100 Years Ago: Alton Student Draws Big Crowd at Recital, Goes On to Perform Throughout Life

ALTON - On November 6, 1925, 16-year-old Helen Hamer gave a recital to mark her completion of a course in expression and elocution under Mrs. Margaret Slifer-Lancaster, head of the Lancaster School of Oratory. Hamer had been “a favorite reader in Alton for a number of years,” and several hundred people attended the recital at Spalding Auditorium. All seats in the auditorium were filled, “as well as the passage ways and halls, and many people had to return to their homes for want of space to stand.” Hamer recited a variety of selections with the following designations: American, Irish, English, Hebrew, Chinese, Witch, Southern, and Statue.

Hamer’s oratory selections were interspersed with piano solos by Charles Dietz, a violin solo by Dorothy Turner, and vocal solos by Leland Drennan, and a baritone and contralto duet by Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Richardson. Margaret Clowers and Alton High School Band director B.L. Johnson performed several songs on cornet and saxophone. Hamer and Dietz also performed a xylophone and piano duet. Mrs. Caroline Delano-Johnson of the Studio School of Music presented Hamer’s diploma.

The Alton Telegraph described the recital as being “exceptionally fine” and very well received. “The young graduate of last night is well known not only throughout the city, but in the various surrounding vicinities where she has appeared before and pleased audiences, as she has been in demand very much. It is expected that after last night’s performance, as much of Helen’s time will be taken up as she can possibly spare.”

Hamer graduated from Alton High School in 1925 (you may remember her from this article about the Alton High Band) and Shurtleff College in 1929. She taught English and coached dramatics at Collinsville High School before marrying Charles Walters in 1934. She continued to perform in plays, concerts, and other dramatic productions.

Helen Hamer Walters was part-owner and talk show host on Godfrey radio station WOKZ for a number of years, and she received the Liberty Bell Award of the Madison County Bar Association in 1976. Hamer Walters retired from radio in 1984.

(Lydia) Helen Hamer Walters died on August 1, 1990.

This article is dedicated to Faith Robinson, former Hayner Library editor. Thank you for editing all of my Riverbender articles over the last year and a half (in addition to everything else I’ve written at the library in the last several years). It’s been a great pleasure working on these with you, and I wish you the best in your next endeavors!

Sources

“Helen Hamer’s Recital A Delightful One.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), November 7, 1925.

“Helen Hamer’s Recital Friday Night.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), November 5, 1925.

“Helen Walters.” Alton Telegraph (Alton, IL), August 1, 1990.

“Miss Hamer’s Recital Recalls 20-Year-Old Event.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), November 6, 1925.

“Miss Helen Hamer Graduates in Elocution.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), November 7, 1925.

“Miss Helen Hamer to Wed.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), May 26, 1934.

The Tatler. Alton High School (Alton, Ill). 1925.https://archive.org/details/AltonHS_Tatler_1924?utm_source=riverbender&utm_medium=article_linkhttps://archive.org/details/AltonHS_Tatler_1925

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