In the spring of 1914, the city of
St. Louis celebrated its 150th anniversary by staging The Pageant and Masque of St. Louis. With a cast of 7,500 local volunteers and an audience of 75,000 on opening night, it was one of the largest theatrical events ever presented. From May 28 to June 1 (plus one rain-out), the two-part spectacle was performed on the slope of Art Hill in
Forest Park. City leaders and
Progressive era civic boosters planned the event with the purpose of uniting citizens towards a prosperous future by sharing its rich history. Following the success of The Pageant and Masque of Saint Louis, the
Municipal Opera was established nearby, five years later. Charlotte Rumbold, the secretary of the Public Recreation Commission of the St. Louis Park Dept., first suggested a city-wide event to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the founding of the city. She was among the many civic leaders who felt St. Louis was in decline because of poor political, social, and economic conditions. It was the era of political machines, monopolistic corporations, and a flood of unskilled European immigrants. Local businessmen John H. Gunlach,
Luther Ely Smith, William W. La Beaume, and Charles A. Stix played major roles as Pageant Committee members. A 40-foot-high wall at the rear of the stage served as a sounding board. A pit large enough to accommodate the 100-piece orchestra and 1000-voice chorus was built at the center-rear of the stage against the backdrop. Together, the two productions lasted approximately five hours.
Thomas Wood Stevens, a nationally recognized master of modern American pageantry, wrote and directed the Pageant portion of the event. Beginning in 1909 Stevens wrote and/or directed over 50 pageants and masques in 20 states and in Europe. Artist/director
Joseph Lindon Smith and
Percy MacKaye, a playwright and poet, collaborated on the "masque" segment of the program, fashioning a symbolic sweep through St. Louis history told in pantomime and dance. Some of Smith's vivid sketches for costumes survive. He designed scenery as well, including a temple based on architecture he had seen and painted at
Chichen Itza. Smith was best known for his paintings of Egyptian antiquities.
Frederick M. Converse composed the music for
Saint Louis: A Civic Masque. == External links ==