Pageant 2000

Click any photo here to see a larger version. Then click your browser's Back button to return to this page.

The Miss and Mr. Tall Boston 2000 Pageant was held in conjunction with the Boston Beanstalks' seventeenth anniversary dance on January 15, 2000 at the Veronique Ballroom in the Longwood Towers in Brookline, Massachusetts. There were 100 in attendance for dinner and 150 for the pageant and dance. Eleven different tall clubs were represented. Those traveling the longest distances to the pageant were Susanna Lehmann (San Francisco), Carolyn Hagendorf (Houston) and Joe Shook (Austin).

The evening started with a lovely cocktail hour followed by dinner.

After dinner the room was reset auditorium style and we anxiously awaited the start of the competition.

The judges, Ellen Freedman, Dan Bricklin, and Judy Jetson took their places.

Miss and Mr. Tall Boston 1999, Linda Kamphausen and Tom Stadelmann introduced our Master of Ceremonies.

Emcee George McQuilken introduced the contestants.

Contestant zero was Jennifer Marozas. Our club has a large number of high-tech workers, so we have no problem numbering from zero. Jennifer demonstrated how she welcomes new members to the tall club.

Lee-Ann Larson was our second contestant. She felt like a giraffe as she was growing up.

Now that she is a Beanstalk she is no longer a giraffe but a swan.

Iris Berdrow told us about the Boston Bad Biddies Last Resort (a retirement home).

Stefan Shcherby led off the lineup of men with a standup routine of tall jokes.

Dave Taggert told us about his grandmother and mother.

Bernie Krumins sang as one of the Blues Brothers.

As the contestants changed for the formal wear segment, King Tom and Queen Linda sang "The Beanstalk Pageant" to the tune of "Copacabana."

King Tom:	Her name was Linda She was a tall girl With silver sparkles in her hair And her legs came up to there. She would dance disco With all the Beanstalks And when they asked her to be queen She said she thought that would be keen So she sits on her throne Buy she can't reign alone. She has her jewels and everything But she needs - a king!
Chorus: (sung by both)	At the Pageant, the Beanstalk Pageant, The tallest show you can imagine It's the Pageant, the Beanstalks Pa-geant, Beautiful tall folks, and gowns, telling tall jokes At the Pa-geant
Tom: (spoken)	She needs a king!
Queen Linda:	His name was Thomas. He was a new guy, With his brand new sense of fun He would just dance with anyone. He would merengue And do the cha-cha, And when they asked him to be king He said that would be just the thing. So with his style and grace He took his kingly place Now the Beanstalks have a pair To represent them everywhere!
Chorus: (sung by both)	At the Pageant, (etc.)
Linda: (spoken)	You are my king!
Both:	We're king and queen now, But not much longer. We must admit it has been fun, But now our year is almost done. We've found contestants. Each one is worthy.
Linda:	We've had our chance to party down.
Tom:	Now it's time to pass on that crown.
Linda:	But don't you change a thing Once a king always a king.
Tom:	And you'll always be my queen. So let's be happy "has-beans"!
Chorus: (sung by both)	At the Pageant, (etc.)
Both:	Thank you Beanstalks!

After a word from President Al Wainwright we were ready to begin the formal wear segment.

Jennifer led off.

Next was Contestant Number One, Lee-Ann. Don't forget that we're counting from zero.

Iris completed the field of queen contestants in a dress that she made herself.

Three past kings, Arthur Tunnell, Tom Stadelmann, and Perry Raffi sang their own version of "We Three Kings." As Arthur reported, they all collaborated on the way to the Tall Club of Long Island's Christmas Dance while Perry slept in the back seat.

We three Kings from Boston are.
Lacking camels - we came in a car.
We’re here to dance so give us a chance,
Don’t be shy - we’re easy.

Oh! Oh! Stars of wonder, stars of night.
We guarantee a royal delight.
Westward leading down 95
We asked directions - that’s how we arrived.

We three Kings from Boston are.
All dressed up so show us the bar.
We won’t drink much, we are here to dance.
Please be kind to us.

Oh! Oh! Stars of wonder, stars of night.
We guarantee a royal delight.
Westward leading down 95
We asked directions - that’s how we arrived.

We three Kings from Boston are.
Lost our keys, locked out of our car.
We hope we don’t have to sleep on the bar.
Please take us home when you go!

Oh! Oh! Stars of wonder, stars of night.
We guarantee a royal delight.
Westward leading down 95
We asked directions - that’s how we arrived.

Stefan led off the men's formal wear segment complete with cane. He had recently undergone knee surgery.

Next was Dave.

Bernie Krumins completed the formal wear segment.

Emcee George McQuilken introduced the past kings and queens in attendance, who came forward to flank the stage. On the left are Jan Huffman, Cindy Wicklein, Bob Learnard, Terry Gass, Arthur Tunnell, Carolyn Hagendorff, and Perry Raffi.

On the right, demonstrating the royal wave are Bernie Hall, Susannah Lehmann, Kay Helberg, and Al Wainwright.

In the final segment of the contest each of the ladies answered two questions, one serious and one not-so-serious.

Kay Helberg interrupted the segment skipping in to the tune of "The Lusty Month of May." She recited an original poem inviting everybody to the Whale of a Weekend in Provincetown May 12 - 14.

And what will you be doing in the lusty month of May?
I'm here to give you a great idea, of where you can stay.

You see, the Provincetown Inn is calling out your name
For a Whale of a Weekend, with me and my gang!

Just picture yourself, on Cape Cod in the spring -
The sights, sounds and smell will make you want to sing!

Horseback riding, whale watching, long walks on the beach,
There's something there for everyone, and it's just within your reach!

We dance and we party and we take in the sights,
And there's the infamous drag show we attend Friday night!

So join us on the Cape in May; wonderful memories are guaranteed,
Friends will be made, sights will be seen, and fun will be had, indeed!

After Kay's interruption, the contest concluded with the men's question-and-answer segment.

Pageant coordinator Robin Laing took a few moments to thank all those who had worked on the pageant.

King Tom expressed his views about having been Mr. Tall Boston for the past year.

And Queen Linda had a few words to say about being Miss Tall Boston 1999.

It was then time to call the contestants back out on the stage. First the Mr. Tall Boston candidates.

And the winner is Stefan Shcherby.

Stefan takes his official walk down the runway.

The ladies come onto the stage for one last time.

Miss Tall Boston 2000 is Iris Berdrow.

There she is, Miss Tall Boston.

King and queen together.

They take their walk together down the runway.

The chairs are cleared from the floor.

The band starts playing.

And the seventeenth anniversary dance and royal ball begins.

Judge Dan Bricklin has written up his experiences and posted it to his web site, http://danbricklin.com/log/2000_01_14.htm, where he gives his feeling of the club and of being short for once. You can access his pictures directly at http://www.bricklin.com/log/beanstalks.htm .

The following day Robert Krawitz and Manny Gani hosted a brunch at their Brookline home. To see the pictures, click the "Brunch" button at the bottom of this page.