Glens Falls in 1932 — Rotary Revelers and magic

The Rotary Revelers and magician Gordon C. Peck were headliners of the Glens Falls Rotary Club “Good Time” vaudeville show to benefit the Rotary Education Fund Nov. 29–30, 1932 at the Rialto Theatre.

Peck, a local dentist, debuted a new trick in which he shot a needle-pointed dart through Mrs. Edward W. Schmer, a “widely known dramatic star and prima donna.”

Peck dressed in costumes of the late Alexander Herman the Great, loaned to Peck by the magician Blackstone.

The Rotary Revelers was a male quartet comprised of William Jones, an insurance broker, as 1st tenor; F. Russell Floyd, a jeweler, as 2nd tenor; Sylvanus Thomas, a Glens Falls Indemnity Co. executive, as 1st bass; and Sherburne Thomas, a Glens Falls Bank and Trust Co. executive, as 2nd bass.

Gertrude C. Jones, wife of William, accompanied the quartet on piano.

The quartet sang again Dec. 1, 1932 at the Inter-City meeting of Rotary Clubs at The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls.

Nearly 300 people attended the meeting, including 150 Rotarians from 12 visiting clubs.

The quartet performed “Harvest Moon,” “Lady of Spain” and several other numbers, capping off the performance with two encores.

The quarter sang at several other functions in the community:

March 9, 1933 — Dedication broadcast of new local radio station WGLC

April 18, 1933 — Area meeting of the Saratoga, Warren and Washington Masonic districts at Glens Falls Armory

May 1, 1933–46th annual dinner of Glens Falls YMCA at The Queensbury Hotel

Sources: The Post-Star, Nov. 28, 1932; March 10, April, 15, May 1, 1933

Click here to read a previous post about magician Gordon Peck.