Page last updated Dec 28, 2007
THE PEACH AND MELON FESTIVAL
DE LEON HANDBOOK
Festival
Ca. 1922 Free Fall Fair
1947
1938 or 1939 float
Ca. 1955 Martha Morgan Barnes in center
1941 Parade
1938
Early 50s
1937
Ca. 1958
Josie Beth Allen entertains at the 1940 festival
One of the best entries ever in the Peach and Melon Parade was this stilt walker presented by Bibby’s Variety Store in either 1938 or 1939. Hired out of Dallas, the walker was a short muscular man who ran the bingo stand at the Texas State Fair. He had been an acrobat and was paid $25 plus travel expenses.
Bibby’s bought the overalls from Oshkosh for about $20 in a special deal.
The walker’s biggest problem was always dogs that would grab the pants. He could only hope he could land gently.
De Leon’s band makes the turn onto West Reynosa heading toward the compress during the parade at the 1939 Festival.