Birmingham Christmas Carnival: Difference between revisions
(Created page with "right|thumb|225px|King Cheer I and Queen in 1935 '''Birmingham Christmas Carnival''' was an annual celebration, in the style of Mardi-Gras, held during Thanksgiving weekend in Birmingham beginning in 1935. "King Cheer" Andrew Thomas was granted rule of the city by proclamation on Thursday morning, and presided over the annual Howard-Southern Parade in downtown Birmingham. The afternoon was...") |
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* Smith, Kate Duncan (November 26, 1935) "[ Pretty Co-Eds To Be Both Queens And Princesses In Gay Celebration]." {{BN}}, p. 1 | * Smith, Kate Duncan (November 26, 1935) "[ Pretty Co-Eds To Be Both Queens And Princesses In Gay Celebration]." {{BN}}, p. 1 | ||
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-newly-crowned-queen/150386321/ Newly Crowned Queen Of Carnival To Lead Parade]" (November 30, 1935) ''[[The Birmingham Post]]'', p. 1 | * "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-newly-crowned-queen/150386321/ Newly Crowned Queen Of Carnival To Lead Parade]" (November 30, 1935) ''[[The Birmingham Post]]'', p. 1 | ||
* "[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-news-spectacular-parade-e/150388656/ Spectacular Parade Ends Yule Carnival]" (December 1, 1935) {{BN}}, p. 1, 12 | |||
[[Category:Holidays]] | [[Category:Holidays]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:11, 30 June 2024
Birmingham Christmas Carnival was an annual celebration, in the style of Mardi-Gras, held during Thanksgiving weekend in Birmingham beginning in 1935.
"King Cheer" Andrew Thomas was granted rule of the city by proclamation on Thursday morning, and presided over the annual Howard-Southern Parade in downtown Birmingham. The afternoon was highlighted by the football game between the Howard Bulldogs and Birmingham-Southern Panthers at Legion Field. In the evening, Earl Carroll's Vanities headlined a Carnival show at the Temple Theater.
The events were attended by Governor Bibb Graves, and by campus beauty queens Mary Ellen Adkins of Howard College and Mildred Ryan of Birmingham-Southern leading a contingent of "princesses and debutantes" from cities in Alabama and neighboring states.
On Friday the princesses of the royal court hosted "informal entertainment" in advance of the evening's Carnival Ball, sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson County Council of the American Legion at Municipal Auditorium. Martine Comer, the choice of the Debutante Club, was revealed as Queen of the Christmas Carnival.
Entertainments at the ball included a ballet performance by students of the Levinge School of Dance, followed by three orchestras, headed by Bill Nappi, Dunk Rendleman, and Coleman Sachs.
Saturday marked the first big shopping day of the Christmas season, with downtown stores and theaters open and expecting large numbers of visitors. That evening a parade of "floats, clowns, bands and merrymakers" wound its way through the streets, capped by the arrival of Santa Claus on a float sponsored by the American Legion and The Birmingham Post. Around 150,000 people were estimated to have watched the parade, on a clear, mild night with just a hint of winter in the air.
Royals
- 1935: King Cheer I: Andrew Thomas, with Queen Martine Comer
References
- Marzoni, Pettersen (November 26, 1935) "[ City To Be In Joyous Spirit As King Cheer Rules Supreme]." The Birmingham News, p. 1
- Smith, Kate Duncan (November 26, 1935) "[ Pretty Co-Eds To Be Both Queens And Princesses In Gay Celebration]." The Birmingham News, p. 1
- "Newly Crowned Queen Of Carnival To Lead Parade" (November 30, 1935) The Birmingham Post, p. 1
- "Spectacular Parade Ends Yule Carnival" (December 1, 1935) The Birmingham News, p. 1, 12