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History of our Chorus - Page 2 Some anniversaries were celebrated in high style. On October 12th, 1902 the 55th was quite an event. The ladies of the RSB presented the chorus with a new standard. At the subsequent Fahnenweihe (consecration of the standard), the Mozart Männerchor and the Germania chorus served as "godfathers". On the following night there was a torchlight procession up 2nd Avenue as the old and new standard were brought from the Terrace Gardens to the Vereinslokal then located at 184 East 109th Street. Among the many sentiments received on this occasion were greetings from Prince Heinrich of Prussia. The 60th Anniversary in 1907 was celebrated with appropriate ceremony at Arlington Hall on St. Marks Place. In August 1914 during the first weeks of war in Europe, the RSB successfully took up collections for the relief of stricken families in the old country. Later, benefit concerts were also held. Although the local German associations attended en masse, the 70th Anniversary Celebration in 1917 was kept suitably modest. Held in Teutonia Hall, the affair took place in the same year that the U.S. entered the war. At the concert, which was well received, the Dirigent (musical director) was honored with a picture of the 150 active singers, presented by the Ladies' Auxiliary. Through the years, the affairs continued with support from New York's entire German-American community. the 75th anniversary was celebrated in 1922 at the Männerchorhalle on East 56th Street. The 80th Anniversary was observed on November 12, 1927 at Teutonia Hall. For the great occasion, the Staats Herold put out an extra edition. Although the Depression had begun, the 30's did have some good times. The Vereinslokal was relocated from Teutonia Hall to Franziskaner at 1591 2nd Ave. At the 28th National Sängerfest, held in Atlantic City in 1931, a well prepared RSB was awarded the Columbia Prize for best musical performance. In 1932 greetings were sent by the German Chancellor and President Hoover when the RSB hosted an affair at the Manhattan Odd Fellows Temple honoring the crew of a German naval vessel in New York harbor. The hall was filled to capacity by the 2,000 guests and the New York City police had to turn away 700 latecomers. As the 180 officers and men of the cruiser Karlsruhe entered the hall, the band struck up and the whole house erupted in enthusiastic applause. Everyone then joined in patriotic song. In the spring of 1933 the chorus sang with the Inter High School Glee Club in concert. Representing many nations, 250 singers, all studying the German language, participated in this endeavor to foster German song. In October, the RSB chorus of 44 singers traveled to Chicago and presented a gala concert. While there the group took in the 1933 World's Fair and then returned via Niagara Falls to New York. |
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