REGINA MALE VOICE CHOIR 1940 – 1949
World War began in September 1939. Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of Britain in May 1940. His inspiring speeches rallied the Brits to the cause of freedom. The aerial Battle of Britain lasted two months but when it ended in September 1940 it had changed the eventual outcome of the war. Food rationing; Vera Lynn singing for the troops; the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, December 7, 1941; The Holocaust; Stalingrad; Carpet Bombing; the Dambusters, V-2 missiles fall on London; D-Day June 6, 1944; V-E Day followed by V-J Day in 1945. World War II had ended. The headlines changed.
“Hot Pants”. The Dead Sea Scrolls. The Transistor. Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. Bikini Shocker Bares ALL!!; India won its independence from British rule; the first McDonald’s Restaurant opened in San Bernardino.
This headline was in the Regina Leader Post December 10, 1940 –
Gracie Fields Delights Huge Regina Audience
Gracie Fields is higher than the highest aspidistra in the world in the estimation of 3,000 Reginans who tore themselves away from radio and newspaper Monday evening for a fun-packed date with the Lancashire lass.
Listening to Gracie was as full of surprises as skating on thin ice.Her musical moods changed with such skill and rapidity that her listeners were almost rolling in the aisles one minute and deadly silent the next as the gifted soprano ran the gamut from rollicking gaiety to tender seriousness.
In whatever mood, they loved her and hollered for more.
Singing Tops Knitting
“I am happy I can still make you laugh with my songs,” she said. “I am not good at knitting so I sing.” The audience cheered until the armories echoed. They would rather hear one song from Gracie than see a knitting display any day.
And her war effort is a magnificent, unselfish one. Through her songs she has provided since the war’s outbreak thousands of dollars at no personal gain whatsoever for British War Relief, the Navy League of Canada and other charities. Monday night’s concert was for the Navy League.
The golden-haired girl with the heart of gold was in rare form for her concert. At one point, while impersonating a lopsided prima donna in a comedy number, she executed a neatly turned cartwheel.
Her more serious numbers included Noel Coward’s London’s Pride and It’s the Same Old London. Beautifully effective were the Lord’s Prayer and Under Blue Canadian Skies. But He Won’t Lie Down sounded as fresh as ever.
She rounded out her stimulating program with There’ll Always Be an England and Wish Me Luck as You Wave Goodbye
Sampson Presides
H. E. Sampson, K.C., president of the Saskatchewan division of the Navy League, under whose auspices Gracie Fields is makingher present tour, addressed the audience and acted as master of ceremonies for numbers presented by local talent.
The 12th district depot active service band offered numbers between programs as did the Regina Boys’ Pipe band. Misses Marion Kingdon and Joan Ennis performed a sword dance accompanied by Piper Eddie Black.
The Regina Male Voice choir directed by Dan Cameron scored a musical triumph in timeliness at one point when they sang God Bless America, for which they drew prolonged applause. Equally appropriate was the Swazi Warrior, a Zulu marching song sung by the East Lancashire Regiment during the last Great War. Other numbers were the Volga Boat Song, a Navy Medley with Dr. M.R. Parkin as soloist, and The King’s Men.
Directed for the number by Fred Hill, the choir sang a specially written toast to Miss Fields
To Gracie Fields We chant a hearty greeting
To Gracie Fields She’s on the navy’s side.
She’s here tonight The forces lovely sweetheart
Our Empire’s boast Our aspidistra pride.
Then give three cheers Hurray! Hurray! Hurray
For Gracie Fields” from Blighty—
She’s tops with us And all the world beside
REGINA MALE VOICE CHOIR 1940 – 1949
During the war years Annual Concerts were not held every year. However after the war’s end Annual Concerts were held again, beginning in 1945. During the war the RMVC. carried on, participating with other choral groups to support the war effort, such as Milk For Britain, The Navy League, Canadian War Services Fund. The Canadian Relief Fund toGreece Appeal, etc. 1940 saw the beginning of the Rotary Carol Festival to aid: the Leader Post Christmas Cheer Fund. The RMVC has sung in this event bach year since its beginning in 1940.
The Regina Citadel Band of the Salvation Army held a monthly feature in which the RMVC participated to aid the various outreach programs. The choir also provided entertainment for the Retail Merchant’s Association of Canada, the Lions International Governor’s Banquet, the. Livestock Association Convention and the Saskatchewa Dairy Association.
In February 1941 on the 16th, CKCK Radio broadcast a special program of songs and historical information from the archives. The broadcast took place from the F.N. Darke Hall at 9 pm. Conductor was Dan Cameron with Accompanist Harold Gallagher.
Some concerts were able to present a Guest Artist. The one that attracted the most publicity is that of Gracie Fields as noted on the reverse page. Other Guest Artists were The Hart House Quartet, on March 10,1942; the R.C.A.F. Band on Apri: 15, 1943; Patricia Grant Lewis . on April 2, 1945; William Morton, a tenor, on March 6, 1946; Erica Zentner, Violinist on April 9, 1947; Lois Pearson on March 2,1948; Patricia Grant Lewis, Pianist, again, on March 31, 1948 and Victoria Bodner, Soprano, on April 20, 1949.
A concert for the re-union of ex-servicemen and women was held in St. Paul’s Cathedral at 8 pm on February 27 1946.
The years following World War II were the hey-day of the Regina Male Voice Choir with a peak membership of 86 in 1948. Following the war and the return of service men, they turned to singing with the RMVC because they had done that, around a piano in halls pubs, homes, etc. Entertainment such as TV was not available so singing was the thing!: The RMVC was the place to carry on the wartime pastime.
Some of the selections presented during the events of this decade were –
- Shadow March .
- Blow The Man Down
- The King’s Men
- The Swazi Warrior
- Jerusalem
- Prayer Of Thanksgiving
- Caroline
- Star Spangled Banner
- The Lost Chord
- The Surrey With The Fringe on Top
- Soldiers’ Chorus from. Faust
- Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
- Spring Plowing
- There Rolls The Deep
- Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life
- Hymn of Adoration
- Serenade
- Love Divine
- Whiskey Johnie
- Let’s Get Together
- Feasting I Watch
- The Minstrel Boy
- My Lady Walks With Loveliness
- A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,
- All Through The Night..
- Passing By
Conductors during this period were – Dan Cameron, 1923 – 1945 and Lionel Allen, 1945 – 1960. Accompanists were – A.C. Williams and Allen Swayze, 1941; Lois Spencer, 1942; Mary Drake and E.A. Moore, 1945; Harold Gallagher, 1947 – 1956.