What to do, where to go
for entertainment in the December Christmas season? Performances at the
Merriman, special movies at the World, bell concert.... What was available in
the past besides movies and church Christmas programs?
1950 – Christmas
operetta at St. James school & a musical program at Junior High Dance at
1733 Ballroom Dec 23 & 25, Ellie Frazer & His Orchestra
1945 – Air Base
was in full operation Kearney Army Field Open House last two Sundays in
Dec. Part of plan of Army Air Forces to meet the general public during
the holiday season
Friday, Dec 21 - Dance at the Kearney Armory w/
Bobby
Downes & His Orchestra Dance at Elm Creek w/
Jimmy Caton & his orchestra
Saturday, Dec 22 - Dance at 1733 Park Ballroom w/ Cal Meyers & his Orchestra
Dance at the Kearney Armory w/ Lue & His Gang (admission 42¢ + 8¢ tax)
Dance at Miller w/ Dell Harris & the Rhythm Makers
Tuesday, Dec 25 –
Christmas Dance at the Armory Christmas Dance at Ben’s Club w/
Guy
Skinner & his Swing Band (Ben’s Club was open every Wed & Sat night w/
Guy Skinner)
7 dances; 6 different orchestras or bands.
1940 – Before
the Air Base Christmas music broadcast from public microphones on Federal
Annex building for evening shoppers; under direction of Paul Roscoe of KGFW
staff Recorded chimes & music from various
local choral groups
1930 – Three
plays by the Joe Marion Players at the Opera House in the three weeks before
Christmas “The Murder at Midnight” “The Hoodlum” “Happy New Year”
WSTC
Operetta with chorus & glee club numbers accompanied by the band Kearney
High School Operetta “Robin Hood”
1925 – Play by Kearney Drama League
1920 – Opera House – The Bird of Paradise w/ Florence Rockwell and the
famous Hawaiian Singers and Players (vaudeville circuit) American Legion
Christmas Ball, Dec.25 at Hub Assembly Hall
Advertisement said, “Be On Time” [but no
time was given]
1915 – Kearney Dramatic Club, “Beauty and the Jacobin”
Kearney Opera House. Benefit charities
1910 & 1900 – no ads.
1905
sidetracked by story of a jail break but that’s for another day. [Next
month]
1895 –
Depression after Boom Kearney Opera House, Dec. 2, one night only, “The
Tornado” Lincoln J. Carter’s Mammoth Scenic Production Benefit Kearney Fire
Department. [This was an encore presentation; first in Kearney in fall of
1893]
1890 – Midway into
Kearney’s Boom Period Variety of Life in
Society…last week…more than usually gay in Kearney….even a …return to the
sports of summer…tennis… 70 degrees…Enough ice at night…small boy skating on
small pond.
1. Kearney Musical society began work on cantata “Esther”
2. First art reception held in the city by a group of ladies who have been
studying china painting 3. Piano club gave a recital of works by
Beethoven to celebrate the anniversary of his birth