Glens Falls in 1921 — Sing along with Oscar Seagle

It wasn’t a typical concert, but rather a fine arts sing-along with baritone Oscar Seagle leading.

“That music hath power to charm was proven conclusively last evening when nearly 1,500 music lovers assembled in the huge drill shed at the (Glens Falls) armory and under the direction of Oscar Seagle took part in Glens Falls’ first community sing,” The Post-Star reported on Nov. 5, 1921. “It was a huge success, even surpassing the most sanguine expectations of its promoters.”

People attended from as far away as Whitehall, Greenwich, Schuylerville, Saratoga Springs, Lake George and Warrensburg.

A committee had traveled Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties in advance to promote the event, open to everyone free of charge.

“This community sing has been arranged by representative citizens of Glens Falls in order to foster a greater love for music,” The Post-Star reported the previous day.

Seagle led the audience for about two hours in singing familiar songs such as “When You and I were Young — Maggie,” and “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia.”

Seagle’s vocal talent and personality energized the audience.

“The pep that he enthused into his work as leader became contagious, and was literally absorbed by the songsters to burst forth in strains of melodious music.”

A Post-Star editorial on Nov. 7 said community singing was a vehicle to bring peace and tolerance.

“People who are only slightly acquainted will get to know each other better, others will make new friends and many will discover that some petty prejudice which they have had against this or that person is not well founded and that the other person is a pretty good soul after all. Through attending the community sings people will learn to take a broader view of life.”

It was determined to hold community singing events on a regular basis.

Seagle, founder of Seagle Music Colony in Schroon Lake, suggested forming an organization specifically to plan and hold the events, rather than continue with an ad hoc effort of various community groups.

It actually was a second attempt to establish a community singing movement in Glens Falls.

Click here to read about a previous effort in 1919.

Click here to read a previous post about Oscar Seagle.