{"id":1616,"date":"2014-09-25T08:45:55","date_gmt":"2014-09-25T12:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/?p=1616"},"modified":"2024-10-02T13:45:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T17:45:51","slug":"pantomime-national-anthem-star-spangled-banner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gettysburgflag.com\/blog\/pantomime-national-anthem-star-spangled-banner\/","title":{"rendered":"How to pantomime the National Anthem | The Star-Spangled Banner"},"content":{"rendered":"

From baseball games to symphonic concerts, everyone in the U.S. has heard someone sing or play the National Anthem to honor the American flag<\/a>. Very few, however, have seen \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d in pantomime.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Anthem begins<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But a book exists that could change that. At one time, it was a bible for acting out Francis Scott Key\u2019s song, which is now celebrating its bicentennial. That was when radio was in its infancy and TV didn\u2019t exist. In those early decades of the 20th century, families, schools, neighbors and other groups turned to amateur theatrics for entertainment, including sing-alongs and plays.<\/p>\n

With that audience in mind, a Chicago publisher released \u201cDenison\u2019s Illustrated Song Pantomimes,\u201d and one of the series was \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner.\u201d Created by May Dixie, who did the same for \u201cSwanee River,\u201d \u201cComin\u2019 Through the Rye\u201d and other songs, the Anthem pantomime included instructions and illustrations.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Anthem nears its conclusion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The book, released in 1922, has guidance on costuming, hand gestures and stage presence. \u201cThe performer may wear a white evening gown or other costume of soft, clinging material, with white slippers or any shoes for walking,\u201d the author wrote. \u201cA girdle or sash of red, white and blue is worn around the waist.\u201d<\/p>\n

The instructions also required \u201ctwo American flags, preferably silk,\u201d that were draped down the back of the pantomimist.<\/p>\n

Dixie recommended two ways for the performance to proceed: \u201cthe singer appearing on the platform and enacting the story while singing it; or the vocalist remaining concealed, and singing while the presentation is made in pantomime by another person.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Twin<\/a>
Twin flags revealed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She also insisted that the performers \u201crehearse the presentation thoroughly so that all gestures may be graceful and natural and properly timed, each position blending smoothly into the next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every phrase of \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d came with a specific gesture for the performer to follow. For example, \u201ccan you see\u201d was to be accompanied with the \u201cbody bent a little forward, and right arm extended toward audience, palm upward.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Costuming\"<\/a>\u201cWhose broad stripes,\u201d Dixie wrote, should be indicated by \u201chead thrown back; eyes up; expression admiring and happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The finale, \u201chome of the brave,\u201d was to be delivered with \u201cright foot advanced; body bent forward lightly; both arms extended toward audience,\u2026palms upward; head not so far back\u2026but still with chin somewhat raised; eyes looking at audience; smiling brightly.<\/p>\n

(Interested in giving the pantomime flag song a try? The book can be found here: https:\/\/ia600409.us.archive.org\/1\/items\/starspangledbann00dixi\/starspangledbann00dixi.pdf<\/a>.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From baseball games to symphonic concerts, everyone in the U.S. has heard someone sing or play the National Anthem to honor the American flag. Very few, however, have seen \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d in pantomime. But a book exists that could change that. At one time, it was a bible for acting out Francis Scott Key\u2019s… continue<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[10,105,104,103],"class_list":["post-1616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history-lessons","tag-american-flag","tag-francis-scott-key","tag-national-anthem","tag-star-spangled-banner"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to pantomime the Star-Spangled Banner<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How to pantomime the Star-Spangled Banner. 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