On Aug. 30, the Islesboro Historical Society hosted “The Way We Were,” a DVD showing and reunion party for island participants and guests who were involved in the community’s “Century of Fashions” show 15 years ago.
The reunion was put together by the original 1992 organizers, Pat Hopkins and Ginny Hall. Jim Lester, who played the piano 15 years ago, was on hand to provide background music before the DVD showing. Attendants were welcomed by Pat Hopkins and then serenaded by Barbara Pendleton, who sang a medley of nostalgic music.
Many of the models who were in the 1992 show were there, some in the same vintage costumes they wore then. Throughout the evening attendees enjoyed champagne punch, coffee and various desserts.
In 1992 the Islesboro Historical Society presented “A Century of Fashions, 1890-1990,” which became one of the island’s most remembered events.
That evening the historical society’s Victorian building was filled to capacity as attendees watched 26 island residents — year round and summer residents, senior citizens and high school students, all of whom had to run up three flights of stairs to make their clothing changes between scenes — display the poise and grace of runway fashion models.
The source of the evening’s enormous collection of vintage clothes was the result of Pat Hopkins and Ginny Hall’s efforts in gathering the dresses, gowns, hats, gloves, parasols, military uniforms, mink coats — you name it — from island residents’ attics and closets. Hopkins and Hall worked for months coordinating outfits and finding the perfect accessories to complement them. Fashion scenes included nostalgic white summer dresses, jersey bathing suits, World War I and II uniforms, flapper outfits, bloomers, shimmering silk evening gowns, mini skirts, and lots of polyester when the 70s rolled around.
Lynn Hall, wearing a World War I uniform, and Sandy Oliver, looking lovely in a black silk gown and satin bonnet, served as co-commentators for the 1992 evening event.
The fashion show blended moments of true elegance with ones of surprise and laughter. It was hard to believe that the models had only rehearsed once before the production and that they managed to change clothes for fifteen different scenes without any noticeable glitches. Amazingly, no one tripped on the runway, or fell down the stairs, or even forgot to zip up their gowns. Nancy Hoffman, in reviewing the show, noted it was obvious that “everyone involved in the Fashion Show had thoroughly enjoyed the work of production and the models stepped on stage relaxed and enjoying themselves after sensing the audience’s delight and joy.”
Along with the commentary and fashion modeling, the Century of Fashion show included many musical interludes. There were old-fashioned audience sing-alongs and an island barbershop quartet. Finger Band members provided a 50s medley and a few Grateful Dead tunes. The island minister, Ed Bacon, sporting a raccoon coat, crooned a Rudy Vallee melody into a megaphone and torch singer Berna Derby belted out a sultry selection. Renowned jazz musician Jim Lester manned the piano throughout.
Maurine Rothschild delighted the audience by dancing the Charleston in a dress of shimmering silk. Then it was three flights up to change into her next outfit so she could tap dance her way across the stage and into the audience. In another scene captured on the DVD, Maurine and Jamie MacMillan elegantly waltz their way down the aisle. Donny and Linda Durkee jitterbugged their hearts out, and party girls, in their red satin dresses, pranced to a 50s tune.
The audience went wild for Jamie MacMillan in a stripped beach outfit from the 1900s, while he egged them on to greater appreciation by lifting barbells and swimming down the runway. MacMillan showed up in other scenes, dancing with Maurine, in a gangster outfit with Frank Emmitt, and in the culminating wedding gown scene in which he escorted a bevy of beauties down the aisle.
Other showstoppers included Betty Boucher as a women’s suffrage protestor and Judy Kaminsky as “Miss Recycling” wearing plastic milk jugs on her feet and an outfit made out of dump materials. Elizabeth Clark modeled a dress made by her great-great grandmother for her great grandmother’s high school graduation. Maurine Rothschild looked splendid in her 1965 grey and apricot ruffled Sgt Pepper’s Beatle outfit and who could forget Myra Rolerson and Linda Graf in their very short mini skirts?
There was a sense of mystery about the 60s fashion scene. Who were those island people behind those flower child duds, big hair, and large sunglasses? Who were those people in the hippy clothes passing out flowers and carrying peace signs? And why did they move in that slow “man, what’s your hurry?” kind of way? Fifteen years later, it was still hard to figure out who they were.
The Century of Fashions show ended with a wedding gown extravaganza. A hundred years were represented with many of the models wearing their own gowns, or those of their ancestors.
After the fashion show, life returned to normal on the island. The summer people continued their cocktail party rounds, and the island people continued to serve hors d’oeuvres. I found myself shortly after the event serving at a Rothschild dinner party that included guest John Travolta.
The meal was going smoothly, and despite the celebrity presence, we in the kitchen were calm and professional. Maurine was seated at the head of the table with John to her left. It was at the end of the dinner and I was pouring coffee from a very heavy silver pot, when Maurine stopped me. She placed her hand on my arm and turned to John. She said to him, “…and this is Bonnie, she was in the fashion show with me… isn’t she lovely?” To which John replied, “Yes, she is, she has beautiful skin.”
Well, you can imagine the reaction I got when I returned to the kitchen. It was years before the rest of that group stopped teasing me with the phrase, “Oh, it’s BONNIE with the BEAUTIFUL skin!”
Yes, I was one of those skinny models 15 years ago. In fact, I was the first model to grace the stage, wearing a brown wool plaid suit with a fur muff and sporting an ostrich plume hat. To this day, I covet that hat. I was in seven of the 15 fashion scenes, wearing white linen, gold lama, red satin, a sailor’s suit, and a World War II lace outfit in which I got a surprise kiss from my ex-husband. I was also seen in a skin-tight black and pink jogging outfit, which I can’t believe someone talked me into wearing. Looking at myself on the DVD made me realize how fast time goes by and how much can change in a person’s life and just how precious and wonderful life is.