Doin' drag to benefit Chariton's Disciples back in '23

To put it all into perspective, this photograph was taken during the 1920s in Eskridge, Kansas --- not Lucas County, Iowa --- but it does illustrate what was going on at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Chariton on the evenings of June 14 and 15, 1923, when 65 men staged a "womanless wedding" as a fund-raiser for the congregation.

I'm willing to bet that somewhere in someone's photo album there are snapshots related to the Chariton production, but I've not found them. So I've borrowed this image from the Wabaunsee County Historical Society and Museum, Alma, Kansas.

According to that font of all knowledge, Wikipedia, a "womanless wedding" was "a traditional community 'ritual of inversion' performance, popular in the United States in the early 20th century. In this comic ritual, the all male cast would act out all roles of a traditional wedding party ... while dressed in gowns and dresses. The event often raised money for charities, civic organizations, and churches. The performances were so popular that scripts were developed around the idea, and the do-it-yourself theatrical productions were passed along from city to city."

So that's the background to this news item, published in The Chariton Leader of June 12, 1923, under the headline, "Will Present a Comedy at a Local Church."

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On Thursday and Friday nights of this week, the Christian church will be the scene of one of the most comic home talent productions that has been produced for the public in Chariton for many a moon. It is said by the committee in charge of the program that the seating capacity of the house is likely to be taxed on both evenings, according to the reports of advance ticket sales already coming in.

The play is known as "The Womanless Wedding," and is staged by some 60 men of the community for the benefit of the Christian church. It has been a saying about the city for some time that the women do all the work in the church and the men have decided to show that they are capable of doing something, too. 

While, of course, there are many feminine parts in the production, these are all taken by men; not a single woman appearing in the cast. Many well known men of the community will impersonate characters of national and local repute in this burlesque wedding. Suffice it to say that comedy will predominate during the two-hour performance and there is no doubt a great treat is in store for all who attend.

The performance opens up with some ingenious blackface comedy by the servants during the preparation for the wedding ceremony, in which the daughter of the home, Miss Tenderfoot, is to be given in marriage to Mr. Shortribs. This precedes the assembling of the guests, who are announced in turn by the butler, who is master of ceremonies. The guest list represents an assemblage not often gathered for any event and the occasion takes on the character of a great national event as the noted personages arrive and are greeted by the man and mistress of the household.

When all are seated and everything is in readiness, the bridal party comes on the scene. This is elaborate to the extreme and full of good, clean comedy throughout. The marrying parson, S.H. Willey, the south-side merchant, will make a hit with his modern ritualistic lines, and we predict that his business will be neglected in the future when the matrimonially inclined see what kind of a knot he ties.

If there are any June brides-to-be in Chariton, who are undecided as to wedding gowns, it is suggested that they get ideas from the bridal gown on display in the show window of the Israel Bros. store. This gown is of Berean creation of white georgette crepe over white satin and lace. It will be seen in "The Womanless Wedding."

An experienced director is on the job and will direct the entire production, furnishing a good  part of the costumes and providing all the lines spoken by the different characters. It was at first thought one performance would be sufficient to accommodate all who would care to see the "wedding," but second consideration caused the management to decide on two nights. Tickets are 35 cents for adults and 25 cents for children, and are now being sold by the girls of the Christian church.

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By all accounts, the production was a major success. The following brief review appeared in The Leader of June 19:

The "Womanless Wedding" which was held at the Christian church on Thursday and Friday evenings was one of the most amusing comedies ever given in Chariton. There were 65 characters in the cast and the makeup of each was a scream, the exercises lasting for two hours which included the reception of the distinguished guests and the performance of the ceremony. Everybody had a good laugh, which tends to rejuvenate Nature and make the humdrum of life more tranquil. The audiences both nights were large and required the entire seating capacity of the church. It all resolves itself into the old philosophy that "a little foolishness now and then is relished by the best of men" --- and women.