n2021-4_b020_f04_x01_01

MEMORANDUM

SUBJECT: HISTORICAL FESTIVAL FOR TALLAHASSEE

This is a proposal to outline, prepare and conduct an annual festival in and for the City of Tallahassee. The festival would serve a tripal purpose; it would first, gain much publicity and draw a great deal of tourist trade into the city during the week long event; secondly, it would add a great deal of prestige to the North Florida Fair which is already recognized as one of the finest in the entire Southeast and second finest in Florida; and third, it would provide a social season for the residents of Tallahassee matched only by such affairs as Madri Gras and Gasparilla.

The needis apparent. The theme for the Festival is equally as apparent. After a great deal of research and talks with authorities it is evident that Tallahassee should draw upon its history for the theme, and the rich pagentry of the early Southern life affords an excellent vehicle. It should be pointed out immediately that this could be staged in a fashion not in the least distasteful to Northern visitors yet tied in with the historical lore of the area. Actually, the only reference to the Civil War would be in the battle to simulate the Battle of Natural Bridge.

We have covered two points; first that there is a need for such an event; and that there is a natural answer to the need. There remains two important factors to coveer. 1- The mechanics for establishing the festival and making it a perpetual affair to grow through the years. 2- The event and what should be done.

I- MECHANICS

We propose that there should be several steps in the establishment of the festival. The first step would be a temporary structure to handle the affairs during the first year. This should be a Board of Directors comprised of the President and Secretary of the North Florida Fair Association, the President and Manager of the Chamber of Commerce, two representatives from Florida State University, two representatives of State Government and five outstanding business leaders of Tallahassee.

This organization would then incorporate the pageant association and direct the affairs during the first year.

It is our suggestion than an adjunct (or administrator) should be hired to coordinate the affairs under the direction of the board. Here, it is the belief that our firm should be hired in this capacity because of manpower availability, the necessary experience and the know how of doing a job for the organization that could not be matched by any single individual; and we are in a position to do the job more economically than under any other arrangement.

The first task would be to form the satellite organizations that would be necessary to perpetuate the festival. We here offer this program. The first organization should be the (suggested) Gallant Order of the Colonels. This would be a highly social organization and it should be limited to no more than 100 members, (a suggested charter to be presented as the first step in the work). It would remain exclusive, members to be replaced only because of death or resignation. This would have to be a dues paying organization (suggested $200 annual). They would provide

the mystery man to rule over the festival as Gen. Robert E. Lee (suggested) and they would choose a First Lady to rule with their member over the festival. This group would also appoint three men to the permanent Board of Directors. Their sole reason for existence is the festival and it would be their responsibility to handle one of the itemps on the schedule of the Festival and also to contribute a portion of money to the overall directors.

This organization would be established by having the original directors issue invitations to membership. After formation they would then handle their own affairs and selection of members.

This same procedure would be used to form the second organization to be called The Brigade of Officers of The Army of Florida (suggested) and it would be much the same as the first organization, except it would be less exclusive. They should have as many as 250 members and dues should be lower, say only $100 per year. They, too, would contribute to the overall committee financially and would have certain defined functions during the festival. They would supply three directors to the overall committee.

The third organization would have unlimited membership and would be called the Amalgamated Union of Minute Men of Natural Bridge. The same procedure would be followed in that this group would supply directors to the overall committee and would be required to contribute finacially to the organization. They would have specific duties and privileges during the festival.

The fourth and final organization, cewated specifically for the Festival would be The Society of Southern Belles. It should be restricted, and dues for it and the Minute Men should be lower than the orher two. All would have closed affairs during the Festival and would contribute to parades. Each organization would have a special affair to stage. There would be two other considerations. The Fair Association would contribute financially each year and three of its officers would serve as difectors, The final portion of the boardwould be the President and manager of the Chamber of Commerce, as representatives of the City and County in return for funds contributed bu these two government agencies. II - THE EVENT We have outlined the necesssary organization to perpetuate the Festival and we now suggest the event and parts. NAME - We would suggest that thename be Deep South Days or Ante Bellum Days or something to depict this phase of Tallahassee's history, a part that will always be of interest to the entire country. Stress should be placed on the way of life and not necessarily on the Civil War. It goes without saying that each event should remain in good taste, throughout the years. -4-

TIME - The Festival should be held in connection with the Fair, each complementing the other. It would also come at a time when we could count on catching a great many tourists on their way South. It will, we believe, retain them in Tallahasee for extra days. The Festival should begin just ahead of the Fair, with a few social events and then opening into public events on Monday before the fair opens on Tuesday. The events would then intertwine throughout the week. The Festical should have a good night parade, a huge daytime parade and a children's parade. There should be a Coronation Ball (Closed) for the General and his Queen. There should be a street dance. There should be sporting events as regular sidelines. BUT .... THERE SHOULD BE THREE EVENTS DIFFERENT THAN HELD ANY OTHER PLACE ..... 1 - A huge invasion and successful defense of the cañitol to portray the fact that Tallahassee was the only capital not captured during the Civil War.... 2 - There should be a pocket boar on a lake (as close in as possible) .... 3 - There should be an annual pageant staged in Doak Campbell Stadium. This could not be done the first year....however, a contest should be held for writing the pageant and this shojld be announced each year during the Festival. -5-