SPREADING "THE WORD"
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May 29, 1942

racine, Wisconsin

​Paul “Pars” Larsen accompanied the players to Racine the following day. Highlight of the journey was the picnic lunch along the shores of Lake Michigan.
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A record-breaking crowd of 400 attended the production of Ordet in Racine’s Danish Brotherhood Hall, which was given the players gratis for the performance. High point of the Racine stay was meeting such as large group of Danalumni and present students. Following the play, the streets of Racine took on the air of Saturday night in Blair, with groups of Dana students chatting six abreast along the sidewalks, gathering later in a restaurant for that good old Dana longing – food. 
From the "Ordet Odyssey," 1942.
Two female Dane College students dipping their feet into Lake Michigan, 1942
The students had a picnic and a break on the shores of Lake Michigan between Kenosha and Racine.
Dana students enjoying a picnic outdoors
Postcard of the Danish Brotherhood Hall in Racine, Wisconsin, circa 1942
A record number of 400 people watched the students' performance in Racine, Wisconsin.  Racine was considered one of the most Danish cities in the United States – in 1900, 10 percent of its population had been born in Denmark. To this day, many inhabitants list their ancestry as Danish. Today, Racine is known for its production of Danish 'kringle' - a delicious, flaky, oval pastry. Racine bakeries sell kringle with traditional Danish flavors as well as new American flavors like pecan, cream cheesecake, turtle, cranberry apple and pumpkin caramel.  
These two letters from Hansen in Racine to Nyholm reveal details of how the event was organized locally. This included securing a venue for the performance, pricing and selling tickets, arranging for lodging, and finding a young girl to play the role of Lille Maren.

Up next: three performances in Minnesota
© The Danish American Archive and Library, 2021. 
  • Home
  • The Play
  • The Tour
    • Nebraska
    • Iowa
    • Illinois
    • Wisconsin
    • Minnesota
    • South Dakota
    • Return to Iowa and additional photos
  • The People
  • Dana College and WWII
  • About