bjgreen
(Image: courtesy of New York Public Library)
By Betsy J Green
The first annual dog show was held this month at the Belvedere (formerly Potter) Hotel, sponsored by the Santa Barbara Kennel Club. Dogs are said to be man’s best friend, and the press was clearly the dogs’ best friend, judging by all the articles about the show. “Everything from falsetto arias by insolent toy canines, ranging down to the deep, ominous growl of Great Danes, greeted the visitor to the two-day dog show … There are sad dogs, glad dogs, philosophical dogs, pugnacious, quarrelsome dogs, calm dogs, fretful, nervous dogs, watch dogs and hot dogs.” More than 270 dogs were entered.
In addition to the usual categories of dogs that you see at any dog show anywhere in the country, there were a couple of unusual classes at this dog show – Best Dog Owned by Motion-Picture Man and Best Dog Owned by Motion-Picture Woman. All of them (dogs and owners) were from Los Angeles.
Betsy’s Way Back When book — 1918 — is now available in local bookstores and at Amazon.com. This is the fifth book in her series of the history of Santa Barbara, one year at a time. Learn more at
