Historical May 1987 report or notice. Original dates, prices and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
“Lindy has landed.” The telegram received in St. Louis on May 31, 1927, told the backers of Charles A. Lindbergh that he had won the race in his solo flight across the Atlantic, piloting the “Spirit of St. Louis” from New York to Paris.
The excitement that travelled around the world and made the unknown airmail pilot an international hero will be renewed when the Missouri Historical Society reopens the Charles A. Lindbergh Gallery in the Jefferson Memorial Building in St. Louis’ Forest Park on May 16, 1987, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the historic feat.
The world premiere of “Spirit of St. Louis,” a musical review written for the 60th anniversary of Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight, will open also on May 16 at 8 p.m. at the Jefferson Memorial Building in Forest Park. Theater Factory St. Louis and the Missouri Historical Society will produce the lively musical, featuring songs celebrating Lindy’s triumph in 1927, tunes from the Roaring 20’s, and vignettes of life in St. Louis at that exciting period. Performed in a cabaret setting, the action takes place on June 17,1927, the day Lindbergh returned to St. Louis, an international hero.
The audience will relive the story of the New York to Paris adventure — and its connection to St. Louis — in the format of a radio show broadcast from the “starlight roof’ of the Jefferson Memorial Building. Hope Wurdack Forsyth, artistic director of Theater Factory St. Louis and director of “Spirit of St. Louis,” is coordinating the team that is writing the play. Wurdack also directed “Quilters,” the sold-out production mounted last summer by Theater Factory St. Louis and the Missouri Historical Society. Ten performances of “Spirit of St. Louis” will be given in the Lionberger Gallery in the Jefferson Memorial Building: May 16 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Wednesday, May 20 at 2 p.m.; Thursday, May 21 at 2 p.m.; Friday, May 22 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. and 8p.m.; and Sunday, May 24 at 2 p.m. Tickets, at $7 per person, with a special price of $6 for students, senior citizens and matinees, may be reserved by calling (314) 361-1424.
The exhibition will stress Lindbergh’s connection to St. Louis, his arrival in October, 1923 at the age of 21 for the International Air Races; his success in securing the backing of prominent St. Louisans who provided the funds for the airplane; and his welcome home in June, 1927 as an international hero. Actual films of the take off of the “Spirit of St. Louis” and receptions welcoming Lindbergh will be included in the audio-visual show being created for viewing in the audiovisual theatre, under construction in a corner of the gallery.
On the outside wall will be the Mercator chart on which Lindbergh plotted the New York to Paris air route. Along with it, in plexiglass boxes, will be articles he carried on the flight: the Armbrust water-making cup, sunglasses, gum, flash lights, and a map case. “In the new interpretation of Lindbergh’s importance, we will also look at him as a popular hero and what it means to be a hero,” said Karen M. Goering, chief curator of the museum. “Immediately after his transatlantic flight, and in the following years, people made gifts and sent them to him.
They sent telegrams, then letters and poems, some of which are elaborately illuminated, reminiscent of medieval manuscripts.” Goering explained that the gifts poured in, and he received medals and awards immediately after the landing at Le Bourget. Lindbergh agreed to lend them and other memorabilia from the flight to the history museum for an exhibition that was to last ten days, opening on June 25, 1927.
The crush of people eager to get into the Jefferson Memorial Building and the line out into Forest Park convinced him to extend the loan. “He decided that he really didn’t want to accumulate these things, which governments, corporations, and individuals continued to give him.
He stopped opening the boxes and sent them straight to the museum,” said Streeter. Finally he gave the entire collection to the Society. Letters, journals, and scrapbooks have been collected from family members over the years. Lindbergh’s place as a celebrity was secured when he made the 48-state tour in which his showmanship and daredevil flying delighted crowds who turned out to witness the “Spirit of St. Louis” arrive in their home towns.
The hero continued to enjoy the international spotlight when, with his wife, Anne Morrow, he pioneered and mapped air routes in survey flights to the Orient in 1931 and Europe in 1933.
The exhibition will tell of these trips and of the literary achievements of both Lindberghs.
The photographs for the renewed gallery are being selected from the 2500 images catalogued by Jean Streeter, curator of the Lindbergh collection.
The Charles A. Lindbergh Gallery, a permanent installation, may be seen during museum hours, 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, and there is no admission charge.
Original photograph caption
Lindbergh Gallery reopening banner at the Jefferson Memorial Building. Photo by Bill Christman. The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, May 1987, page 6. Descriptive archival caption.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, May 1987.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed telegram date May 31, 1927 and announced ten performances versus nine listed retained as source discrepancies, not silently repaired.
Original source: SD_Times1987_05.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
