DEPARTMENT OF PARKS; CITY OF NEW YORK
AMERICAN BALLAD CONTEST FOR AMATEUR BARBER SHOP QUARTETS - RULES OF THE CONTEST

FINALS - "THE MALL", CENTRAL PARK, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1936.

Eliminations

Manhattan - Washington Square Park, Thursday, August 20, 1936, 8:30 PM
Bronx - Poe Park, Thursday, August 20, 1936, 8:30 PM
Brooklyn - Prospect Park (Music Grove) Friday, August 28, 1936, 8:30 PM
Richmond - McDonald Playground Wednesday, August 26, 1936, 8:30 PM
Queens - Forest Park (Music Grove) Thursday, August 27, 1936, 8:30 PM
Westchester - Playland, Rye Monday, August 31, 1936, 8:30 PM
Long Island - Jones Beach Wednesday, August 19, 1936, 8:30 PM

RULES

Contest is restricted to basses, baritones and first and second male tenors who are not professional singers. There are no age limits.
Contestants may use a piano which will be furnished by the Park Department, a tuning fork or harmonica, but only to give the note to the quartet. No instrument is, however, required.
All contestants must sing two songs. One song from the attached designated list must be sung, and the contestants may choose any other song provided it was written before 1905.
Contestants must wear costumes at the finals. Any costume other than ordinary street clothes will be acceptable. The four members of the quartet must, however, be dressed alike.
Each song must be completed within six minutes.
At the finals the districts will be represented as follows in:
Manhattan 2 winners of the elimination contest will be allowed to compete.
Brooklyn 2 " " " " " " " " " " " " "
Bronx 1 " "
Queens 1 " " " " "
Richmond 1 " " " " "
Westchester 1 " " " " "
Long Island 1 " " " " "
Total 9
Basis of rating by judges:
Tone-Rhythm; Musical Technique; Harmony - 60 points
Interpretation; Expression; Phrasing - - - - - - 30 points
Appearance (Costume Considered) - - - - - - - 10 points

PRIZES :

Suitable Awards will be made to the winners of the Borough Elimination and the Finals at the Mall, Central Park, on September 10, 1936

Entries - May be forwarded to either the Park Department Borough Office or to the Arsenal Building, 64th St. and Fifth Ave., New York City.

No fee is required. Entries close August 19, 1936 at 5 PM.

LIST OF APPROVED SONGS

(One of these is compulsory)

SWEET ADELINE; I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE RAILROAD; MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME; LINDY; OLD FOLKS AT HOME; MANDY LEE; DOWN BY THE OLD MILL STREAM; THE GOLDEN WEDDING DAY; ON THE BANKS OF THE WABASH; MY OLD GAL SAL; MOONLIGHT BAY; IN THE SHADE OF THE OLD APPLE TREE; SWEET GENEVIEVE; CAN'T YOU HEAR ME CALLING, CAROLINE; OH, EVELINE; THERE'S MUSIC IN THE AIR; LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART; SEEING NELLIE HOME; WAY DOWN YONDER IN THE CORNFIELD; OLD BLACK JOE; GOLDEN SLIPPERS; WHEN YOU WORE A TULIP; SILVER THREADS AMONG THE GOLD; BLUE BELL; MEET ME TONIGHT IN DREAMLAND; MY LITTLE GREY HOME IN THE WEST; THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET; DOWN WHERE THE WURZBERGER FLOWS; DRINK TO ME ONLY WITH THINE EYES; WHEN YOU AND I WERE YOUNG, MAGGIE; SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT; FATHER, FATHER, COME HOME WITH ME NOW; WHERE IS MY WANDERING BOY TONIGHT; A BIRD IN A GILDED CAGE; A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO; COME JOSEPHINE IN MY FLYING MACHINE; AURA LEE; THERE IS A TAVERN IN THE TOWN.

-- contributed by Ford Ross, Ft Lauderdale/Plantation Chapter P.R. & Marketing Director and Bulletin Editor