Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia · Peter Schmitz

The Boom

April 19, 2024·40 min·3 clips

Host Peter Schmitz reveals how Lent in 1939 allowed Philadelphians to attend theater in street dress, defying fashion norms.

This episode of Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia, hosted by Peter Schmitz, examines the city's theater scene during the World War II years from 1939 to 1945. It focuses on Philadelphia's role as a major pre-Broadway tryout town, capturing a specific cultural moment through social details and production openings. The narrative begins on March 15, 1939, during the Lenten season, when formal theater attire was relaxed. Society columnist Jane Wister documented the fashion choices of prominent attendees at the Chestnut Street Opera House for the touring show *Knickerbocker Holiday*. Mrs. W. Lawrence LePage, also known as Agnes Yarnall, attended in a chic black suit with a matching tall hat and an ascot tie. Eleanor Wescott wore a terracotta street suit with a tiny toque, while Frances Wescott chose black lace and attended with Mrs. Upton Favred. The episode details the opening of *Knickerbocker Holiday*, a musical set in 1647 New Amsterdam, which had just finished its Broadway run. This period saw a constant flow of shows testing their material in Philadelphia before potential New York engagements. The relaxed dress code during Lent offers a glimpse into the social customs and class distinctions of the era's theatergoing public. The specific descriptions of attire and named social figures illustrate how theater events were covered as society news. The choice of *Knickerbocker Holiday*, with its historical fantasy about Dutch New York, presents an interesting contrast to the looming global conflict. The episode uses these granular social details to build a larger portrait of a city's cultural life on the brink of war. The tone is educational and narrative, weaving historical facts with vivid social vignettes. The style is descriptive and archival, relying heavily on contemporary newspaper accounts to reconstruct the scene. This episode would appeal to listeners fascinated by American social history, the mechanics of Broadway tryouts, or the daily cultural life of the 1940s. Those seeking dramatic storytelling or analysis of theatrical artistry might find the focus on societal minutiae less engaging.

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