100 years ago: Redpath Chautauqua opens in O’Fallon with ‘meritorious’ entertainment
100 years ago, June 18, 1925
The Redpath Chautauqua, which opened yesterday afternoon with a concert by the National Male Quartette is offering meritorious entertainment features. The quartette pleased the audience with a musical program seldom offered in a city the size of O’Fallon. Everyone of the members is an artist in his line and it was a pleasure to hear them.
At the evening performance the quartette was heard in a grand concert in which Charles Cox, manager of the Nationals, was featured. Mr. Cox is an impersonator of rare ability and held his audience with unique entertainment numbers.
This afternoon the American Entertainers appeared in a widely-varied program of musical and impersonative selections, which were equally well-received by those who attended.
Tonight the company will re-appear in a prelude followed by Captain Upton, known as the “Big Brother to a Hundred Thousand Kids,” who will lecture on “The Four-Square Builder.” Parents will do well to have their boys hear Captain Upton who makes a decided hit wherever he appears. His talk to boys will be entertaining as well as instructive.
Other numbers on the five-day program are: Friday afternoon--J. Dameron Smith in “The Potter and the Clay.” Evening--”Adam and Eve,” a comedy which scored such a phenomenal success in New York will be presented by a cast of Broadway actors. This is considered to be worth the price of a season ticket alone. Saturday afternoon--The Stofolsky Fine Arts Concerts Company, headed by Irene Stofolsky, noted violinist, will give a grand concert, featuring the lighter popular musical numbers, interspersed with classical selections. Evening--Elwood T. Bailey, lecturer, in “All Aboard.” The Stofolsky Company will open the performance with a prelude.
No program on Sunday but on Monday, the last day, the well-known Solis Marimba Band, which made such a hit in O’Fallon several years ago, will give a concert, followed by Helen Waggoner, the gifted dramatic impersonator. Solis’ Marimba Band will close the Chautauqua in the evening with a grand concert, replete with popular as well as classical numbers.
In addition to the regular programs three children’s entertainments have been arranged. On Friday morning Ade Duval, the magician will appear. Misses Haneman and Sands will be here Saturday morning with a diversified program in “A Day in Storyland.” On Monday morning Miss Helen Waggoner will give the children a treat in the line of entertainment and amusement. The morning programs will start at 10 o’clock. The afternoon performances start at 3 o’clock and the evening at 8. Season tickets for adults can be procured at $2.50 and $1.25 for children.
(The Chautauqua was designed to bring culture and entertainment to communities. In O’Fallon, it was held under a large tent on the grounds of O’Fallon Township High School, then located on the site of what is now Marie Schaefer School at Highway 50 and Cherry.)
75 years ago, June 15, 1950
O’Fallon’s latest civic addition is Kiwanis International which was officially chartered as a club at a ladies’ night meeting and banquet in the Evangelical and Reformed church (present day O’Fallon UCC) basement Monday evening. The dinner, served by the ladies of the church, was attended by 125 Kiwanis members and their wives from other cities and invited guests.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Glenn Lupton, Lt. Governor, Div. 14, Illinois-Eastern-Iowa District; Henry A. Mathewson, immediate past district governor; and C. L. Morris, governor of the Illinois-Iowa District. Attorney Rogers D. Jones, of Belleville, officiated as master of ceremonies while Wm. J. Eckhardt, also of Belleville, led the group singing.
M. K. Schwarz, president of the Chamber of Commerce welcomed the new club to the community and also extended a welcome to the visiting Kiwanis. The charter presentation was by District Governor Morris while William Schmidt, president of the local club gave the acceptance address.
Les Brockmeies, Past Lt. Governor, presented the club with an American and Canadian flag and a club banner, which were accepted by L. B. Sample, vice-president of the local club. Bert Stiff, chairman of the sponsoring club, officiated at the presentation of other gifts with the acceptance by Philip Schildknecht, a director of the O’Fallon club. Special musical selections were rendered by Sue and Shirley Wood and Don Seres.
The O’Fallon club starts with 29 charter members. Officers are William Schmidt, president; L. B. Sample, vice-president; Bernard Taylor, treasurer; and Arnold Dickinson, secretary.
(The O’Fallon Kiwanis Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month.)
50 years ago, June 19, 1975
The O’Fallon City Council Monday night turned down the O’Fallon Board of Fire and Police Commissioners recommendation to pay $19.20 to Chief of Police Darwin Lehmann for travel expenses to Springfield April 25. The board, after reading Lehmann’s letter of explanation for the Springfield expense, recommended to the City Council that the $19.20 expense claim be paid.
Lehmann told the board in his letter of explanation that he made the trip to Springfield to recover his badge that he lost in the capital and (was) recovered by an unidentified person. Lehmann paid a $50 reward to the nameless man for the recovery of the badge. Lehmann had put in a claim for the mileage to Springfield and stated the reason for the mileage was to attend a MEG graduation ceremony.
The motion to disallow the payment to Lehmann for the $19.20 was made by Alderman Joseph Hubbard, chairman of the finance committee and passed unanimously by the council.
Mayor Gary Mackey said the council did not approve the claim since the chief “went back on his own and not on city business. It’s the same thing as some other city employee leaving his luggage somewhere and returning to get it. It’s not city business so the city shouldn’t have to pay for it,” Mackey said.
Although the council did not approve the claim, according to City Attorney Delmar Koebel, Lehmann could have reason for a suit against the city for the $19.20 if he feels it is a legitimate expense.
“However, if he (Lehmann) wants to sue for the money, he’d have to prove the facts behind it,” Koebel said.