| Show Spectacular Outdoor Pageant Revives A Early b- b California Lore oj of Two Towns owns Unite In n Staging Drama Features All the romance and adventure adventure adventure ture of early California along with the pathos and tragedy of the Indian people are revived in the historic Ramona pageant long heralded as one of the nations nation's nations nation's nations nation's na na- na- na tion's most spectacular outdoor presentations which will open in Ramona Bowl near Hemet Calif April 19 Immortalized by Helen Hunt Jackson Jackson Jackson Jack Jack- son in her selling best-selling novel Ramona Ramona Ra uRa- mona the tragic experiences of an Indian couple living in San Jacinto valley form the general theme of the pageant The spectacle now in its season is staged in Its own amphitheater situated at the foot of towering snow-capped snow Mt San Jacinto Revives Early Days Das The authentic atmosphere of early California history pervades the pageant It is replete with colorful colorful colorful color color- ful fiestas Indian ceremonials and dancing typical of that period In one of the most spectacular scenes a a amounted mounted posse thunders across the acre 50 mountainside stage Ramona Is the result of the work and talents lents of more than residents of the towns of Hemet Bernet and San Jacinto neighboring neighboring neigh neigh- boring communities nestled In the foothills of the majestic San an Jacinto mountain range in southern California Combining their efforts the townspeople stage the pageant as a labor of love to record an outstanding example of cooperative community community spirit Aside from one or two professionals profession profession- als in the title roles every member of the cast is a citizen of either Hemet or San Jacinto All production production production tion details including costumes settings settings settings set set- tings maintenance box office and even parking of cars are performed performed performed per per- formed by townspeople Studied in School Ramona as written by Mrs Jackson is on the curriculums in the schools of both Hemet and San Ja Ja- Ja- Ja cinto Youngsters who study the dramatic pages of the novel appear in the play playas as children Many as they grow up graduate to more important important important im im- im- im roles During the three weekends in which the pageant is staged business business business busi busi- ness in the two sponsoring communities communities communities is virtually at a standstill Men and women in all walks of lif life e move en masse to Ramona Bowl some as performers some as stage stag stagehands stagehands hands some as service attendants attendant s and still others just to view again agai n nin the stirring story of early days in in their valley The general theme of Ramona i ithe is s the tragedy of the Indian people I In n 1883 Mrs Jackson came to Los Angeles Angeles Angeles An An- geles on a government mission to t o gather material pertaining to the th e H w w r FA I l 1 j fi t I s sj I 1 j yC iN I I I v. v r Jt t II I i b a i t r 1 f ti i t ti I i f fa a TRAGIC LOVERS Juanita Encell and Henry Brandon play the leading roles of Ramona and Alessandro whose tragic romance forms the theme of the Ramona pageant spectacular outdoor production staged annually in the swept mountain-swept Ramona Bowl near Hemet Bernet Calif Indians From her pen emerged the pages of the novel which continues to thrill seeking adventure children Based on History Most of the important incidents inthe in inthe inthe the book actually occurred in San Jacinto valley the home of the characters in the story Mrs Jackson Jackson Jackson Jack Jack- son conceived the idea for Ramona Ramona Ramona Ra mona after learning of the tragic experiences of an Indian couple Juan Diego and Ramona who lived in the valley Tattered records of San Jacinto I justice court as written by Justice Samuel V. V Tripp contain the story of the shooting of an Indian JuanDiego Juan JuanDiego JuanDiego Diego by a white man Sam Temple Diego the records reveal owned a plot of land containing water water water wa wa- ter a site which was cherished by certain white men A trip into San Jacinto one day brought disaster to Diego He made the trip on horseback horseback horseback horse horse- back tying his mount in front of the general store In town Diego had a couple of drinks and became confused confused con con- I fused with the result that he rode II away on another horse Although he rode directly home Diego was branded as a horse thief in the eyes of Sam Temple It is recounted recounted recounted re re- re- re counted that Temple borrowed a shotgun formed a posse and rode away in the direction of Diego's I land He returned with the story of having recovered a stolen horse and I having killed an Indian in the proc proc- ess True to Life Climax l This incident gave Mrs Dors Jackson the climax for her story and she v K r 0 y r q 1 n 6 w g r y r y y r c Y S. S G y 1 Y 4 4 1 r o. iro 4 S 'S 4 r l i r AUTHENTIC ATMOSPHERE California California's colorful and romantic past is recreated in the Ramona historical pageant Here a posse thunders across the acre 50 mountainside stage where Helen Hunt Jacksons Jackson's selling best novel Ramona is presented by residents of Hemet and San Jacinto Jacinto- Calif transposed it into her novel after r changing the names to Alessandro Alessandr o and Jim Farrar In the picturesque setting of Ramona Bowl with its 50 acres of natural mountainside studded with until trails this climax and the love story of Ramona and Alessandro Alessandro Ales Ales- Alessandro sandro is brought to life in the spectacular pageant Abandoned during the war years since since it is almost imperative to visit t the play by automobile the Ramona Ramon a pageant has been seen by more mor e than spectators during its 1 19 seasons Last year the play wa was s viewed by more than tors in its eight performances With the exception of last season Ramona always has been presented presente d on three consecutive weekends playing in the afternoons of each Saturday and Sunday This year the schedule calls for performances on onS April 20 19 April 27 26 S and May 3 Gains Laurels Rapidly The Ramona pageant originally was started as a publicity enterprise enterprise enterprise enter enter- prise by the joint chamber of commerce commerce commerce com com- merce organizations of Hemet and San Jacinto From this pioneer start it has become one of the recognized recognized recognized rec rec- outdoor spectacles of the nation Taking over last season and continuing continuing con con- this year as the plays play's production production pro pro- executive is Adrian Awan prominent for many years in producing pro pro- during outdoor pageants For several several sev sev- several eral seasons he was connected with California state fairs He also staged the famed Pilgrimage Play in Hollywood and since its inception inception tion has been connected with Civic Light Opera in both Los Angeles and San Francisco Currently he is producing the revival of the famous Mission Play another early California Califor Califor- nia historical pageant which is seen annually in the Mission Playhouse Play Play- Playhouse house in San SaI Gabriel Calif |
