{"id":1629,"date":"2023-08-22T10:51:22","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T16:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/?p=1629"},"modified":"2023-08-22T10:51:22","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T16:51:22","slug":"fine-arts-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/2023\/08\/22\/fine-arts-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Fine Arts Series"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Current Literature Club, an organization for women who shared an interest in literature, decided to bring the arts and lectures on current events to campus. The goal was to expand access to drama, music, and knowledge of world events to the student body. \u00a0\u00a0In 1903, the Current Literature Club sponsored the first \u201cLyceum Entertainment.\u201d\u00a0 The performance consisted of a reading of \u201cDavid Harum\u201d, which started as a best-selling book, first published in 1898, by Edward Noyes Westcott.\u00a0 Edward P. Elliot portrayed each of the twelve characters.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cFrom the interest shown in these entertainments, and from the<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 packed house that greeted Mr. Elliot, we feel sure a complete<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 course of lyceum lectures would be appreciated by the students,<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 and hope that arrangements for such can be made for the coming<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 year\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The North Texas Journal, 1903<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 That hope was fulfilled as fine art programs and lecturers were brought to campus to expand the cultural horizons of students and the citizens of Denton. Among the early acts booked were the Metropolitan Grand Quartette, Grand Opera Singers, Henry Lawrence Southwick (a performer of Shakespeare\u2019s works), Maude Powel (violinist), and Sir Douglas Mawson\u2019s Antarctic Motion Pictures.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Lyceum Series, or popularly known as the Lyceum Course, was also a popular place to meet or take a date. This social aspect was captured in a poem that was published in the 1925 Yucca:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAny girl can be gay, in a nice coupe,<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In a show they can all watch you slumber.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But the girl worthwhile is the girl who can smile,<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When you take her to a lyceum number.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By 1917, the performers were booked by the Calendar Committee and tickets could be purchased for $1.50. By 1919, the Lyceum Series was paid for by a student activity fee. Season tickets were also sold to the citizens of Denton. Tickets could be purchases at the college library or Curtis\u2019s Drug Store.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Mary Arden Club also sponsored the Lyceum Series into the 1920s. Then the Fine Arts Committee was formed. Dr. Sam B. McAlister served as its chair for 31 years, until 1963.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The composition of the Fine Arts Committee has been altered many times over the years. By 1971, there were no students on the committee. However, in 1972, the committee was reorganized to have an equal number of faculty and students.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Fine Arts Series was not stopped during times of war. However, the world pandemic of 2020 did temporarily stop the program.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By the 1930\u2019s the Fine Arts Committee, composed of faculty and students, brought nationally and internationally known artists to campus and funded performances by the College Players.\u00a0 In 1938, The Eva Jessye Choir performed in the auditorium, in what is now called the Auditorium Building. She was the first African American woman to be an internationally known choral conductor. She also served as the musical director with George Gershwin on Porgy and Bess<\/em>. The Martha Graham Dance Company and the premier of the opera \u201cCynthia Parker,\u201d by composer and UNT alumna Julia Smith, were just two of the offerings that the activity fee made possible in 1939. In 1945, the Yucca (the school yearbook), stated that \u201c\u2026since its inception, [it] has attempted to provide a series of programs in which every student regardless of individual tastes would find numbers that he would enjoy. These various types of programs are alternated throughout the year.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lectures were part of the diverse educational offerings.\u00a0 John Dewy, Margaret Bourke White, Senator Robert La Follette, and Lech Walesa addressed the students.\u00a0 The Campus Chat (now known as the North Texas Daily), stated that \u201c\u2026the Normal has always maintained a strong course of lectures and entertainments, each year securing the best available talent.\u00a0 Men and women of national reputation, famous as leaders in public life, noted artists, musicians, and writers have been secured, who have contributed much to the student\u2019s realization of the college purpose of helpfulness and spiritual uplift.\u201d [Campus Chat, 1963-05-07]<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Maria Tallchief appeared with the Chicago Opera Ballet, Jose Ferrer, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra were among the artists that appeared in the 1950s and 1960s. Not all acts that appeared were successful. One, Love is a Ball<\/em>, received bad reviews from the audience. It closed soon after playing Denton. Other acts, such as Hal Holbrook\u2019s performance in Mark Twain Tonight,<\/em> were great successes. \u00a0Other well received programs included the rock musical, Your Own Thing,<\/em> the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dame Judith Anderson playing Hamlet in Shakespeare\u2019s Hamlet<\/em>, the Hip Pocket Theater production of A Saga of Billy the Kid<\/em>, the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico, the Nishikawa Dance Troup, and the artists Janet Fish and English potter Richard Batterham.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The conviction that the student experience should be enhanced by bringing the best performers in fine arts (drama and music), exposure to the visual arts, and thought-provoking lectures has continued and become a hallmark of the well-rounded student and graduate of the University of North Texas. The program was honored by having a newly constructed, five hundred seat, auditorium named the Lyceum in the Union Building. \u00a0The auditorium name was continued when the Union was expanded in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pamphlet of the Current Literature Club for the course of study for the 1924-1925 school year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The rock musical, Your Own Thing, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Civic Ballet were all part of the Fine Arts Series in the 1969-1970 year.
[1970 Yucca]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"

The lecture by Lech Walesa, president of Poland, was promoted in the North Texan, Spring 2002.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"

This page shows two shows that were booked for the Fine Arts Series. One was not well received, the other was very popular.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Cynthia Parker made its premiere in 1939.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A flyer for the Eva Jessye Choir. This would have been posted around campus to advertise this Fine Arts Series event.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Current Literature Club, an organization for women who shared an interest in literature, decided to bring the arts and lectures on current events to campus. The goal was to expand access to drama, music, and knowledge of world events to the student body. \u00a0\u00a0In 1903, the Current Literature Club sponsored the first \u201cLyceum… Read more »<\/a>","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1629"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1629\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1640,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1629\/revisions\/1640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.library.unt.edu\/unt125\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}