Miss Pacific Grove, 1958

Brown haired Gail Maitre (center) gives a big smile on Sunday, July 6, 1958 after being picked the winner in a close contest for Queen of the Feast of Lanterns and Miss Pacific Grove. Miss Maitre is wearing the calypso costume that went with the ballad she sang in the talent section of the contest. (Monterey Herald archives)

This was the scene at Pacific Grove's Beach on Sunday afternoon July 6, 1958 during the judging of contestants for Queen of the upcoming Fest of Lanterns. Several thousand people who attended the Pacific Grove event were part of what may have been the biggest weekend crowd in the Peninsula history. (Monterey Herald archives)