Thursday, November 17, 1988

Fashion Show, Continued...

Jim McGill wore an original Broadus Red Devils uniform, loaned by Lloyd Nalley. As McGill appeared on stage, an attractive trio of local girls sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Next was Kim Gaskill, wearing a beautiful bugle beaded and sequined top, dated 1909. Little John Elgin wore a boy’s dress-up suit, first worn by Ray Ramer in 1905. Both garments were from the collection of LaVeta Irion.

Kristee Deibel appeared, ready for the new rage, ballroom dancing, in a gown of white and crepe and front draping detail from the Don and Bobbie Heidel collection. Mrs. Ullrich also directed attention to Kristee’s low button shoes, a trend that arrived out of necessity with ballroom dancing. They were dated 1911, and were from the Ullrich collection.

Automobiles were the hot new and unbelievable item of the decade. Foreign exchange student Tina Leibner of Germany appeared in a duster and beige plaid dress from the Bogner collection. A sturdy pair of shoes worn by Tina was from the Vera Carter collection.

Amy Ullrich modeled an original Vaudeville costume from 1911, originally worn by Lillie Dodge, who according to the 1912 Denver Post was the “best and cleverest act in the west.”

Furs were the rage of fashion that year and Jana Bogner showed a very rare 12-mink stole which belonged to a high society lady who ran the Seattle Charm School. The stole was actually twelve full mink, including feet and tails sewn together, from the collection of Gidget Draine.

At the time Vaudeville had its impact, even in Montana. In fact, according to information given by Mrs. Ullrich, the state song, “Montana” was written by New Yorker, Joe Howard, in 1910 during a Vaudeville engagement in Butte. Those attending the show would have seen a star named Dixie in a red satin costume modeled by Amy Ullrich, complete with fishnet hose and fine details.

The Vaudeville costume was authentic and was from the collection of Dianne Richards.

In 1916 Coalwood Church was born and Prohibition rolled in. And, a three year drought began, accompanied by a terrible flu epidemic. Sixty thousand farmers left the state and half the banks failed. By 1920 the 13 large counties of Eastern Montana had been divided into 39.

Inez Smith’s father, Senator Frank Kelsey, sponsored a bill to make Powder River a county in 1919. That same year Broadus was chosen as county seat, beating out Olive and Sigmund for the honors. Baye Schoonover was the first girl born after the county was formed.

Then in roared the Twenties and women dared to bare not only their ankles but their calves and knees as well. Patty Burley appeared in an authentic Roaring 20’s flapper dress, a perfect example of the daring behavior of the day. The dress was owned by Ms. Burley’s grandmother, Ruth Heidel, a dear, warm woman whose name sparks many fond memories.

Melanie Huckaba modeled a raccoon coat from the same period, from the collection of the Ullrichs.

In Broadus, the social hub of those early days was the Powder River Hotel… sound pictures were the new sensation.

While things were going well elsewhere, in Montana there were 20,000 foreclosures and 11,000 farms vacated. From 1929 to 1939 there was another drought, more grass fires, cutworms, disease, blowing topsoil, grasshoppers and Mormon crickets, so thick in Broadus the roads were slick. “Sixty years later we realize the more things change the more they stay the same,” said Mrs. Ullrich.

Cassie Elgin wore a lovely 1930’s evening gown, adorned with blue and pink butterflies and sequins, originally worn by Ruth Heidel. She topped it with a mouton coat, popular for over two decades, from the Ullrich collection.

Jim Bob McGill showed “school spirit” in the 1939 with a cardinal Broadus school sweater from Jim Neiman. Cheryl Wash appeared in a short curly fur capelet from the same period, from the collection of Gidget Draine, and a dress from Twila Talcott.

Following was a “walk through the 40’s.” Tina Leibner modeled a lace dress and matching short jacket, smartly trimmed with pearls and sequins and a matching aqua organdy hat, from the Heidel collection.

Amy Ullrich then appeared in a 40’s sensation, a basic black crepe dress, adorned with starburst beads in the front. A neat little black hat completed the ensemble, from the collection of Esther Barnhart.

Cassie Elgin modeled a purple sequined evening gown with front drape detailing, worn by Ruth Heidel, from the Heidel collection. Mrs. Heidel and her husband A.W. built the first house in the original Broadus townsite.

Home on Christmas leave, Garry Wallace showed the look of the U.S. Navy in a uniform of Don Heidel’s. His girl (Vanessa Richards) met him in a lovely Lily Ann suit made in Paris with caplet buttons on front and in back, from the collection of Gidget Draine. She also wore a white fur hat and gloves.

Kristee Deibel appeared as the typical 40’s lady in a simple black dress from the Barnhart collection.

Jim Bob McGill, one of the two high school boys volunteering as models, appeared in a GI army uniform from Yesterday’s Things, as he greeted his gal, Patty Burley, dressed in a green tweed suit from the Camilla Heidel collection. It was worn over a nylon blouse with rhinestone buttons from the Ullrichs. And, matching green shoes from the period were from the collection of Jewel Richards.

In 1946 Volborg got a nice new store and post office, under the ownership of Don Stanley. The Powder River flooded its banks and caused damage as far north as the county courthouse. And the term living room was brand new because of the new invention, the television.

Garry Wallace modeled a wedding suit from the Heidel collection while Kim Gaskill modeled a black crepe evening dress, also from the Heidel collection. Covering the dress was a mouton coat, belonging to Dolores Carter.

As Elvis became the new sensation, Vanessa Richards, in apparel appropriate to the era, appeared in a beautiful ivory satin gown with chapel train and 33 covered buttons down the front. It also had a matching head piece and satin gloves, worn by Linda Trucano when she married Joy Rogge, in 1953.

Kim Gaskill also appeared in a homecoming dress of beige flocked nylon with satin spaghetti straps, from 1955, loaned by Linda Rogge. Matching spike heels and gloves were from the Heidels.