London’s May Day Festivals

by Renee Beets

For seven years from 1946-1952 London held a May Day Festival which was often referred to as simply the May Festival. London held its first May Day Festival on Saturday, May 18, 1946. The festival began with a parade. This was followed by a program at the London School gymnasium which was filled to capacity. Irene Greer was crowned the first May Day Queen. Next John L. Bruner addressed the crowd and the kindergarten students recited nursery rhymes. Then the Alice Blue Gown Waltz was played and Mrs. Reuel “Sue” Buchanon sang “May Time.” The program concluded with the May Pole Dance and a Recessional.

The May Day program began as a fund raiser by the London Junior Women’s Club. They used these funds to sponsor a kindergarten class at London School. Thus, the kindergarten students were involved in each May Day program. In 1947 and 1948 the students sang songs. In 1949 the Kindergarten Toy Band performed a selection and danced around the May Pole. From 1949 -1950 a kindergarten graduation ceremony was held. In 1949 and 1950 the kindergarten graduates were dressed in white gowns and caps and the teacher Mrs. Leonard Green presented their diplomas. Presumably that tradition continued in the other years although it was not mentioned in newspaper accounts.

This is a copy of the 1947 Program.

The 1948 program was similar. Both years the Maypole Dance was performed by Girl Scouts. In 1949 Jimmy Handy did a tap dance, the Glee Club sang a selection of songs, and Mary Evelyn Kidd did the Butterfly Dance.

The Queen, Miniature Queen and Miniature King were chosen by paid votes. Area businesses had candidate boxes in which money could be placed for votes. The votes were 10 cents for Queen and 5 cents for the miniature royalty. In 1948 ballot boxes were placed in Begley Drug, London Drug and the Sweet Shop. Voting usually ended on Friday night at midnight. In 1949 it ended at 3 p.m. The ballot boxes were found in Begley’s London Drug, the Sweet Shoppe and the Snak Shoppe. Originally the Queen candidates were selected from London High School and Sue Bennett College. By 1951 the high schools at Bush and Lily had entered candidates. In 1950 the candidates’ photos were displayed in the window of Magee Furniture.

Each year the Queen was crowned by London’s mayor. Dr. Oscar D. Brock was mayor the first two years and Bert Edwards, the remaining years. By 1951 the Queen received a trophy which she would keep until a new Queen was crowned. She also received a bouquet of red roses and other prizes donated by London merchants. Each attendant received a compact donated by the Jr. Woman’s Club and a raincoat donated by a local merchant. The following year the Queen also received gifts.

Based on newspaper accounts, the May Festival Parade appears to have grown larger and been better attended each year. The parade began at 1:00 p.m. and traveled from London School to Dixie Street where they turned around. From 1948 until 1950 they returned to the lawn of London School for the Coronation. In 1951 and 1952 they stopped at the Court House for the Coronation Ceremony of the Miniature Candidates.

 In 1946 floats carried the royalty. The floats were sponsored by London Laundry and Dry Cleaners, London Kiwanis Club, Woman’s Club of London and the National Bank. Other participants were the active militia and the Fire Department. Parade Judges were from out of town. A “loving cup” was presented to the prize-winning float. 2nd place received a blue ribbon and third place, a red one

In 1948 the royalty rode on a float entered by London Laundry and Dry Cleaners who also sponsored the queens.

The National Guard led the parade. They were followed by the Boy Scouts, the Lions’ Club “goat and wagon,” and the floats in this order: London Laundry and Dry Cleaners, Kiwanis, Second National Bank and the Junior Woman’s Club. The London Fire Department’s fire truck brought up the rear. The American Legion was also a parade entrant. London Laundry and Dry Cleaners received the “loving cup.” The Lions’ Club earned a blue ribbon by being Most Original. The red ribbon went to the Second National Bank.

In 1949 the parade was again led by the National Guard. Other participants in the parade were Sergeants Brady Kelly and Ralph Smith of the U.S. Army Recruiting Office, London Fire Department and the American Legion. The names of the winning floats were printed in the paper. London Laundry was awarded a silver cup for having the Prettiest Float.  Kern’s Bakery was in 2nd place and 3rd place went to the Kindergarten Mother’s Club. Other floats were entered by Reda Theatre, Magee’s, Boggs Brothers, The National Bank, and the Junior Woman’s Club.

In 1950 and ‘51 Ed McFadden was in charge of the parade. The 1950 Parade began with the Parade Marshall Gene Evans riding his prize show horse. He was followed by the National Guard, American Legion, Boy Scouts and London Fire Department. The reigning May Queen was on the lead float. Other float entrants were the National Bank, London Lions’ Club, Kiwanis Club, Kindergarten Mother’s Club, Mrs. Greer’s First Grade, London Laundry and Dry Cleaners, Sue Buchanon’s Nursery School, Kern’s Bakery, London Electric and Supply Co., Handy Brothers and Lucas Motor Co. The Most Attractive float winner was London Laundry. The Lions Club came in second. The Most Original float was sponsored by the Kindergarten Mother’s Club. Kern’s Bakery placed second in that category.

The 1951 parade began with show horses ridden by Ernest Kidd, Gene Cook, Arch Pigg, Bobo Bruner and Simmy Hodges. London City School Band, the Boy Scouts and London Fire Department came next. London Laundry was chosen as the Most Beautiful float. 2nd place went to the Kiwanis Club. The Most Original was once again sponsored by the Kindergarten Mother’s Club. The London Flight Civil Air Patrol came in 2nd. The float winners received a “loving cup” while 2nd and 3rd place received a ribbon. Other floats were entered by The Rainbow Girls, Hamm Electric, Craft and Bruner, Feltner Furniture and Boggs Brothers.

The 1952 Parade’s Most Beautiful float was sponsored by the kindergarten. London Laundry was 2nd place. Knoxville Fertilizer had the Most Original float. The London Lions Club was second place. Other floats entered were 4-H Club, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club and Junior Woman’s Club. Other Participants in the parade were London Band, American Legion, Fire Department and numerous individuals who were not named. “The parade ended with the Coronation ceremony of the Miniature King and Queen which took place on the flower-bedecked lawn of the Court House.” [The Sentinel-Echo, May 22, 1952, page 1]

 By 1948 a dance was held in the evening in honor of the Queen and her attendants. With the exception of the 1952 ball, all the other dances were held at Levi Jackson State Park. In 1948 Burgie Moore and his new band performed. Although the performers were not mentioned in 1949 the dance was from 8 p.m. until midnight. Ralph Roberts and his band from the Bluegrass provided music in 1950. The cost was $3 plus tax. Music by Wayne Powell and his orchestra was featured in 1951. As the orchestra played “A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody” the Queen candidates were introduced by Lions Club President Mr. Charles Higgs. The Queen was crowned May Queen and she and her escort Mr. James Harper led the Grand March. The 1952 Coronation Ball was held at the Dean Planter’s Tobacco Warehouse with the Double K Orchestra from Eastern KY State College performing.

 Since I was unable to find information about a festival after 1952, I presume the kindergarten was closed. If anyone has any other information, photos or souvenirs connected to the May Day Festival, please let me know. With the exception of the program, all of the information in this article was obtained from articles written in The Sentinel-Echo.

            All of the photos in this blog were taken from the collection of Don McFadden. They were slides taken by his father Roy. Based on the newspaper accounts, they best match the 1950 parade.