The venerable Mystic Club traveled to glamorous 1920s Beverly Hills to the notable Pickfair estate of Hollywood royalty Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks for a "Hollywood Party" as the raison d'être for the Carnival celebration 2020.
"In the growing world of Hollywood superstars in the Roaring '20s, Pickfair was ground zero for the most extravagant Hollywood gatherings," noted the preamble to the celebration. "Everybody who was anybody — actors, socialites and business and political leaders were welcome guests of Hollywood's royal couple."
"Born Gladys Louise Smith in Canada, Mary Pickford was Hollywood's greatest early star. Called 'America's Sweetheart' for her ingenue roles, she was also dubbed 'queen of the movies.' Douglas Fairbanks, born Douglas Ullman, was a reigning heartthrob and swashbuckler in Hollywood's silent era and was nicknamed 'king of Hollywood.'"
Belle of the ball for Mystic as Queen Mary Pickford was Mrs. John Forney Rowan Jr., the former Virginia Freeman.
Serving as ladies-in-waiting to her majesty were Mesdames John Patrick Baxter as Laura La Plante; William Carrere Dodenhoff as Marguerite Clark; Benjamin Arnold Dupuy as Blanche Sweet; Richard Parke Ellis as Gloria Swanson; William Cabell Nelson as Bessie Love; and Andrew Gordon Todd as Billie Dove.
Young ladies presented to their majesties include Misses Erin Seiber Autenreith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Autenreith; Lydia Vivian Calhoun, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Andrew Calhoun; Lucille Cliste Currence, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Morrison Currence Jr.; Charlotte Sprunt Freeman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lawrence Freeman; Rebecca Emerson French, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Fenner French; Charlotte Hollingsworth Friend, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Charles Friend Jr.; Ellen Lorraine Gambel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Joseph Gambel; Lindsey LeJeune Gibert, daughter and stepdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Howard Gibert Jr. and stepdaughter and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Peter Laborde Jr.; Sarah Eleanor Lane, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Merritt Lane III; and Peyton Armistead LeCorgne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Phillips LeCorgne.
Also presented at the gala was the Mystic queen of 1970, Mrs. George Ransdell Montgomery.
The reigning monarch is a native of New Orleans and attended Isidore Newman School, and graduated from Vanderbilt University and the American College of Applied Arts in interior design. She is the mother of three children, daughter Avery and sons Jack and Liam.
After working for Bremermann Designs, Rowan was the owner of ArtSmart gallery. She founded Pelican Coast Neckwear, a family-run company that designs and sells ties, with the proceeds going to America's Wetland Foundation.
She has served on the board of directors of a plethora of organizations, including the Ella West Freeman Foundation, the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, Audubon Institute, the Contemporary Arts Center, the Women's Exchange, Hermann-Grima Gallier Historic Houses, Newman Parent Association, Trinity Episcopal School's Board of Trustees, the Louisiana Children's Museum, and the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in the State of Louisiana. She is a current or former chairwoman of many causes, including PAR's annual conference, Zoo-To-Do, N'Spiration, the inaugural "Chairish" the Children, Amazing Grapes Wine Auction, Catholic Charities' Archbishop's Community Appeal and the Vanderbilt Ten-Year Reunion Giving Challenge.
Following the gala presentation of the court and debutantes of the season, the members and guests enjoyed a gala dinner.