This was the itinerary for Freedonia Marxonia 2019
(Information about Freedonia Marxonia 2020 will be posted on this site in the coming months.)
2019's theme - "Vaudeville and the Marx Brothers"
Thursday, October 3
3:00 pm - Reed Library, State University of New York at Fredonia
- Exhibit opening and welcoming remarks
- Singing of "Hail Freedonia" (the song from Duck Soup) by members of the Student Opera Theatre Association and Fredonia's student chapter of the American Choral Director's Association
- Display of art contest submissions
- Cake in belated honor of Groucho's birthday (October 2)
- Annual group photo with complimentary Groucho glasses
7:30 pm - 1891 Fredonia Opera House, 9 Church St., Fredonia
Screening of
Animal Crackers. This 1930 Marx Brothers film
stars the Four Brothers - Harpo, Chico, Zeppo - and Groucho as explorer Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding, returning from a trip to Africa. This movie was seen at the Opera House in October 1930. There will be prizes!
12:00 noon - Garden at Reed Library
Lunchtime interview
Writer and performer Trav S.D. will talk about his scholarship and expertise in the history of entertainment. Trav is the author of
No Applause - Just Thrown Money: The Book that Made Vaudeville Famous and
Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to YouTube, and the creator of the blog
Travalanche. He was an organizer of Marxfest, the month-long celebration of the Marx Brothers held in New York City in 2014.
Pizza and salad will be provided.
2:00 pm Reed Library Classroom
Screening of Duck Soup, the movie set in "Freedonia."
3:15 pm Reed Library Classroom
Trav S.D. will lead a discussion, "Why Wasn't Duck Soup a Hit?"
7:30 pm - 1891 Fredonia Opera House
All activities are free and open to the public! Everyone is welcome.
The Freedonia Marxonia exhibit runs through Sunday, October 20. (Please note - the library is closed Oct. 12 and 13 for Fall Break, with reduced hours Oct. 10 and 11.)
All ages and skill levels welcome to participate. Use any medium. Submissions due September 30.
First prize - $100, second prize - $75, third prize - $50. Submit entries to Cindy Yochym in Reed Library.
Contact Information
This year, Fredonia's Founders Day will celebrate Fredonia's campus-community relationship by partnering with Freedonia Marxonia. Founders Day was initiated in 2017 to foster student, faculty, and staff appreciation of the rich legacy of the Village residents whose vision and significant financial backing helped establish a Normal School in Fredonia in 1867. A Founders Day display on the main floor of the Library will run concurrently with the Freedonia Marxonia exhibit. This collection of primary documents will be curated by Amanda Shepp and Pat Cummings-Witter of Reed Library's Archives & Special Collections.
Freedonia Marxonia is supported by the Hahn Family Freedonia Marxonia Fund of the Fredonia College Foundation. Additional funding has been received through a FSA Program grant. Trav S.D.'s appearance is also supported through the Fredonia College Foundation's Carnahan-Jackson Humanities Fund.
