BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Beaux Arts Balls

Vancouver School of Art

1926 - 1957 - ?


The art school's Beaux Arts Ball was a long-running annual event. Each event had a different theme that was used for the menu, decorating the venue, and for costumes of the attendees. The first Ball was held on October 14 1926 at the Ambassador, a "Bal Masque." The September newspaper clipping noted that the students had yet to choose a theme for the event.

The second Beaux Arts Ball was held on October 19 1927 at The Ambassador, with a theme of Chinese. The City of Vancouver Archives has photographs of the event, and there is a review of it in the June 1928 issue of the Paint Box. Given that the them was Chinese, the Ogopogo looking down on the event as noted in a newspaper review was most likely a Chinese dragon. Two bibliographic references state incorrectly that the 1929 Ball was the first one.


Beaux Arts Ball 1927, photo Harry Bullen

Themes over the years included Egyptian, the Fiesta of the Insects, A Night in a Persian Garden, Undersea, and a Russian theme. There was a disaster that year. A large vat of Russian borscht was being brewed in the kitchen at the Commodore, but it all went sour and had to be thrown out. A decision was made to carry the vat outside the building to dump, and as the students started down the front stairs they managed to drop the vat and spill sour borscht all over the place!

The 1929 issue of The Paint Box included a lengthy report on the school's annual Beaux Arts Ball. It was a medieval-themed event at the Hotel Vancouver. One page of the report was devoted to a cartoon by Ellen Moore of a number of people who attended the Ball, and the costumes they wore in a medieval theme. These included:
      Rui Shearman in blackface as “Othello”
      J.W.G. (Jock) MacDonald, “in real life a harmless design master”
      Vito Cianci as Leatherhood, “the hood was a great improvement”
      Charles Marega as the Mayor of Venice, “very Dogey”
      Frederick H. Varley as “an Irish dog-trotter, b’gorry”
      Charles H. Scott as “a medieval Head-master, gadzooks!”

In 1934 the theme of the Beaux Arts Ball was Roman.

From September 8 to 20, 1936 there was a display of Beaux Arts ball costumes at the Vancouver Art Gallery.



UNDERSEA invitation, Beaux Arts Ball 1957

Editor's note: clearly there is a lot of information that could be added to this page, but it is at least a starting point. In the late 1980s the Community Arts Council of Vancouver hosted a Beaux Arts Ball at the Via Rail Station. Around 2005 Emily Carr University tried to host a Ball, but advance ticket sales were insufficient to proceed and it was cancelled.


Beaux Arts Balls

DATE THEME LOCATION
1926 October 14 Bal Masque The Ambassador
1927 October 19 Chinese The Ambassador
1929 February 1 Medieval Hotel Vancouver
1934 Roman The Ambassador
1957 February 28 Undersea Commodore Ballroom

References

"'Bal Masque' Planned By Art Students' Group"
      Vancouver Sun, September 25 1926 page 13

"Beaux Arts Ball" by Madge Farmer
      The Paintbox Volume 3, June 1928

"Students’ Club Report - the Beaux-Arts Ball" by Margaret A. Williams
      The Paintbox Volume 4, June 1929

"UNDERSEA" invitation, 1957, courtesy Allan Collier

Clippings

"Against a striking background of vivid posters, guests at the Bal Masque given last evening by the Art Students' Club at the Ambassador, whirled in a colorful mass, like so much animated confetti. The syncopated vagaries of modern jazz came from the mouth of an enormous green Ogopogo which looked down with fiery eyes upon the festive scene, while jazz demons in the proverbial red could be seen within the depths of the monster. Unique life sized figures disported themselves along the balcony rail, holding clusters of balloons and between grotesque heads with yawning mouths held garlands of multi-colored streamers."
      From "Ogopogo Yawns On Gay Crowd At Bal Masque"
      unknown newspaper, October 1927

"The climax of our entertainment for the year was reached by The Beaux Arts Medieval Ball, which took place on February 1st. The Oak Dining Room of the Hotel Vancouver, where it was held, was an admirable background for the Ball, with its paneling, beamed ceiling and gallery. The office of general convener was vested in the President, and, under the direction of Alice Sharpe, banners, tapestries, armor and heraldic devices were fashioned by the students and transformed the room into a baronial hall. During the evening a Pageant was arranged by Phillis Kirkpatrick, and added very much to the enjoyment. Great credit must be given to Bee Lennie and Marjorie Lyne, who formed the costume committee, and were indefatigable in designing costumes and giving most helpful suggestions in carrying them out. We are pleased to report that a profit has been realized, in spite of the large expense unavoidable in such an undertaking."
      "Students’ Club Report - the Beaux-Arts Ball" by Margaret A. Williams
      The Paintbox Volume 4, June 1929

HOME