March of Dimes Fashion Show
Marilyn Monroe, Sandra and Linda Solomon, and Basil O'Connor, 1958.
The National Foundation incorporated an annual fashion show into its fund raising program in 1945 with an event in the Grand Ballroom of The Waldorf-Astoria in New York City produced by the Couture Group of the New York Dress Institute.
The March of Dimes Fashion Show records consist of programs, scripts, menus, brochures, and raffle books; hotel and seating arrangements with associated celebrity and guest lists; invitations and reservation cards; memoranda and correspondence; and press releases, news clippings, and photographs.
From 1945 to 1960 Elaine Whitelaw, Director of Women’s Activities organized the event for the National Foundation in association with Eleanor Lambert of the New York Dress Institute. Production associates included C. C. Philippe (Waldorf-Astoria); Jose Ferrer and Helen Hayes (Master of Ceremonies); Inez Robb and Anita Loos (scripts), Salvador Dali, Cecil Beaton, and Alexander Calder (stage sets); Lester Gaba (stage direction); Katherine Chaqueneau (Chair, Patroness Committee); and Beverly Roberts (Theatre Authority) among others.
The 1956 show was notable for its celebration of the Salk vaccine field trials and official report of its success in 1955. In 1959 the National Foundation produced the March of Dimes Fashion Show film and installed Jacqueline G. Gutwillig of the Fund Raising Department as Fashion Show Coordinator. In conjunction with the film, the production of the fashion show shifted focus from the singular celebrity event in New York City to the national distribution of “do-it-yourself” fashion shows for local chapters, sponsored by designers and retailers of women’s wear.
The 1956 show was notable for its celebration of the Salk vaccine field trials and official report of its success in 1955. In 1959 the National Foundation produced the March of Dimes Fashion Show film and installed Jacqueline G. Gutwillig of the Fund Raising Department as Fashion Show Coordinator. In conjunction with the film, the production of the fashion show shifted focus from the singular celebrity event in New York City to the national distribution of “do-it-yourself” fashion shows for local chapters, sponsored by designers and retailers of women’s wear.
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| March of Dimes Fashion Show, 1957. |
Sponsors of these events included the Dupont Corporation, Koret of California, Lanz Originals, Inc., Neiman-Marcus, and Vogue Pattern Service. Chapter fashion show records consist of memoranda, correspondence, programs, news clippings, evaluation forms, and material samples.
April 2002 / David Rose / March of Dimes Archives
April 2002 / David Rose / March of Dimes Archives
