The Huron Expositor, 1979-12-13, Page 121
HEi,"itl.ROI9 iEXP . S1TO
D'ECE1
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by Mice, Gibb
If there sPiax:one night t,'}1 the year guaranteed to send an.
extra thrill through: •tine 'hearts of children (in the days
before the,eentral shoo was, ever dreamed of), it was the
annual Christmas -concert, Everyone from school trustees.
top siblings. siblin s• g reat uncles and distant cousins
assembled either at the school or community y hall, which
would be gaily .decorated for the ChristrnaS, festivities in.
everything frompupcorn balls :and streamers, to coloured
Paper cutouts, homemade ornaments and stencilled
designs ;ou the %blackboard•
Teachers were sometimes known tomutter under .their
breath in the, heat of concert preparations that this concert
would: be their last, but by the next October, the less,
pleasant memories would have faded and they'd dig out
their collection of Christmas poems, pantomimes, drills,
and plays and start thinking how they'd transform their:
charges into stars.
Now the Christmas entertainments knownas concerts
depended on the efforts of a number of community
volunteers - trustees were called upon to either build a
platform from scratch or move in a portable staBe,
someone:"S mother would be asked to loan her best white
sheets for .curtains, mothers were often still sewing, up
costume • hems minutes before it was time to leave for the
school and of course the little angels themselves, had to
memorize lines, learn intricate drills like the March of the
Candy Sacks or Star, 'Belt and Festoon Drill or else
rehearse the piano solo or stepdance that would prove to
the community that all those music lessons had been
worthwhile.
But white teachers spent. much of their own free time
planningtheir concertstrategy, and students sacrificed
recesses and noon hours,, and even. stayed after four to
rehearse,. there were few complaints. It was pretty well
unanimous that the Christmas concert was the social event
of the season.,
in the daysof the one room school, teachers faced quite
a challenge when it came to producing the concert. First,
they had eight (sometimes nine) grade's to keep occupied:
Then came the extra workload of the concert and the prime
rule of thumb. - every child. no matter how small or shy or,
untalented, had to be givenhis chance on stage,
One former teacher I talked to started her career in rural
schools in 1919. In the 'pre -music •teacher days, the first
challenge was finding an organ for theschool concert and
finding someone to learn the"pieces to accompany :the
Students, One year the teacher solved. the problem by
simply buying .an organ'for the school from the proceeds
she knew would be raised at the concert's silver collection.
LANTERN$..
This, teacher said most concerts includednywhere' from
a y
25 to 30 numbers. and "you had to please the parents.: as
well as yourself', not always an easy task, Early in the
year, she wrote away for recitations and other material and.
rehearsals were held in noonand recess breaks andlater
:duringregular classroom hours as: the .concert date
ar ached. Now since electricity was still uncommon in,
4ra1 areas, the school was lit lanterns. Sometimes: the
aro. e, by
tea e would insist •on holding the concert in the _.ehr
afternoon, since this simplified, the lighting situation, but
she said the pupils, Were alw a_v
s disappointed if they
c u[�nt have anewenin coneert.
On the day of the show, some of the older boys in the
were to . cutdownthe
+School . sent back to the wt.00d. t• to
schools Christmas tree. w
Concerts in those ,days were a mixture of comedy
routines, sketches about Santa and plays and songs on the
o
religious meaning of the holiday. One major concern each
year was that Borne epidemic such as flu or sore throats.
would bitthe school just about concert time. and; an entire
segment of the entertainment would have to be cancelled..
At the end of the concert, it was traditional for the
bearded than himself to appear downthe chimney or in the
back door, and gifts from the teacher were distributed to
each student, with the school trustees often throwing in a
bag of candy or sometimes an orange.
Quite simply, Christmas concert night was the night the
community combined a celebration of .Christmas and their
children's talents.
Art Finlayson of Seaforth iss another former teacher with
some vivid memories of his school concert days,. For nine
years, he taught in the' one room rural school inthe
community of Blake, not far from Zurich.
BLAKE CONCERTS,
The first year he taught at the school, he arrived- in
November, to fill in for his predecessorwho hadto leave in
the middle of the school, year. He was young, shy and
didn't know quite how he'd manage in the community with
its mixture of .French, German and English-speaking
students. But Christmas, concerts were' soon a celebrated
part of; school life in the community,
One of Mr. Finlayson's creations was the Blake Buckle
Busters, a, group of five talented youngsters who played
everything from guitar to mandolin, and' were so
successful' they later played at adult. dances around the
county,
In addition to some talented .string players, the school
also numbered among its, pupils, three girls who could sing
parts, some tapdancers and talented recitationists.
In 1940, the Blake concert proved se popular, that it
later travelled to both the Henson and Zurich town halls
for repeat performances.
The description of the concert in Union S.S. No. 9
carried in the 'Expositor said, "the school room was packed
aria many tried .to see the concert through the windows.
The program consisted of Choruses, recitations, dialogues,
songs, drills, radio program, minstrel show, clowns, and.
an acrobatic performance. Between' dialogues,: and
lay . .
orchestra: ed and also the'Blake Buckle Busters.. These.
played
five boys have certainly great' talent in music and their
selections were: very much enjoyed.
When the concert was repeated in. the Zurich town hall,
it was again a sellout and the proceeds were donated to the
British War Victims Fund. David. Oesch was chairman of
I'1
the event and S.'Ban.nie directed the Musical portion of the
Show.
ArtFinlayson said every year be and his students
planned a concert, he'd promise himself "thiswill be the
last year." But the next year, concert preparations went
aheadas usual. Even his Amish students. members of a
religion :that doesn't usually favour dancing, learned to
tapdance for the concerts.
Theroutines were int.N:atrons, ofpopular radio shows, or
else sornetirnes blackface minstret shows." The jokes were
Short and snappy and: audiences howled even if they'd
heard them before. A typical joke - "Listen here
your man, how'come you brought ray , dau iter borne at
six o"clockin .the morning?
ihad, toSir. lhad a• to he at work at seven.""
,
Or another one from the Finlayson collection n "Why,, are
you so frightened looking as we go near the henhouse? The
1:!Si:1
�'.
a • «" h ? t,'il .tell Cott. why. Those hens are laying for
• y � Yyin$
me."'
Another ;popular .routine in the Blake school concerts
was the Old: Ford Car skit. Four boys would, get down on
their hands and knees under a blanket and then a clown,.
using a broom handle as the gear,,, tried to drive the car.
First; the clown would go around and crank up the car.
The .Motor, a tin can with nails inside of it., would sputter
and spurt and finally start, Then the clown would have to.
contend with the hazards faced by any motorist - flat tires,
mechanical problcros and a Ford that could collapse at any
moment.
Next week: •Christmas con.certs•at S.S. NO, 7, Hibbert,
and at the .Kinburn and Hullett Schools,, with some
additional concert tales thrown in for good measure.
Anyone with some special concert stories is still: invited to
call.
BLAKE BUCKLE BUSTERS;- Art Finlayson of
Seaforth, then teaching at S.S. No. 9, the Blake
9:
school, posed for this photo with his students
who were Members of a group called' the 'Blake`
Buckle Busters, As well as entertaining at
school concerts, the boys also played for dances
around the county,
(Expositor Photo)
uro:nvle!.
..
On Saturday morning the
Huronview choir held a prac-
tice under the direction of
Mr, Frank. Bissettw
Mr: Cecil Skinner, Mr,
Norman. Speir, and Mrs.
lasie Henderson provided.
the musical entertainment at
Old Tyme Music on Monday
afternoon.
'The ceramic class are hard
at work preparing ceramics
on' the Christmastheme for
the various areas in the
home.
The Video machine had
another invitation out, and
this time we were invited to
join .iODEladies for a lovely.
grnondville
United
Church'*
16, December 1979
11:00 a.m..- Divine Wors)tip
7:30 p.m.: Christ°mas Concert
presenting the Cantata 'Once Upon A
Star' with all of the Egmondville• .
Sunday School and Mid -week groups
participating.
•
•
• •
••.
•••
•
•
•••.
• •
,••
•.•
•
W � �cot
Otcd+ meed by
nth ?mover
Sea{Q , . acs
v'd�tite`l '
,Rise Soc:m, to
Damming per C0u
ile
Tickets S20• bOtt to
SmoteW . V+fit
Tickets ,Available from Jack McLlwaln Ron
.Driscoll, Bob 1 Betty"s Variety.'
•
•
•,
Or
••
•
oir
pptluck supper; • and gift
exchange, . We were them
happy to show various tapes
of past. programmes
The Over 90 club met in
the auditorium on Wednes-
day afternoon, and the
Huronview choir was in
attendance to add support to
the afternoon music, under
the direction of Mr, Frank
Bissett. The choir sang, a
couple of Christmas. carols.
Cecil Skinner sang"There is
something about that name.'
Nelson Lear sang
Cecil Skinner and Norman.
Speir teamed up together.
and • played violin duet,
accompanied by Mr. Bissett
at the piano.
Mrs. Prouty held Bible
study on Thursday afternoon.
and in the evening at family
night, we were fortunate to
have the Wesley Willis
church choir to concert.
Huronview would like to
welcome Samuel. Stewart
McBurney from >Wingham
and Miss Lilia M. Cartwright
from Hullett Twp.
Town & Country Homemakers
offer unique Christmas: gift.
Town and Country Home-
makers, who provide. ser-
vices throughout Huron
County, • have a unique
suggestion for a special
Christmas gift this year, that
is sure to be appreciated by
those, who receive it.
Jean Young, Admini-
strator, says anyone is free to
purchase hours for home-
making or home cleaning
from Town and Country
Homemakers for elderly.
parents or. homebound'
friends.
A gift of home help might
include shopping, shovelling,
snow, waxing Boers, or any
thing else that mightneed to
be done around the house.
Homemaking would in-
clude assistance with
requirements such as per-
sonal'care, light house work,
laundry etc.
Mrs. Young -says more and
more people in the county
are taking advantage of both
the ' home help and home-
making :services, in the.
county but still many people
are not award of the service.
Information regarding a
gift certificate or general
information is available from
Mrs. Young at 357-3222 or
Box 161, Wingham,
Wednesday .to Saturday and
Saturday Matinee
AVENUE
ROAD
Next week & Saturday Matinee
Ori dtale
Jewels.
Dining Room
Open Daily from 12 Noon
Good CId-Fashioned
Home -Cooked Meals
Continuous Entertainment from g pan: to 1 a.m.::
HIGHWAY #8 DUBLIN 345-2820 ' ,
4 *441SIS
g•
•
1
+C
Blyth Summer Festival
is offering season's tickets for the 1980 season
in time for Christmas giving;
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4
'urorle
The 0th Annual Xmas
Concert at Huronview was .
given 1hy the Community
Band; and local talent under'
the direction of Pr..Cha:IT411t
.en Sunday.
Opening the program. wvithl
the National anthelm .Id
e Leaf. The 'Band`s,
ivtapl
Regimental March -Old
Comrades was given. and a.
series of carols.
. , the McQuaid• '
Jai-nettby Mtri ... d
sisters .as :a vioi4a 'trio of
several Christmas selections:
with piano accompaniment
byM.MeQ. rs.. uaid.They
then
h ,..
step e.da:nce d. • their way into,
the hearts of the audience
and really brought down the
Dos.
,A; ,number of accordion';
solos: were given .:by Peter!
Von Hink of itchell of
national Melodies from.
)olTana to a very
professional manner.
A ol g• by
residentcars follosinwedsong with Mrsthe,
Henderson at the pinao.
A quintet, of Band
Members gave several vocal
well chosen sacred nuntbers
with Miss Kim Geiser of
Dashwood: on the piano.
A final number by Mr. B.
Jenkins on fife and Dr. Toll
on bass drum remindedthe
audience of July 12th music,
The band concluded the
program with. ngale Bells
and :Silent NightJi and by
wishing;,. everyone Merry
Christmas.
The, audience then were
treated to some German
Polka, Music by •a group, of',
bandsmen and a .social half
hour enjoyed in the lobby of
the -Assembly Hall.
The. concert ended the
1979 season for the Seaforth
Community Band.
WaterWell
DR1LLING••
j W.D. .Hopper, j
Iand Sons
4-MODERNROTARY
RIGS
N
i.. eil 7-7. _
DurI52527-0821738 �:.
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eon
PYIP�Stfd
CLIFFORD EVENS conductor
iDEmcH:PR0GRAMM. ING
1'979-80..SEASON
Thursday, •December 20 •
HAN•DEL'S 11 'IE.SSIAH
i
- RETURNS TOl H -
,CODER( C
Featuring:
SOIoiSI'S•• ..••
Constant Newland. •
Frances Brown ••,••«• •,•.,
Glyn Evans...,.••.• •4•••••
Alvin Reimer '• • • • • • • •.• • . •
Conductor • • ...kson
... Brian Jit
George Frederick.: • ,: r
•. 0 • ..• Stpirano
• •.,.. . Alto
••.••.••••••tenor
•.«'••• •.barltOnit
• Mandel' Messiah
North Street United Church
December 20 - 8:15 P.M.
WiNTER CONCERTS
AT G.D.C.i. AUDITORIUM
FEBRUARY 15
* The Sinfonia Concert • Conductor, Victor Feldrill
MAY 2 .
* Orchestra Night - Conductor, Victor Feldrill
featuring the full. London Symphony Orchestra
SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS: Aduttil '9.00 Family 420.00'
Available of Campbell's on'the Square, oederich
or from (members of the Ooderich Rotary Chas: '
Tickets► afro slso atl+rt4lirble Ate, ilio liturnn Expowit r, $eatarth rind
T6a Biyt6 Stalldf
i Since this Jia subttrlpilon ierles, no Inr11v1udgl fitieirts are for solo;: Iiiytli, f
dation.
Sponsored by the ledorlch Itatdry'Club under the petroniseof.thc Sully tFoun•