MovieChat Forums > Picnic Discussion > Use to go to the Neewollah Celebrations ...

Use to go to the Neewollah Celebrations as a child

posted 13 years ago by luverofmovies
6 replies | jump to latest

They were held in the playright William Inge's hometown of Independence, KS. My aunt, uncle, and cousin lived there, and my family always came for the celebrations when I was growing up. Lots of fun!

I'm thinking it was around the end of October, unlike the movie, which was Labor Day - first part of September.

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that William Inge based many of his stories - Picnic, Splendor in the Grass, etc. - in the Kansas locale where he grew up.

[–] cableye 13 years ago

That is interesting. So there really was such a celebration back then? And a Queen?

[–] luverofmovies 13 years ago

Yes, Silverandcold, they had a queen, but she was chosen earlier. However, the years when I went were later than this movie, and everything was a little more elaborate. Big parade including the queen, lots of entertainment, and my parents and aunt and uncle went to a fancy dinner at the end with some top talent of the day. It was a whole weekend event that we all looked forward to. My parents and aunt and uncle are gone now, but it's a wonderful memory to look back on.

Thank you for responding. I didn't think anyone would even read the post. Tt's a time in my life that I treasure.

[–] dgilley14 13 years ago

Neewollah is still celebrated every year in Independence, KS the weekend of Halloween. Lots of food, crafts, parade and music. I've gone since the 50's when I was a child.

[–] billymac72 13 years ago

One thing I'm interested in:

The film portrays the picnic as a non-stop romp, with games and singing breaking out spontaneously with 110% participation and enthusiasm, and organized events elaborately, almost effortlessly staged, with each person knowing their part to perfection.

I understand things have changed over the years. In the pre-digital age, involvement and enjoyment of such activities were much greater (I'm old enough to note this to an extent). But I also understand our memories have a way of idealizing such events as well.

How truthful was Picnic to similar events? I think of the song the citizens sing during the sunset and couldn't imagine something like that happening today with anywhere near that level of cohesion.

[–] bradford-1 13 years ago

I grew up in Pittsburgh in the 60's and 70s and while the neighborhood picnics and county fairs I attended weren't quite so elaborate, they were more organized than you might think. If my father's Masonic lodge sponsored a day at a local amusement park, there would be a schedule of contests (age-appropriate) and prizes. There would be tables for board and card games (backgammon, bridge, bid whist, even chess) face-painting, jewelry-making, and jigsaw puzzles. I once won $25 for assembling a huge jigsaw of the Three Rivers area in less than 10 minutes.
Allegheny County fairs would always include some amusement rides and a stage where a variety of musical groups would perform (lotsa polka, virtually no rock 'n' roll)Plus the politically incorrect freak shows: tattooed women, pinheads, dwarves, etc.
"We're fighting for this woman's honor, which is more than she ever did."

[–] Noir-It-All 7 years ago

Kennywood Amusement Park in West Mifflin, PA?

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne