Lone Scout Rallies

 

Lone Scout rallies were events where Lone Scouts could get together to meet other Lone Scouts, play games, hold parades, have Scouting contests, such as string burning and other outdoor activities, sell their Tribe papers, and generally have a good time.

In order to illustrate the events at a rally, the newspaper articles at right are submitted.

The first article is about the May 22, 1921 rally held in New York City.

The second article was an advertisement for an upcoming rally at Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York.

 

  

Lone Scout Rallies were held in many places such as Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Detroit, Buffalo, St. Louis and other less well-known places. We highlight the one in New York City and present an advertisement, written by a Lone Scout, for one in Buffalo the following year.

The Rally at New York

By Sol Huberman

"To say that the New York Rally was a tremendous success would be hardly doing justice to the officers of the New York City Tribe Confederation...

"After the Lone Scouts of New York City had paraded on Fifth avenue during Boy's Week (Mayor Hylan, Police Commissioner Enright, and other great men were in the reviewing stand), under the auspices of the Federation, steps were made to prepare for the great rally. Write-ups were given us in the various newspapers of the city, under the capable instruction of Al Heitowit, the Publicity Director, and the work ran its course smoothly. every nook and cranny of the city was discovered and covered. The results exceeded the fondest expectations of the committee of arrangements. President Diamond expressed himself satisfied...

"Four hundred and seventy-three Lone Scouts assembled in the High School of Commerce, May 22, 1921. New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C., besides many small towns and villages were represented. Cast your eyes over this collection of attending boosters. They are the cream of Lone Scoutdom's best...

Fire-making contest at the 1925 Lone Scout Rally in Chicago. Note the different styles of dress. Only one of the Lone Scouts has on a uniform (the Lone Scout to the right of center).

"At twelve o'clock noon the Lone Scouts began to assemble. We were agreeably surprised to have an entire Tribe from Paterson N.J., in attendance. As is usual in gatherings of this kind, the fellows assembled in groups to discuss everything from girls to locomotives. At 1 o'clock Al Heitowit  graced the tremendous platform with his dainty feet. As a preliminary entertainment, he announced a concert by the Edison Electric Company thru Mr. Harvey Knowles, and received a great ovation as he left the platform blushing. Mr. Knowles, having been introduced by Mr. Heitowit, proceeded to render several excellent numbers. They were favorably received. At the close of the entertainment Mr. Knowles offered to undertake a like concert at any Tribe meeting boasting of an audience of twelve or more. He restricted this to Tribes in the Confederation. Mr. Knowles then proceeded to distribute coupons that could be exchanged for free copies of a book concerning Edison and the Edison Company. AS the concert came to a close Al Heitowit proposed a rising vote of thanks for Mr. Knowles. It certainly was given.

"The rally was officially opened. The lone Scout Band, secured by Morris Bulke, played the "Star Spangled Banner." Greetings were then extended to the assemblage by President Morris Diamond and Grand Adviser Samuel Kaplan. Several clippings were exhibited, containing the announcement of the rally. During the  speech intermissions the band rendered excellent numbers.

"The audience hushed as Sam Kaplan began to read the message of G. N. Madison, editor of "Lone Scout." Attentively it was listened to. So attentively, in fact, that one could hear  a pin drop. AS Sam finished reading a burst of cheers followed. Jake Rosenzweig leaped to his feet and proposed a vote of thanks to G.N.M. on behalf of the Federation and the Lone Scouts at the rally. With loud cheers the suggestion was accepted.
A Lone Scout baseball game at the 1925 Chicago Lone Scout Rally. This is probably a staged situation. It was photographed by Ralph Salazar, the "official" Lone Scout photographer.

"The orchestra struck up a lively song, then Vice President Sol Huberman came to the bat. After a brief address, during which he announced that it gave him great pain to address the audience, he read the messages of Dewey M. Owens and Perry Emerson Thompson. Both left a lasting impression. Copies of "Scout's Delight" containing the messages were then distributed. The demand outlasted the supply.

"Al Heitowit read messages from Walter Camp, Mayor Hylan, Ralph Henry Barbour, William Heylinger and other men of note. Some of the expected visitors came during the gym period—just too late.

"All the big boosters and Tribe Captains present were then individually introduced and placed on the platform, much to their discomfort. The entire bunch then filed into the magnificent gymnasium of the school. Sam Gallay very enterprisingly snapped several flashlights [i.e., flashbulb lit pictures) of the fellows in action.

"The Rainbow Boosters Tribe won the city basketball championship by defeating the famous Cayuga and Birch Bark Tribes. The winning team consisted of Abe Badain, Jake Zasloff, Ben Wallack, Harry Kaplan and Harry Bloom. In the various athletic events the Rainbow Boosters Tribe (Charter 7) annexed the most points in summing up the total. The Tribe received the title of Champion Rally Tribe, and will hold the title for dispute at the next rally.

"Among the prizes distributed were subscriptions to the Sprocket and Scout's Delight. Not very many copies of the last named publication remained.. The copies were snatched up to secure "memos" of the rally. Other publications distributed were the Jay Tee Tee, the Boy's Own and Boy Partners.

"Among the athletic events held were basketball, sprints, broad jump, running broad jump, and high jump.

"At 6 o'clock the greatest rally in the history of the organization was adjourned. To Chicago and other cities of the world we extend a challenge to beat this record—'if you can.'"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Big Eastern Lone Scout Rally

By Lone Scout Elmer L. Hewson

"All aboard, Lone Scouts, for that big Lone Scout rally. Where is it to be? Why, At Buffalo and Niagara Falls, of course. Every Lone Scout who can possibly come is invited to attend. This is not a local rally, but one to which all Lone Scouts are to come. It is to be a regular "convention."

"The time for the rally is on Sept. 3rd, 4th, and 5th. As you can see, it will last for three days. Three days chock full of amusement, sight-seeing and pleasure.

"The first day will be for registering. This registration will take place in Buffalo, in the morning, and will be done in some downtown office. Here the Lone Scouts will pay the fee for the rally which will be around one dollar and a half to two dollars. Also at this time they will receive a silk badge with their name printed on it. The fee charged will be very small considering the amount to be given for it. There will be all kinds of events. Below, I will give you an idea of what the committee has arranged for the rally. Most of these events will be will be included in the price, but several minor ones will be extra. But—we want to impress on every Lone Scout's mind that we are not going to make one cent on this affair.

"Every Lone Scout should decide as soon as possible if he wants to come. If you do, write a letter to...and when your letter is received you will be given complete instructions on how to proceed after you arrive in Buffalo, how to get to the registering place after you leave the train, exact price, and other details. So just send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the above address as soon as possible.

"On the first day there will be an entertainment. Several prominent Lone Scouts will speak, and also several local men who are interested in boys. Then there will be pictures shown depicting Lone Scout work. Also there will be good music by an orchestra being formed now among Lone Scouts.

"The second day there will be a trip to the Falls, and there you will be entertained by our Loyal Boosters of Niagara Falls. Ordinarily the price of a trip to the Falls is a dollar and thirty cents, but by chartering special cars this will greatly lessened. This trip will include a meeting in the park, with more speakers, and also a trip around the principal points of interest. Also a baseball game is planned for this day at the Falls.

"The third and last day will comprise a general business meeting in which there will be several topics discussed on Lone Scout affairs. The third day will terminate in a grand 'feed.' This will mark the end of the rally, but Lone Scouts can stay longer if they like and they will be taken care of."