(This article is the sixth in a series about the history of the Ocean Beach Woman’s Club.) What a pleasure it’s been sharing the rich history of the OBWC with the community it has served for over 93 years. We have reached 50 percent of our floor campaign goal and are excited to offer another opportunity to help us to the finish line – this time with music. The Holding Company and Steve Yeng recently announced a fundraiser to benefit the OBWC featuring Big Mountain on Thursday, Aug. 17. Tickets are $30 and include one hour of open bar before the show with 100 percent of ticket sales going directly to support the OBWC floor campaign. There will be raffles and excellent prizes as well as great music. Look for more details in the coming weeks. Regular tickets are $25 and tickets for the fundraiser are limited. This is a great way to support the OBWC, have a drink and enjoy peace, love and reggae.
Of course, if you simply prefer to make a donation, you’ll find our GoFundMe link at www.oceanbeachwomansclub.com And now, some history
Throughout this series you’ve read how the OBWC provided food, coffee, rest and relaxation for the servicemen patrolling the oceanfront during WWII, planted more than 93 trees in our community, helped solicit the funds for the Ocean Beach Library, and ensured the space from Voltaire to Newport on the oceanside of Abbott was made into park land. This is just a fraction of the philanthropy provided to our town over all these 93 years. But paging through the archive it’s clear that it wasn’t all work and no play. In fact, fun was, and still is, a large part of what we do!
In 1952 the OBWC had their own float at the Daz-O-Fun weekend carnival. Sadly, there isn’t a photo of the finished product, but based on the motif, we’re hoping there were grass skirts to go along with the Hawaiian theme. Daz-O-Fun was “sponsored by the Ocean Beach businessmen as a benefit for community welfare projects.” An old newspaper clipping (source unknown) wrote: “Daz-O-Fun was on today in Ocean Beach … with a parade estimated to have drawn the biggest crowd in its history. It was Ocean Beach’s longest procession, with 35 floats, two bands, a bicycling troupe and horseback-mounted Hawaiians.”
In 1953, though, it was all about fashion!
These wonderful photos come from a fundraising fashion show titled “Sailing Togs” at the Kona Kai, and date back to 1953. “Fun and Sun … special emphasis will be centered on what the well-dressed matron will wear at beaches and at sport … A lovely group of after-five frocks will be modeled also. Some of the models carried matching bags attached to small walking canes to stick in the sand and mark their sunning spot on the beach.” Today, the OBWC carries on the tradition of fun and philanthropy – giving back to the community while having fun and joining together as women. Just a side note, it is interesting that throughout most of the archive, women are referred to as “Mrs. John Smith.” And not sure if you noticed in the quote above on Daz-O-Fun, it was the Ocean Beach Business “men.” Thankfully times have changed and we go by our first names and women owned businesses thrive in Ocean Beach! The spirit of charity is central to the OBWC and we encourage and invite you to come join us! Have fun, give back, be part of our sisterhood and our community! We want you!