Hollywood Tilting And Floral Parade

In 1905, seventy five Hollywood Citizens gathered to organize the Hollywood Club. At the meeting, Paul DeLongpre was elected its first president.  Established as a social organization, the Hollywood Club took up quarters on the second floor of Mrs. Daeida Beveridge’s newly completed Wilcox Building at Prospect Ave. and Cahuenga Ave.  The facility had a large dance floor with rostrum, a billiard and card room, and an office where soft drinks and cigars could be purchased.

The year after the club was organized, it built two fine tennis courts across the street, on the northeast corner of Prospect and Cahuenga Avenues.  The Hollywood Club became the center of the community’s social activity, fostered billiard and tennis tournaments, danced, card parties, smokers and theatrical plays.  In addition, it sponsored the annual Hollywood Tilting Tournament and Floral Parade, which became one of the community's most popular festivities.

April 20, 1907 was a gala day for Hollywood.  At noon, on Prospect Avenue, gay with flags and bunting, paraded flower-decked horses and motor vehicles, flanked by saddled horses with proud riders in bright colors.  It was Hollywood’s first annual Tilting and Floral Parade.  Prospect Ave. was lined with people over the entire route of the parade from Highland Ave. to Cahuenga Ave., where on the northeast corner was the scene of the contest.

The riders on their stock saddles, with fourteen foot lances, grouped their anxious horses on the boulevard across from the Hollywood Club, and as the judges gave the word, dashed over the course at a dead run, spearing the elusive rings with the unwieldy lances.  Three rides with three rings each mad a possible score of 9.  The crowd went wild, the band played loudly, and everyone had a great time.  After the tournament, the winner chose his partner to lead the grand march at the ball that evening.

On Saturday, May 1, 1909, the Hollywood Club presented the third annual Tilting Parade and Floral Parade, which thousands of people viewed from sidewalks and grandstands.  Three bands, fifty decorated floats, autos, and tallyhos passed in review, one displaying over 7,000 roses.  Leading the procession was the beautiful and elaborate float of the Hollywood Club bearing the May Queen, Helen Somers.  Following the parade the Queen was escorted to her throne on the judges stand to watch the tilting tournament.  The parade and tournament was followed by the May Day Ball with music furnished by Stamm’s String Orchestra.

The largest collection of Hollywood Floral and Tilting Parade photos are on the hollywoodphotographs.com web site.