Breaking Barriers: How Swimwear Paved the Way for Women's Rights

Auden Ho, Annika Houghton, Eden Smith Junior Division

Group Performance

Process Paper: 499 words

Ho, Houghton, Smith 2

Process Paper

We are a group of girls who surf, swim, do water sports, go to the beach, and we live on an island in the ocean--swimwear is a big part of our lives! So when one of us came across a book on Annette Kellerman, The Mermaid Queen, we were interested. As we studied, we learned ​ ​ about women who broke barriers by designing their own swimwear in order to swim competitively and freely, despite public disapproval. We feel that our topic,“How Swimwear Paved the Way for Women’s Rights,” is important because these women helped prepare society for change in women’s opportunities a century ago--a topic that continues to be a concern even today.

We borrowed books and looked for information at our state library on topics such as women’s fashion, swimwear, and the three main characters of our performance--Annette Kellerman, who pioneered women’s first competitive swimwear; Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel; and Bianca Valenti, widely considered to be the best female big wave surfer in the U.S. We used the citations at the end of our books to find websites and primary sources to research and add to our script. We also used websites about Valenti’s fight for equality in women’s surfing. We created a script and updated it as we learned more.

We decided to do a performance because we were inspired by last year's performances from our school. We think it’s a powerful way to display historical events because it makes them feel real. Even when we thought the script was finished, we kept adding more and changing it as we continued to gather more information. Revising helped us expand our thesis as we figured out the strongest points of our research. When the quarantine began, we started having zoom meetings to discuss and improve the script. We zoom interviewed Glenn Stout, author of Young ​ Woman and the Sea, who said his book about Ederle might be made into a film! In May, we ​ interviewed Bianca Valenti who described her fight for equity in women’s professional surfing and her frustration in the sizing of hooded wetsuits primarily designed for men.

The theme, Breaking Barriers relates to our project because the women we focus on, Gertrude Ederle and Annette Kellerman, broke barriers that helped women to be seen as equals in society. The swimsuits designed by Annette Kellerman and Gertrude Ederle broke societal ​ barriers enabling women to swim competitively. However, much of the focus on the new swimsuit popularized the myth of the ideal woman, and in doing so, reinforced the beauty barrier and benevolent sexism. Our thesis changed over time because the new swimsuits did break barriers, ​ but we realized the swimsuits drew new attention to women’s bodies causing many negative unexpected results. We edited the performance to reflect the positive and negative results of the barrier that was broken, including objectification, that arose as a result. We realized that breaking barriers is an ongoing process as new barriers often form. Ho, Houghton, Smith 3

Annotated Bibliography

Primary Sources: “Annette Kellerman’s Ideas of Realism Appall Producers.” The day book. Chicago, Ill., 20 Oct. ​ ​ ​ 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. ​ ​ .

This article written during her lifetime is about Annette’s choice to give up her career in Vaudeville and her influence in the set design of the films she acted in including seaweed and glass cages in exotic locations such as Jamaica and the British West Indies. This source helped us develop the character and personality of Annette in the Vaudeville scene.

“Annette Kellerman Will Dive and Swim on the Screen at the Colonial.” The Tacoma Times. ​ Tacoma, Wash., 13 March 1915. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. ​ ​ Library of Congress. .

This was a newspaper advertisement about the silent film, Neptune’s Daughter, featuring ​ ​ Annette Kellerman as the star. It also included reviews from film critics claiming how spectacular the movie was! This source helped us support our argument that Kellerman was one of the first athletes to become part of the celebrity culture. In the script we explained that Annette’s celebrity in synchronized swimming and the introduction of ​ celebrity culture in the 1920s helped her become a star on Vaudeville and later in Hollywood. This was illustrated in the Vaudeville scene in our performance.

“Bathing Apparel: In the 4th of July Sale.” Evening star. Washington, D.C., 30 June 1918. ​ ​ Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. ​ .

This is an advertisement for swimsuits and swim tights named after Annette Kellerman and mimicking the style she created. This source helped us see how her popular swimsuit influenced the design of other swimsuits in 1918.

“Bianca Valenti: Big Wave Surfer,Media Spokesperson,Environmental Activist.” Big Wave ​ Bianca, 7 Feb. 2020, www.bigwavebianca.com/. ​

This is Bianca Valenti’s website. This website gives information on Bianca Valenti’s fight for gender equality in women’s big wave surfing. We represented Bianca Valenti’s perspective in the introductory scene of our performance.

Burgess, Thomas William. “Trainer Hopes to Put Swimmer Across Channel in 11½ Hours.” Evening star. Washington, D.C., 05 July 1926. Chronicling America: Historic American ​ ​ Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. ​ Ho, Houghton, Smith 4

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This newspaper article was written by Ederle’s trainer. He explains that it took him 32 attempts before he made it across the English Channel. He wasn’t very hopeful that she would make it across in her first attempt of the season of 1926. It helped us understand her determination to make it across.

Crowley, Louise Petty. Personal Interview. 11 April 2020.

Annika interviewed her grandma who told her about her mother, Lucile Petty, who taught women how to swim and how to perform life-saving skills in the 1930s at Weber College in Utah. Annika comments about the inspiration she feels about her great grandmother in the dialogue of the opening scene of the performance.

“Esther Williams & Annette Kellerman on Set of Million Dollar Mermaid 1952: Million Dollar Mermaid.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/126734176994981179/?lp=true. ​ ​

This image shows Annette Kellerman on the set of “The Million Dollar Mermaid” with Esther Williams who played Annette in the film. This source provided more support for the argument we make that Annette was an important participant in the celebrity culture that started in the 1920s in the United States.

“Gertrude Ederle, Channel Swimmer.” Channel Swimming Dover, ​ ​ www.channelswimmingdover.org.uk/content/photo/gertrude-ederle-channel-swimmer.

This image of Gertrude Ederle shows how spunky Ederle was which was important in her “can do” attitude that helped her swim the English Channel. We use this source to help capture Ederle’s spunky personality in our performance.

“Gertrude Ederle’s Great Swim.” Hamilton Evening Journal. (Hamilton, Ohio) 26 September ​ ​ 1926.

This newspaper editorial helped us understand how people felt about women and their roles at the time. The reporter writes about how Ederle “has not cheated nature” and starved herself to be thin. In our script, we used the line, “She will be a good mother,” from the article to show that her body was being focused on rather than her accomplishments.

“Grease Coated Olympic Swimmer Gertrude Ederle Wades into the Water on...” Getty Images, ​ ​ Archive, New York Daily News. www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/grease-coated-olympic-swimmer-gertrude-ederl e-wades-into-news-photo/97288164?adppopup=true.

This is the image on our backdrop that shows Gertrude Ederle about to go into the water. It shows the innovative ideas Ederle used to pursue her goal. We tried to show this in the Ho, Houghton, Smith 5

scene where she “swims” the English Channel.

Kellerman, Annette. How to Swim: Annette Kellermann: Free Download, Borrow, and ​ ​ Streaming.” Internet Archive, George H. Doran Company, 1 Jan. 1970, ​ ​ archive.org/details/howtoswim00kellgoog/page/n22/mode/2up.

Annette Kellerman describes how she views herself and what she did to raise awareness about the ocean and how women should enjoy swimming. We used these ideas in the analysis and commentary that follows the Vaudeville scene. The characters discuss her celebrity status and how it drew attention to her body. However, some people were inspired by her courage, her focus on health and wellness, and her efforts to raise awareness about the environment.

Kellerman, Annette. Physical Beauty, How to Keep It. George H. Doran Company, 1918. ​ ​

This book, written by Kellerman, describes her philosophy and advice on how to stay physically fit and active. She prescribes two hours of activity in the outdoors, which is really cool. This source helped us understand the personality and goals of Kellerman. We tried to show this in how we created her character in the script.

“Less than a Month before, Gertrude Ederle Became the First Woman to... News Photo.” Getty ​ Images, ​ www.gettyimages.com/photos/bettmann-archive-gertrude-ederle?family=editorial&phrase =bettmann archive gertrude ederle&sort=mostpopular.

This picture shows Gertrude Ederle swimming the English Channel, lathered in grease, and smiling. We used this image in the backdrop. It helps portray Ederle’s personality.

“Miss Annette Kellerman.” The Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/2014683563/. 3 March ​ ​ 1919.

This is a picture of Annette standing in her swimsuit. It helped us design the swimsuit for Annette Kellerman that we used in the performance.

“The Perfect Woman--Annette Kellerman--Wears and Recommends the Perfect Shoe--The LA France.” The Washington Times. Washington D.C., 06 Oct. 1912. Chronicling America: ​ ​ ​ Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. ​ .

This is an advertisement for the “perfect shoe” using the endorsement of “the perfect woman,” Annette Kellerman. It shows that businesses used her name, image and title to sell products. It shows the emphasis on her figure and body type. This helped us in our analysis of how Kellerman’s body and her celebrity status was used to sell products. We discuss this in the scene following the Vaudeville act when we talk about how she ​ “played a role in the creation of a modern celebrity, fitness, beauty, and dieting culture.” Ho, Houghton, Smith 6

“Untitled (Your Body Is a Battleground) - Barbara Kruger: The Broad.” Barbara Kruger | The ​ Broad, www.thebroad.org/art/barbara-kruger/untitled-your-body-battleground. ​

This is a reproduction of an artwork we used that we used in the backdrop. We felt this work of art helps to visually illustrate what our performance focuses on--the objectification of women’s bodies. We decided to pattern our whole backdrop on Kruger’s style of using black and white photos with a red border and white statements. Kruger uses her work to fight against sexism.

Valenti, Bianca. Personal Interview 19 May 2020.

In this zoom meeting we had with Bianca Valenti, she told us of the issues women in sports still face today. She gave a personal experience of wanting to compete at Pipeline, only to find that women couldn’t participate in that contest. Bianca also told us of the discrepancy in gear for men and women used for surfing. This further proves our point that there are still barriers in swimwear for women. We used this source to help write our conclusion about equality.

“You’ll See the ‘Diving Venus’ at the Movies.” The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.), 17 Jan. ​ 1914. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. .

This newspaper article advertised one of Annette Kellerman’s movies, claiming her as “the wonderful water nymph.” We used the tone of this advertisement in creating the Vaudeville scene.

Secondary Sources:

Adler, David A. America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ​ ​ ​ ​ Books. 2005.

This children’s book tells the story of Gertrude Ederle’s swim across the English Channel. It was one of the sources for our script dialogue using a primary source quote from a reporter from the London Daily News who said “women would remain forever the weaker sex.”

“Annette Kellerman.” Hollywood Walk of Fame, www.walkoffame.com/annette-kellerman. ​ ​

This website gave a brief biography of Annette Kellerman’s life. It also explains a lot about her career in Vaudeville and how she became a silent film star in Hollywood. This source helped us understand Kellerman’s celebrity status which helped us write the Vaudeville scene.

“Annette Kellerman Was Her Generation's Lady Gaga.” Topics, ​ ​ Ho, Houghton, Smith 7

www.sbs.com.au/topics/voices/culture/article/2019/03/01/annette-kellerman-was-her-gene rations-lady-gaga.

We used this website to find out some of the details of Annette’s career and the stunts she performed. We used this to help create the Vaudeville scene.

“Annette Kellerman Sullivan, 87, 'Million Dollar Mermaid,' Dead.” The New York Times, The ​ ​ New York Times, 6 Nov. 1975, www.nytimes.com/1975/11/06/archives/annette-kellerman-sullivan-87-million-dollar-mer maid-dead-played-55.html.

This article celebrates the life and accomplishments of Annette Kellerman. It was written when she died in 1975. This source helped us see the big picture of Kellerman’s life. It helped us in developing her character.

“Annette Kellerman Wears Revealing Swimsuit.” SeeCalifornia.com, ​ ​ www.seecalifornia.com/history/annette-kellerman-swimsuit.html.

This website gave information about how Annette Kellerman’s swimsuit broke swimsuit gender barriers. This source helped us understand Kellerman’s character.

“Annette Kellerman: A Swimming Superstar.” Underwater Audio, ​ ​ www.underwateraudio.com/blogs/swimming-and-fitness-blog/let-tell-annette.

This source gave us information on each of the main points in Annette’s life and information on the fashion of her time and how she changed it. Once again, this source helped us develop Kellerman’s character.

“Annette Kellerman: Australia's Very Own Mermaid.” Australian Geographic, 23 Apr. 2019, ​ ​ www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2019/04/annette-kellerman-austr alias-very-own-mermaid/.

This article gave information about what Annette thought of the idea of the “perfect woman” and how this title affected her. It helped us realize that she was a puppet at times and we tried to show that in the Harvard classroom scene when the professor measures her in front of the class.

“Australian Dictionary of Biography.” ADB Home - Australian Dictionary of Biography, ​ ​ adb.anu.edu.au/.

We used this website to find information on Annette Kellerman’s life and the events that occured. This helped us develop Kellerman’s character.

Buckmaster, Luke. “Culture - The Amazing Life of Australia's 'Million-Dollar Mermaid'.” BBC, ​ ​ BBC, 2 Nov. 2017, Ho, Houghton, Smith 8

www.bbc.com/culture/story/20171101-the-amazing-life-of-australias-million-dollar-merm aid.

This site helped with our performance because it told all about Annette’s early and later career in synchronized swimming and Vaudeville. We used the synchronized swimming ideas in the finale of our performance when we do some synchronized “swimming” of our own on stage.

Corey, Shana, and Ed Fotheringham. Mermaid Queen: the Spectacular True Story of Annette ​ Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way to Fame, Fortune; Swimsuit History! Scholastic Inc., ​ 2009.

This is the book one of us found that inspired the performance and topic of women’s swimsuits and fashion. It was one of our most important sources and provided much of the dialogue in our performance.

Dingari, Chai. “How Bianca Valenti Fought For Gender Equity In Big-Wave Surfing.” HuffPost, ​ ​ HuffPost, 24 Apr. 2019, www.huffpost.com/entry/big-wave-surfer-bianca-valenti_n_5cb7500ee4b08233dbddad2c.

We used this article to get more information on how Bianca Valenti has and is fighting for gender equality. It also gave information on the website she created and how it is helping her fight. We cite her concerns in the opening scene of the performance when she says, “I noticed that sponsors still paid more to women who looked like models, even if I ​ outsurfed them.”

Duane, Daniel. “The Fight for Gender Equality in One of the Most Dangerous Sports on Earth.” New York Times. 7 Feb. 2019. ​ https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/07/magazine/women-surf-big-wave.html

This article helped us understand the contemporary issues women big wave surfers face in their struggle for equal opportunities in this sport. We focused on this in the opening scene of the performance when Valenti describes her work to create “the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing in 2016 when we realized women still faced inequity.” This helped us write the parts for the girls on the beach for the opening scene.

“Esther Williams - Related Biography: Swimmer Annette Kellerman.” Related Biography: ​ Swimmer Annette Kellerman - Swimming, Film, Daughter, and Women - JRank Articles, ​ sports.jrank.org/pages/5314/Williams-Esther-Related-Biography-Swimmer-Annette-Kell erman.html.

This source gave a biography of Annette Kellerman’s life and compared it to the actress and swimmer Esther Williams, who made the movie The Million Dollar Mermaid about ​ ​ Annette Kellerman. This source helped us understand the Kellerman’s celebrity status as popularized by Williams, and that helped us create her character. Ho, Houghton, Smith 9

Forbes, Gordon B., Linda L. Collinsworth, Rebecca L. Jobe, Kristen D. Braun, and Leslie M. Wise. “Sexism, Hostility toward Women, and Endorsement of Beauty Ideals and Practices: Are Beauty Ideals Associated with Oppressive Beliefs?” Sex Roles. Vol. 56: 265-273. ​ ​ 2007.

This source helped us better understand the concepts of benevolent sexism and beauty barrier. It explained the shift in awareness from women’s abilities to a focus on their beauty by reducing them to sex objects. We used this source in creating the dialogue following the Vaudeville scene when we described what happened to these women. We state, “When Kellerman and Ederle were benevolently put on pedestals to be admired as the ideal woman, a beauty barrier was formed. Women became self-conscious and insecure.” This article helped us to understand that although praising women as beautiful or ideal can be seen as a compliment, it can also distract others from our abilities or make us feel that if we don’t look pretty, we don’t measure up.

Gibson, Emily and Barbara Firth. The Original Million Dollar Mermaid: the Annette Kellerman ​ Story. Allen & Unwin, 2006. ​

This book has given us a complete biography of Annette Kellerman’s life. It also gave many of the quotes and information we used to form the Annette Kellerman scenes. We used this source in many scenes of our script as dialogue between characters in scenes with Annette Kellerman.

Hahner, Leslie A. and Scott J. Varda. “Modesty and Feminisms: Conversations on Aesthetics and Resistance.” Feminist Formations. Johns Hopkins UP 24.3 Winter 2012. Pp. 22-42. ​ ​ ​

This article focuses on websites, advertisements, and blogs that promote modesty. These sources come across with good intentions telling girls that they should be modest in order avoid the negative attention to their bodies. However, this article explains that such intentions are actually not supporting feminists ideals of personal confidence and choice. Girls today are confronted with many choices in swimwear today. This relates to our discussion after the Vaudeville scene about the focus on Kellerman’s body where she says, “young women found what I did both inspirational and liberating, not for the way I exposed (my body) but for the way (I) exposed contradictions and inequality in the way women were treated.”

Ignotofsky, Rachel. Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win. Ten Speed ​ ​ Press, 2017.

We used this book to find more information on Gertrude Ederle and her role in promoting sports for women. She is considered a pioneer in women’s sports. This source helped us to understand Ederle’s goals and that helped us to write her character.

Ho, Houghton, Smith 10

Keaveny, Erin. “How Women’s Swimming Paved the Way for Equality.” Swimming World. ​ https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/how-womens-swimming-paved-the-way- for-equality/. 11 July 2017. ​

This source gave us the inspiration for the title of our performance. It gives an account of the women whose efforts in swimming helped change society’s views of women.

“Kellerman, Annette (1886–1975).” Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia, ​ ​ Encyclopedia.com, 19 Feb. 2020, www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kellerman -annette-1886-1975.

This website provided a long, full biography on Annette Kellerman’s life. It also included quotes said by Annette. This helped us use primary source material in our script.

Kelsey-Sugg, Anna, and ABC Radio National. “Underwater Ballerina, Nude Film Star: The Extraordinary Life of Australia's 'Fearless Mermaid'.” ABC News, 25 Oct. 2018, ​ ​ www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-26/reviving-the-story-of-australian-annette-kellerman/1039 7208.

This source gave us a biography of Annette Kellerman, starting with a brief explanation on Annette’s early life and continuing to explain her career as a swimmer and silent film star. This source helped us develop the character of Kellerman.

King, Gilbert. “A Spectacle of Horror – The Burning of the General Slocum.” Smithsonian.com, ​ ​ Smithsonian Institution, 21 Feb. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/a-spectacle-of-horror-the-burning-of-the-general-slocu m-104712974/.

This website is a source we found when we researched the tragedy of the burning of the PS General Slocum. We used this source at the end of the courtroom scene when the judge turns to the audience to describe this incident. “More than a thousand people, mostly women and children, burned or drowned unable to escape the water” (King).

Little, Becky. “The First Woman to Swim the English Channel Beat the Men's Record by Two Hours.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 3 Aug. 2018, ​ ​ www.history.com/news/gertrude-ederle-first-woman-swim-english-channel.

This website gave us the information about events that lead to Gertrude Ederle swimming the English Channel. It also featured her swim and the conditions of the Channel. We used this source to help portray Ederle’s “swim” across the English Channel in our performance.

Macy, Sue, and Matt Collins. Trudy's Big Swim: How Gertrude Ederle Swam the English ​ Ho, Houghton, Smith 11

Channel and Took the World by Storm. Holiday House, 2019. ​

This book was about Gertrude Ederle’s swim of the English Channel complete with pictures as well. This book also helped us understand the conditions of the Channel and the press on the day she succeeded in swimming it.

Maddy, Jennifer and Lucy Stevenson. “Rose Marie Takes a Stand.” Friend. May 2020. Pp. ​ ​ 32-33.

This article in a children’s magazine told the story of Rose Marie Reid, a swimsuit designer who was popular in the 1950s to 60s in California. She designed swimsuits that were elegant and fashionable and her suits were used in Hollywood films. However, when her company started designing more revealing swimsuits, she chose to quit her job. This source supports the controversy that is ongoing today about modesty and objectification. We try to represent this continuing debate in the analysis portion that follows the Vaudeville scene.

Maloney, Shane and Chris Grosz. “Annette Kellerman & Esther Williams.” The Monthly, ​ ​ [email protected]. 26 Apr. 2013. www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2013/may/1366950581/shane-maloney/annette-kellerman- esther-williams.

This website provided information on the movie made about Annette Kellerman’s life and the role played by a woman named Esther Williams. We used this information to help us portray Kellerman’s celebrity status.

Mason, Paul. “Heroes of Swimming: Annette Kellerman.” The Guardian, Guardian News and ​ ​ Media, 8 Nov. 2013, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-swimming-blog/2013/nov/08/heroes-swimming-an nette-kellerman.

This source gave us a small amount of information on Annette Kellerman’s career, but mostly provided information about what Annette felt her greatest accomplishment in her career was, creating a swimsuit enabling women to swim freely and competitively. We used this article to help portray Kellerman’s pride in her swimsuit design when she wears it to the beach in Boston and displays it and describes it in the courtroom scene.

Million Dollar Mermaid. Directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Performances by Esther Williams, Victor ​ Mature, and Walter Pidgeon, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. 1952.

This film presents a biography of Annette Kellerman’s life from childhood to stardom. It helped us find ideas for how to present various situations in her life. We liked watching the synchronized swimming in this film and tried to mimic some of the moves in the finale of our performance.

Ho, Houghton, Smith 12

Morton, Ella. “The 'Australian Mermaid' Who Introduced Recreational Swimming to American Women.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 13 Jan. 2016, ​ ​ www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-australian-mermaid-who-introduced-recreational-swim ming-to-american-women.

This website gave information on Annette’s career in America and also provided information about her arrest on Boston Beach. We used this in the arrest scene.

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. “National Film; Sound Archive of Australia [Australia's Living Archive].”

This website has all of the main achievements in Annette Kellerman’s life presented separately in videos, articles, and documents. This source helped us in developing Kellerman’s character.

Origjanska, Magda. “Annette Kellerman: The Modern Mermaid Who Revolutionized Women's Swimwear.” The Vintage News, 24 July 2017, ​ ​ www.thevintagenews.com/2017/07/25/annette-kellerman-the-modern-mermaid-who-revol ​ utionized-womens-swimwear/.

This source gave us information on how Annette Kellerman revolutionized women’s swimwear. This article helped us see that her efforts are still recognized today.

Picone, Kiri. “Appreciate Your Bikini: A Brief History Of Women's Swimwear.” All That's ​ Interesting, All That's Interesting, 30 Oct. 2019, ​ allthatsinteresting.com/history-of-womens-swimwear.

We used this website to get information about the history of women’s swimsuits. We also used a picture from the website for our backdrop.

Popova, Maria. Figuring. Pantheon, 2019. ​ ​

This is a book one of our mom’s was reading, and there was a quote from a man who wrote an opinion editorial to a newspaper that said that suffragettes were ugly, so nobody cares about them and what they say. We thought this was interesting because that’s the opposite of what we’re studying, but the same thing. And we were thinking about how Annette Kellerman was a suffragette and also the “Perfect Woman.” So that means that times changed a little from 1852 to 1907. Women were still being judged on their appearances, but now it was just opposite. And it also meant that Kellerman was changing the idea about suffragettes. This source helped us to write the part of the script that talks about suffragette’s being judged for their looks.

“Ratings, Reviews, and Where to Watch the Best Movies & TV Shows.” IMDb, IMDb.com, ​ ​ www.imdb.com/.

Ho, Houghton, Smith 13

This website gave us information on Annette Kellerman’s career in Vaudeville and Hollywood. It gave the movies she starred in and the dates the movies were made. It helped us in portraying her celebrity status in the Vaudeville scene.

Stout, Glenn. Young Woman and the Sea How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and ​ Inspired the World. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. ​

This book helped us find a lot more information on Gertrude Ederle and her efforts to swim the English Channel. It described her first attempt and then her second including the changes she made in the design of her swimsuit, the reason behind her “greasing” up her body, and her swim goggles. We used many lines from the book in the English Channel scene like “this way, ole girl” and when we sing, “We have no bananas” as Stout describes.

Stout, Glenn. Personal interview. 10 April 2020.

This Zoom interview with the author of Young Woman and the Sea helped us understand ​ ​ how hard it was for women to be recognized for their accomplishments in the early 1900s. He also talked about the rise of the celebrity in the 1920’s and how Ederle handled it. Mr. Stout told us about Julia Harpman, a news reporter, who reported on Trudy’s swim. She, like other female reporters, has been given very little attention by historians. It was exciting to hear about this early women journalist.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Swimsuit.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia ​ ​ Britannica, Inc., 14 Sept. 2012, www.britannica.com/topic/swimsuit#ref290699.

This source gave the history of women’s swimsuits and how Annette changed women’s fashion at that time. This source helped us develop our thesis statement.

The Hairpin May 4, 2011. “Bathing Suit Shopping With Annette Kellerman, the Australian Mermaid.” The Hairpin, 1 Aug. 2017, ​ ​ www.thehairpin.com/2011/05/bathing-suit-shopping-with-annette-kellerman-the-australian -mermaid/.

This website was about how after Annette’s swimsuit became legal, women had flocked in to buy the “Annette Kellerman” swimsuit. It was considered the first modern swimsuit for women. This source helped us develop Kellerman’s role in commercial sales.

University of Melbourne. “Kellerman, Annette - Woman - The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia.” Kellerman, Annette - Woman - The ​ Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia, ​ www.womenaustralia.info/leaders/biogs/WLE0513b.htm.

We used this website as another source on Annette Kellerman’s life. It helped us develop her character. Ho, Houghton, Smith 14

Woollacott, Angela. “Monash University EPress.” 'Chapter 1: Annette Kellerman: Mermaids ​ and South Sea Islanders' in Race and the Modern Exotic: Three 'Australian' Women on Global Display by Angela Woollacott | EPress, Monash University Publishing, ​ books.publishing.monash.edu/apps/bookworm/view/Race and the Modern Exotic: Three ‘Australian’ Women on Global Display/173/OEBPS/c01.htm.

This source was the first chapter of a book. It gave a short biography of Annette’s life and gets more detailed as the story continues. It also helped us develop her character.

Zagarzazu, Camila. “Million Dollar Mermaid: Annette Kellerman: Museums in Sydney.” Time ​ Out Sydney, Time Out, 12 July 2016, ​ www.timeout.com/sydney/museums/million-dollar-mermaid-annette-kellerman.

This website had an article that gave us information on how Annette Kellerman pioneered women’s fitness as a professional swimmer and Vaudeville/ Hollywood star. We used this to help develop the Vaudeville scene. NHD PERFORMANCE SCRIPT COVER PAGE

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION Project Title How Swimwear Paved the Way for Women’s Rights Student Name(s) Auden Ho, Annika Houghton and Eden Smith Division Junior Performance 10 Minutes Runtime The swimsuits designed by Annette Kellerman and Gertrude Ederle broke societal barriers enabling women to swim competitively. However, much of the Thesis focus on the new swimsuits popularized the myth of the ideal woman, and in doing so, reinforced the beauty barrier and benevolent sexism.

PERFORMANCE OVERALL SCENARIO Story Setting(s) Timeframe Scenes take place in Hawaii on a beach, Australia in a doctor’s office, beach in Boston; courtroom in Boston; ● Contemporary opening scene Harvard classroom, Cape Griz-Nez, France; the English ● 1890 -1930 Channel; Dover, Great Britain, a Vaudeville Show in New York City and in a “pool.” Story Synopsis The performance tells the story of two women who swam competitively and designed swimwear that greatly improved their ability to swim freely and competitively. It also focuses on the attention the new swimwear drew to women’s bodies and the objectification that came with it.

CHARACTERS Character Performance Description/background for the character Girl 1 Annika School girl at the beach Girl 2 Auden School girl at the beach Bianca Valenti Eden Female big wave surfer whose endorsements were pulled when she challenged pay for women vs. men Annette Kellerman Auden Australian woman, synchronized swimming Vaudeville superstar, (1886-1975) Annette Eden A doctor who diagnosed Annette Kellerman’s Rickets and Kellerman’s doctor recommended swimming as a cure Mrs. Kellerman Annika Annette Kellerman’s mother Beach bystander Annika A woman in a 10 piece bathing suit aghast at Annette one-piece bathing suit Boston Policeman Eden He arrested Kellerman at the beach News Boy Annika Boy waving newspaper Judge in Boston Annika A judge who is sympathetic to Kellerman and women swimming Lawyer Eden Accuses Kellerman of indecent exposure Dr. Dudley Sargent Eden Harvard Professor who is obsessed with finding the “Perfect Woman” (1849-1924) Gertrude Ederle Annika American, first woman to swim the English Channel, (1905-2003). London Daily Eden He wrote a scathing review of Ederle’s first attempt at the English Times Reporter channel, and then celebrates her as a prize for men after she wins. Meg Ederle Auden Gertrude Ederle’s sister who supports her in her English Channel swim. Carnival Barker Eden Man shouting for patrons to come see Kellerman in Vaudeville show

OVERALL STAGE SETTING Describe the Stage(s) of the Performance Color Use Scheme

Background We used as many original Design photographs and graphics as we could which were all black and white. We decided to go with a red background to mimic the designs of Barbara ​ Kruger (featured in the bottom ​ corner next to Slocum), a famous contemporary artist who focuses on gender equality using black and white images with bold lettering and red framing.

Pictures include images of swimsuits since 1875, Esther ​ Williams and Annette ​ ​ Kellerman on the set of the ​ film “Million Dollar Mermaid,” changes in swimsuits over time, Gertrude Ederle on the ​ ​ day she swam the English Channel, Annette Kellerman’s measurements compared to Venus de Milo and the ​ goddess Diana, a picture of the swimsuit Kellerman designed, and the headline of the Slocum Accident. ​ ​ Props These three large banners remain on the stage for the entire performance.

PERFORMANCE SCRIPT BY SCENES

COSTUMES & PROPS BY SCENE Scene #1 Costume(s) Visual(s) or Costume(s) Description(s) Set Design & Props Background Background banners Bianca Valenti and Girl 2: swim shorts and rash Design ​ guards Props Beach bag containing the book Girl 1: swimsuit and wrapped in a towel ​ The Original Million Dollar Mermaid by Gibson and Firth. ​

SCENE 1 - SCENARIO Purpose of the Scene Key Elements Setting Waimea Bay, beach in Hawaii Timeframe Modern Day

Characters Girl 1, Girl 2, and Bianca Valenti The purpose of this scene is to introduce the thesis and establish a modern context for the contribution of Annette Kellerman and Gertrude Ederle in breaking societal barriers enabling women to swim competitively. Bianca Valenti is a surfer who is working today to improve equity in surfing, another water sport. Summary of the Scene Girls come to the beach and are excited to see Big Wave surfer, Bianca Valenti. They talk about how far women’s swimwear has come and set the scene for the struggle in the early 1900s for women’s rights and equity in sports.

DIALOGUE - SCENE 1 Character & Action Dialogue Girl 1 (Annika) Whoa! The waves look good today! Girl in towel walks out Girl 2 (Auden) Ya they look sick! Girl in rashguard talks to girl 1 Girl 1 (Annika) Is that Big Wave Bianca?!? Girl points Girl 2 (Auden) Who’s that?!? Girl reacts Girl 1 (Annika) Bianca Valenti! The best female big wave surfer in America! Enthusiastically responds Bianca (Eden) Hi girls--heading out to surf? Bianca greets the girls Girl 1 (Annika) Ya! I want to go pro someday, like you! They talk. Bianca (Eden) Don’t give up. Just remember there are going to be a lot of barriers. My ​ Talk friends and I created the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing in 2016 when we realized women still faced inequity (Duane). Girl 1 (Annika) Like when you lost a bunch of endorsement contracts for protesting?

Bianca (Eden) Yeah…I noticed that sponsors still paid more to women who looked like ​ models, even if I outsurfed them. (Duane.) Girl 2 (Auden) Swimsuits have been a big barrier for women throughout history. You’ve got Girl 2 pulls out a book to show to see this! An Australian woman named Annette Kellerman pioneered the others. women’s swimwear in 1907! She made it so women could actually swim! (Mason) Girl 1 (Annika) “My great-grandma taught swimming and life-saving in the 1930s” (Crowley) but, in the early 1900s ladies could barely breathe, let alone swim in Girl reacts ​ ​ ​ ​ swimsuits made with corsets and layers of wool. (Corey and Fotheringham)

Auden, Eden, Annika The swimsuits designed by Annette Kellerman and Gertrude Ederle ​ ​ broke societal barriers enabling women to swim competitively. However, much of the focus on the new swimsuits popularized the myth of the ideal woman, and in doing so, reinforced the beauty barrier and benevolent sexism.

COSTUMES & PROPS BY SCENE Scene #2 Costume(s) Visual(s) or Costume(s) Description(s) Set Design & Props Doctor: white lab coat Background Same as last scene ​ Mrs. Kellerman: black skirt and woolen shawl Design ​ Annette Kellerman: robe Props none ​

SCENE 2 - SCENARIO Purpose of the Scene

Key Elements

Setting Doctor’s office in Marrickville, Australia Timeframe 1890

Annette’s Doctor, Mrs. Kellerman, and Characters Annette Kellerman

The purpose of this scene is to introduce Annette Kellerman and the obstacles she faced in her young life and to establish the 20th century argument that it is healthy for women to swim. Summary of the Scene Annette Kellerman’s mother receives news that she has rickets, but that swimming will help strengthen her legs. Annette reflects on what that diagnosis meant to her.

DIALOGUE - SCENE 2 Character & Action Dialogue Narrator: Eden Annette Kellerman’s first barrier came when she was a young girl in Australia. Annette’s Doctor: Eden I’m so sorry, Annette has rickets. She must wear metal leg braces and use Dr. approaches woman in a crutches. (Gibson and Firth) shawl Mrs. Kellerman: Annika Oh dear… My husband and I teach ballet, we hoped our daughter could Reacts sadly dance. Annette’s Doctor: Eden I recommend swimming. It will strengthen her legs and the rest of her body Gives recommendation as well. (Gibson and Firth) Mrs. Kellerman: Annika Her braces came off when she was seven and she was made to swim. At Turns to audience to explain, first she was terrified of the water. doctor leaves Annette: Auden “Only a cripple can understand the intense joy that I experienced when little Annette enters and speaks. by little I found that my legs were growing stronger and taking on normal She makes graceful dancing shape... I’d go swimming anywhere, any time, at the drop of a hat.” motion with her arms when (Kellerman How to Swim 12) Eventually I created synchronized swimming ​ ​ she says “I learned to dance in and I learned to dance in the water. the water.”

COSTUMES & PROPS BY SCENE Scene #3 Costume(s) Visual(s) or Costume(s) Description(s) Set Design & Props Beach bystander: old-fashioned swim suit with long Background Same as last scene ​ black skirt, dark blouse with puffy sleeves Design Annette Kellerman: robe and swimwear she ​ Props Lace parasol designed Newspaper Policeman: police jacket and hat ​ Newsboy: newsboy hat ​

SCENE 3 - SCENARIO Purpose of the Scene

Key Elements

Setting Boston beach Timeframe 1907

Beachgoer, Annette Kellerman, Police Characters officer, newsboy

The purpose of this scene is to show how society viewed modesty and the barriers that kept women from swimming. the Scene Summary of the Scene Annette’s travels bring her to America where she is arrested at a beach for obscene exposure when she prepares to swim in her self-designed swimwear with footed-leggings and short-sleeves.

DIALOGUE - SCENE 3 Character & Action Dialogue Annette: Auden My competitive swimming led me around the world. I was in Boston in 1907 Annette removes robe to and headed straight to the beach where I saw women wearing stockings, prepare to swim shoes, overdresses with puffed sleeves, and even corsets wading and bobbing up and down, unable to feel the joy of swimming. Beach Bystander 1: Annika “Did you see that, her legs are bare!” (Million Dollar Mermaid) ​ ​ Walks with parasol and reacts to Annette’s swimsuit Beach Bystander 2: Annika “My goodness!” Look at her! She oughta get arrested!” (Million Dollar ​ Mermaid) Says line and leaves stage ​ Policeman: Eden “Hey, what are you doing?!’” (Gibson and Firth) Approaches Annette Annette: Auden I am about to go for a swim “‘...You don’t expect me to swim for 3 miles in a Reacts to policeman bathing costume like those over there.’” (Kellerman) Policeman: Eden “You can tell that to the judge.” (Gibson and Firth) Escorts Annette off stage News Boy: Annika Extra, extra Australian Mermaid arrested on Boston beach! Leans around the side of the backdrop and shouts line while waving the newspaper.

COSTUMES & PROPS BY SCENE Scene #4 Costume(s) Visual(s) or Costume(s) Description(s) Set Design & Props Judge: black robe Background Same as previous scene ​ Lawyer: black suit jacket Design ​ Annette Kellerman: swimwear and robe Props Small box ​

SCENE 4 - SCENARIO Purpose of the Scene Key Elements Setting Courtroom in Boston Timeframe 1907

Annette Kellerman, Judge, Prosecutor Characters The purpose of this scene is to introduce the swimsuit designed by Annette Kellerman. It also introduces the context of the Slocum disaster of 1904 and the need for women to learn to swim. Summary of the Scene Annette is accused of indecent exposure and defends herself in court. She is pardoned and the judge reflects on the expediency of women learning to swim.

DIALOGUE - SCENE 4 Character & Action Dialogue Lawyer: Eden “As prosecutor, I call for the severest Penalty! This brazen young woman has flaunted every statute of decency!” (Million Dollar Mermaid). Presents Annette before the ​ ​ ​ ​ judge Judge: Annika “Miss Kellerman, You are charged with indecent exposure, to which you plead—?” (Million Dollar Mermaid). Judge stands on a platform ​ ​ and addresses the accused Annette Kellerman: Auden “Not guilty” (Million Dollar Mermaid). ​ ​ Replies back Lawyer: Eden “Your honor! Her scandalous appearance was witnessed by hundreds of people!!” (Million Dollar Mermaid). Reacts to Annette’s plea ​ ​

Judge: Annika “I am aware. Have you anything further to add Miss Kellerman?” (Million ​ Dollar Mermaid). Addresses Annette ​

Annette Kellerman: Auden “Your honor, swimming is the most wonderful and healthy exercise! It Addresses the judge is more criminal to make women wear so many layers in the water, than to show my bare legs! [We] have more chance of drowning [in] those awkward, unnecessary, lumpy ‘bathing suits,’ than lead chains.” So may I propose a compromise?” (Million Dollar Mermaid). ​ ​ ​ Judge: Annika “Yes” (Million Dollar Mermaid). ​ ​ ​ Annette: Auden “This is the original racing suit...I’ve sewn some stockings on the Removes robe to show him bottom and a Jersey on the top. This will cover the entire body except the forearms and the head” (Million Dollar Mermaid). her swimsuit design and ​ ​ ​ gestures to the photograph of Kellerman in the swimsuit on the backdrop. Lawyer: Eden Reacts with “That’s indecent, your honor!” (Million Dollar Mermaid). ​ ​ ​ horror and then exits. Judge: Annika “Not indecent, ingenious! Case dismissed!” (Million Dollar Mermaid). ​ ​ Responds positively and hits an imaginary gavel twice Judge: Annika We were all aware of the Slocum Passenger Ship incident of 1904. It was Transitional phrase: Steps off the most devastating disaster in New York until 9/11 (Stout 8). “More than a the box and addresses the thousand people, mostly women and children, burned or drowned unable to audience escape the water” (King). Clearly, women needed to learn how to swim (Stout 37). Annette Kellerman: Auden “Those who were fighting for women’s suffrage and women’s rights viewed Transitional phrase addresses the tragedy as a call to arms. (They) immediately began to campaign for the audience changes in women’s swimming attire and recommended swimming lessons for women” (Stout 37). My trial made international news, and it caught the attention of a professor looking for the ideal woman--

COSTUMES & PROPS BY SCENE Scene #5 Costume(s) Visual(s) or Costume(s) Description(s) Set Design & Props Dr. Dudley Sargent: white lab coat Background Same as previous scene ​ Annette Kellerman: swimwear and robe Design ​ Girl 1: girl in towel Props Measuring tape, newspaper ​ Bianca: swim shorts and rashguard ​

SCENE 5 - SCENARIO Purpose of the Scene Key Elements Setting Harvard Classroom Timeframe 1907

Annette Kellerman, Dr. Dudley Characters Sargent

The purpose of this scene is to focus on the argument in the thesis that unusual attention was placed on Annette Kellerman’s body as the ideal woman. It also presents contemporary analysis of this situation. Summary of the Scene Dr. Dudley Sargent is obsessed with finding “The Perfect Woman,” a woman with measurements like the sculpture of Venus de Milo. He brings Kellerman to his classroom and puts her on display.

DIALOGUE - SCENE 5 Character & Action Dialogue Dr. Sargent (Eden) “Australian mermaid Arrested at Boston Beach.”(Gibson and Firth) I must Dr. reads the headline in the find that woman! newspaper and then Hello Miss Kellerman, Dr. Dudley Sargent. I’ve been searching for the approaches Annette. woman with measurements like the Venus de Milo, the “Perfect Woman,” for 25 years and you might be her! Please, let me take your measurements?” Annette Kellerman (Auden) “Why not?” (Gibson and Firth) Shrugs her shoulders and replies Dr. Sargent (Eden) Right this way. Annette is led to a raised platform. Annette Kellerman (Auden) Dr. Sargent asked me a few questions and then led me to a platform in a The Dr. takes out a measuring Harvard lecture theatre where he measured me in front of hundreds of tape and measures Annette’s interested students. height and arm span. Dr. Sargent (Eden) “The Female Form Divine...a model for all young women to pattern by her ​ ​ ​ ​ Gesturing to Annette and beauty of outline and artistic proportions...I will say without qualification that pointing to the backdrop image Miss Kellerman embodies all the physical attributes that most of us demand in The Perfect Woman” (Gibson and Firth). of Annette’s measurements. ​ ​ Girl 1 (Annika) I’m confused...what makes it ok for Annette to stand in front of a bunch of Transitional phrase and men staring at her bare legs in a classroom, but not at the beach? analysis - Girl asks Bianca and the audience then leaves Bianca (Eden) I imagine people were afraid of what she chose to wear and how she thought Transitional phrase and about her own body. But then when men said so, they could celebrate her analysis - Says line and body and put it on a pedestal to admire. prepares set for next scene - Annette (Auden) “(I worried that) being the perfect woman antagonize(d) other women. They Transitional phrase and don’t like to think you’re flaunting your perfections at them. That’s why I’m analysis - Helps Eden prepare glad the Lord gave me a homely face and a saving sense of humour so I can the blue drape representing laugh at my face” (Gibson and Firth) the English Channel.

COSTUMES & PROPS BY SCENE Scene #6 Costume(s) Visual(s) or Costume(s) Description(s) Set Design & Props Reporter: grey jacket and black bowler hat Background Same as previous scene, plus ​ Meg Ederle: jacket and hat Design Blue drape suspended between ​ Gertrude Ederle: two piece swimsuit and heavy two stands to represent the ​ duty goggles English Channel/water Props Cardboard boat prop of the “Alsace”

SCENE 6 - SCENARIO Purpose of the Scene Key Elements Cape Griz-Nez, France; The Setting English Channel; and Dover, UK Timeframe 1926

Gertrude Ederle, Meg Ederle, Characters Reporter

The purpose of this scene is to introduce Gertrude Ederle and the swimsuit she designed which allowed her to swim competitively even beating the men’s world record by 2 hours! The comments of the reporter at the end of the scene reinforce the thesis argument of benevolent sexism. Summary of the Scene Gertrude Ederle is attempting her second swim of the English Channel and is cheered on by her sister. A reporter has initially written her off until she breaks the men’s record for swimming the channel and then proclaims her to be more desirable for men, now that she has an athletic physique.

DIALOGUE - SCENE 6 Character & Action Dialogue Girl 1(Annika) While Annette was making waves in America, another water woman, Girl addresses the audience Gertrude Ederle, was about to attempt her second swim of the English Channel in a swimsuit she designed in 1926.

Reporter (Eden) Miss Ederle, I’m with the London Daily News (Adler) How do you feel about Reporter addresses Gertrude your second attempt? Gertrude Ederle (Annika) “I’ll make it this time” (Stout 223). My sister and I “fashioned this two-piece Replies to the reporter and swimsuit” (Stout 229). It’s close-fitting to reduce drag and chaffing--much better gestures to the new swim suit than what I wore on my first attempt. Aren’t you are the reporter who wrote that design she is wearing and the “in a contest of physical skill, speed, and endurance, women must remain photograph of Ederle on the forever the weaker sex.” Is that true? (Stout 235 & Ignofsky 17). banner. Reporter (Eden) Yes that was me. But I wish you luck today Miss Ederle! Acts embarrassed but then calls out to Gertrude as she prepares to dive into the water. Gertrude puts on her special goggles and “dives” behind the blue drape and begins to “swim” Meg (Auden) “Hey Trudy...this way ole’ girl!” (Stout 247) Meg and Reporter sail in the boat prop of the “Alsace.” Meg calls out to Trudy (Gertrude) who is “swimming” Reporter (Eden) Here she is folks...swimming strong 3 hours later! Reporting from the boat Meg (Auden) The weather isn’t looking so good. Puts hands to eyes and looks out across the Channel Trudy still swimming Reporter (Eden) By 4:45pm the sea is becoming rough...the crowd on the boat has been Reporting from the boat while singing to encourage Trudy. (Stout 258) Trudy swims Reporter and Meg (Auden “Oh yes, we have no bananas, we have no bananas today.” (Stout 261) and Eden) They sing while Trudy swims Meg (Auden) “She will have to stop...No one can swim in seas running five and six feet Meg calls out to Trudy high!... Come out, girl, come out of the water!” (Stout 264) Gertrude Ederle (Annika) “What for?!” (Stout 265) Trudy shouts back while still swimming Reporter (Eden) “Gertrude Ederle landed here tonight, successfully swimming the English Reporter congratulates Trudy Channel beating the men’s record by 2 hours!” (Stout 275 and Little) while Trudy “dries off with towel” looks exhausted. Meg (Auden) “It was as if she were just a vessel being pushed along in the current, States to the reporter and carrying all those dreams (of girls everywhere) to the opposite shore” (Stout audience 237) Reporter (Eden) “Fathers and mothers will point out to their...daughters that world champion Reports to the audience Gertrude Ederle, knows that a strong mind needs a strong body...Thousands of men would be delighted to marry her...She will be ​ a good mother!” (“Gertrude Ederle’s Great Swim”). ​ Girl 1 (Annika) Even when this woman accomplished something great, men were still Addresses audience shaping the use of her body.

COSTUMES & PROPS BY SCENE Scene #7 Costume(s) Visual(s) or Costume(s) Description(s) If costumes and props remain the same, write “same as scene Set Design & Props # in the boxes below” Annette Kellerman: fancy blue swim dress with Background Same as last scene ​ sequins and ruffles Design Girl 1: swimsuit ​ Props A tall step ladder. Blue drape Bianca: rashguard and swim shorts between two stands to ​ Carnival Barker: white showman’s hat with represent tank of water on a ​ red,white, and blue trim and grey jacket stage

SCENE 7 - SCENARIO Purpose of the Scene

Key Elements

Setting Vaudeville Timeframe 1920s

Carnival Barker, Annette Kellerman, Girl Characters 1, Bianca Vallenti

The purpose of this scene is to show how society brought attention to Annette’s ideal figure and her resulting celebrity status which reinforced the beauty barrier.

Summary of the Scene Kellerman joins Vaudeville and begins to be noticed by more and more people. The result is that people started to see her as if she was selling her body.

DIALOGUE - SCENE 7 Character & Action Dialogue Bianca (Eden) Swimming competitively gave women more opportunities, but the new Addresses audience while swimwear drew attention to their bodies and brought unexpected results. Annette sets up “springboard” ladder Annette Kellerman (Auden) Women have always been judged for their appearances; in the past, suffragettes were considered “old maids, whose personal charms were never very attractive.” Now, as the “perfect” woman AND a suffragette, I hoped to change people’s minds. (Popova 54). Bianca (Eden) But when Kellerman and Ederle were benevolently put on pedestals to be admired as ideal women, a beauty barrier was formed. Rather than being recognized for their accomplishments, they were judged primarily on their looks. Because of this, women became self-conscious and insecure. (Forbes, Collinsworth, Jobe, Braun, and Wise 266) Girl 1 (Annika) Annette’s celebrity in synchronized swimming and the introduction of Addresses audience celebrity culture in the 1920s helped her become a star on Vaudeville and later in Hollywood. (Gibson and Firth) Carnival Barker (Eden) “There’s a new Venus in town. She rises from the sea every evening at the Excitedly calls everyone to Keith and Proctor Theater...she’s a tall handsome Venus, dark of hair, lithe attend this vaudeville of movement and half sister of Diana. Miss Kellerman is her name” (Gibson performance while Kellerman and Firth) climbs the ladder Girl 1 (Annika) For her Vaudeville performances, she would climb up a 12 foot springboard Addresses audience while and dive into a massive tank of water. Vaudeville was known for being an Auden gracefully makes dance impolite part of society; performances filled with double entendre, and songs movements at the top of the that were shockingly suggestive. (Gibson and Firth) ladder Annette Kellerman (Auden) You can’t be brave if your diaphragm is squeezed and you can’t breathe Says line and dives from the properly...the corset has done more to make physical cowards for women than any other thing since slavery. (Kellerman How to Swim) ladder into the arms of the ​ ​ other girls who catch her. Heckler (Eden) “She’s a peach!”(Gibson and Firth)

Bianca (Eden) By shifting the focus onto her body, Annette “played a role in the creation of Addresses audience a modern celebrity, fitness, beauty, and dieting culture” (Gibson and Firth) Girl 1 (Annika) “Classic Hollywood organized itself around privileging of the ‘the male gaze’ Addresses audience while and the eroticized ‘to-be-looked-at-ness’ of the female body” (Mortensen Kellerman climbs the ladder 216) again Annette (Auden) On the other hand, many “young women found what I did both inspirational Addresses audience from the and liberating, not for the way I exposed (my body) but for the way (I) top of the ladder exposed contradictions and inequality in the way women were treated” (Stout 40). Girl 1 (Annika) “Women’s accomplishments in the water are deeply linked to how society Addresses audience viewed women as a whole. Advocates of women’s swimming not only changed society” (Keaveny), Bianca (Eden) Annette Kellerman and Gertrude Ederle promoted women’s suffrage and Addresses audience even environmentalism. They also raised awareness about the endangered state of water creatures and people began to care about their stewardship of the ocean. (Kellerman How to Swim) ​ ​

COSTUMES & PROPS BY SCENE Scene #8 Costume(s) Visual(s) or Costume(s) Description(s) Set Design & Props Background Same as last scene Annette Kellerman: Vaudeville costume ​ Design Gertrude Ederle: two piece swimsuit ​ Props Blue drape suspended between Bianca Valenti: rash guard and swim shorts ​ two stands to represent pool

SCENE 8 - SCENARIO Purpose of the Scene

Key Elements

The purpose of this scene is to creatively Setting Undefined summarize the three main historical women’s Timeframe Past and Present, 1920s and now arguments and to sum up the thesis statement Annette Kellerman, Gertrude Characters again. Ederle, Bianca Valenti Summary of the Scene The main characters Gertrude Ederle, Annette Kellerman and Bianca Valenti, sum up all of the scenes in this performance and present the conclusion that the standard of how women can compete or use their bodies should be up to them and shouldn’t be based on what other people think.

DIALOGUE - SCENE 8 Character & Action Dialogue Annette (Auden) People judged me as immodest my whole life because I chose not to wear a Girls perform synchronized lumpy heavy swimsuit. swimming moves in tandem while saying lines. Girls dive into the blue drape pool after each states her first line. Gertrude Ederle (Annika) Swimwear is nothing more than a tool. Mine was designed to compete, not Dives into “pool” to titillate. Bianca (Eden) I have made my dreams possible through supporting myself rather than Dives into “pool” getting industry support. Annette (Auden) “Swimming for all! Suffrage for all...Swimming ...cannot be restricted and Emerges from the water with impaired by social customs and costumes!” (Mason) arms in L shape Gertrude Ederle (Annika) Women are not the weaker sex! “England or drown!” (Stout 237) Emerges from the water with arms in L shape Bianca (Eden) We’re all in this together! “Woman Up!” (“Bianca Valenti”) Emerges from the water with arms in L shape Annette (Auden), Gertrude The swimsuits designed by Annette Kellerman and Gertrude Ederle ​ ​ (Annika) and Bianca (Eden) broke societal barriers enabling women to swim competitively. Girls link hands and boldly However, much of the focus on the new swimsuits popularized the state the thesis statement. myth of the ideal woman, and in doing so, reinforced the beauty barrier and benevolent sexism. Girls raise arms together Let us swim!