History - "The Men Who Came to Dinner" - First Meetings - Building the Dream - Historic Photos

1904: The Year

At the turn of the century, one of the unique and purposely unheralded Cleveland organizations was The Gatling Gun Company, which was a military men’s group with decided social characteristics founded by ex-servicemen from the Spanish-American War. Comprised of a number of Cleveland professionals, business leaders and sons of the first families, the members were bounded together by camaraderie and talent. Instead of swapping war stories, the group expressed themselves with the production of musical comedies, music, lyrics and libretti.

Productions were staged under the orchestral supervision of its artists. Among the most active were Frank B. Meade, Albert Rees Davis, Roger Enwright, George B. Pettengill and Mortimer W. Lawrence.

Theatrical productions of this company were social events patronized by friends and had a usual sprinkling of theatrical stars. During that time, New York luminaries, Frank Worthing, Maclyn Arhuckle and Robert Edeson, struck a friendship with Meade and invited him to enjoy the hospitality of the Lamb's Club in New York. From that point Meade was forever infected with stage fever and became a member of the famous New York hot spot.

"The Men Who Came to Dinner"

Pictured above: The Core Orchestra-- Earliest photo of the Core of the Orchestra 1906. Left to right: A.C. Rogers; C.E. Burt; M.W. Lusk; H.A. Bliss; G.B. Pettengill; J.C. Royon; J.L. Miller; A.C. Klumph; F.B. Meade

THE MUSIC

Starting in 1904 the first active group at Hickox Alley was the Hermit Club Orchestra. Under the careful leadership of Frank Meade, the orchestra took its work in all seriousness preferring the classics to music in a more modern vein. However, the Hermit Club was never one to stand for too much highbrow attitudinizing and Meade and his orchestra were often found on the program listings as Meade's Musical Mugs or, perhaps more fitting, Meades Marvelous Musical Mokes. In 1904, the orchestra consisted of 11 players, and from an old year book of the Hermit Club, here are the names of the original members:

Frank B. Meade, Violin
J. Frank Stair, Violin
John L. Miller, Jr., Violin
John MacGregor, Jr., Violin
Charles F. Sherwood, Violin
Arthur C. Rogers, Cello
Harry A. Bliss, Bass Violin
Joseph C. Royon, Clarinet
Charles E. Burt, Coronet
Milton W. Lusk, Piano
Richard S. Spencer, Piano

Pictured above: The Original Fadette Jazz Orchestra(Note: Cello and Mandolin)

There appears to be no question as to the position occupied by the Hermit Club Symphony Orchestra for it is the pole star which has guided and maintained the cultural purpose of the club. Founder Frank Meade built the Hermit Club upon the rock of music and constantly during the almost 35 years of his executive administration he traditionalized its orchestra to a point where its future importance in club affairs became one of permanence.

There is a momentary flash from the light on conductors' music rack signaling the opening of the curtain. Again the conductor raises his baton... the introductory music begins... the curtains part... the show is on and now before the footlights we see the revue of past public and private performances staged by this little corner of old Vienna-in Cleveland... this Bohemia, we call the Hermit Club.

by William H. Thomas

THE FOOTLIGHTS

The opening of the club was but a step in carrying out Meade's overall purpose... a search for and development of talent. The plan to produce simple entertainments, present them to members and their guests under the name Meditations. On November 19th, 1904, a date only two weeks after the opening of the new Hermit Club, the first of these was presented on stage. The program read as follows:

THE HERMITS MEDITATION

November 19, 1904

Hermit Chorus & Dances .. Messrs. Hopper, Maher,
Mathews and Pettengill

Mudtown Minstrels...... Messrs. Davis,
Hopper and Pettengill

F.W. Braggins ....... Baritone

C.A. Maher .......... Intricate Dances

Herbert Mathews ..... Imitation of Paderewski

George Sliney ....... Monologue

It should be noted that along with all the other flurries of activity at this new club, a small nuclei of groups were also starting up as can be noted in the above meditation... a Hermit chorus, dancers, and what would probably pass for as a jazz band in the Hermit tradition, called The Fadette Orchestra consisting of slumming members of the Hermit Symphony Orchestra.

History - "The Men Who Came to Dinner" - First Meetings - Building the Dream - Historic Photos