roles and particularly in Shakespeare roles. Biography Sothern was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of English ...

- England; Final episode * Rita Jolivet - France; Final episode * Richard Bennett - Final episode *

Michio Itō was a Japanese dancer who developed his own choreography style in Europe and America. He was the son of Kimiye Iijima and architect Tamekichi Ito who was educated at the University of Washington; he was one of nine children, and the brother of D ...

- Japan; Final episode *

Marjorie Rambeau Marjorie Burnet Rambeau (July 15, 1889 – July 6, 1970) was an American film and stage actress. She began her stage career at age 12, and appeared in several silent films before debuting in her first sound film, '' Her Man'' (1930). She was t ...

- America; Final episode * Lionel Barrymore *Mrs. H. P. Davison *

Hazel Dawn Hazel Dawn (born Henrietta Hazel Tout; March 23, 1890 – August 28, 1988) was an American stage, film and television actress, and violinist. She was born to a Mormon family in Utah, and studied music in Europe where her father was a missionary. ...

*William T. Rock *

Helen Ware Helen Ware ( Remer; October 15, 1877 – January 25, 1939) was an American stage and film actress. Early years Born to John August Remer and Elinor Maria (née Ware), Ware adopted her mother's maiden name as her professional name. She had ...

*Frances White

References

Kubly, Jenna L. "Staging the Great War in the National Red Cross Pageant." The Journal of American Drama and Theatre, 2012. ProQuest Research Library roQuest Stevens, Thomas Wood. The Drawing of the Sword: Together with the Text of the National Red Cross Pageant. C.C. Birchard, 1917.

External links