been directed by Kusti Nikander, Valdemar Englund, Eino Mäki, Alfred Hongel, John Forsman and John Paananen. These directors were paid for their work, and although many players owned their own instruments, the bigger horns, drums, bass violins, etc., belonged to the society, as did the uniforms. Musical activity had begun very early, with a big orchestra already playing at the old hall, directed by Jukka Mäkirinne and briefly by Alfred Hongel. Later, there was a dance band, directed by Ville Pöyhönen. Visiting artists by the scores have also performed at the Opera over the years.

The gymnastics and athletic organizations were among the Opera's most active auxiliaries. Two or three exhibitions of gymnastics and wrestling matches per year were given, as well as appearances made at numerous program evenings. During the `outdoor' season, Opera athletes competed with other teams in the sports events always held in connection with the annual joint summer festivals of the region. Among the coaches have been Frank Järvinen, Einar Järvinen, Väinö Siren and Kalle Riihikoski.

Bazaars, raffles, and sales of various kinds also brought in much needed money. These were fund-raising schemes the Finns learned from the Americans, and which all kinds of Finnish groups, the workers' clubs as well as temperance societies and the churches, used successfully. Moving through a series of auctions of women's handiwork to cake sales, the Opera advanced in 1913 to plans for a giant, nation-wide lottery in which the grand prizes were to be a Studebaker car, two house lots, a grand piano, a Ford, a motorcycle, a roomful of furniture, and so on down to lesser prizes. Tickets sales were good, but the outbreak of war in 1914, as well as other difficulties, led to the cancellation of the project. The Workingmens' Association offered to buy back all the tickets sold, but very few claims were submitted, so that the Association ended up with a profit of several thousand dollars.

On those Sunday evenings when no play, concert or other special event was scheduled, the entertainment committee used to sponsor program evenings. These had been put on from the very beginning of the club's existence and served three purposes: entertainment, fund raising, and enlightenment. Tendential speeches were usually included, but the rest of the program was always non-political. After the program, a coffee hour and dancing ended the evening. Admission to such evenings cost little, usually 25 or 35c, while tickets to the concerts and plays used to cost from 50c to $1.00.

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