America's First Snow Queen

An Interview with Jocelyn Vollmar

Q: You were the Snow Queen in the first full-length American production of San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker, performed in 1944. What was that first production like?

A: The production was first performed during World War II and so resources were scarce; we had to improvise a lot. The materials we used did not look too good close up but luckily our costume and set makers knew how to make costumes and scenery look wonderful from the house, where the audience was. Our first performance was a matinee on Christmas Eve at the War Memorial Opera House, and while this production was completely new to people, they responded really well. Of course we didn't have quite as many male dancers as we would have liked because many were recruited for the war, but we made do. I believe some of the very best ballet tickets at that time cost approximately $3.50.

Q: With little money or resources how did the old Nutcracker production get mounted?

A: Back then, we all pitched in and everyone would help make costumes—my mother would always help me sew sequins onto my tutu. Willam Christensen, then first dancer and choreographer [he later became San Francisco Ballet ballet master and director], performed as the cavalier. Much like today, the production was full of the professional Company dancers as well as the school students.

Q: Did you realize, at that time, what a phenomenon Nutcracker would be become nationally?

A: We had no idea, we just thought the music was beautiful. It was later, in the '50s, that Nutcracker seemed to become popular nationwide.