Glens Falls in 1921 — Sousa returns — again

The John Phillip Sousa march “Keeping Step With the Union.” published in 1921, likely was inspired by an 1855 speech by Massachusetts orator and former congressman Rufus Choate.

A quotation from the speech was printed on the sheet music: “We join ourselves to no party that does not carry the flag and keep step to the music of the Union.”

Sousa and his band performed the new march, dedicated to First Lady Florence Harding, at a matinee concert at 1 p.m. July 29, 1921 at Rialto Theatre on Warren Street in Glens Falls.

Other selections in the concert included “On the Campus,” another new march, “The Fancy of the Town,” and a vocal trio number “Non-Committal Declaration.”

It was at least the third time Sousa and his band performed in Glens Falls.

Previous concerts were on June 24, 1918 at Empire Theatre on South Street and Sept. 24, 1920 at the Rialto.

This tour Sousa traveled with a band of 85 musicians — “the largest ever assembled under his baton.”

Soloists were John Dolan, cornet; Ellis McDiarmid, flute; George J. Carey, xylophone; Winifred Broderick, harp, and soprano Marjorie Moody of the Boston Opera Company, vocal.

Ticket prices ranged from 50 cent to $1.50 — the equivalent of $7.29 to $21.87 in 2020 dollars.

Sources: The Post-Star July 11, 15, 1921; U.S. Marine Corps official web site

Click here and here to read previous posts about Sousa in Glens Falls.