What Are People Doing?

Every week the Town Crier blog will look back at Seattle’s near forgotten Town Crier magazine to see what was happening then and talk about what’s happening now. One of the largest sections of the original Town Crier was “What People Are Doing,” highlighting things like, “There was a large attendance at the Women’s University Club patriotic luncheon on Saturday,” and, “Clara Bicknell Ford, whose ballet and interpretive dancing has delighted Seattle audiences, is now studying with Kosloff of New York, probably the most famous teacher in the country.”  In this new series we’re revisiting the old column and tying it to our community’s current happenings, asking: “what are people doing?”

Town Hall prides itself on keeping ticket prices low, and in some cases, free, so that anyone can participate in our city’s dynamic conversations. That’s why we took note of the $1 to $2 tickets for a concert that was being put on in early October 1918.

An ad on page 12 of the October 5th, 1918 edition of the Town Crier.

Anna Fitziu, soprano with the Chicago Opera Company and Andres de Segurola, bass baritone with the Metropolitan Opera Company, would be in a joint recital at the Metropolitan Theatre on October 7th. It was presented by the Ladies Musical Club.

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Anna Fitziu (1887-1967) had a prolific international opera career, famed for her title roles in Madama Butterfly and Tosca.

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The Spanish de Seguirola (1874-1953), was a member of the Metropolitan Opera for nearly 20 years.

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Some things stand the test of time. The Ladies Musical Club still exists. In fact, it is Seattle’s oldest musical organization. First gathering in the home of Ellen Bartlett Bacon in 1891, 22 women musicians decided to form a new musical entity. The founding members were mostly middle-class, married women who also happened to be trained musicians. Over a century later, the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle is a non-profit, comprised of approximately 150 women, fostering classical music amongst its members and the Seattle community.

Their next concert is October 7th at 2pm at the Frye Art Museum. It’s even cheaper than it was in 1918. It’s free. For a full calendar of events, visit their website.

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