"STARS & STRIPES FOREVER, EL CAPITAN AMONG REQUESTS"

 JOHN PHILIP SOUSA'S MARCHES ARE REVIVED IN PARIS

Paris, France (JFK+50) On August 23, 1925, The Sunday Star reports that "John Philip Sousa's stirring marches of the Spanish-American War days are enjoying an unusual revival in the dancing resorts of the Montmartre* and...in the Latin quarter and Montparnasse**."

Associated Press says encores of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and "El Capitan" are being demanded not by visiting Americans but by "the native French."

*Montmartre is a historic Parisian neighborhood & large hill known for steep winding streets & its artistic history.

**Montparnasse is a busy area in Paris known for chain stores, creperies & historic bistros.

SOURCE

"Sousa Marches of '98 Are Revived In Paris," The Sunday Star, Washington, D.C., August 23, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Montmartre

Paris, France

Pexels

www.pexels.com/

"I'LL START WHEN I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE"

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, AGE 70, 'TOO YOUNG' FOR GOLF

New York City (JFK+50) On July 13, 1925, Associated Press reports that John Philip Sousa* "regards himself as too young to play golf."  The "noted bandmaster" told his friend, William Cross, 'I'll start golfing when I can't do anything else."

Mr. Sousa has lately been visiting Mr. Cross in Middletown, New York.

*John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) was born in Washington, D.C. at 636 G. Street, SE. near the Marine Barracks.  JPS became a composer & conductor best known for military marches & is known as "The March King."  

JPS's "The Stars & Stripes Forever" is the official march anthem of the United States.  He served in the USMC 1868-1875 & was conductor of USMC Marine Band, 'The President's Own," 1880-1902, leading the band under 5 POTUS.

SOURCES

"John Philip Sousa:  Topics In Chronicling America," Library of Congress, www.guides.loc.gov/

 "Sousa 'Too Young' At 70 to Play Golf, He Tells Friend," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 13, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

John Philip Sousa

1922

Library of Congress

"MUSIC BY JOHN PHILIP SOUSA & THE MARINE BAND"

A PRESIDENTIAL WEDDING AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 2, 1886, President Grover Cleveland* and Frances Folsom** were married in the Blue Room at the White House here in the Nation's Capital.

Invited guests included relatives and close friends as well as the President's cabinet and their wives.   Grover Cleveland was 49 years old while his bride,  daughter of his late law partner, was 21.  Mrs. Cleveland remains the youngest First Lady of a sitting POTUS.

Cleveland proposed to Frances by letter in 1885 when she was still a student at Wells College.  Their age difference of 27 years ranks as the second longest for presidents behind John Tyler whose second wife, Julia, was 30 years younger than Mr. Tyler.

The event also marked the first time a president was married in the Executive Mansion.  It was not the first time, however, a POTUS had married while in office.  That distinction goes to John Tyler.

The Clevelands' service was conducted by the Rev. Byron Sutherland with the assistance of the groom's brother, Rev. William Cleveland.  For the ceremony, the traditional words 'honor, love and obey' were substituted by 'love, honor and keep.'  Music was provided by John Philip Sousa and the United States Marine Band.

Although the day was a regular working day for the President, he and Mrs. Cleveland departed for a five day honeymoon at Deer Park in the Cumberland 

Mountains of western Maryland.

*Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) the only President to serve non consecutive terms is both the 22nd (1885-1889) and 24th (1893-1897) Presidents.  He was born in Caldwell, NJ and admitted to the bar in 1859.  He later became Mayor of Buffalo, NY and Governor of NY.

**Frances Clara Folsom Cleveland (1864-1947) was born in Buffalo, NY.  Her father, Oscar Folsom, died in 1875 and Grover Cleveland became administrator of his estate.  FCFC graduated from Wells College in Aurora, NY. After Cleveland's death, she married Thomas J. Preston Jr.,a professor at Wells College.  She was the 1st presidential widow to remarry.

SOURCE

"Frances Clara Folsom Cleveland," Find-a-Grave, www.findagrave.com/

Wedding Ceremony in the Blue Room

June 2, 1886

The White House

Blue Room

White House Tour

Photo by John White (2017)

SOUSA TO ASSEMBLE A CARLOAD OF MUSIC

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2326

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA COMMISSIONED AS A NAVAL LIEUTENANT 

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) One hundred years ago today, May 31, 1917, John Philip Sousa* was commissioned as an officer of the United States Navy with the "provisional" rank of lieutenant of the Naval Coast-Defense Reserve.

Mr. Sousa became famous as conductor of the United States Marine Band.  The Chicago Daily Tribune reported that he would go to New York on June 1, 1917 to "assemble a carload of music for the bandsmen."

John Philip Sousa said...

"I'm going to test the patriotism of every music publisher in the east with a good tune on his shelves by asking them to contribute the music for the boys at Lake Bluff."

*John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) was born in Washington, D.C.  He studied violin, voice, piano, flute, coronet & trombone as a child.  JPS conducted the United States Marine Band  1880-1892.  JPS led "the President's own" during 5 administrations.  

After leaving the Marine Band, he formed the Sousa Band which gave more than 15,000 performances around the world 1892-1931.

SOURCE

"Lieut Sousa Of The Navy If You Please", The Chicago Daily Tribune, June 1, 1917.

John Philip Sousa (1900)
Photo by E. Chickering, Boston
Library of Congress Image

I'M GETTING MARRIED IN THE MORNING

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1968

JUNE WEDDING IN THE BLUE ROOM

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On June 2, 1886, a century plus 30 years ago today, President Grover Cleveland* and Frances Folsom** were married in the Blue Room at the White House here in the Nation's Capital.

Invited guests included relatives and close friends as well as the President's cabinet and their wives.   Grover Cleveland was 49 years old while the bride, the daughter of his late law partner, was 21.  Mrs. Cleveland became the youngest First Lady.

The event also marked the first time a sitting President was married in the Executive Mansion.  John Tyler was the first President to marry while in office but the ceremony was not conducted at the White House.

The Clevelands' service was conducted by the Rev. Byron Sutherland with the assistance of the groom's brother, Rev. William Cleveland.  For the ceremony, the traditional words 'honor, love and obey' were substituted by 'love, honor and keep.'  Music was provided by John Philip Sousa and the United States Marine Band.

Although the day was a regular working day for the President, he and the First Lady departed for a five day honeymoon at Deer Park in the Cumberland 
Mountains of western Maryland.

*Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) the only President to serve non consecutive terms is both the 22nd (1885-1889) and 24th (1893-1897) Presidents.  He was born in Caldwell, NJ and admitted to the bar in 1859.  He later became Mayor of Buffalo, NY and Governor of NY.

**Frances Clara Folsom Cleveland (1864-1947) was born in Buffalo, NY.  Her father, Oscar Folsom, died in 1875 and Grover Cleveland became administrator of his estate.

Frances graduated from Wells College in Aurora, NY.  After Cleveland's death, she married Thomas J. Preston Jr.  She died in Baltimore and is buried in Princeton, N.J. beside her 1st husband.

Wedding Ceremony in the Blue Room

June 2, 1886

The White House

Frances Folsom Cleveland

Library of Congress Photo