CUNNINGHAM MUSICALS....

THIS IS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL WHERE I ATTENDED FIRST THROUGH GRADE 12....IT NO LONGER STANDS....THE THREE PEOPLE IN FRONT ARE UNCLE HAROLD BELL, OUR MUSIC TEACHER, SISTER MARTHA, AND ME......WE ARE STANDING AROUND THE FLAG POLE......

CUNNINGHAM MUSICALS

by Fred M. Allen

For years musicals were presented in Cunningham School which attracted friends from other areas who enjoyed music. Not only was the music well-presented, but the number of participants, the special lighting effects, the decorations and props all contributed to an evening of entertainment not often found in rural schools. 

For some reason which I cannot explain, Cunningham has been blessed with an abundance of music talent for many years. Even as early as the 1920’s, Cunningham had a brass band which played concerts each week during the summer. There was a bandstand in the middle of the street on which the band played. I have a great picture of that band with all the members identified which is priceless. Music was very important at all levels in school as we sang much and had special programs at certain times during the school year. At times we presented special musicals with members of the community participating whole-heartedly. Some graduates of Cunningham School have gone on to become professional musicians like my young brother, Duane Allen, lead singer with The Oak Ridge Boys of Nashville, TN. Others including my sister, Nelda, taught public school music for many years. Also, I served for over forty years as a minister of music and as a music missionary in Africa; so the influence of those early musicals reaches far beyond the local area.

I have a picture of the high school chorus dressed in beautiful robes which were made from parachutes left over from World War Two which were obtained from Camp Maxie just north of Paris. The beautiful robes were made by ladies of the community. 

My uncle, Harold Bell, was choral director in Cunningham School for many years until his untimely death in late December, 1963, in a car-train accident. He involved virtually all the school in the special musicals. Choirs were formed which were composed of almost all the students in 12 grades. Those who were not in one of the choirs were on a support team which took care of the lights and other things. The Shop Class made all the props, the Homemaking Class made all the costumes for the younger choirs, the faculty gave their full support so that the whole school became an important part of the production, and members of the community gave help where it was needed. Yes, a PRODUCTION it was! 

The ingenuity of Uncle Harold and his assistants did some amazing things especially for a rural school. They actually took stove pipes like we used in our homes for heat, made wheels of wire, secured colored plastic to put on the wheels, attached electric bulbs to produce spot lights which were used throughout the program. A large red wagon was used for Santa to ride in with sides made by the Shop Class to make it like a sleigh, and decorations which were beyond our imagination to make it very special. The high school choir sang in four-part harmony and did some very challenging pieces. The musicals were held in the gymnasium to accommodate the large audience but also to give room for dramatic movement of the different singing groups around the gym floor. After Uncle Harold died, I understand that the musicals continued until Cunningham was consolidated with three other schools to form what is now Prairieland School. Since I was no longer living in the area and for many years was in Africa, I cannot give an account of music in the schools from that time forward; but since there was so 

much talent in Cunningham and I am sure in the other schools as well, music must have played an important role there too. I have heard of the many honors received by the 4-H Club Band through the years, and I am sure music still plays an important role at Prairieland School.

Even today there is still a lot of music talent in Cunningham. Those who live there now are much more qualified than I to report on all that is happening with music there. I do know that some individuals and bands continue to make music in care centers and as guest performers at various functions throughout the area and beyond. It makes me feel so good to have been a part of a tradition which includes music as an important part of our lives.THIS IS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL WHERE I ATTENDED FIRST THROUGH GRADE 12....IT NO LONGER STANDS....THE THREE PEOPLE IN FRONT ARE UNCLE HAROLD BELL, OUR MUSIC TEACHER, SISTER MARTHA, AND ME......WE ARE STANDING AROUND THE FLAG POLE......

CUNNINGHAM MUSICALS

by Fred M. Allen

For years musicals were presented in Cunningham School which attracted friends from other areas who enjoyed music. Not only was the music well-presented, but the number of participants, the special lighting effects, the decorations and props all contributed to an evening of entertainment not often found in rural schools. 

For some reason which I cannot explain, Cunningham has been blessed with an abundance of music talent for many years. Even as early as the 1920’s, Cunningham had a brass band which played concerts each week during the summer. There was a bandstand in the middle of the street on which the band played. I have a great picture of that band with all the members identified which is priceless. Music was very important at all levels in school as we sang much and had special programs at certain times during the school year. At times we presented special musicals with members of the community participating whole-heartedly. Some graduates of Cunningham School have gone on to become professional musicians like my young brother, Duane Allen, lead singer with The Oak Ridge Boys of Nashville, TN. Others including my sister, Nelda, taught public school music for many years. Also, I served for over forty years as a minister of music and as a music missionary in Africa; so the influence of those early musicals reaches far beyond the local area.

I have a picture of the high school chorus dressed in beautiful robes which were made from parachutes left over from World War Two which were obtained from Camp Maxie just north of Paris. The beautiful robes were made by ladies of the community. 

My uncle, Harold Bell, was choral director in Cunningham School for many years until his untimely death in late December, 1963, in a car-train accident. He involved virtually all the school in the special musicals. Choirs were formed which were composed of almost all the students in 12 grades. Those who were not in one of the choirs were on a support team which took care of the lights and other things. The Shop Class made all the props, the Homemaking Class made all the costumes for the younger choirs, the faculty gave their full support so that the whole school became an important part of the production, and members of the community gave help where it was needed. Yes, a PRODUCTION it was! 

The ingenuity of Uncle Harold and his assistants did some amazing things especially for a rural school. They actually took stove pipes like we used in our homes for heat, made wheels of wire, secured colored plastic to put on the wheels, attached electric bulbs to produce spot lights which were used throughout the program. A large red wagon was used for Santa to ride in with sides made by the Shop Class to make it like a sleigh, and decorations which were beyond our imagination to make it very special. The high school choir sang in four-part harmony and did some very challenging pieces. The musicals were held in the gymnasium to accommodate the large audience but also to give room for dramatic movement of the different singing groups around the gym floor. After Uncle Harold died, I understand that the musicals continued until Cunningham was consolidated with three other schools to form what is now Prairieland School. Since I was no longer living in the area and for many years was in Africa, I cannot give an account of music in the schools from that time forward; but since there was so 

much talent in Cunningham and I am sure in the other schools as well, music must have played an important role there too. I have heard of the many honors received by the 4-H Club Band through the years, and I am sure music still plays an important role at Prairieland School.

Even today there is still a lot of music talent in Cunningham. Those who live there now are much more qualified than I to report on all that is happening with music there. I do know that some individuals and bands continue to make music in care centers and as guest performers at various functions throughout the area and beyond. It makes me feel so good to have been a part of a tradition which includes music as an important part of our lives.