Skits and Songs

A poetic dinner invitation for a 1936 fundraiser.

“It is indeed a dull profession; one wonders where it’s going to lead; our magazines are written special for those who don’t know how to read; When people see our mad obsession, they say we’re not circumspect; the vacant look, hangdog expression, he’s probably an architect!”

Lyrics written to the tune of French song from the French Academy in Rome in cheery celebration of the newly founded NIAE.

1956 Annual Dinner program advertising a night of food and wine, skit and song.

Outline for a skit entitled “Las Vegas Gambol”

Invitation to the 1960 Stag Party promising a night skits, songs, and music.

A photo from a skit entitled “The Paris Prize Judgment 1914-1964”

Moments captured at a raucous dinner illustrate the commitment to costume and theme.

Photos from a Stag Party skit about South America.

Beaux Arts Architects and the architects later associated with the National Institute for Architectural Education (NIAE) appreciated a good time. Beyond the pedagogical mission, the organization always carried social weight for its affiliates. Members held events throughout the year as well as an annual “Stag Party.”

The architects had a particular affinity for skits and songs, and so dinners and other social gatherings often included entertainment written and performed by the members themselves. These performances were never serious, poking fun at current events and the architectural profession, and always included lively costume and fare.