Pennoncel v.1 n.4
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Pennoncel
"Pennoncel" was the name of first newsletter published for the Kingdom of the East. This is the fourth issue and was published in September of 1968 (after BayCon on Sept. 2, 1968). The chronicler was Marion Breen (Elfrida of Greenwalls), better know to us today as the author Marion Zimmer Bradley.
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S T O P: Before you read the accompanying PENNONCEL, this brief postscript --or should I say prescript, since it comes first --is necessary; First of all, our new address will NOT be 416 State Street, and nothing should be sent to that address. For various reasons, the major one of which is that the owner was unable to evict the prior tenants, we could not take possession. Therefore, the new address for Breens is 2 Swain Avenue, Staten Island, 1O3l2. This also makes a difference in the announced rehearsal for dancers. We have obtained permission to hold it in the Staten Island Center for the Creative Arts, 56 Beach Street, Stapleton, Staten Island. To get there, take any bus from the Ferry Building which goes through Stapleton, and ask the driver how to get to Beach Street. This is 3 P.M., October 13, Sunday afternoon, and thanks are due to Les Gerber for getting us permission to hold the rehearsal there. I don't think there is room for musicians to rehearse at the same time, so will the musicians please telephone me at the new address after September l4th? I don't know yet what the new number will be; but if you dial the old number, (ELI-7362) calls will be transferred to the new one. We will arrange to rehearse somehow. Our new house has a huge living room with a fireplace, and a lawn so large that we could almost hold a full-scale tournament there; we may try it sometime this spring, as it will save us the trouble of getting permission; also, unhampered by Park regulations, we could provide wine, beer, etc. However, this time, we'll stick to Clove Lakes Park as stated herein. IN THE EVENT OF RAIN on October 27th; we will hold an indoor revel, with feasting, at our new house. Now go ahead and read this copy of PENNONCEL, with our apologies for being so late in sending it out; we didn't dare let the false information about our new address go out, and as you can well imagine, we were doing some frantic last minute house-hunting, Remember; dancers at the Creative Arts Center, Beach Street, Staten Island, on October l3th; musicians, please call me after the l4th and we will arrange a rehearsal. Marion Breen IN THE MEANTIME: If you need to reach us, phone WB at PL3-71137 if you need to send us anything in writing, use 65 East 56 St., NYC 10022. NAIL NO LONGER GOES TO URBANA ST. Deo volente, the new place will be reachable by mail and phone after the 15th--possibly earlier.
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Pennoncel no. 4 Tourney / Revelry: 27 October Clove Lakes Park, SI Music & Dance - 13 Oct Costumers - Every Sunday PENNONCEL is the Official Newsletter of the East Coast chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, published by Marion Breen, 15 Urbana Street, Staten Island, N.Y. 10304. This address is good until September 28th, after which the address will be 416 State Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. The new phone number will be circulated as soon as we know it ourselves. Meanwhile, in emergency, Walter can be contacted during business hours at PL3-1137. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PROFUSE APOLOGIES: A few recipients of PENNONCEL have complained about the publication of their names and addresses. I didn’t do it; the policy of the Society has always been that we do not make our mailing list public. However, the member who ran off PENNONCEL for us did not know our policy; I typed up the mailing list on labels for him, and he mistook that list for our list of active members and thought it would be nice to publish it. It won’t happen again. How- ever, if any member has any special interest and would like to get in touch with others, we’ll gladly make their name available so that they can contact you. A FEW PEOPLE HAVE ASKED what the name of this newsletter, PENNONCEL, means. A pennoncel is a small banner, or pennon, which seemed appropriate to our subordinate position to the Official Magazine of the main branch of the Society in the West. THE WORK-PARTY HELD AT BREENS last Sunday was a smashing success, although not much work got done-—so many new members turn- ed up that there wasn’t room for any work. However, an interim organizational meeting was held, demonstrations were given by some members of costumes, the construction of banners, and the like, and a reporter from the Newark News interviewed members and took photo- graphs. THE NEXT TOURNAMENT, it was decided, will be held again in Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island, on OCTOBER 27, SUNDAY, from noon till dusk. Sir Bruce of Cloves and his lady Florence will be crowned as King and Queen. John Boardman will once again serve as King’s Herald. Fred Phillips will serve as Earl Marshal, and music will be provided, with dancing. +++ It was also decided that, as the Society on the West Coast has adopted a coat of arms consisting of an olive branch, that our official banner and coat of arms will consist of the olive branch surmounted by an Eastern Crown. This design, we hope, will set a precedent, so that future branches of the Society may adopt the olive branch with some local device to dis- tinguish them. John Boardman offered to make up a design in proper heraldic form, which will be used as the official device of the society in the East in future.
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PENNONCEL page 2 ARMOURER’S GUILD: Barry Greene will continue to serve as Weapons Master in charge of the Armourers, which will construct weapons for the forthcoming Tournament. Funds were raised from sub- scriptions to PENNONCEL and turned over to Barry for the purchase of a kendo mask and gloves for the use of fighters in the forthcoming tournament. + + + Those wishing to fight in the tournament should help with weapons. No one expects, as yet, that a knight will be able to make all his own weapons, but it is equally unrealistic to expect that the few members of the Armourer’s Guild should spend all the time and bear a major part of the expense as well. We suggest that if you wish to fight, you call Barry at 996-1186 and ask what you should do. If you have skill with your hands, and some time to give, we’re sure he and his committee can use your help, and he can tell you where and when to come for help and advice. If you have neither skill nor time, a small amount of money for the purchase of materials for sword-and- shield making would be an acceptable substitute. + + + Fighters in the know suggest that if you want to fight in October, you start training now. Fighting can be fairly strenuous. Chain-smokers should cut down somewhat on their cigarettes. Everybody should run around the block every day, or some such. If you aren’t in condition to do that, the combats may be too strenuous for you. On the other hand, if you can play a good hard game of tennis without too much huffing and puffing, chances are you have nothing to worry about. ARTISANS GUILD: The Lady Perdita Boardman has generously offered to Supervise, and act as advisor, on construction of banners and similar needlework. Anyone wanting to help or advice may go there on any Sunday afternoon between now and the Tournament, to obtain some. The address is 592 16th St, Brooklyn, and as a courtesy to the Lady, I suggest that you telephone first, and find out what time it would be convenient for you to come and what materials you should bring. + + + Many members displayed, or recommended, books on costume; most of these are available at the Public Library, or could be purchased by anyone who wishes to go into this very seriously. Queen Adrienne dis- played one entitled A HISTORY OF COSTUME, by Carl Kehler, Dover Press, which costs about $2 in paperback and contains patterns and cutting diagrams as well as illustrations. DRESSING THE PART, by Fairfax Walkup, Appleton-Century-Croftan 1950, is a manual for costuming historical plays and films and gives details for constructing not only costumes but properties; HISTORIC COSTUME FOR THE AMATEUR THEATRE, by Harold Melvill, published by Barrie and Rockcliff of London, 1961, is much the same sort of thing. JONGLEURS GUILD: We have discovered, to our great pleasure, that among our membership we number a professional teacher of dancing, Bob Kasmayer. On OCTOBER 13th, Sunday afternoon, at the Breens new address in Brooklyn, Bob will instruct any interested member in the steps of the pavane, the galliard, the English sword dance and the Morris dance. Any interested member should be there at about 2 P.M. + + + We have a madrigal singers group in the making, composed of Marion Breen, soprano, Lee Smeiro, alto, Leslie Brandeis, baritone, and Peter Duvoen, base; as you can see, we desperately need either a tenor, or a deep contralto who can sing tenor. We could also use an extra soprano or two, as some madrigals have two soprano parts. Please volunteer, if you can sing, even if you have one of the voices we’ve already found; we’d like to perform small cantatas and such, people do get laryngitis, and if we have too many volunteers, we’ll simply form two groups. + + + Some members have volunteered to
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PENNONCEL page 3 Play lute-music on the guitar, which isn’t the anachronism it sounds; the guitar is a very old instrument, a direct descendant of the chitarra and chitarrene. + + + Of course, if anyone actually plays a lute—or a dulcimer, or a krumhorn, or anything of the like—bring it along, too. All musicians are asked to come and rehearse on October 13th also at Breens; we’ll have a piano and an accompanist. If anyone has medieval music available which is not in shape for performance, Walter Breen is a competent arranger and conductor. + + + There are, among the membership, players of soprano, sopranino, tenor and alto recorders; all we need for a concert of recorders is a bass recorder--- or a bassoon –or at worst a cello who can play contanno for the group. Any volunteers? We could also use trumpeters to play fanfares for the Herald. Pass the word along, please! Or call Peter Daveen, ST3-3540. YEOMANLY SPORT: Some interest has been shown in archery contests such As are held on the West Coast. Does anyone want to arrange for this? Bear in mind that we must have (1) a safe place to let off arrows, (2) targets, and (3) participants. One member has volunteered that he will contribute, as a prize for the first archery contest, a gold arrow on a satin cushion. + + + It was also suggested that quarterstaff-play be revived. I saw this at the Pleasure Faire in San Francisco and think it would be great fun for this group. If anyone would like to organize it, or would like to try it when organized, let me know; or call Fred Phillips at JE7-8324. (Out of area; write Fred at 1278 Grand Concourse, Bronx, N.Y. 10456.) WOMANLY SPORT: The rules of the lists prevent women from engaging in combat with sword and shield; and those of you who attended the Baycon Tourney can well see why. However, a lengthy tradition permits women to enter archery contests, having the robust example of Maid Marian of Sherwood Forrest. + + + Women may also engage in fencing contests for exhibition and demonstration purposes. Many women study fencing in school, college or camps, and several of our young-lady members showed interest when Queen Adrienne mentioned it at meeting; anyone interested, call her at RT9-3766. TIDINGS FROM THE WEST-KINGDOM: Several copies of the HANDBOOK OF THE (CURRENT) MIDDLE AGES have been sent to us from the West Coast for sale to Eastern Kingdom members. They are available on a first-come, first-served basis at 75¢ plus 15¢ for postage and envelope. This is the booklet distributed at the Baycon tourney, and contains a short history of the society, with articles on construction of Medieval clothing, construction of swords and shields, and an exposition on how to use them in combat –written by Edwin Berserk, who runs the Society’s training classes for fighters. Please, if you got one out West, please don’t try to get another just yet, copies are limited; we hope to reprint it someday. + + + It has come to our ears that the Red Baron, was brought to bed and safely delivered of a son and heir on September 12, 1968; the youngling rejoices in the Christian names of Ian Michael. May he be noble and handsome! MISCELLANY: If you wish to adopt a coat-of-arms, consult or College of Heraldry, temporarily in the hands of John Boardman or Fred Phillips; and remember it isn’t cricket to adopt one already borne by any living family, person or country. + + + Fred Lerner, 98-B, The Boulevard, East Patterson, N.J. (SW6-2747, area code 201) has generously offered to help members on any necessary historical research, in his field as a professional librarian.
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PENNONCEL page 4 (The following article is slightly abridged from THE HANDBOOK OF THE (CURRENT) MIDDLE AGES, and was written by the Steward of the Society; It is simpler to reprint it than to attempt to state the gist of the Society’s organization.) THE SOCIETY FOR CREATIVE ANACHRONISM, INCORPORATED, is a rather loose-knit organization, centered primarily in North America, and incorporated, for convenience, in the State of California. It is headed by a Board of Directors in accordance with State Law governing non-profit corper- ations, consisting of the Steward, the King of Arms, the Mistress of Arts, Chronicler, High Chancellor of the Exchequer, and such personages as the Board may choose to add to its number at a future date. The purpose of the Board of Directors is to ensure the survival of the Society, to co-ordinate the actions of the Kingdoms, to maintain communications between members, and to aid new chapters of the Society in getting started by helping them with basic organizational problems and making available to them the body of experience built up over the past few years. THE STEWARD acts in the general place of the President of the Board. The King of Arms keeps records and records the arms of the members, as well as advising on the construction of Arms (The Heraldic sort.) The Mistress of Arts acts so as to insure the artistic well-being of the Society, concerning herself with the social impli- cations and actions of the Society as a whole. The Chronicler acts generally as a secretary and is responsible for maintaining the Mailing List, publishing Tournaments Illuminated, and informing the membership of Society events. The High Chancellor of the Exchequer is roughly equivalent to the Treasurer, handling the funds of the Society at Large as opposed to those of the Kingdoms…having read this much about the Board of Directors, you may now forget that they exist unless you want to start a branch of the Society in your area. THE BASIC SOCIAL UNIT of the Society is the Kingdom. A Kingdom, naturally, is headed by a King. In the Society, Kings are chosen by armed combat on the field of honor, at the basic social event of the society, the Tournament. What is a Tournament? Well, it happens like this… A procession enters, made up of the nobility, the King and Queen, the Tanist (King elect) and his lady, and anyone else the King wishes in the procession. All proceed to the thrones, where the King passes on his rank by crowning the Tanist as the new King. The order of the day proceeds with fight- ing, music, etc., until one champion emerges as winner of the day’s fighting. This person and his Lady are crowned with laurels, thus becoming the new Tanists. At the beginning of the next Tourney this process will be repeated, so that this Tourney’s winner becomes the next Tourney’s King. The King, of course, is not allowed to compete in the Crown Lists, so there is a constant change in who shall be King.
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PENNONCEL page 5 A KING REQUIRES A COURT, and nothing could be simpler. If a man wins the crown twice, he becomes a Duke, and is entitled to stand with the King in ceremony. The Dukes act as an advisory committee to the King, on matters in the conduct of the Tourney, and in cases where the King may be called to judge a certain match. + + + If a man shows great prowess on the field of honor, as well as great chivalry, the King, with the advice and consent of his fighting nobles, may call him forth to be offered knighthood. The man may accept, and become a Knight of the Society, or …may refuse and be awarded the title of Master Fighter, which is socially equivalent to that of knight but does not carry a patent of nobility or the appellation “sir.” IF A MAN OR WOMAN perform some noteworthy service to the Society, he or she may be awarded the Order of the Laurel and the titles Master or Mistress of whatever service they may have performed. This rank is also equivalent to knight, and provides recognition for those men who do not wish to fight, and to women, who…are not allowed to. ALL of the above ranks, save that of King, are permanent, and are awarded by the crown….there are also ranks which are not to much won as volunteered for. The SENESCHAL is First Servant to the Crown. His job is to maintain the Kingdom between tourneys, to be sure that events will take place, to keep in touch with the board of Directors…because he is a continuing functionary, he is the person who must sign papers for the use of public facilities, take on the majority of the public relations work for the Kingdom, ..and in general be the Royal workhorse. Because of the legal responsibilities…the person occupying the office of Seneschal must be over 21 years old and acceptable to the Board of Directors. He is appointed at his own request by the Crown, and may speak for the Crown in the absence of the King….* In terms of rank the Seneschal is equivalent to a Duke; but as the position is appointive, he may be dismissed by the Crown, provided the Crown has a replacement who is approved by the Board of Directors. IF A TOURNAMENT is to be conducted in such a way that people know what is going on, there is need for a Court Herald. The prime qualifications for a Herald are a loud, untiring voice, and an ability to handle practically any situation. He must act as master of ceremonies, and convey to the assembled populace whatever words the king may wish to convey…. He may wish, as well, to keep in touch with the King of Arms in regard to the construction and registration of Arms, these also being matters of Heraldry. The Herald also is equivalent to a Duke and this position too is appointive by the Crown. A chancellor of the Exchequer is a handy thing to have, If the Kingdom wants to raise money for such things as crowns, robes, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * Walter and Marion Breen have been appointed, temporarily, Seneschal of the Kingdom in the East. Anyone who wants the job next year had better start thinking about it now.
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PENNONCEL page 6 Crown Jewels, and similar expenses. He should maintain the Crown funds separately from his own. LAST AND MOST IMPORTANT of all, is the Supreme Autocrat, for without the Supreme Autocrat you can’t get a chapter of the Society started. The Supreme Autocrat is the person who “stages” the Tournaments, Revels, or whatever. He is the unselfish person who does all the legwork of arranging a place and time, contacting the people who must come if the event is to be a success, and seeing to it that everything works. This position, like that of the King, is limited by time,; it is unfair to ask anyone to carry this much weight for more than one Tourney, so the Supreme Autocrat takes on only one event. He may do a repeat performance as soon as he wants, but usually he doesn’t want. ((He’s usually too tired to enjoy his own Tourney,,,,MZB)) He attains this lofty position by volunteering to the King and the Seneschal, and he is solely responsible for the one Tournament he takes on. (As a footnote to this, it should be noted that the Supreme Autocrat may hold other positions as well. For instance, the King may decide to autocrat his own tournaments and if there is no volunteer, the duty falls automatically on the Seneschal.) There is no permanent glory to being an autocrat, but people are generally very appreciative, and really special events bring on really special appreciativeness. IN ADDITION TO THE KING, there is the Queen. In addition to the Dukes, the Dukes Ladies. Also the Ladies Of the Seneschal, the Herald, and the Autocrat, also the Chancellor of The Exchequer. The Knights and Masters, of course, also have ladies, And probably households as well – squires, pages, fosterlings, sons and daughters, ladies in waiting, functionaries and assistants of all manner and description. Presto, the King has a court….to this conglomeration may be added whatever functionaries the Crown may wish. A dancing master is handy to teach the dances of the period. If you have a dancing master, you will need musicians for the music of the period. A Troubadour is desirable, if you can find one, and a Jester to alleviate tensions that weigh heavy on the heads of state. People who can cook period dishes are always welcome, as are those expert in the construction of medieval clothing. Bards, poets, mimes, singers and jongleurs, as well as merry clerics of all descriptions, and let us not forget visitors from far lands! Though we specialize in Western European culture, we have no aversion to visitors from pre- 1650 Africa, India or the Orient. …you may wonder if this is not all a bit too complicated, a bit too much effort. The Society is only three years old. It started with a Tourney in the Lady Diana’s back yard. Yet with only three years behind us, we have had all of the above, plus a bagpiper, a Spanish theater group, three separate concerts to play music, a functioning armorer’s guild, an Artisan’s guild, a small war, participation in the gigantic Renaissance Pleasure Faire, a Game of Chess with living pieces who fight it out for a square, a mime troup, plays, recitations, and many things my mind will not conjure back for the moment (belly-dancers, kidnappings, intrigues and sorceries!) The possibilities are infinite. And the numbers of people who appear as if from nowhere to offer their services in amazing and ingenious capacities are nearly as large. There is something for nearly everyone. IN FACT, the only thing there is not much room for Is that particular beast of the 20th century, the Scoffing Spectator. For the Society, despite the pageantry, the color and the single
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PENNONCEL page 7 exception of the Baycon Tourney, is not engaged in putting on a show. What we create is an environment, and essential to the enjoyment of an environment is participation. Hence, our Rule of Costume. ALL attendees are required to wear garb of some period before 1650, from any culture. ((Or from fantasy)). In this way, even those who watch and no more, feel that they are part of what is going on. AND THIS, BASICALLY, is what they offer. This is what, under the trappings, the Society is; a thousand ways and degrees of participation in a period of history that has been buried and all but forgotten, a period dis- torted in present day consciousness by the ministrations of inaccurate historians who have made it seem dull and unpleasant; who, through a lack of understanding of the aesthetics of the period, have given modern man an image of an un-culture which never could have been, steeped in ignorance, warped by prejudicial faith, cold and dreary and unpleasant. In short, an untrue picture of a time which, although its aesthetics were quite different from those of Post- Renaissance Europe, was alive and vital in every sense. Jon DeCles - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A footnote on East-Kingdom organization. It has been discussed, and suggested, that for the present, until we have a sufficient Court to make decisions, the following members serve in lieu of an Eastern Board of Directors, responsible only to the Society in the West; these are all members who are eager to serve and deeply involved in Society functions. Walter and I will continue to serve as Seneschal until some- one else wants the job; I will continue as Chronicler until my work is no longer satisfactory to the members. Perdita Boardman and Adrianne Martine will function jointly as Mistress of Arts; John Boardman as Herald and, with Fred Phillips, associate Kings-at-Arms; Barry Greene as Weapons Master, with Carl Fredericks and Kenneth Levinson; and Peter Davoon and Bob Kezmayer, jointly as Masters of the Fine Arts. This will create a Council of Ten which will serve until the Twelfth Night Revel, when, traditionally, knights are created and a new Court takes over, (Good lord--a democrat since birth, I forgot our current holder of the Crown, King Bruce, and his Lady. He also is a member of the Council!) We are always glad of help and assistance from other members; and remember, these positions convey hard work, rather then simply glory. I would like, for instance, an immediate volunteer for temporary Chancellor of the Exchequer; I hate handling other people's money and am no good at it. + + + As more and more members find out what they can do best, I suspect all these offices will be filled, and perhaps more. If you want an office-- invent a need and fill it! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WHAT TO DO TILL THE SEAMSTRESS COMES, OR IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT A COSTUME, USE YOUR HEAD! The oldest tradition of the society states that there is no room for mere spectators; all participants MUST attend in costume. Does this mean that you have to go out and spend a small fortune on period clothes of brocade and satin, cloaks and swords, spend hours on fine stitchery, or maybe rent a costume from a theatrical agency?
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PENNONCEL page 8 Don't be silly---of course not! If it's your first tournament and you're not quite sure whether you want to go to all that trouble until you're sure the society is your meat ...if you're broke this week ... if you find out about the event four days before it happens ...it's easy as pie to make up an authentic-looking costume for practically nothing, out of the contents of your closets and bureaus or at worst the rummage counter of the Goodwill Stores. Women's costumes all have, as basis, a long dress. The "granny gown" fashionable a year or so ago can be worn with a veil and kerchief to look very 1600-ish. Ladies of the Society have been known to use, as fundamental costume, a plain- colored, voluminous flannel nightgown, ornamented with a chain girdle, a sash, a head-veil or cloak. The floor-length muu-muu is also quite all right; it's a direct descendant of the Roman dalmatica, a female garment from 400 down through the dark ages. At worst, a long skirt can be made in one hour by even the most inexperienced seamstress, and worn with a peasant blouse. Men can also be costumed inexpensively. Tight trousers will do for hose, and a collarless shirt, Nehru shirt in plain colors, or Russian blouse, for a tunic. Make a surcoat from two towels pinned together at the shoulders; for greater realism, use two broaches for the pins. Boots and sandals (not both at once, dopey!) add to the effect. For a peasant costume, borrow baggy trousers from someone fatter, hold them up with a piece of rope, and wear a too-big shirt with collar and cuffs cut off. At worst, put on a loincloth, borrow a pitchfork, and come as a serf... Or sew two sheets together for an Arab’s burnoose.. or get an old Choir robe and be a monk. Children can be costumed easily and cheaply. A small girl could wear a cotton or flannel nightgown; this basic pattern was the female garment throughout the Dark and Middle ages. With a belt, and a towel cloak, and flowers in her hair, she’s ready. A boy could wear tights, a long-sleeved tunic or blouse, and a tabard or tunic of two small towels, fore and aft, pinned at the shoulders, with a rope or leather belt. Of course, very small children went naked in the Middle ages, but we don’t recommend that much realism in a public place. Cloaks for men, women and children can be made from bedspreads, old tablecloths, (especially with fringe) beach towels, or antiquated rain-capes. Some day, or course, you may want an authentic costume; meanwhile, don't let the lack of one keep you away. Almost any trunk. closet, attic or rummage counter will yield costume materials. The important thing is to get into the spirit of the fun. If you have attempted the spirit of a costume, no one will throw you out for your failure to achieve the letter; they may even acquire your ingenuity. Dame Marion. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A REMINDER: CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Every Sunday: Artisans at Boardman's October 13th: Dancers and Musicians at Breens OCTOBER 27th, 1968: TOURNAMENT AND REVEL IN CLOVE LAKES PARK, STATEN ISLAND
Discussion / Notes
Some of the names may be transcribed incorrectly. The vowels are very hard to read.