Marin history: A memorable holiday show for Marin children
In a Dec. 19, 1923, Marin Independent Journal article, it was announced that the Do Good Committee of the San Rafael Elks Lodge No. 1108 was staging a “big, free vaudeville show at the Orpheus Theater for the children of Marin County.” The event was scheduled for Dec. 22 in the morning.
This holiday event was the biggest activity for the Elks Lodge and was headed up by Chairman Albert Wheelan, with committee members from every section of Marin County, including Robert Trumbull, Fred Nave, J.R. Keating, H. S. Foote and Frank Hutchinson.
A follow-up article on Dec. 26, 1923, highlighted this special and lively event that captured the holiday spirit. The 65 members of the Do Good Committee pulled off its first successful and fun-filled Kiddies High Jinks and Christmas Tree Party. Children from all over Marin attended, with transportation provided by Elks members, who donated their automobiles, and a Tamalpais High School bus. More than 30 children from Tiburon and 300 orphans from the St. Vincent’s Orphan Asylum and their band were given a ride by W.S. Palmer, the president of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. The children from the Bothin Convalescent Home were driven by Elks members in the Fairfax area, and children from Novato were driven by Miss Rudolf.
The Orpheus Theater was the special venue where the holiday magic happened. Opened in 1920, this theater was located at 1118 Fourth St. and later reopened as the Rafael Theater in 1938. (It’s currently the site of the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center.) The use of the Orpheus Theater was donated by the management, including Mr. Blumenfeld, Mr. Herzog, Mr. Burtchaell and Mr. Rake. The entire theater staff was at the disposal of the Elks’ Do Good Committee.
The spirited program included eight vaudeville acts and a moving picture. There was a lot of laughter, especially during the singing dog, Punch and Judy and magic acts. Charles M. Paganini’s interpretation of Uncle Sam was a big hit, along with George H. Cooke, who told several stories and even received a standing ovation. The St. Vincent’s Band was thoroughly enjoyed, and the community sing by the St. Vincent children was considered the highlight of the day. And, not to be forgotten, Santa Claus appeared in a variety of forms, played by different people. At the end of the performance, the children were given candy, oranges and other goodies. The children were photographed in front of the Elks Club by an artist from the R.J. Walters Co. Beginning in 1908, the Elks Lodge No. 1108 was at the corner of B and Fifth streets in downtown San Rafael, the former home of William J. Miller. The two-story Victorian was later sold to Bank of Marin. In April 1963, the Elks purchased the historic Maple Lawn estate from Louise A. Boyd.
It should be noted that, for more than 100 years, these special holiday parties have been put on by hundreds of Elks clubs throughout the state and country even as our country struggled during wartime and the Great Depression. A Dec. 21, 1943, San Francisco Examiner article, entitled “Spirit of yule season reigns at San Francisco events,” mentioned that the San Francisco Elks Club put on a Jinks Christmas Tree Party and show for 1,500 children at the Castro Theater on Dec. 20, 1943. Joyfully, these Elks Christmas parties continue today and are enjoyed by all.
History Watch is written by Lane Dooling, marketing and social media coordinator at the Marin History Museum, marinhistory.org. Images included in History Watch are available for purchase by calling 415-382-1182 or by email at info@marinhistory.org