On this page we will look back at life in the city during the war years. Here we will provide the visitor with the stories making the news, what was happening in sports and entertainment, city politics, the social scene and the prominent people at the time. So, check back often for new editions. To share your family or neighborhood stories, please email PhillyWWIyears@gmail.com

TODAY IN PHILADELPHIA – SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1918

Today there will be generally cloudy skies over the city today but no precipitation. However there is a chance of light rain or snow on Sunday. Today’s high will only be about 24° with the low tonight near 10°. Patriotic rallies were held in most of the Philadelphia Public Schools yesterday and today. The rallies are part of the campaign to stamp out sedition and disloyalty and inculcate a spirit of loyalty in the students.

The city will begin registering German male aliens on Monday. It is believed there are at least 10,000 German men in the city. German women are not required to register under the law. The registration will include the taking of the alien’s fingerprints, his photograph and his employment and residence history since coming to the United States. The registration can be done at any police station. Any alien failing to register will be arrested.

In entertainment this weekend, on stage at the Broad, Broad Street below Locust, George Arliss stars as “Hamilton” in a thought provoking and stimulating interpretation of the great statesman’s life. Notably, the part of Thomas Jefferson in the play is performed by Philadelphia native Carl Anthony. And at the Chestnut Street Opera House, 1021 Chestnut Street, “The Passing Show of 1917” finishes its run here. This spectacular musical comedy presentation stars many well-known comedians.

On the motion picture screens this weekend, at the Colonial, Germantown & Maplewwod Avenues, Douglas Fairbanks stars in “A Modern Musketeer” the story of a Kansas lad who sees himself as a modern D’Artagnan out to rescue the beautiful woman he loves. At the Eureka, 40th & Market, William S. Hart stars as a gold prospector in “The Silent Man” who must clean up a frontier town and take it back from the gang that stole his fortune.  And at the Liberty Theatre, Broad & Columbia, Raoul Walsh directs his brother George in “The Pride of New York” the story of a young bricklayer who goes to France to fight for freedom gaining both honors for his heroism and winning the heart of the woman he loves.

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