By the time the so-called "Roaring '20s" were behind them, Marshall Ensor, W9BSP, and his younger sister Loretta, W9UA, had begun teaching radio by radio from the comfort of their cozy Radio Room in the Ensor home, volunteer work they eventually would be honored for by CBS, and Charles "Buddy" Rogers had already appeared in the first film to receive the Academy Award for Best Picture.
But the early part of this tumultuous boom-then-bust decade found all three of them at Olathe High School, Marshall as a teacher doing what he always did best, building things, and Loretta and "Buddy" as students, where, 100 years ago this month, they each had a role to play in putting on a theatrical production with a pronounced Oriental flavor to entertain their fellow Occidentals. Here is the story from the May 25, 1922, issue of The Olathe Register: Feast of the Little Lanterns Presented by Girls' Glee Club
The Feast of the Little Lanterns, a Chinese Operetta by Paul Bliss, was presented by the Girls' Glee Club of the Olathe High School, in the High School Auditorium, Wednesday evening May 17. The play was the last number of the Lecture Course. It had been planned to give the play on the Central School Grounds, but the weather prohibited them, so the play was given in the High School building. The decorations at the Central School Grounds were exceptionally beautiful and the audience for the most part, had the privilege of seeing them before the rain.
The play was under the direction of Melvin S. Bushong. The Glee Club has spent nearly the entire year on the Operetta and the successful presentation of the play showed it. The decorations and costumes were under the supervision of Miss Alice Thomas and Marshall Ensor. The girls with their Japanese kimonas and pompoms added much to the realisticness of the "Feast of the Little Lanterns."
Miss Persis Colie was director of the dances and also took the leading part in the Sword Dance. Misses Nelle Lorimer and Helen Mae Jewell were the accompanists.
The list of characters were:
Princess Chan, A Chinese Heiress, La Verne Vigour.
Mai Ku, A Japanese Juggler-Maid, Helen Mae Jewell.
Wee Ling, Maid to the Princess, Guanette Stewart.
Ow Long, Governess to the Princess, Helen Palmer.
Chorus of Chinese Girls, all members of the Household.
Between the First and Second Acts the Scarf and Sword Dances were presented before the Chinese Emperor. The Emperor's part was taken by Charles Rogers, and the two attendants by Homer Eldridge and John Albert Nelson. In the Scarf Dance, Miss La Vaun Boyer and nine girls gave a very pretty dance. The dancers' costumes were of pink and blue trimmed in Japanese Silver figures. In the Sword Dance, the characters were dressed in red costumes and silver cooley caps and swords. Miss Persis Colie was the principal in this dance. A very clever Chinese Dance was given by Misses Jean Sallee, Martha Woodbury and Genevieve Haskin. The costumes for the principals were of extraordinary beauty and elegance and the colors harmonized very skilfully.
The story of the play is that the ancestral state of Prince Chan is held in trust until the night of the Feast of the Little Lanterns, when it shall be given over then to any of the surviving children. Princess Chan having lost her brother and sister when they were all children at play in the mountain summer home of the Prince, is in the great sorrow at the thought of losing her home.
The first act begins with the celebration of the Feast of the Little Lanterns, various legends being woven into the next of the songs. The Governess who would regulate the affairs of the children in China, and the little maid who adores her mistress, causes some amusement and entertainment. Then the surprise for the Princess is introduced in the person of the little Japanese juggler girl, who pleases them mightily until summoned to the palace. The chorus departs and the curtain falls with the sorrowing Princess alone in the garden.
In the second act the Princess is discovered still alone and lamenting. The chorus comes back with Lee Ling caught in mischief: after which the little juggler girl rushes in with the announcement that the Emperor has information that the sister of the Princess Chan is alive and near, and orders that every place be searched. In searching the garden for her, the little maid finds a locket which the juggler maid claims as her's in which is found the half of a coin which exactly matches the one worn by the Princess. They recognize each other as sisters, and are overjoyed that the home shall continue to be theirs.
As the last act closes the celebration of the Feast of the Little Lanterns is progressing with great gaiety and rejoicing.
Those taking part in the chorus were:
Sopranos: Mildred McKinney, Margaret Hayes, Edith Schumaker, Opal Bartlett, Mary Hoge, Elva Hames, Estella Ferguson, Genevieve Haskin, Loretta Ensor, Madaline Bartlett, Helen Lysaght, Cecilia Louquet, Enid Woolery, Elizabeth Jameson, Helen Case, Eva Lyons, Lela Oliver, Pearl Duguid, Margaret Jefferson, Henry Etta Davis, Frances Irene Goering, Elsie Savage, Blanche Leoey, Amelia Wilson, Maurine Hollinger, Lorine Konantz, Hester Taeschner, Etta Fisher, Mary Hemphill, Edna Wayne Allen, Beth Moore, Alice Corliss, Edna Jefferson, Mary Stanley, Mary Frances Dent, Helen Gifford, Claudia May Flemming, Frances Bucknell, Esther McNally, Verda Filkin, Helen Oliver, Helen Ruppelius, Josephine Roberds, Dorothy Rice, Violet Hull, Helena Moore, Dorothy Stewart, Elizabeth Newton and Thelma Hoover.
Altos: Vernice Johnson, Ruth Scott, Margaret Helen Dent, Lora Guess, Rowena Williams, Jennie Pinkerton, Martha Woodbury, Mildred Mason, Leta Mae Filkin, Jean Sallee, Helen Marcks, Georgia King, Ruth Adams, Bernice Haskin, Nola Mae Woodard, Roberta Hartely, Isabelle Miller, Eudora Davis, Evangeline Divelbliss, Lenora Dickey, Gertrude Martin, Carrie Justice, Irene Earnshaw, Kathleen Johnson, Marion Riley, Aileen Lohmann, Hattie Mae Fisher, Ethel Limbird, Anna Williams, May Brune, Winnie Eastland, Marie Thedan, Elsie Lorimer, Ruth Edgington, Amelia Woodward, Patricia Hatfield, Emogene Mott, Mildred Cornwell, Edna Russell, Blanche Duguid, Dorothy Hemphill, Betty Gilbert, La Vaun Boyer, Ethel McKee, Stella Ainsworth, Cloris Swartz, Evelyn Lacquet and Beula Burdette.