1932 Motor Square Garden, (East Liberty, PA)
(Dance) MARATHON NEWS
(Contributed by Judi Erick, Judierick AT aol DOT com)
In May of 1932, a fund-raising Dance Marathon was held at the Motor Square Garden, located in East Liberty -- an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh PA. Details are sketchy but it's assumed the Marathon ran for at least 5 days and the top prize was $100. The competition was established to help the un-employed during those hard times.
From the top left column above:
BOYS
OUTLASTING GIRL CONTESTANTS
The contest as
it nears the end seems to show with a great percentage that the male
contestants in this contest have a greater chance to finish in the
prizes offered them. . . (article torn/missing) . . . the
girls have not been showing themselves to be in the best of spirits as
exhaustion is trying hard to take them. Florence FRANCHINA of Couple 11 last Friday
collapsed into the arms of a trainer at the dinner table, later on in
the evening Vera MIKUS of Couple No. 13 collapsed to the floor
during the five hour grind in the third hour, her partner, Tony
ALTIERA, the only one on the floor was allowed to assist her to her
feet. Should Vera not have come to within the three minutes
alloted her, she would have been disqualified. Last Thursday,
Friday and Saturday, Vera MARCHONE was showing a tendency that
exhaustion was going to get the best of her. Mary PACHON of
Couple No. 27 who has been suffering from a cold for the last few weeks
and had made herself better known to the marathon followers as
"Whispering Mary", but is still in excellent condition.
From the bottom left column:
COUPLE NO. 13 AND 27
ORIGINAL TEAMS
Couple No. 13,
Vera MIKUS and Tony ALTIERA, Couple No. 27, Mary PACHON and Elmer
EASTLAND, who have started in this contest together and never made a
change of partners. These two couples are the only two original
teams left in this contest, Eddie CARTER has had two partners, Hamilton
and Vera MARCHONE, and Vera's first partner was Frank FALVO.
Eddie BONACH, who is better known in this contest as the bluebeard,
because he has already worn out three partners, Edna BARRET, Alice
BARRET, and Lucy "Hotcha" DENICOLA, and his present partner, Florence
FRANCHINA, and Florence's first partner was James ALBERTS, Mary LAMAR,
and her last partner, Eddie BONACH.
"PLEASE DON'T BOOH OR RAZZ the contestants in the contest!"
Ladies and Gentlemen, may we ask from you one favor while you are here at Motor Square Garden. You have come to see the Marathon Contest and to enjoy a pleasant evening. You are here so enjoy the evening. PLEASE DON'T BOOH OR RAZZ the contestants in the contest. . . .
