Trending
Director Fred
Naumann Is Deserving
Of Great Credit.
--------
Turner theatre was filled with relatives and friends who gathered to witness the 59th Annual Gymnastic Exhibition of the New Ulm Turnverein. The program started promptly at eight o'clock and the credit for the accomplishment of the various classes which exhibited their work goes to the director Fred Naumann who has had under his direction the past year an enrollment of over 500 pupils. The classes have been in training for many weeks, perfecting the exercises in which they took part Friday evening.
Splendid Exhibition
Wagner's Orchestra played the overture which opened Part 1 of the annual program. This was followed by the grand entry when all of the children, boys, girls, men and women took part in the march. The free exercises by the first boys' class and the folk dances by the first girls' class showed the skill of these youngsters who accomplished some really difficult stunts. One of the features of the evening was the climbing poles by the first boys' class. Equally good was the dumbbell exercise by the second boys class. Free exercises by the second girls class and aesthetic dancing by the first girls class were especially well done. Tumbling acts by the boys class and the side horse exercise by the second boys class were interesting and brought many laughs from the large audience. The second girls class gave an aesthetic dance in costume and this was gracefully and accurately done.
Turner History
During the intermission Capt. Albert Steinhauser, president of the Turnverein gave a short historical sketch of the Turner movement, mentioning Father Jahn who started the work in Germany over 100 years ago. Three co-workers of Father Jann came to America 100 years ago and opened gymnasiums. They did not have time to give all of their attention to this new movement and it gradually died out. It was not until after the refugees of the Revolution in 1848 came here that the Turner Societies were organized. At the time of the Civil war was declared 75 percent of the total membership of the Turner societies went into the United States Army.
The aim of this organization is to develop the body as well as the mind. The physical training work develops courage,patience, confidence and fair play in children and those who attend their classes. The Turners are the pioneers of the physical training movement in this country.
Second Part
The second part of the program was opened by the Zoegling class performing on the side horse and parallel bars. Following this was a free exercise and dance steps by the young ladies class. The advanced ladies displayed their skill in a dumbbell drill the Actives did the stellar work of the evening in their bow and arrow exercise and in their horizontal bar and parallel bar work. The young ladies class pleased the spectators with a beautiful dance in costume.
Director Fred Naumann exhibited his skill in club swinging as a feature of the second half of the program. Following the program the Wagner orchestra furnished music for the dance and a lunch was served in the Dutch room.
Brown County Journal,
May 6, 1975
------------------------