An undated photograph of the cast of the play, “Silas Smidge from Turnip Ridge,” which was performed at the I. O. O. F. Building in Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. From newspaper reports, the play was first performed on 22 and 23 February 1935 at Gratz and later was performed in at least eight other communities.
Cast members pictured:
Front Row (seated): Alma Wise; Edna Hess; Allen Knohr; Esther Adams; Marie Kehaugh; Bob Evitts.
Back Row (standing): Warren “Mush” Buffington; Leo Troxell; Russell Hoffman; Ethel Troxell; Becky Daniels; —–?—–; Hannah Umholtz; Anna Hoover; Clair Daniel; Earl Hoffman, director; Ralph Witmer.
According to the Harrisburg Telegraph, 28 March 1935, the play with most of the same cast members was also performed at the Halifax Grange Hall:
TO PRESENT PLAY
Halifax, 28 March 1935 — The King’s Daughters Class of the Reformed Church of Gratz will give a play in the Grange Hall at Halifax, Saturday evening at 7:30 o’clock. The play, “Silas Smidge from Turnip Ridge,” will be presented by the following: Alma Hess; Marie Kebaugh; Leo Troxell; Russell Hoffman; Allen Knohr; Anna Hoover; Edna Hess; Bebe Daniels; Robert Evitts; Ralph Witmer; Rebecca Daniels.
The Harrisburg Evening News of 30 March 1935, published the same cast photo:
The caption for the photo stated:
Amateur players in “Silas Smidge from Turnip Ridge” sponsored by the King’s Daughters of the Reformed Church of Gratz. Play presented in Gratz, Klingerstown, Hepler and Pitman.
Yet another location where the play was performed was given in the Lykens Standard of 29 March 1935:
ELIZABETHVILLE BASEBALL TEAM SPONSORS PLAY
Elizabethville residents will be able to spend an evening with “Silas Smidge from Turnip Ridge,” tonight when a cast comprising members of the King’s Daughters Bible Class of the Gratz Reformed Sunday School and other players of that community, present the comedy in Elizabethville under the sponsorship of the Elizabethville Baseball Association.
The cast has played to respective audiences in the surrounding communities and their presentation in Elizabethville will be their ninth performance.
The rural comedy-drama will be presented one might only, Friday 5 April [1935] at 7:00 P.M. sharp in the high school auditorium.
____________________________________
News clippings are from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.