Jabberwock Contest – 1945

Left to right, bottom row:  Rosemary Gaudet, Rosanna Lyman, Venita Marant and Doralindo Zeno.

Right to left, top roll:  Gloria Bourgeois, Phillis Charbonnet and Josephine Smith.

These young ladies were competing for the title of “Queen of Hearts” in the annual Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Jabberwock Contest  held in New Orleans at Booker T. Washington High School Auditorium on April 6, 1945.

Jabberwock was an annual variety show consisting of various talents, such as music, skits, and dance. These shows served as fundraisers for the New Orleans chapter of the sorority with the intent of awarding scholarships to needy students.

The 1945 event, attended by an overflow crowd, featured colorful costume creations, artistic lighting, pretty scenery and other accessories centered around the theme “Big Top Circus.” The first prize honors went to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for its skit entitled “Figurines,” which depicted a series of statues in the wax museum of a circus. Included in the scene were: Cecile Perkins (elephant girl); Elizabeth Mays (snake charmer); Rose Broussard and Gertrude Jordan (trapeze artists); Beverly Bart (juggler); Marie Woods (girl with seal); Essie Terrel and Marguerite Hartman (clowns); Myrtle Dapremont, Lolita Gonzalez, Marguerite Burgoyne, Stella Pecot and Jacqueline Lewis (pyramid); Elaine Broyard (girl with giraffe); Annie Robertson and Arthe Perrault (dagger throwers); Parmelier Dejoie (tight rope walker); Margaret Burt (girl with horse); and Undine Davis (Statue of Liberty).  Judges were Mr. Lawrence D. Crocker, Mr. Numa Rousseve, and Mrs. Leonidas T. (Marie) Burbridge.

The acts were followed by the presentation of the “Queen of Hearts” and her bevy of lovely maids, as shown above.  Miss Phyllis Charbonnet, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Louis Charbonnet, was chosen queen as she reigned over “the most colorful extravaganza ever to be staged by a Greek letter organization in the Crescent City.”

Source: The Louisiana Weekly, 07 April 1945; 14 April 1945.

L.V.C.

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3 thoughts on “Jabberwock Contest – 1945

  1. i participated in the Jabberwock as a very young child. I was invited to participate by Miss Naomi Geddes who was the daughter of Joseph P Geddes, owner of Joseph P Geddes Funeral Home.

  2. I’m researching my family tree and stumbled upon this very interesting site. My Aunt was Rose Mary Gardette , her brother Clarence Gardette was my father.It was good to see Aunt Rose when she was young. I also enjoyed the information about Leonce Gardette The creole General who is my second grandfather. Sending a donation! God Bless You! Theda A. Gardette

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