Enid Chautauqua
Historical tourism at its finest!
It’s your chance to “time travel” to meet some of history’s most illustrious characters.
“Anything Goes: America in the Roaring 20s,” June 10-14, 2025 at NWOSU-Enid!
2025 DAILY SCHEDULE
Pre-show entertainment: The Mike & Mike Trio
10:30 am Workshop, by Selene Phillips (Zitkala-Sa):
Han! Han! (Yes! Yes! In Lakiota): Beadwork, porcupine quills, wild rice, and fancy dancing: There may be a tendency to think traditional Native American culture is simplistic. This workshop explores the talent and knowledge necessary to complete or create some of the more popular Native American traditions.
12 pm Workshop, by David Fenimore (Zane Grey):
John Ford’s The Searchers – The Anatomy of a Perfect Western Film (Warts and All): Some of the most iconic films from the Golden Age of westerns were made by John Ford. What was this legendary director’s formula, and what does this film, considered by some his best, illustrate about the appeal and the drawbacks of the form? We’ll watch a few key scenes and ponder. (Recommended to watch or rewatch film before attending.)
Pre-show entertainment: Steven Harwood
10:30 am Workshop, by David Fenimore (Zane Grey):
When I Was a Cowboy: Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous Riders of the Range: As Leadbelly’s song implies, only a minority of 19th-century “cowboys” – however the term is defined – were the type of square-jawed Anglo-American epitomized in films by Randolph Scott, John Wayne, and Clint Eastwood. Who were the real cowboys, what did they really do, and why have they been mostly erased from our national narrative?
12 pm Workshop, by Doug Mishler (Al Capone):
Rocking the Foundation of “Traditional America” in the 1920s: A balanced exploration of the major issues of the 1920s, a period when many festering social and cultural currents exploded to the surface and were met by strong fundamentalism reaction.
Pre-show entertainment: the cast of Gaslight Theatre’s upcoming production, “The Drowsy Chaperone”
10:30 am Workshop, by Rebecca Marks Jimerson (Bessie Smith):
Got the Blues?: Explore the origins of blues music, tracing its path from early field hollers and work songs to the powerful genre we know today. Through lecture, songs, and discussion, we will explore the history, legends, and rich folklore of the blues. Participants will hear instrumental examples highlighting a range of styles like Piedmont, Delta, and ragtime blues.
12 pm Workshop, by Selene Phillips (Zitkala-Sa):
Indians in the 1920s: This workshop highlights the aspects of Indian reform in the 1920s including the John Collier boarding schools, the Indian Reorganization Act of the 1920s, and the 1924 Snyder Act.
Evening performance: Bessie Smith, by Rebecca Marks Jimerson
Pre-show entertainment: Mixed Company
10:30 am Workshop, by Doug Mishler (Al Capone):
“New Women” and Neglected Males: a study of how the gender roles started to morph from 1918 to 1932 (the long duration 1920s). This workshop will primarily focus on the new woman, how she developed, and the resulting impact, but also explore the neglected male roles and how they were a bit fluid during this time.
12 pm Workshop, by Karen Vuranch (Mae West):
Vaudeville – Family Entertainment in the Early 20th Century: In 19th century America, theatre was considered high-brow and appealed to wealthy patrons. But by the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, a new form of entertainment was offered to appeal to the working classes. This workshop will explore the rich history of Vaudeville and some of the classic entertainers that emerged from the Vaudeville stage.
Pre-show entertainment: Riley Jantzen
10:30 am Workshop, by Karen Vuranch (Mae West):
Speak No Evil – Censorship in America: Mae West used sexual inuendo to combat censorship in Hollywood. Throughout the 20th century and now in the 21st, censorship is more and more an issue. This workshop will address examples of extremism in censorship and will encourage a discussion about when censorship is appropriate and when it endangers freedom of speech and personal choice.
12 pm Workshop, by Rebecca Marks Jimerson (Bessie Smith):
Visions of the African American Experience in the 1920s: Discover the rich literary landscape of the Harlem Renaissance by exploring the poetry of Langston Hughes, Paul Laurence Dunbar, James Weldon Johnson, Claude McKay, Countee Cullen, and Arna Bontemps. This workshop will explore how these poets captured the African American experience during the 1920s, discussing themes of racial identity, resilience, and cultural pride.
