Pageants are simple or elaborate presentations of historical, mythical, and allegorical subjects. They are wonderful means of education because they make visible and intelligible the unvisualized scenes to the mind. They are of great literary benefit not only to those who present the scenes but also to those who assist in their preparation.

Pageants may be produced in any community. The size of the community has no effect whatsoever except in the degree of elaborateness. Pageants may be played either indoors or out of doors.

For a community pageant to be a success there must be a 9representative from every organization in the community. Ministers, doctors, musicians, newspaper men, club women, boy scouts, camp fire girls, teachers and school children should take part. The more you can put in the cast the more interest there will be in the community.

1. Some person or organization interested should interest a few leading citizens then call a meeting of representatives of every civic organization, club, society, school, and in the smaller communities churches should be called in.

2. At this meeting the matter should be thoroughly discussed and provision made for a central committee to put the proposition over and to select a director and assign the responsibilities.

3. The director is the most important personage in the whole organization. Select a strong aggressive and rather imaginative person who can organize and direct then stick with him or her through thick and thin. The director must be recognized as a dictator for the time.

1. The various episodes should be placed in the hands of sub-committees or delegated to definite organizations for preparation.

2. Rooms or groups of rooms at the public schools will be found valuable units to use. The more children used the greater will be the interest. The Expression department of the Public Schools will be glad to stage the folk dances and tableaux. Some-times it is best to make various women's clubs responsible for the living statuary tableaux. The Music department of the Public Schools will be a helpful organization in the preparation of the patriotic songs.

3. The stage director must see that each part of the pageant is worked out in detail and then that the parts are put together harmoniously and smoothly. He must work with the master of dancing and the music director to see that each cooperates in the scheme for the whole pageant.

4. Rehearsals should be by group. It is well to have a leader for each group so that after the first rehearsal, the members of the group may get together and practice before the next regular rehearsal with the director. When each group has its action well in hand, all the parts of the episode may be put together. Not more than one rehearsal of the whole pageant should be necessary.

5. During the presentation the director must be in communication by signal or telephone with each group director, music director, and dance director. Each group must have a definite place to stay, andSTAY at that place until the pageant is over. An effective finale depends upon the spirited singing of the entire caste and the ensemble on the stage with all flags and costuming complete.

6. Throughout the rehearsals, keep uppermost the spirit of cooperation. Make it a power for creating loyalty and civic pride.

If at all possible have a good orchestra or band from the time the pageant starts until it closes. An outdoor pageant is necessarily mostly pantomine, and music must be used continuously throughout the performance. Soft music generally will be preferred. The orchestra or band leader should be consulted several days before the performance so suitable selections can be arranged for the various cues marked on his copy of the program

Much optional material is inserted here. The director can use all or part of the material just as local conditions may dictate. Many folk dances and songs are included and as many as time will permit may be used. For the smaller communities material has been included here which may prove helpful. They have access to the songs and dances etc. of the main pageant. Those communities who desire to combine materials used here or add other scenes are at perfect liberty to do so.

For those communities that are able to do so, living statuary, tableaux would be very effective either with flash powders or spotlight. It is suggested that Texas characters, famous pictures of Texas subjects be used as models. For instance, one effective group for the last act would be a reproduction of the famous Red Cross poster, “The Greatest Mother in the World.” Local committees will be able to devise interesting and effective groups. It is usually more effective to have characters draped in white or in white tights with white wigs or powdered hair. The use of the state and national flags can also be worked in effectively.

Flags always have a strong appeal. Make generous use of them. In the pageant, “Texas Under Six Flags” the director should see to it that the flag of that episode is brought into prominence somewhere during the act.

By far the best effects can be gained if the pageant is staged out of doors. A plot of ground for the stage about 60x90 feet is desirable for the stage with a slope upward in front for the audience seats. If this can be obtained you have an ideal condition. The next best arrangement is to build elevated seats or grand stand for audience. Three sides of stage can be built of trees and shrubs. Holes can be dug and large trees brought in from the woods and stood up in the holes. The securing of low growing shrubs about the trunks of these trees will give a splendid hedge or wall. Lapped entrances L and R should be left large enough for a wagon and team to enter and leave, but so constructed that the audience can not see through to the back of the stage where all the actors and property are. The orchestra can be seated to one side with light shaded from audience. The stage must have good lighting and where possible a spotlight should be used for the dances, tableaux and some of the more important scenes in the acts. The local electrician aided by boys who are interested in electricity will readily take care of the lighting problem. One extra large tree should be erected to R of stage for the Sam Houston Scene.

The appreciation of the audience will be much increased if a complete printed program is issued, telling rather completely the story being represented by each act and scene. Put down the names of the characters and the local person playing the same.

Useful information can be gotten from the Pageant Number of the Sam Houston Normal Bulletin, Huntsville; from Bulletin No. 72 of the University of Texas, Austin; and from the Technique of Pageantry by A. S. Barnes and Co., New York.

A band of Indians enter, pass across the stage and halt at one side to make camp. These Indians are led by a band of warriors with their chief. They are dressed in their feathers, paint, and war costumes, and carry tomahawks. They are followed by a group of women with their shawls, papooses, and bundles; and Indian children. While the women are building a fire and making camp the warriors hold a council of war—seated in a semi-circle in foreground. Scouts are sent out to reconnoitre. They soon return with news. Camp is hastily broken, the Indians disappearing into the forest. The scouts linger in the background, hiding behind the trees. Soon there appears a party of Frenchmen headed by La Salle and his nephew, a flag bearer, and two men bearing a plate. They appear to be exploring the country and seeking a location. They finally gather in the foreground and LaSalle takes possession of the land in the name of his King, Louis XIV. The French flag is planted and the plate is buried after which the Frenchmen depart. (This scene took place near the mouth of the Mississippi in 1682).

After the French depart the Indians reappear to investigate— and carry away the flag, destroying any marks the French have left. Presently the French reappear carrying bundles and implements and tools. They seek the flag but failing to find it select a new site and begin the erection of buildings. At first all goes well but soon some begin to quarrel, others loiter at their work. Some appear to be sick, then follows the conspiracy against La Salle—and his death. Indians make a raid and destroy all traces of the settlement.

Costumes: The Frenchmen are dressed in dark coats reaching half way to their knees with white ruffles at the neck and wrists. They wear knee trousers with boots or leggings, and wear wigs of long hair with big hats. They carry swords and guns. The Indians are in characteristic costumes.

Dances: “Poppy Dance” or “Firefly Dance”

Song: “Battle Hymn of the Republic”

Scene 1. Indians are heard in the distance, coming closer all the while, until they appear. Execute a war dance and finally all sit around a fire, which two or three kindled at the command of the chief.

Scene 1. Various nations are leisurely moving around on stage when Sam Houston anters with Miss Texas on his arm and introduces her into the family of nations as “Texas, the fair Republic of the South, newest nation of the earth.”

Scene 2. John Bull (after the introduction) begins to “make up” to Miss Texas. France makes himself agreeable as also does Holland and Belgium. Uncle Sam has never liked John Bull, looks on disapprovingly. Mexico from a corner, also scowls, remembering how he lost his fair daughter. As Bull's attentions become more earnest, and Texas seems impressed, Uncle Sam steps quickly across the stage and elbowing Bull aside takes his place beside the Fair one. Mexico, still scowling, and more fiercely, creeps towards the pair. Uncle Sam with Texas by the hand stars off stage. Mexico in a frenzy of anger springs forward, knife in hand, to kill Uncle Sam. A fierce fight ensues. Mexico is brought to his kneas begging for mercy. Uncle Sam, bearing the happy Texas on his arm, triumphantly exits as the band plays a lively air.

Dance: “Blue Bonnet Dance”

Song: “The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You”

Negro enters with hoe and pipe, during the first part of scene he pretends to hoe around but does not exert himself. Negro mammy and five or six pickninnies follow with box or bench, wash tub, board, buckets, etc. One carries a guitar or ukulele. Business of mammy getting ready to wash. She makes some of the children help, boxing their ears etc. Some wrestle, others shoot craps, and

Scene 1. Herald cries: _ _ “Enter Thirteen Original Colonies” John Bull rushes in, also, rope in hand, and begins binding the colonies. Liberty enters, putting John Bull to flight, while Uncle Sam appears, frees the colonies, and escorts Liberty to the pedestal, while all single “Yankee Doodle.”

Scene 2. As Liberty names each state in order of its admission to the Union. Herald cries, “Enter—(Calling the name of the state). The child representing the state enters running, curtsies and takes piece with other states. Texas is not called but comes in seeking the protection of Liberty. Uncle Sam waves her back, when he sees that it will cause trouble with Mexico, who is slyly following Texas. When Uncle Sam sees that both Mexico and John Bull are seeking control of Texas he rescues her, giving her a place among the states. After the admission of the other states they all sing: “My Own United States” or “Columbia”.

This scene can also be enacted effectively by having a huge United States map erected and when a state enters tear off a blank piece of white paper which will expose the map of that state with the name plainly visible.

Curtain rises on America and Peace on the U. C. elevation. Justice below and R Liberty on same level and L music throughout a march.

1. Enter the Indian group from R., stands L. Salutation by Liberty: “Deep and wide the wheels of progress have passed on. The daring Indian brave is gone. Yea, Time, the grand old harvester, has gathered you from the wood and the plain. But we, your followers, salute you again.”

Indians respond with salute, “How, How.”

2. Music continues. Pioneer group enters L and stand R Salutation by Justice: “In strength, in power, with loyalty our country was up builded. To them, our sturdy pioneers, be praise and tribute always.”

Pioneers salute.

3. Music continues. Community Interests enter as follows:

(All are characteristically dressed and wear a band from left shoulder to right waist stating what they represent.)

Salutation by Liberty:

“In the fullness of cooperation, in the strength of community spirit, in the reward of earnest work, our nation has grown until she stands revealed in the beauty and richness of strength and wisdom.”

4. Enter Foreigners as follows: Irish, L to R; Dutch, R to L; Italian, L to R; French, R to L; Scotch, L to R. As many nations can be used here as desired. Each should be in characteristic dress which can be found in geographies, reference books etc.

Salutation by Justice:

5. Music changes to “Dixie”. Enter the soldiers of Yesterday, the Confederate Veterans in uniform.

6. Music changes to “Over There.” Enter the soldiers of Today. Well dressed young men with khaki uniforms of each branch of service.

7. Music changes to “Stars and Stripes.” Enter the Soldiers of Tomorrow (Boy Scouts.)

Salutation by America:

3. Audience and players all join in singing “Star Spangled Banner.”