Galveston Beach Revue Gearing Up for the 2017 Bathing Beauties Contest

By: Richard Varr | Monday, April 24, 2017

With roots dating back nearly a century, this year’s Galveston Beach Revue will again showcase a host of events culminating with fashionable women contestants modeling classic vintage swimwear during the “Bathing Beauties Contest.” Presented by the Hotel Galvez & Spa, this year’s event is the island’s ninth annual revue to be held Friday through Sunday, May 19-21 at the hotel and its adjacent Beach Central, 2102 Seawall Blvd.

In fact, the whole event highlights a vintage theme including live bands performing period music. “This year’s Galveston Island Beach Revue shines its spotlight on vintage music and classic fun,” explains Will Wright, Galveston Island Beach Revue promoter. “We’ve got a fantastic lineup of music, cars and more all leading up to the Bathing Beauties Contest.”

The so-called Revue Prevue at the Hotel Galvez on Friday, May 19th takes on a speakeasy theme with live music from New York City’s Dandy Wellington and His Band, featuring sounds from the 1930s and 40s.

The following day’s events switch to the beach adjacent to the hotel and include more live music. A vintage car and trailer show will feature classic hot rods and vintage trailers from the early to mid 20th century. The Bathing Beauties Contest takes place early evening, when 40 contestants will don vintage swimwear styles accented by flowered bathing caps, necklaces, wide straw hats, sporty beach bags and colorful sunglasses, for example, to compete for cash prizes.

On Sunday, May 21st, the hotel’s weekly Sunday brunch takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., continuing the vintage theme with music by the Matt Tolentino Band from Dallas. A vintage baseball game between the Gulf Coast Sugar and Texas Playboys caps the weekend, to be played from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hooper Field, 3110 83rd Street.

The Bathing Beauties Contest stems from the 1920s and early 1930s, when Galveston was host an event once dubbed a “Pageant of Pulchritude,” a predecessor to the Miss Universe Pageant. The Great Depression and other circumstances ended the pageant in 1932. It was brought back to life in 2009 as a two-day, family-friendly weekend called the Galveston Island Beach Revue, which is now the city’s official “Kickoff to Summer” event.

The first prize winner of the Bathing Beauties Contest will be awarded $750 and a 2-night stay at the Hotel Galvez & Spa. Second and third place winners get $400 and $200 respectively, while all contestants will receive a gift certificate for a free massage. The forty contestant slots have already been filled, according to the event’s website, but those interested can still be placed on a waiting list in case confirmed contestants drop out.

For More Information, visit http://www.galvestonbeachrevue.com/

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