Looking back in Springfield: The Opera Club

On June 1, 1928, the Springfield Opera Club, formed by Charles Dobson with his voice students, gave their first public performance at the Y.W.C.A. auditorium, performing the best known acts from two operas: “Faust” and “Rigoletto.” Between the acts, the audience was entertained by six-year-old dancer, Martha Maxine Ruff of London, Ohio. Anna Marie Tennant provided the audience with a dramatic overview of the two operas at the start of the show. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

On June 1, 1928, the Springfield Opera Club, formed by Charles Dobson with his voice students, gave their first public performance at the Y.W.C.A. auditorium, performing the best known acts from two operas: “Faust” and “Rigoletto.” Between the acts, the audience was entertained by six-year-old dancer, Martha Maxine Ruff of London, Ohio. Anna Marie Tennant provided the audience with a dramatic overview of the two operas at the start of the show. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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By Staff report
Updated July 15, 2018
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On June 1, 1928, the Springfield Opera Club, formed by Charles Dobson with his voice students, gave their first public performance at the Y.W.C.A. auditorium, performing the best- known acts from two operas, Faust and Rigoletto.

Between the acts, the audience was entertained by six-year-old dancer, Martha Maxine Ruff of London.

Anna Marie Tennant provided the audience with a dramatic overview of the two operas at the start of the show.

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Staff report