1933 Festival
"The festival thrived. In 1932 an estimated 6,000 people were present on the second day. At the opening in 1933, there were 800 folk musicians and 10,000 people were expected. Many rare tunes and ballads had been heard during the two previous meetings, so a 'battery of music critics' was on hand from New York, Detroit, Nashville, St. Louis, Atlanta, and Richmond.
"In the two days of the festival, there was story-telling around campfires and exhibits of arts... There was also singing of folk hymns and square dancing in the pavilion to the fiddling of Cluck Old Hen and The Flop-Eared Mule by James ('Uncle Jim') Chisolm, of Albemarle County, J.B. Wells, of Nelson County, and the Aldermans from Galax.
["Music on the Mountain," p. 7]
"News that Mrs. Roosevelt might attend galvanized the White Top festival planners. Blakemore widened the roads and had an architect design a rustic festival pavilion.The Lester brothers of nearby Glade Spring cut the shingles, erected the building, and fitted the chestnut siding. Local mason Abram Stamper built a massive stone fireplace." [All That is Native and Fine..., p. 192]
"The reception in Abingdon was grand, with people filling the train station platform, leaning over the rope lines, reaching out to wave at Mrs. Roosevelt with their hands, hats, and handkerchiefs."
["A First Lady in a False Kingdom," p. 189]
"The idea to invite Eleanor Roosevelt to the festival came from the event's founder and director, Annabel Morris Buchanan...
"In February 1933 she wrote to the soon-to-be first lady: 'I think you and President Roosevelt might find the mountain, with its marvelous view and folk musicians, a refreshing change from Washington.'"
["First Lady in a False Kingdom," p. 186]
"A new featureof the program was the addition of children's singing games, directed by Richard Chase, the author of Jack Tales and Grandfather Tales. Out on the green grass mountain slope they sang and danced Shoot the Buffalo, the ring games, There Stands a Lady, The Farmer in the Dell and Three Dukes A-Riding, a line game.
["Music on the Mountain," p. 8]