new inquiries
This page is dedicated to collecting the various dramaturgical inquiries that come up throughout our process.
instruments
While the ukulele was invented in Honolulu in the 1880s, it was introduced to the U.S. in 1915. The "Ukulele Craze" lasted through the 1920s, with how-to manuals and sheet music widely distributed. The ukulele is sometimes referred to as the instrument of the flappers of the 1920s. With the rise of Swing Music in the 1930s, ukuleles were no longer very popular, but ukulele and guitar chords were published for "Who Is Sylvia?" in 1935.
A group playing guitars and ukulele, 1938
chocolates
It appears that nonpareils date back to 17th century France and were popular in 18th century America. There are not a lot of reputable sources that confirm exactly where they came from (especially because there are sugar-based nonpareils, which seem to predate chocolate nonpareils), but most sources point to them being a pretty old confection.
Similarly difficult to confirm, but corroborated by a few different sources, Sno-Cap candies were invented in the 1920s.
Sources (instruments)
Driver, Charles. “Guitar and Ukulele Players, 1938.” Digital Public Library of America. March 20, 1938. http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16614coll35/id/6873.
“Popular Music, Popular Art.” Vintage Uke Music. Last accessed January 28, 2025. https://www.vintageukemusic.com/history.htm.
“The Highs and Lows of the Ukulele: A History.” BBC. Last modified November 6, 2015. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/VsxlZYNwdDJtsX0MqVDKVG/the-highs-and-lows-of-the-ukulele-a-history#:~:text=1930s,it%20become%20figures%20of%20fun.
“Who is Sylvia Sheet Music Chas Agnew Schubert Hawaiian Guitar Ukulele 1935.” Ebay. Last accessed January 28, 2025. https://www.ebay.com/itm/305333048969#:~:text=Who%20Is%20Sylvia%20Sheet%20Music%20Chas%20Agnew,is%20Good.%20Shipped%20with%20USPS%20Media%20Mail.
Yasui, Bryon K. “The Jumping Flea: Tales of the Modern Ukulele. Paul Kraus, Director. North Pacific Productions DVD, 2005.” Journal of the Society for American Music 2, no. 1 (February 2008): 134-135. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1752196308081133.
Sources (chocolates)
“Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company.” Wikipedia. Last accessed February 10, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blumenthal_Brothers_Chocolate_Company.
Enrol, Esra. “A Lot of People Hate Sno-Caps. Those People Are Wrong.” Eater. Last modified September 16, 2020. https://www.eater.com/21438302/movie-theater-candy-ranking-sno-caps-are-the-best.
“Sno-Caps.” Wikipedia. Last accessed February 10, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sno-Caps.
York, Brianna. “Sno-Caps (History, Branding & Pictures).” Snack History. Last modified August 20, 2021. https://www.snackhistory.com/sno-caps/.