The Rosenberg Library Collection - Pageant of Pulchritude and Oleanders (1931)

Duration: 17:14

Year Published: 1931

Format: 16mm

Sound: silent

Description: Held annually from 1920 to 1931, the Pageant of Pulchritude (previously known as the Bathing Girl Revue) signaled the beginning of the summer tourist season in Galveston. This home movie captures many of the contestants in what was to be the final pageant in 1931. Young ladies from all over the globe pose for pictures in their swimsuits before attending a beachside luncheon. This home movie also captures members of the Sealy family in Galveston, including prominent businessman George Sealy II; his wife, Eugenia; and their two eldest children, Jean and George. The family first attends an event in town. Later, they retreat to an opulent beach-side home, most likely in California. The conclusion of the film shows the Taos Pueblo in Taos, New Mexico. While the film appears black and white to the human eye, the film was actually shot in Kodacolor, an early color film stock for the amateur market produced by Eastman Kodak. This film was restored to its full color state through the support of the National Film Preservation Foundation.