Batgirl, I love these bits of chess history with which you dazzle us. chess.com really should give you a column
Living Chess
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Just look at the children - aren't they cute? Sure they had to have a lot fun!
I would have loved to take part in it as a kid, if only for the costumes :o)
PS: It could also have been fun to let the children play without the calls, to just let them play on their own, I guess. I mean a sort of in a way like in the scene in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. (here is some interesting link http://www.jeremysilman.com/movies_tv_js/harry_potter.html)
The February issue of the BCM, 1904 had this charming article:
Living Chess at Brighton
'' The Mayor and Mayoress proceeded to the Dome and, amid the cheers of the crowd gathered there, took up places in the front row of the platform, behind which ranged the orchestra, crowded tier on tier with spectators. In the centre of the floor—kept by Yeomen of the Guard—was marked out a brobdignagian chess-board, over which thirty-two boys and girls, impersonating the white and red "pieces'' in the King of Games, obeying the calls of Mr. H. W. Butler (himself, as the Mayor subsequently mentioned in a brief speech, a past-master in the game), went through the moves of two games, which were being played at a table at the foot of the orchestra by Mrs. Wightman, the Deputy-Mayoress of Lewes, and Mrs. Colbourne, wife of Councillor Colbourne, of Brighton. The "pieces" were most picturesquely dressed, and in the alternating red and amber rays of a number of limelights directed upon them from the balcony, made a charming and unique spectacle which the audience thoroughly enjoyed and frequently applauded. The police-band, under the direction of Mr W. J. Fleet, was present and played suitable music during the entertainment; and a still more striking musical feature of the performance was the bugle-call which followed the " taking" of each piece in the course of the two games.
The first game was the celebrated Evans Gambit associated with the name of the masters of the game, Anderssen and Dufresne. Two two-move problems were specially composed for the occasion by Mrs. Baird and Mr. Norman, both Brightonian composers, and were dedicated to the Mayoress. They form the letters C and M—her initials. The two problems with living chess pieces, formed under the magic wand of Miss Millie Butler (daughter of Mr. H. W. Butler), who figured as the Queen of Chess Problems. The dresses worn for this beautiful spectacle were of Charles I. period, and had been specially made by Messrs Drury and Son, of Brighton. They were carried out in rich vivid red satin for the red pieces, and ivory satin for the white. The two Queens wore tight fitting bodices, with a short square basque slashed and bound with gold braid, jewelled crown, and long cloaks that almost touched the ground, carried sceptres, and wore red shoes and stockings. The Kings' suits rather resembled a cavalier's costume with capes slung from their shoulders, and richly ornamented with gold lace. The Bishops wore more ecclesiastical vestments, and mitre shaped hats, hoods and stoles, and each carried his own crozier. The Rooks wore head-dresses in the shape of castles, and their skirts were padded in rolls at the foot. The Knights were in coat of mail and queer shaped helmets, and the girl Pawns wore short-waisted and tight fitting bodices, embroidered with gold braid, and little Dutch bonnets, and carried daggers. The boy Pawns wore satin suits and Puritan beaver hats to match."