Unlocking the Archive: Who remembers the Lancaster Jaycees Mardi Gras parade of 1969?

Thousands of people lined the streets on Oct. 29, 1969, for the Jaycees annual Mardi Gras parade.

It was believed to be the largest crowd ever for the event, which was sponsored by Lancaster Jaycees.

There were over 300 entries in the costume contest which had four categories — prettiest, ugliest, most original and funniest.

First place in the funniest category went to Mark Steele, 11, the son of Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Steele, who dressed in an upside-down clown costume. Mark's father wore the same costume 40 years earlier as a youngster in Pennsylvania.

The prettiest costume went to Terri Newell, 9, the daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Ronald Newell.

The ugliest went to Cathy Noland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Noland, a fifth-grader at Sanderson Elementary School, who wore an ugly mask.

Most original was the hardest choice of the judges but it went to Leslie Ann Cook, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cook who dressed as a box of trash.

The parade had 45 entries and was emceed by Harry Rawlins who was in his 23rd year of doing it.

Judges were Mayor William E. Burt, Mrs. Judy Ridenour of WHOK and Larry Blaney of the Eagle-Gazette.

Kings and queens of the 14 elementary schools in the Lancaster area were presented with trophies.

If you have a suggestion for what you would like to see in this weekly archive feature, let us know at tshipley@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Unlocking the Archive: Who remembers the Lancaster Jaycees Mardi Gras parade of 1969?