The 1919 Tour Cast of Characters

To amplify and literally embody the theme of the project, during the hours of this April's tour the owners and some of their friends will be portraying 1919 versions of themselves.  Visitors on the tour are welcome to interact with the cast and are invited to ask questions about the profession or special interests of the characters.

The Professor—a teacher of Literature for over 35 years, before he was an academic, the Professor had a secret history as a Vaudevillian.  A couple of his old friends from Vaudeville are visiting this weekend.  You may find the Professor writing his latest essay or practicing his old skills in his Upstairs studio bedroom.  He’s the person to ask if you have any questions about the home’s paintings or other artifacts.

Read about the Literary Landscape in 1919

Lawyer Warren—One of just over 1700 women lawyers in the United States in 1919, Sarah Warren is our hostess and has been a tireless advocate against child labor.  A native of Louisville, Kentucky and the daughter of a minister, before joining the bar she was a journalist and vigorous supporter of woman’s suffrage.

Read about Child Labor in 1919

Lenny Deluxe—Virtuoso Accordionist and Orchestra Leader, an old Vaudeville friend of the Professor’s, you are likely to encounter Lenny in the Music Room practicing the music to go into his next Revue.  Lenny is more than willing to talk to you about the state of popular entertainment in 1919, the music in his repertoire and the history of Vaudeville itself.

You can read about Vaudeville in 1919 Here

Anne—Lenny’s wife and the organizer behind his world tours, Anne was a small town librarian before she met Lenny, who she married on two days acquaintance and was able to realize her lifelong dream of world travel.  She and Lenny are recently back from Norway but you may enjoy talking with her about the years she has spent in such countries as South Africa, Ghana, Italy, Argentina, and Burma. She has a deep appreciation for the cultures and societies of those countries.

You can read about Vaudeville Wives on Tour Here

Joan—Began her career as a student of Isadora Duncan in the 1880s and was one of Duncan’s original “Isadorables.”  She was a success d’scandal on the continent for a widely circulated photograph of her at the 1900 Artists and Writers Ball clad only in a banner displaying the phrase Je Désire Voter.  She created a brief fashion trend in the early years of the century when dyed her hair deep purple and adorned it with empty sardine cans.  Recently she has devoted herself to the study of the authentic Hula as the culture and language of Hawaii is emerging from the oppression of the missionary years and native traditions are once more celebrated in the islands.  During the tour, you may find her in an upstairs bedroom practicing this spiritual for of the dance. She would be glad to talk with you about it.

You can read about the Authentic Hula Here

David—A former athlete, David was a lawyer involved in the formation of the American Baseball Association in 1882 and the American League in 1901. An advocate for more professionalization of the sport, he hopes to see the creation of the office of a baseball commissioner to better protect baseball from the corruption of gambling and create a livelier game with more standardized rules. 

You can read about Baseball in 1919 Here

You should encounter at least some of the characters while touring the house.  The characters welcome the opportunity to interact with our tour guests. You are encouraged to engage the characters in conversation about their areas of interest.