The hot, dry weather of 1955 brought children to Scranton's summer recreation program in record numbers. The joint initiative between the city and the school district was in its sixth season. Throughout the summer, children at 34 city playgrounds competed in tournaments, practiced dance routines, made arts and crafts and generally had fun, all under the supervision of trained instructors.
By mid-August, the children were ready to show what they had done. In the arts and crafts classes, they had made models of wood and papier-maché and fashioned kites, birdhouses, bracelets, lawn chairs and dollhouses. They had mastered crepe paper weaving and loop weaving. Their handiwork was to be displayed on Aug. 18-19 at 34 tables on Courthouse Square.
Other children had been preparing for a grand performance titled "Playground Caravan" - a 10-act review - slated for Aug. 25 at Memorial Stadium. The older girls and many of the mothers had been hard at work on 500 costumes. Money for the materials came from bake sales and ice cream socials. Boys from several of the playgrounds had constructed and painted backdrops, under the supervision of Terrence Gallagher Sr. and assistant Norman Morgan. A stage 70 feet long and 20 feet deep was erected. Ida Phillips Reese, director of girls' activities, and Stella Gallagher, director of music at Technical and Central high schools, guided the children through music and dance rehearsals. Hugh Connor and Tony Martel, both of The Scranton Times radio station WEJL, signed on as narrators for the event.
Days before the children were set to show off the results of their summer's work, Hurricane Diane blew into town. July had been the single driest month in 55 years. On Thursday, Aug. 18, Diane unleashed rain in a steady, drenching downpour. By the time she moved on, Diane dropped 4.4 inches of rain on the Lackawanna Valley, flooding rivers and creeks and leaving devastation.
But the shows would go on. On Aug. 26 and 27, display tables and beach umbrellas were set up for the arts and crafts show. Judges were on hand to pick winning displays for both junior and senior playground groups.
On Aug. 29, a large police detail was put in place to manage traffic as 7,500 people turned out at Memorial Stadium for "Playground Caravan." The crowd filled every seat and spilled onto the grass. A burst of fireworks launched the pageant. The theme was the story of music through the years, but the song and dance numbers also took the audience on a tour of a variety of cultures. The first act featured Latin numbers, including the tango. Next, came the exotic music of Hawaii, with young ladies in grass skirts dancing the hula. The Italian Tarantella, the French Can Can and banjo music of the southern United States proved popular. "In the Land of Nod," "Mr. Sandman" and "Dream" added an element of fantasy. A rendition of "Sleigh Ride" featured Jack Frost and a Snow King and Snow Queen.
Other numbers took the audience "Along the Gypsy Trail," "In the Shadow of the Totem Pole" and out to the frontier with "Davy Crockett." The evening ended on a patriotic note with a finale that included a number called "From Sea to Shining Sea," the old favorite "Yankee Doodle," and the stirring "Stars and Stripes Forever."
The children of Scranton had worked all through that hot, dry summer. As the season came toward its end, the children, their families and their friends and neighbors experienced the worst natural disaster the region had ever seen. But in the wake of disaster, they all came together to celebrate art, craft, music, dance and the joys of being a child.
CHERYL A. KASHUBA is a freelance writer specializing in local history. Visit her at scrantonhistory.com. Contact the writer: localhistory@timesshamrock.com
View additional photos: Playground Caravan, 1955 | Vintage Scranton