Welcome to The Ebell Society of Santa Ana, CA

Memorable Programs--1894-1929

The information below was excerpted from “The Ebell Society of the Santa Ana Valley, 1894-1929”, compiled by Mrs. Victor Montgomery.

Over the years, many memorable programs have been presented at Ebell. Before the clubhouse was built, programs were presented in the various buildings the club rented.

One of the memorable artists who performed for the club was Madam Helena Modjeska, beginning in 1903. In June 1904, her program was “Loved Once” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, which was presented at the Rossmore Hotel. The Ebell Society so revered Madam Modjeska, that during their April 1904 meeting, she was made an honorary member. Madam Modjeska died in April 1909. A Resolution was passed by the club that paid high tribute to a marvelous actress and loving friend to Ebell.

An event took place in the autumn of 1910 that is worth quoting from the book. “Early in the autumn, Ebell put on an Art Exhibit at the Carnival of Products, and entered a float in the parade, prepared by the Young Ladies Travel Section, Miss Gertrude Montgomery, Leader. The float represented a latticed garden, with rustic gate, the whole overrun with pink Tacoma flowers and vines. The garden was filled with members of the Section, wearing pink flower-bonnets, and tiny little girls, dressed as butterflies, hovered above the garden. A floral bell, suspended from a golden E, was rung by the butterflies throughout the march. The harness used on the beautifully matched team, was gilded. This was before prohibition and the imported judges, having celebrated so generously, mistook natural for artificial flowers, and failed to award us the first prize; saying that it was the most exquisite float they had ever seen, and if the young ladies had only used “real” flowers, there would have been no doubt of the award. However, the second prize brought $25.000 to the Ebell.”

Another memorable program took place in 1913. The personal appearance of Helen Keller and her teacher, Mrs. Macy, was a notable achievement for Santa Ana. She gave her performance in the Opera House. Another was “My People the Sioux” by Chief Standing Bear.

In 1920, a special event was Frederick Warde giving a lecture on Shakespearean plays. As so many guests were expected, the meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church, which was filled to overflowing.

The years 1927 and 1928 were especially rich in cultural life, the Program Committee bringing in such celebrities as Dr. Frank Crane, Richard Halliburton, John Erskin, Carveth Wells, Edwin Tomlinson, Dr. Harold Fish, Ruth Bryan Owen, and Lowell Thomas. Mrs. Jack Vallely’s book reviews have continued to be a source of keen delight to the membership.

During this period, an outstanding achievement was the establishment of an International Artists Course. Not only did the Society make the presentation of these artists possible to Orange County—but by so doing added substantially to their treasury. Madam Louise Homer, Arthur Hackett Granville, The London Stringed Quartette, and Mischa Elman were among those presented.

In 1929, the recently instituted husband’s night was again observed by a dinner, followed by an illustrated lecture on “Forbidden Afghanistan” given by Lowell Thomas.

To close out this period of The Ebell Society, some wonderful programs were booked. One program was by Princess Der Ling. Others were a concert by Harry Lauder; an appearance by Will Rogers; and Joan London, speaking “sympathetically and understandingly” of her famous father, Jack London.