726 PARKS 



under certain circumstances might oppose such action. In Louisville, Ken- 

 tucky, where a protest on the part of the union against concerts in the 

 parks by volunteer bands was taken to court, it was ruled that the park 

 department was free to give such concerts. 



Community singing has in many cities become a popular feature of 

 the community music program, often in connection with band concerts. 

 Many thousands of people took part in the community singing program 

 arranged on a tremendous scale by the South Park Commissioners. A 

 large number of cities are providing opportunities of this kind under the 

 leadership of experienced song leaders, who may in some instances be 

 volunteers. The organization of bands and orchestras for adults is a form 

 of community music activity undertaken in a number of cities. 



Many park departments have outdoor facilities which are being used 

 for musical entertainment. At the Water Theatre at Nibley Park, Salt 

 Lake City, the recreation department puts on a series of art programs once 

 a week during the summer, when programs of dancing, drama and music 

 are presented by local associations, who give their service free. Here the 

 civic opera gives its annual performance, "The Fortune Teller," by Victor 

 Herbert, being one of the operas presented after six weeks of rehearsing. 

 More than twenty thousand people witness the performance each year. In 

 the municipal theatre at Forest Park, St. Louis, ten weeks seasons of grand 

 opera and light opera are given under the auspices of the Municipal Theatre 

 Association. Many other events are conducted at the theatre. 



Community Drama. 



The facilities of parks are being increasingly used for dramatic pres- 

 entations of various kinds. For children there is the informal story drama- 

 tization in corners of the playground, the more formal play production, 

 puppetry and all the forms of drama so delightful to children. The popu- 

 larity of the informal and outdoor corner theatres is attested to by the 

 experience of Los Angeles, where such a theatre, known as "The Little 

 Lattice Playhouse," is provided at the Barnsdall Park. Each week enter- 

 tainments are given, with a program provided by the playground children. 

 One such program presented the Senior Boy Scout Band, the dramatic 

 group from Arroyo Seco Playground in "The Clown of Doodle Doo," 

 several costumed folk dances from Pecan Playground, accompanied by two 

 violins and flute from Exposition Playground, and Robin Hood stories by 

 the gypsy story-teller. The playhouse has a well-sodded stage of ample 

 dimensions for large folk dancing groups, and approximately two hundred 

 seats have been placed upon the turf in tiers, making a shady little amphi- 

 theatre for summer afternoon use. 



