1
10
6
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/057e467bdaaa105caf394f33e1584264.jpg
756d4064faf04b3e6c668b73533c6231
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Photograph Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Photo
Physical Dimensions
The actual physical size of the original image.
8" x 10"
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LH-scpl-540
Title
A name given to the resource
Miss California Pageant
Subject
The topic of the resource
Beauty Pageants
Miss California Pageant
Description
An account of the resource
Note on back: Each June, thousands come to Santa Cruz for the Miss California Pageant, official state preliminary to the Miss America Pageant. A week-long activity with pageant shows and judging on Thursday and Friday [it] culminates on Saturday night with the crowning of the new Miss California who serves as official hostess for the State of California.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Unknown
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Unknown
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
Circa 1960s
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (City)
1960s
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
Language
A language of the resource
En
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
PHOTO
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This photograph is the property of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries.
Public Events
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/218cb01e94597c4f43b40e3a420a44c3.pdf
6b37ea99a312c932379707480bc3fc26
PDF Text
Text
Too Much Makeup, Too Much Skin:
Pageant Protests Go Back to 1924
By Ross Eric Gibson
Today the Miss California Pageant emphasizes its scholarship program, countering protesters who call the pageant a
cotillion of debutants, wearing too much makeup and showing too much skin.
Some of those same complaints were lodged against the Miss California Pageant when it originated in Santa Cruz in
1924. It drew considerable opposition over the indecency of girls wearing too much makeup and showing too much skin.
Back then, makeup was for shady women, yet movie glamour was starting to popularize it for the masses. Women's
bathing suits were the all-covering leotard/bloomer/skirt-and-cap. In 1922, women in Chicago were arrested for
indecent exposure for donning swimwear equal to men's tanktop suits. Two years later, these same suits worn in Santa
Cruz made the Miss California Pageant the benchmark of the liberated woman.
When boardwalk founder Fred Swanton first proposed the pageant to the chamber of commerce, it was regarded as a
way to link Santa Cruz to Atlantic City's publicity machine, and tie in to their high-profile annual Miss America Pageant,
which had started in 1921. Miss Santa Cruz was selected in May at the St. George Hotel's ballroom and Palm Court. The
Miss California Pageant followed in June. Several thousand flags lined Pacific Avenue, Beach Street and in front of the
Casa Del Rey. Laurel Grove Campground, at Pacific, Laurel and Front streets, became the Court of Blossoms, where an
assembly lawn bordered with 50,000 gladioluses faced a stage overlooking a lily pond. Here the parade began, going up
Front to the Plaza, then down Pacific back to Laurel Grove.
Miss Santa Cruz, Mary Black, wore a peacock gown made for the Paris Opera. Police blocked a car driven by sheeted Ku
Klux Klansmen from San Jose, but they pushed back into the parade later on. The contestants then modeled sportswear
at the Court of the Blossoms, overturning the notion that any sport producing perspiration was unladylike. Cooper Street
became Mardi Gras Square, with jazz dancing 'til midnight drawing complaints that the contestants were becoming wildliving "flappers."
The pageant featured successful women as judges, representing expanding female opportunities. Judges included diving
champion Annette Kellerman; Lois Webber, the first female film director; and once-local film star Helen Ferguson,
among others. Comedian Anne Seymore provided entertainment as part of an Orpheum Circuit vaudeville show at the
New Santa Cruz Theatre.
Alameda's Faye Lamphier was crowned Miss California, only to have William Randolph Hearst denounce her in the San
Francisco Examiner as a phony, asking how she could be a bathing beauty without knowing how to swim. Undaunted,
Lamphier went to Atlantic City, but did not win.
1
�Afterward, Trenton, N.J., dropped out of the competition, saying the grueling week-long schedule of events left
contestants unable to enjoy the experience.
Watsonville also refused further participation locally, calling the Miss California Pageant a waste of money. With local
opposition on moral grounds, Santa Cruz was uncertain that it wanted to continue the pageant. But the chamber of
commerce was ecstatic, calling the pageant the greatest publicity boon the city ever had, not only bringing business to
town during the event but encouraging return visits thereafter.
The contest was revamped the following year to greater public approval. A three-mile-long parade on Pacific and Front
streets took two hours to pass, with floats of grand design from sponsors around the state. Stunt fliers overhead wrote
"Santa Cruz" in the sky and dropped whistling fireworks. People parked as far as Capitola, then trolleyed into town. Faye
Lamphier was again crowned Miss California, as one coronation song put it:
" . . . There she stands in virginal array
the model here of womanhood today.
From among the finest all around
Miss California, you are found!"
This time Lamphier did become Miss America, and in President
Coolidge's private rail car, she rode to New York for a ticker-tape
parade. Afterward, she starred in the movie "American Venus,"
filmed in Atlantic City.
After feminist protests, the pageant left Santa Cruz in 1990 [sic]
for San Diego, where it has been the scene of protests.
[Correction: the last pageant held in Santa Cruz was in 1985;
"The pageant made its debut in San Diego on Monday after a 62Some of the Contestants in the 1937 or 1938 Pageant
year run in Santa Cruz." Santa Cruz Sentinel. June 18, 1986. p.1.
RAP-ed.]
Sources
This article originally appeared in the San Jose Mercury News, June 7, 1994, p.1B. Copyright 1994 Ross Eric
Gibson. Reprinted by permission of Ross Eric Gibson. Photograph is from the Library's collection.
The content of this article is the responsibility of the individual author. It is the Library's intent to provide accurate local history
information. However, it is not possible for the Library to completely verify the accuracy of individual articles obtained from a
variety of sources. If you believe that factual statements in a local history article are incorrect and can provide documentation,
please contact the Webmaster.
2
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Santa Cruz History Articles
Description
An account of the resource
Original articles by library staff and by local authors and material from historical books.
Articles on Santa Cruz County history, many with illustrations, are available here.
The Santa Cruz Public Libraries is grateful to our local historians and their publishers for giving permission to include their articles. The content of the articles is the responsibility of the individual authors.
It is the library's intent to provide accurate information. However, it is not possible to completely verify the accuracy of individual articles obtained from a variety of sources. If you believe that factual statements in an article are incorrect and can provide documentation, please contact the library.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
Paper
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
AR-014
Title
A name given to the resource
Too Much Makeup, Too Much Skin: Pageant Protests Go Back to 1924
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Gibson, Ross Eric
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<i>San Jose Mercury News</i>, June 7, 1994, p.1B
Photograph is from the Library's collection.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
6/7/1994
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text
Language
A language of the resource
En
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
ARTICLE
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Copyright 1994 Ross Eric Gibson. Reprinted with the permission of Ross Eric Gibson.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Beauty Pageants
Miss California Pageant
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (County)
Public Events
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/ca1e2983dd086848bb477f65dc42b92f.jpg
d2a81191f7140c7af4d1b7e2920c2be8
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Photograph Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
B&W
Physical Dimensions
The actual physical size of the original image.
6 1/2" x 4 1/2"
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LH-0586
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1930's
Title
A name given to the resource
Miss California Pageant at the Boardwalk
Description
An account of the resource
Spectators and contestants at the Miss California Pageant. The contestants are walking along a circular walkway by the Santa Cruz Boardwalk bandstand. The pageant was held in Santa Cruz from 1924 to 1985.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs/">Source of information:</a> Staff
Article on this Website, see link below.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (City)
1930s
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/omeka/items/show/134325">Too Much Makeup, Too Much Skin; Pageant Protests Go Back to 1924</a>
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This photograph/postcard is the property of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, California.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use/">Restrictions on Use</a>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Beauty Pageants
Miss California Pageant
Boardwalk
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
Language
A language of the resource
En
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
PHOTO
Public Events
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/74ac8255c7de6f16ef1f49c085364042.jpg
372c38d02841fde718ea341fb6ab1e5b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Photograph Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
B&W
Physical Dimensions
The actual physical size of the original image.
6 1/2" x 4 1/2"
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LH-0585
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1930's
Title
A name given to the resource
Miss California Pageant on the Boardwalk bandstand
Description
An account of the resource
Unidentified man presenting Miss Catalina with a trophy at the Miss California Pageant on the Boardwalk bandstand. Fred Swanton, founder of the Boardwalk, originated the pageant in 1924 to publicize Santa Cruz. The last Miss California pageant held in Santa Cruz was in 1985.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs/">Source of information:</a> Staff
Article on this Website, see link below.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (City)
1930s
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/omeka/items/show/134325">Too Much Makeup, Too Much Skin; Pageant Protests Go Back to 1924</a>
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This photograph/postcard is the property of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, California.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use/">Restrictions on Use</a>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Beauty Pageants
Miss California Pageant
Boardwalk
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
Language
A language of the resource
En
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
PHOTO
Public Events
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/be0be52f6dc0e01d950d1778f2f221a7.jpg
7c2946fff45687d60fc4058edea661ca
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Photograph Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
B&W
Physical Dimensions
The actual physical size of the original image.
6 1/2" x 4 1/2"
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LH-0584
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1937 or 1938
Title
A name given to the resource
Contestants in the Miss California Pageant
Description
An account of the resource
Contestants in the Miss California Pageant and an unidentified woman on stage at the Boardwalk bandstand. Miss Catalina is holding a trophy. The pageant originated in Santa Cruz in 1924.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs/">Source of information:</a> Staff
Article on this Website, see link below.
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (City)
1930s
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/omeka/items/show/134325">Too Much Makeup, Too Much Skin; Pageant Protests Go Back to 1924</a>
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This photograph/postcard is the property of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, California.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use/">Restrictions on Use</a>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Beauty Pageants
Miss California Pageant
Boardwalk
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
Language
A language of the resource
En
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
PHOTO
Public Events
-
https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/69c9abe677aaf6aa08ef6ddc1bb9c400.jpg
00312909ad34cc6a4df2cfe5c1a180f9
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Photograph Collection
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs from the 1860's to the 2000's, documenting the history of Santa Cruz County.
See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use">About</a><a> sectionfor the library's reproduction policy and restrictions on use.</a>
Various sources were used to identify persons, events, and places. Citations to print sources were abbreviated. See the <a href="https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs">About</a><a> section for a list of sources used.</a>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Original Format
If the image is of an object, state the type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data
B&W
Physical Dimensions
The actual physical size of the original image.
6"x4"
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
LH-0185
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
ca. 1937
Title
A name given to the resource
Miss California Pageant contest on the Boardwalk beach bandstand
Description
An account of the resource
Miss California Pageant contest on the Boardwalk beach bandstand. From its start in 1924 until 1985, the pageant was held in Santa Cruz. The contestants (l. to r.) represent the cities of Pacific Grove, Santa Rosa, Alameda, Lodi, Stockton, ? Mission, Vallejo, Fresno, Oakland, and Santa Cruz.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/sources-used-to-identify-photographs/">Source of information:</a> Staff
Photograph
Article on this website, see link below
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Santa Cruz (City)
1930s
Relation
A related resource
<a href="/omeka/items/show/134325">Too Much Makeup, Too Much Skin; Pageant Protests Go Back to 1924</a>
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
This photograph/postcard is the property of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries, California.
<a href="http://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/restrictions-on-use/">Restrictions on Use</a>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Miss California Pageant
Boardwalk
Pageants
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Santa Cruz Public Libraries
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Image
Language
A language of the resource
En
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
PHOTO
Public Events