'The most American thing in America' (2024)

MYCHEL MATTHEWS

Editor’s note: This feature first ran June 20, 2013, in the Times-News and at Magicvalley.com.

When early Idahoans found themselves isolated from culture, entertainment and education, the Chautauqua — a sort of traveling circus for adult education — provided the fix.

The circuit developed from the Chautauqua Institution — a summer educational camp in New York — in the late 19th century. The movement spread across the country, bringing theater, opera, musicians and lecturers to newly settled towns such as Twin Falls.

The Chautauqua (pronounced shuh-taw’-kwaw) has been called “a carnival for thinking people.” President Theodore Roosevelt called it “the most American thing in America.”

Three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan — who made various trips to Twin Falls after the turn of the 20th century — was the most popular speaker to travel the circuit but never spoke at a Chautauqua in Twin Falls.

The Chautauquas were held in large tents and lasted several days at each location. Entertainers or lecturers rotated shifts through the circuit.

In 1925, Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado” began March 26 in Abbeville, Louisiana, and finished Sept. 6 in Sidney, Montana, stopping in Preston, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Gooding, Boise, Nampa and Parma toward the end of the tour.

In their heyday during the mid-1920s, Chautauquas appeared in thousands of towns across the nation. By the 1940s, other forms of entertainment, such as radio and motion pictures, had replaced the circuit.

Mychel Matthews is the managing editor of the Times-News. The Hidden History feature runs every Thursday in the Times-News and on Magicvalley.com. If you have a question about something that may have historical significance, email Matthews at mmatthews@magicvalley.com.

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'The most American thing in America' (2024)

FAQs

What is the most American thing in America? ›

The Chautauqua (pronounced shuh-taw'-kwaw) has been called “a carnival for thinking people.” President Theodore Roosevelt called it “the most American thing in America.”

What is the most American thing to say? ›

Look at some of the phrases that Americans use that may not be readily understood by foreigners:
  • #1 – A Piece of Cake. ...
  • #2 – It's Not Rocket Science. ...
  • #3 – Shoot the Breeze. ...
  • #4 – Break a Leg. ...
  • #5 – Ballpark Figure. ...
  • #6 – For the Birds. ...
  • #7 – Behind the Eight Ball. ...
  • #8 – Monday-Morning Quarterback.

What is the most American thing in America per Roosevelt? ›

The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, showmen, preachers, and specialists of the day. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt is often quoted as saying that Chautauqua is "the most American thing in America".

What does murica mean? ›

What does Murica mean? Variously facetious, disparaging, or proud in tone, Murica is a slang way of referring to America, implying extreme patriotism extreme patriotism and stereotyping how white southerners might say the word.

What is a very American thing to say? ›

Popular American slang phrases
Slang phraseEnglish meaning
Once in a blue moonRarely
You betYou're welcome
I don't buy thatI don't believe you
That's radThat's cool
68 more rows
Feb 23, 2022

What's the greatest thing about America? ›

Here, then, is my list of what makes America great.
  • America's Good Life. America provides an amazingly good life for the ordinary guy. ...
  • Equality. ...
  • The Pursuit of Happiness. ...
  • The Ethics of Work. ...
  • Religious Liberty. ...
  • Ideals and Interests. ...
  • America's Virtue.
Feb 23, 2006

What is the most American thing to do? ›

20 Most-American Things to Do on Vacation
  • Take a Picture With Mount Rushmore. ...
  • Go on a Lobster Roll Quest in New England. ...
  • Ride a Trolley in San Francisco. ...
  • Explore the French Quarter in New Orleans. ...
  • Witness the Niagara Falls. ...
  • Attend a Country Music Concert. ...
  • Visit the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. ...
  • An American Adventure.

What is slang for American? ›

Yankee (or Yank) is a colloquial term for Americans in English; cognates can be found in other languages.

What accent is most American? ›

General American English, known in linguistics simply as General American (abbreviated GA or GenAm), is the umbrella accent of American English spoken by a majority of Americans, encompassing a continuum rather than a single unified accent.

Who was the greatest American? ›

The names with the most votes were:
  • Ronald Reagan.
  • Abraham Lincoln.
  • Martin Luther King Jr.
  • George Washington.
  • Benjamin Franklin.
  • George W. Bush.
  • Bill Clinton.
  • Elvis Presley.

Was Franklin D Roosevelt an American? ›

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), commonly known by his initials FDR, was an American statesman and politician who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945.

Was Theodore Roosevelt an American? ›

Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

(October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), often referred to as Teddy or by his initials, T. R., was an American politician, statesman, conservationist, naturalist, and writer who served as the 26th president of the United States from 1901 to 1909.

What is American #1 in? ›

The U.S. economy is the world's largest in terms of gross domestic product, and also the most technologically powerful. The country's significant exports include computers and electrical machinery, vehicles, chemical products, food, live animals and military equipment.

What does the US rank #1 in? ›

Key fields the US excels in

America may be losing ground in some areas to emerging superpowers such as China and India, but the US is still number one in everything from military spending to beef production.

What is the largest culture in America? ›

The United States
  • English. 78.2% Spanish. 13.4% Chinese. ...
  • Protestant. 46.5% No Religion. 22.8% Catholic. ...
  • White. 61.6% Black or African American. 12.4% Asian. ...
  • Male. 48.0% Female. 52.0%
  • No Religion. 48.9% Catholic. 14.5% Anglican. ...
  • English. 26.9% American. 23.4% Irish. ...
  • English. 89.4% Spanish. 1.6% Mandarin. ...
  • New South Wales. 34.4% Victoria. 23.7%

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