Combined Families — French language drama

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts about the daughters of Samuel Pruyn and their families that lived in the three houses that now are the campus of The Hyde Collection art museum in Glens Falls.

Polly Hoopes, daughter of Maurice and Mary Hoopes, had a lead role in the French language play “Un Grand Bazaar Parisien” which Glens Falls Academy students performed at the school on Dec. 18, 1919.

“The play gave the young people an opportunity to display their knowledge of French of the different classes as pupils from the smallest, Clarence Wilmarth, four years old, up to Minnie Heath, a post graduate, took part,” The Post-Star reported on Dec. 19, 1919.

“Polly Hoopes, as a saleslady from Paris, who had come to America to sell her wonderful dolls, which were played by the children of grades, was entirely at ease in her part, as was Martha Loomis, who at the end of the play buys up all the dolls to the amazement of the already discouraged sales lady, who had in vain praised up the dolls to the different customers who visited the bazaar.”

Students sang several French language songs as an encore.

Miss Augusta E. Osterloh directed the play, which was to be performed again in early January.

In other Combined Families history news:

The Post-Star on Dec. 16, 1919 reported that Maurice Hoopes volunteered on the local committee for the Near East Relief Committee Christmas drive to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Armenia and Caucasus.

The Post-Star on Dec. 17, 1919 reported that Mary Hoopes donated a copy of Francis Hodgson Burnett’s book “The Good Wolf” to the children’s room at Crandall Library.

The Post-Star on Dec. 19, 1919 reported that Samuel Hoopes, son of Maurice and Mary Hoopes, arrived home from Hill School in Potsdown, Pa., to spend the holidays with his family.

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.

Click here to read a previous post about the acting talent of Polly Hoopes.