William Wright: March 2009 Archives

Yesterday afternoon marked the first time I've stepped bare foot on sand since well before the Hurricane. With Spring Break making it's official arrival on the island, we've all been fortunate to take advantage of this great weather, time with friends and for me at least, time on the beach.

When I came back from the evacuation, the appearance of the Seawall was a hard sight. So many buildings and landmarks went from being in the "now" to being "then". As I stood on the beach looking down the coast line for the Balinese Room,  I realized I'll one day tell kids and friends about how "I remember when..." We all will now.

We're all amateur historians of some form of the Island. I'm constantly amazed at how much the rest of the IBC group knows about this town and it's history. We all have varying relics of the past in books, photos, postcards, etc. It's the history of the town that so many of us so dearly hold on to, and I know we all enjoy being a part of the new history being made.

It's with that history in mind that a few months ago we decided it was time to bring something back from the Island's past and it's with GREAT excitement by all of us that we officially announce the return of the Galveston Island Beach Revue.

Dubbed the "Pageant of Pulchritude" by C.E. Barfield, the Galveston beauty contest began in the summer of 1920 and from then on marked the kick-off for tourist season each year. By 1928, the event (which had morphed into the "bathing girl revue") had become so popular, the Island's population was said to have tripled during the event weekend. These Island pageants are said to have been the beginning of what we know today as the Miss America Contest.

On Saturday, May 16th at 2 pm we'll be on the beach, in front of the Seawall enjoying the summer with friends just like they did some 65+ years before. There are multiple categories (registrations are open for those ready to enter!) and complete details can be found at galvestonbeachrevue.com.

We'd love for you to be there with us and enjoy being a part of bringing back a fun, family friendly Galveston Island tradition. Adding to the list of things we can all enjoy telling friends in years to come. "I remember when that started again..."
 

Photo courtesy of Neil "Fuzzy Lens" Golemo.

At 1:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 13th, a group of people were dancing with wild abandon to Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" in a small circle next to the jukebox in the back of O'Mally's Stage Door Pub. Turns were taken by all showcasing a variety of dance moves, signature steps and Presley appropriate gyrations.

The majority of these people dancing were UTMB medical students. Future doctors, psychologists, pediatricians and so on and so forth. Dancing. At 1:45 a.m. On a school night.

For those not keeping score, last night was the St. Vincent's Clinic Benefit Show at the Grand 1894 Opera House. For 3 hours various students of UTMB sang, danced, cross dressed (you should have seen those guys dance though), humored and entertained a packed house. They, quite simply, couldn't have done a better job.

In my brief few years of being an islander, I've been fortunate to develop friendships with some of these medical students. They are creative, funny, compassionate and quirky. Come next Thursday a lot of these friends will find out where they leave to do their residency, marking an end to this chapter of their lives in Galveston and starting a new one on their road to giving me free medical advice and hopefully fun vacation destinations to visit them.

Time is short here in Galveston for those leaving and I've seen them begin to get a little whimsical on the days they have left here. More trips to Star Drug store are in order. Sonny's is open, we have to play shuffleboard there soon. The weather is turning nice, better take a weekend walk around town and see what's happening out there. Hell, Kristy even got herself a facebook account just to stay in touch more effectively.

The Galveston Spirit gets talked about a lot and without getting too sappy on the subject, I can't see that spirit being what it is without these UTMB students. They embrace the island, contribute to it's diversity and advocate for it's rebuilding. More selfishly, I can't imagine what my life and the lives of my non-UTMB cohorts on the island would be like without these great people. I know I'm not alone in that sentiment.

Last night marked a first for myself and I have these great friends to thank. I got the opportunity to play guitar with 14 of my favorite future medical professionals at the Grand 1894 Opera House. I can now say I've shared a stage with Lyle Lovett, Asleep at the Wheel and Robert Earl Keen.

I just can't say it was on the same night.

What I do get to say is more important though. I get to say that I shared the stage with my friends John Ray, Kaddilac Katie Kucera, Neisha, Kristy, KatieMac, Noelle, Joe, Kevin, Clark, Chris & Angela (no relation but what a last name) Wright, Travis, Alyssa and Margaret. I got to sit on the stage of the official opera house of Texas and play music with friends.

For those that came out to support, by all accounts it was a smashing success. For those that I heckled into coming out to watch Galveston's own "Don't Quit Your Day Job" band. Thank you. For those that didn't know I played a guitar, I'm glad you couldn't hear me. I'd hate to have proved you all right.

UPDATE: Check out IBC photog Adrienne Culpepper's photos from front row of the evenings festivities here.