Coronation Crowd Reacts To Pageantry
By JACQUE HILBURN
Feature Writer
Reaction to Thursday's coronation of Texas Rose Festival Queen Grace Hartley Ramey was a mixture of delight, amazement and pride.
Audience members in the afternoon session, held at the R. Don Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Tyler, were the first members of the public to view the jeweled pageantry.
"Their outfits are very unique, brilliant, dazzling," said Tricia Sweeney of Ben Wheeler, emerging from the matinee. "They truly make you feel like you're on a musical Hollywood set in the old days."
Eloise Riffe, also of Ben Wheeler, said, "I've never been before, and this was the prettiest thing I've ever seen."
Other newcomers offered similar reactions.
Barbara Tynes of Tyler took her granddaughter, Lauren Bright, 7, to the production.
"This was the first year we've come," said Mrs. Tynes. "She loved it and I thought it was terrific. The costumes are so gorgeous, they belong in a museum."
The girl was apparently so entranced by the show, she took notes - jotting the names of every court member in a small notebook.
"My favorite was the flower one," she said, tucking the handwritten memento into her purse. "I liked the orange one."
Family friend Sheila Rust, also of Tyler, accompanied the pair.
"I loved it," said Mrs. Rust. "I was very impressed with the whole production. I didn't expect it to be so elaborate. It was really fun to watch her (Lauren) reaction ... she was glued to it."
London Hibbs, 6, and mom Tisa Hibbs, attended the event wearing matching ruby-red outfits.
"I like the part when they all went out and bowed," London said, expressing hope that she will one day appear in the procession. "I liked the ladybug the best."
Mrs. Hibbs said, "We came to see her friends who were in it."
Another mother-daughter duo, both of whom have helped out with earlier festivals, use the matinee as an opportunity to spend time together.
"I thought it was absolutely beautiful," said Tyler's Debbie Townsend. "I loved the last duchess."
Lauren Townsend, a former lady-in-waiting for the festival, agreed.
"It was amazing to watch," she said. "This is something we enjoy doing together."
Feature Writer
Reaction to Thursday's coronation of Texas Rose Festival Queen Grace Hartley Ramey was a mixture of delight, amazement and pride.
Audience members in the afternoon session, held at the R. Don Cowan Fine & Performing Arts Center on the campus of The University of Texas at Tyler, were the first members of the public to view the jeweled pageantry.
"Their outfits are very unique, brilliant, dazzling," said Tricia Sweeney of Ben Wheeler, emerging from the matinee. "They truly make you feel like you're on a musical Hollywood set in the old days."
Eloise Riffe, also of Ben Wheeler, said, "I've never been before, and this was the prettiest thing I've ever seen."
Other newcomers offered similar reactions.
Barbara Tynes of Tyler took her granddaughter, Lauren Bright, 7, to the production.
"This was the first year we've come," said Mrs. Tynes. "She loved it and I thought it was terrific. The costumes are so gorgeous, they belong in a museum."
The girl was apparently so entranced by the show, she took notes - jotting the names of every court member in a small notebook.
"My favorite was the flower one," she said, tucking the handwritten memento into her purse. "I liked the orange one."
Family friend Sheila Rust, also of Tyler, accompanied the pair.
"I loved it," said Mrs. Rust. "I was very impressed with the whole production. I didn't expect it to be so elaborate. It was really fun to watch her (Lauren) reaction ... she was glued to it."
London Hibbs, 6, and mom Tisa Hibbs, attended the event wearing matching ruby-red outfits.
"I like the part when they all went out and bowed," London said, expressing hope that she will one day appear in the procession. "I liked the ladybug the best."
Mrs. Hibbs said, "We came to see her friends who were in it."
Another mother-daughter duo, both of whom have helped out with earlier festivals, use the matinee as an opportunity to spend time together.
"I thought it was absolutely beautiful," said Tyler's Debbie Townsend. "I loved the last duchess."
Lauren Townsend, a former lady-in-waiting for the festival, agreed.
"It was amazing to watch," she said. "This is something we enjoy doing together."
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