A LOOK BACK:

Summer is the time for fun, games and special events here in Huntington Beach, which explains the popularity of the U.S. Open of Surfing and the accompanying events that we just concluded.

The only fault I find with these events is that they are geared more toward young people than seniors. You just can’t bring young children or your great-grandparents to these wonderful events and expect them to have a good time.

But that wasn’t always the case here in Huntington Beach, especially when we held spectacular fairs that had something for the entire family.

It was 61 years ago this month that the Huntington Beach Garden Club sponsored the third annual Country Fair that thousands would enjoy during its four-day run. The event would be remembered for a long time.

Just a short time before it began, on Aug. 16, 1945, the Japanese surrendered, ending World War II. With this surrender, the fair committee changed the theme to an Orange County Victory Celebration.

Fair President R.G. “Scotty” Hudson and Chamber of Commerce Manager William Gallienne quickly re-planned many of the activities to appeal to the entire family.

They would retain the children’s pet parade, the Huntington Beach Lions Club horse parade, golf tournaments, floral exhibits, vaudeville acts, and the famous twins contest, and add a bathing beauty contest.

The first Country Fair was held in 1943 by the Huntington Beach Garden Club as a small exhibit of flowers and garden products. But like most events put on in the past, it grew to a huge event that first year and grew even bigger the next year.

When the big day arrived on Thursday, Aug. 16, 1945, the townspeople were looking forward to having a fun-filled four days.

The Lions Club requested horses and riders to come early to the fire station on Main Street. Their committee was composed of Bob Stricklin, Joe Elliott, Jack Frost, Ed Ruoff, Bill Curnutt, Ivey Lyons, Horace Hancock and Sandy Graham.

When 7:30 p.m. arrived, Country Fair Queen Kippy Stoneburner and her court of Lois Cobb, Nancy Matthew, Lupe Ruis and Genevieve Burkhart left the chamber of commerce office on their way down Main Street to the pier.

The Lions Club’s horse division escorted them to where the queen would be crowned.

Following the queen and court were members of the Huntington Beach Fair band and a military parade of WACS, WAVES, Marines and SPARS.

It had been arranged to have many of Orange County’s mayors present to participate in the coronation ceremonies. Also present were Orange County supervisors and state officials.

Speaking of mayors, Seal Beach Mayor Louis E. Jaeckel jokingly requested that his name be spelled correctly, because in his hometown no one ever does.

During that first day, the famous Ringling Bros. circus clown, Jack McAffe, greeted the kids while the Three Aristocrats, a female acrobatic stunt team, entertained the adults.

Comedy cyclist Jack Stary, the male quartet Rainbow Comedy Four and Irene McAffe and her trained dogs provided an exciting evening of lighthearted entertainment.

There were hundreds of manned booths, tables, cages and stalls that exhibited everything imaginable. Harry Schweizer from Los Angeles had an exhibit of rare and fancy fowl. More than 600 rabbit breeders from the Orange Empire Rabbit Assn. and the California State Rabbit Breeders held a huge convention at Memorial Hall that they called “Food for Freedom.”

Several renowned artists from Huntington Beach, Long Beach and Laguna Beach had many of their paintings on display. This exhibit had been arranged and planned by Mrs. Clive Adams.

The City of Westminster brought in an exhibit entitled “Eye of Vision” that consisted of a view of that city in the future. People would look through a peephole that had been painted to look like an eye, giving the spectator the sensation of peering into the future. Their chamber of commerce president, James Rumsey, manned the booth, which also included displays of flowers, paintings by Westminster artists and a model of Westminster Park made by the Westminster Boy Scouts.

Jimmy Higson and his orchestra provided music at the pavilion for an evening of dancing. Higson had been a star on the Hoagie Carmichael radio show.

For the kids, there was a carnival at the pier with a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, baby auto rides, a tilt-a-whirl and many concession stands ready to take your money.

Next week, we’ll look at more of the family-style fun that this country fair provided.