Red, white and blue in 1935

JERRY PERSON

It will not be long before we will be celebrating Independence Day

with our world-famous parade along Main Street and Pacific Coast

Highway.

Seventy years ago, our town had the fortune of having one of the

greatest parade planners in its midst, the great “Generalissimo”

himself, William Gallienne.

Early in 1935, Gallienne began planning from his office in the

chamber of commerce. Gallienne selected chamber of commerce President

Del Burry, Herb W. Hartley, Roy Patrick, Roy Larson and Willis Osborn

for the committee.

Longtime residents Tom Talbert and Minnie Higgins were placed in

charge of the old-timers committee, which included L.J. Bushard, Tom

Gisler, Ray Wardlow, Bob Harper, Walter Gisler and Adele Bergey. They

were responsible for planning the old-timers’ picnic and dance.

The theme was “Red, White and Blue,” and Gallienne predicted the

event would be the most gigantic and spectacular Independence Day

event ever staged in all of Southern California or possibly in the

Western United States.

In June, the general committee met for a luncheon planning meeting

at the California Cafe at 123 Main St., where Gallienne urged all

residents and business people to wear red, white and blue. He asked

that some wear Western hats with these colors in their hatband and he

told the committee he wanted a sticker to advertise the event on

every car in town.

It was also announced that the American Legion and the 20th

Century Club would participate this year.

An afternoon baby parade was being planned by Margaret Colvin and

her committee, which requested all parents and their little ones to

meet at 218 Fifth St. prior to the parade.

Merle Higbee announced that the plans for the horse show were

progressing nicely. It was mentioned that the Oceanview band would be

furnishing some good old-time music.

Jimmy Quiggle was in charge of the first event of the day, a swim

around the pier for prizes that began at 10 a.m. It was Roy Patrick

and his committee’s turn at 10:30 a.m., as they lit the daylight

fireworks display from the pier.

This year, the parade traveled from the corner of Sixth Street and

Main, down Main to PCH, then over to 11th Street, along 11th Street

to Orange Avenue and finally over to City Hall at Sixth and Orange,

where it ended.

In the parade were silver-adorned horses and riders, and brightly

decorated vehicles of all ages sponsored by many of our local

businesses, churches and civic organizations.

Johnny Wagner rode his famous black horse to the delight of the

youngsters in the crowd.

Tables were set out at 518 Pacific Coast Highway for the

old-timers’ basket lunch. Over at Circle Park, the Compton Elks were

having their outdoor picnic.

The crowd moved to the beach bandstand to listen to a U.S. Navy

concert band and watch a dance presentation with dancers in Japanese

costumes afterward.

At 2 p.m., the horse show and games were beginning at the baseball

park on Alabama Street with exhibitions of riding, roping and racing.

Jim Watson, Billy Anderson and A.C. Marion won the boys’ pony race.

Marjorie Lipscomb, Mary Frampton and Vivian Lipscomb won the girls’

pony race.

The most original costume prize went to Darlene Higgins, the most

freckles to twins Ruth and Ruby Haxton, the most-funniest costume to

Lois Stone, the prettiest prize to Louise Schaal and the handsomest

child to James Russell.

It was now 3 p.m. and time for the bathing beauty contest at the

beach grandstand. Beulah Engle of Arizona and Adelle Allen of Maine

placed first and second in the beauty contest.

Lake Street was turned into a racetrack for horse racing at 4 p.m.

A great array of clowns, acrobats and comedians entertained the

public at the grandstand, including Fearless Aldeline and his “Slide

for Life” show and Jack Cavanaugh and his trick dog “Spots.”

Now came time for the crowning of the queen, only this year there

would be three queens crowned. Margaret Burry was crowned Miss

Independence, Edith Brush as Miss Liberty and Evelyn Lindstrom as

Miss Freedom.

It was growing dark: time for the great fireworks off the

Huntington Beach pier.

* JERRY PERSON is a local historian. Write him at P.O. Box 7182,

Huntington Beach, CA 92615.