Contests back in Christmas 1933

On Dec. 4 the downtown business community kicked off the holiday season with a Main Street parade and the lighting of the snowflakes on the pier.

Ann Minnie and her friend Karen Pederson were among the 500 that watched the parade, and Minnie remembers the times when that master of parade planners, Bill Gallienne, plotted out our Christmas celebrations.

There were contests for the title of Miss Meri Christmas, with girls from all over the area entering the contest; there were beautifully decorated store windows and colored lights; and decorations were hung across Main Street for several blocks.

Minnie had hoped that more communities could become involved in celebrating this wonderful Huntington Beach holiday tradition this year -- that Gallienne’s dream of a countywide holiday event would again be realized.

The downtown merchants are following a tradition of celebrating the Christmas holiday that dates back to the founding of our town.

Our community has always embraced the Christmas spirit with a passion, and this week we’ll look back to the 1933 and see how that passion unfolded.

To kick off the holiday season, Warner’s Hardware at 112 Main St. offered chemistry sets for boys, dolls of all sizes and doll buggies for girls, just in case Santa only brought socks and underwear.

Jack Roberson’s Men’s store at 118 Main St. was offering sweaters and robes for dad and Mi Lady’s Shoppe at 113 Main St. had a full line of robes for mom.

C.G. Ward’s H.B. 5¢ to $1 Store at 305 Main St. had a huge supply of toys and gifts.

In 1933 our city would again participate in the “Forty Miles of Christmas Smiles,” which featured lighted shrines, trees and displays all along our coast, a true ribbon of lights for 40 miles. Everyone took a part in this event, including service stations, private homes, businesses and churches and our Chamber of Commerce and the Orange County Coast Assn. sponsored the event.

This must have been something to see, especially from offshore or from Long Beach, the coastline ablaze with lights. If this were repeated today, it would become one of the wonders of the world.

The corner of Main Street and Olive Avenue was chosen as the location of our community Christmas tree, decorated with colorful lights.

The Windsor Club’s president, James Quiggle, and his committee began planning their early Christmas dance on Dec. 14 at Memorial Hall, where everyone was welcome to enjoy an enjoyable evening.

The pupils at Ocean View Elementary School were busy planning their Christmas program on Dec. 15, the last day of school until Jan. 2.

The yuletide spirit was further enhanced by the hanging of Christmas lights along Main Street by street superintendent Henry Wirth and his crew.

Catherine Sherrett planned to hold a holiday open house for her new Bob-Inn Café at 406 Pacific Coast Highway on Dec. 16; this would include dancing to the music of a live orchestra, refreshments and special turkey dinners for fifty cents.

Rev. Luther A. Arthur and members of the congregation of the First Baptist Church, 401 Sixth St., would present a Christmas cantata, “His Natal Day,” at the church on the evening of Dec. 17.

Eber Flaws was in charge of the cantata and had a beautifully decorated and lighted Christmas tree that graced the stage and cast a cheery glow throughout the church.

The congregation opened the program by singing “Joy to the World,” followed by J.P. Ranney reading Luke 2:4-16.

The church’s primary class girls -- Jean Fraser, Betty Gordon, Dorothy Hawes, Carman Hesik, Doris Ranney, Mary Smith, Frances Trumpey and Irene Weinheimer -- closed the program with the singing of “Silent Night.”

A pre-Christmas program on Dec. 22 by Pastors Dan and Grace Feldkamp and the congregation from Foursquare Gospel Church at 210 Fifth St. included a beautiful decorated tree and Christmas treats for all the children.

The Women’s Clubhouse on 10th Street was the scene of a Christmas dance to benefit the unemployed. It was under the direction of Mrs. Granger and Mr. Watkins and featured a six-piece orchestra.