The Opera House
Years ago the "Opera House" was the scene of many
large parties. Several couples whose guest lists were nearly identical would
rent the place and give large parties. One of the parties happen in the Fall of
1921. Invitations were issued for the evening of Tuesday, October, 25, 1921, at
8 o'clock, cards and dancing. Hosts were Mr. & Mrs. Frank Scobie, Mr. &
Mrs. Rex Bingham, Dr. & Mrs. W. A. Anderson, and Mr. & Mrs. William Crouch. There were 84
invitations sent out, to 59 couples and 27 single men and women, for a total of
145 possible guests, and 29 persons sent regrets, leaving 114 acceptances.
Hosts
provided or rented 27 card tables, because that many were needed when
refreshments were served. Food included 20 bricks of ice cream, 12 angelfood
cakes, 12 chickens, two quarts of salad dressing, five bottles of olives, four
cans of French peas, 12 dozen Parker House rolls, 12 bunches of celery, four
pounds of coffee, three pounds of loaf sugar, and there is no figure listed
with the cream. Each hostess was to furnish three chickens for the salad, and
three angelfood cakes. Some of the charges were listed, such as $2.25 for the
rolls (Haas Bakery sales slip is in a stack of papers), kitchen help $4, cigars
$9, hall rent (and this would have to be the dining room and kitchen in
addition to at least one of the halls) $15, tally cards $2.40, sweet cream $2
and sour cream$1.50, ice cream $12. Cost of groceries, butter, invitations and
drayage are not shown. Music for the
dancers cost $15 and was furnished by Miss Alwin on the piano and Miss Oswald
on the violin. The guests are listed, with a letter beside each to indicate accepted
or regretted. Included on the guest list would be Elizabeth Cutting Koessler,
Mr. & Mrs. A. F. Kuske, Mrs. Noel Hoffman, and Mrs. A. J. Thomas.
Later on
the big dancing parties were not so common, and women entertained at cards in
their homes. Couples went to evening parties. Women always went to afternoon
parties. Three or four hostesses would entertain together, sometimes three days
in a row. At one point it was so crowded at a card party that seven cards table
had to fit into a house by pushing the dining room table into a corner and
setting up one table in the front hall. Sometimes the young teenagers served as
waitresses. There has even been times when people have gotten the wrong
day. They had been invited to the party
but just were a few days early for the party. Oh how times have changed.
