Parish History: 2004 Centennial Edition
Blessed Sacrament Parish History Book
The Church Carnival
The timing of the church's completion met Fr. McCoy's goal of having it finished in time for the parish's 50th anniversary year celebrations for which several festivities were planned throughout 1954. The first was the Spring Carnival which seemed fitting since in one incarnation or another, carnivals and fairs had been an important part of Blessed Sacrament's history almost from the time the parish was established.
The first known fair occurred in 1915, a three-day celebration called "The Poinsettia Fete," which was organized by a committee headed by Oliver Kerlein. The local newspaper, the Hollywood Inquirer, extensively promoted the event which was sponsored by a trio of local film studios - Lasky, Triangle and Universal.
The fundraiser took place over three consecutive evenings on the Church's lawn and drew a sizeable crowd who enjoyed entertainment, attractions such as The Country Store, artwork for sale and nightly turkey dinners that cost $1.00 per plate. On the busiest night, over 550 dinners were served. There was also a raffle that featured a Kissel Kar, a popular model of the era, as the grand prize. The raffle was won by a Mr. Osborn, who turned his prize back to the parish so the priests could buy their own car. In all, the fair raised $1,800, which was used to build the permanent storm drain. A few years later Blessed Sacrament hosted a second Poinsettia Fete which was similarly successful, raising over $1,300 that went to general administrative costs.
In 1924, a church fair was held in the school yard as part of the ongoing effort to secure funding to build a new church. Then to celebrate the school being reopened in 1926, a Fall Festival was put on that raised the most money of any event to date, in part because the various ministries, including the Men's Sodality, Ladies' Sodality, Altar Society, Court Hollywood and Kino Club had good-naturedly competed with each other to earn bragging rights for whose festival booth or attraction generated the most profits.
But the precedent for the modern carnival occurred in 1953. According to the Spring Carnival Program, "On Friday, April 24...at 7 p.m., the doors will swing wide open in the auditorium of Blessed Sacrament School for a gala three-day Parish Festival of fun and amusements. During this time, Parish organizations will work in shifts manning the many booths, laden with thousands of prizes, some of them of great value. As food will be available all through the fiesta, there is no need for mothers to burden themselves with unnecessary work at home."
Groups such as the Mother Club, Holy Name Society, Ushers Society and Catholic Couples Club helped run a variety of games and attractions including: Air Gun & Clown Game, Dolls, Fish Pond, Western Movies, White Elephant Booth, Ring Game, Fish Pond for Children, Play Post Office, 'Men of the Parish' Country Store, Soda Pop and Pop Corn.
On Sunday, a local caterer, Gotham of Hollywood, served turkey dinner in the school cafeteria from the afternoon to the early evening for $1.50. Unlike the previous fairs, this carnival touted its Hollywood pedigree, with the program promising: "One of the greatest attractions of Blessed Sacrament carnival will be the array of Motion Picture Stars expected to attend the three-day fiesta...
"Previous engagements permitting, famous stars expected to be on hand will be Irene Dunne, Pat O'Brien, J. Carroll Naish, Loretta Young, Don Ameche, Jeanne Cagney, Bill Lundigan, Jerry Colonna. Jack Mulhall, Joan Leslie, Mona Freeman, Dennis Day, Pat O'Malley and others."
Later on Sunday was the raffle, which also promised its share of Hollywood glamour. "The BIG attraction of the Carnival will take place about 11 :00 p.m. Sunday evening, April 26, 1953, when beauteous Jeanne Crain (Mrs. Paul Brinkman to members of Blessed Sacrament Parish) , will draw the name of the lucky winner of the FIRST of two 1953 Super Buick Sedans to be given away. She will be followed by lovely Ann Blyth (who always exerts herself for Catholic causes), who will draw the winning name of the SECOND 1953 Super Buick Sedan to be given away."
The Carnival was such an unqualified success that it began a tradition that continues to be Blessed Sacrament's most profitable fundraiser and the community's biggest shared social event. For the parishioners in 1954 who had waited so long for the church to be completed, the carnival was a joyful expression of perseverance, patience and fulfillment.
Six months later, on October 15-17, the parish officially celebrated its Golden Jubilee with three days of festivities. On the final day, then Archbishop of Los Angeles, Fr. James McIntyre, presided over a High Mass that also featured a tribute to Blessed Sacrament by Bishop Timothy Manning. The occasion was even recognized by the Vatican via a Western Union which read:
WESTERN UNION
:LA 204 CTA
CT.CBU594 28 PD INTL=CD VATICANCITY VIA MACKAY 7 NFT
=LT FR MCCOY SJ=
:6657 SUNSETBLVD HOLLYWOOD (CALIF):=OCCASION GOLDEN JUBILEE BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH HOLLYWOOD HIS HOLINESS CORDIALLY IMPARTS CLERGY PARISHIONERS ALL ATTENDING CEREMONIES PATERNAL APOSTOLIC BLESSING=
:MONTINI PRO SECY=
Although the long struggle to build a world-class church had finally ended the parish would soon face new challenges as the face of Hollywood, and the country, was about to undergo a dramatic change.
A Guide to the Interior << current page >> A Parish Icon Leaves