Summer in Larchmont Is Going to Be “Just Ducky” This Year and the Historical Society Is Thrilled That You’D Like to Be a Part of It!
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February 2006 Dear Artists, Designers, Architects, Decorators and all other Creative Minds: Summer in Larchmont is going to be “Just Ducky” this year and the Historical Society is thrilled that you’d like to be a part of it! In the “Design Details” section of the artist packets, we have outlined some thematic objectives that will enable this public art extravaganza to bring a bit of Larchmont’s history to life. Attached is a list of people, places, genres and events that have helped shape Larchmont’s past and present. We hope you can use them to inspire an artistic masterpiece that draws on the history, character or culture of our town. Use this list to inspire your creativity. Your duck design might directly reference a Larchmont person, place or thing, or it can vaguely allude to an industry, profession, sport, event, era or theme that you feel is relevant. Whether it’s yachting, actors, the Oscars, Broadway, vaudeville, illustrators, artists, broadcasters, sports figures, a specific sport or team, films, music, books, authors, composers, industry magnates, radio talent, designers, architects, politicians or notable events, eras, places, etc. -- We believe this pool of historical information will spark some fabulous ideas. Of course, you can also use a twist on the word duck, famous ducks, types of ducks, duck-like phrases, etc. in your design, too. This list highlights many of our celebrity residents or frequent visitors we refer to as “Larchmont Luminaries.” Each has brought distinction to our community and our past. They are remembered for their extraordinary genius that left a lasting impression and enriched lives in Larchmont and across America. Larchmont inspired these residents and sojourners with its beauty and charm and we hope that their accomplishments will inspire you to create an extraordinary duck. We have also included a very brief history of Larchmont, which may help put all of this into perspective. If you would like additional information on any subject, please let us know and we can provide you with more details. Remember to be as whimsical as you please and really think outside the box. Thanks so much for your interest. We know that Ducktales will be a great success with all the artistic talent here. Good Luck and Have Fun! Now get Quacking on that design! Sincerely, Barbara R. Newman President 1 A BRIEF HISTORY OF LARCHMONT The Village of Larchmont, the Village of Mamaroneck and the unincorporated area are part of the Town of Mamaroneck, dating back to 1661 when the property that is now Larchmont Manor was purchased from the Native Americans by John Richbell. The property was sold to Samuel Palmer, who later sold it to Peter Jay Munro, nephew of John Jay (first Chief Justice of the United States). Munro built the illustrious “Manor House” at 18 Elm Avenue. Sometime after that, Edward Knight Collins, owner of the famous steamship line, bought the property for development. Collins built eight homes before he fell on hard times and eventually sold the estate to Thompson J.S. Flint in 1865. The Flints are also known for starting the Larchmont Yacht Club. In 1872, Flint formed the Larchmont Manor Company to fully develop the 288 acres. He hired Frank Towle, a civil engineer and NYC surveyor, to create a real estate subdivision map of Larchmont Manor, including the creation of a 12.65-acre park on the shoreline, which is now known as “Manor Park.” The Towle cottage is fondly referred to by Larchmonters as “The Gingerbread House” – right across the street from the Park. The next century saw a steady increase in population, as first Quaker refugees from New England and then wealthy New Yorkers established estates in the area. During the late 19th century, Larchmont was known as a summer playground for New York’s elite. Many of the large Victorian “cottages” of that era are still standing in the Larchmont Manor. Larchmont was also known for the four great resort hotels of that time, leading to the long list of legendary entertainers, politicians, artists, etc. who were regular visitors. Most of the hotels fell to ruin during the depression era, but the Bevan Cottage and the Manor Inn still exist as private homes, although not in their original form. In 1891, the summer residents chose to incorporate as a municipality, thereby creating the “Village of Larchmont.” The following year, the Larchmont Manor Company was dissolved, leading to the creation of the “Larchmont Manor Park Society” to oversee the park and ensure its future existence. With the advent of the New England Railroad, Larchmont began to expand as a year-round community. The subsequent arrival of the New England Thruway heightened the easy access to New York City, and further established Larchmont as a commuter and family- oriented neighborhood that continued to be quite popular with icons of industry, entertainment, art and sports. Larchmont’s past is filled with captivating stories of the people who established the area, lived, worked and perhaps vacationed here. It certainly seems as if the history of events that shaped this beautiful area would be a great Tale to tell….. 2 DDUUCCKKTTAALLEESS HISTORICAL THEME POOL LLAARRCCHHMMOONNTT LLUUMMIIINNAARRIIIEESS::: PPEEOOPPLLEE AADDDDIIINNGG DDIIISSTTIIINNCCTTIIIOONN TTOO TTHHEE LLAARRCCHHMMOONNTT CCOOMMMMUUNNIIITTYY VAUDEVILLE STARS (Albee, Proctor & Murdoch were 3 men that ruled vaudeville Edward F. Albee American Playwright • “The American Dream”(’60); “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf” (’62); “Malcolm” (’65); “Seascape” (‘74); “The Lady from Dubuque” (’79); Finding the Sun” (’82); “The Lorca Story” 1992 F.F. Proctor Dean of Vaudeville (1851-1929. American Vaudeville manager and theatre owner. John J. Murdoch Vaudeville Tycoon Married to Grace Ervilla The Fantastic Foys Family Vaudeville Act Eddie Sr, Mrs. Eddie, + 7 little boys lived in Larchmont/N. Rochelle border Florenz Ziegfield Showman, Producer of “Ziegfield Follies” (1907) Courted actress Billy Burke & proposed to her in Larchmont. Married 1914. Produced great stars like Will Rogers Produced the musical, “Show Boat” (1927) POLITICIANS & OTHER NOTABLES Jimmy Walker New York’s colorful Mayor – visited on weekends. Frequent guest of A.C. Blumenthal & Peggy Fears Peter Jay Munro Nephew of John Jay (First Chief Justice of the U.S.) Built “The Manor House” (18 Elm) (John Jay Homestead is in Rye) Theodore Roosevelt Gave lectures in Larchmont; Guest at Bevan Hotel Eleanor Roosevelt Gave lectures in Larchmont; Guest at Bevan Hotel Ethel Skakel Kennedy (Mrs. Robert) Lived here before marriage to Robert Kennedy Dr. Judith Doolin Spikes Larchmont Historian, Author, Founder of Larchmont Historical Society 3 LARCHMONT LUMINARIES… THEATER/STAGE STARS Blanche Ring Broadway, Vaudeville Musical Comedy Star (1877 – 1961) . Famous for her song, “I’ve Got Rings on my Fingers” Charles Dillingham Famous Producer. Director, Theatre Owner, Journalist & Press Agent • Larchmont resident • Best known for “The Red Mill” (1906) smash hit operetta • Decorated façade of Knickerbocker Theater with huge, revolving windmill, powered & lit by electricity. Became known as Broadway’s first moving illuminated sign. • Other projects: “Maurice Chevalier” (’32), “Ripples” (’30), “The High Road” (’28), “She’s My Baby” (’28), “Sidewalks of New York” (’27), “Madame Pompadour” (’24), “Bulldog Drummond” (’21), “The Big Show” (’17) + many more. • Built and managed The Globe Theater (1915) A.C. Blumenthal Theatrical Producer. Lived at 34 Beach; Married to Actress Peggy Fears Walter Slezak Star of stage, screen, opera & writer (1902 – 83) • Son of famous opera singer, Leo Slezak (Vienna Opera House) • Films: “Sodom and Gomorra” (1922), “ Born to Kill (1947) “The Princess and the Pirate” (’64) • Tony Award Winner (’55) for Broadway role in ” Fanny” • Wrote autobiography "What Time’s the Next Swan?” Peggy Fears Actress; Producer of Kern’s “Music in the Air,” Married to A.C. Blumenthal Augustin Daly Drama Critic. Theatrical Producer. Founder, Daly’s Theater Lillian Russell Famous American Actress & Singer in the late 19th/early 20th Century . Vaudeville actress, comic opera star & operetta singer, performed w/NYC Operas Kate Claxton Actress. Member, Daly’s Theater. 29 year success in “The Two Orphans” Lillian Gish Actress; Star of Silent Films; Pioneer of Motion Picture Industry • Worked with D.W. Griffith • Honorary Academy Award Winner • The American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, and the D.W Griffith Award for lifetime achievement • Sister of Dorothy Gish Dorothy Gish Actress; Silent film star. • Sister of Lillian Gish. Also worked with D.W. Griffith Lionel & Ethel Barrymore Theatre Stars. • She died in one of the hotels. John Barrymore joined his grandmother’s Acting troupe for one summer. Then went on to become a star. Mitzi Hajos Viennese Musical Comedy Star 4 LARCHMONT LUMINARIES… DANCE/PERFORMING ARTISTS Anna Pavlova Prima Ballerina. Spent summers in Larchmont at the Royal Victoria Hotel Kitty & Rose Doner Dancing Team. Lived at 21 Stuyvesant; Vaudeville Era Vernon Castle (Vernon Castle Blythe) Great Husband/Wife Ballroom Dance Team of the early 20’s. & Irene Foote Castle • Frequent visitors to Irene’s father’s home in Larchmont • Introduced several dances to this country: “Fox Trot”, “Turkey Trot”, “Texas Tommy”, “Grizzly Bear”, “The Castle Walk”, “The One Step” & “The Hesitation Waltz” • Irene’s bobbed hair and boyishly thin look influenced the fashion world. • Vernon was a WWI pilot and killed on a training mission. TV/FILM/RADIO STARS Pearl White Star of Silent Films (“Perils of Pauline”) D.W. Griffith Prominent American Film Director; Silent Film Director/Icon (David Llewelyn Wark Griffith) • Spent great deal of time in Larchmont. Lived in Mamaroneck. • Most famous for “Birth of a Nation” (1915) • “Way Down East” (’20) • “Orphans of the Storm” (’21) • All silent films, except for his last 2: “Abraham Lincoln” and “The Struggle” • Started United Artists Pictures Studio w/Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford & Douglas Fairbanks. Mary Pickford Nicknames: “America’s Sweetheart”, “The Glad Girl”, “Baby Gladys”.