NCDBS  Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters is a group of people who love and own vintage Dodge Brothers and Graham Brothers vehicles. Our group is located in Northern California. We promote Dodge Brothers vehicles and Grahman Brothers trucks in our everday life. The Great Gatsdby Festival at the Tallac Historical Site in South Lake Tahoe is an event that the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters have been attending for the past few years. This event is sponsored by the Tahoe Heritage Foundation and re-creates the ambiance of the "roaring" 20's. The Tallac Historical Site, host to the Pope, Baldwin and Valhalla Estates, is a prime example of the lifestyle these infamous families shared. The Great Gatsby Festival held annually by the Tallac Historical Society, pays homage to a different time in American history with a living replication of the life and times of those who were lucky enough to reside at Lake Tahoe during it's time. The NCDBS Region provides a prime example of the automobiles of the era. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's book "The Great Gatsby" Nick Carraway comments that he headed East "in an old Dodge" - the specific mention of a car for transport in the book. THE VENUE: One of the reasons that attract the NCDBS to continually support this affair is the venue itself. The Tallac Historical site is located directly on the shore of Lake Tahoe. It is only a stones throw from Camp Richardson along the Emerald Bay Road. The NCDBS is welcomed by the many Forestry volunteers who make us feel right at home since we are part of the celebration. There are over 50 staff and friends of the Historic Tallac Site dressed for the 1920's and mingle with the patrons who enjoy a free admission and parking. The site is beautiful to see with its tall pine trees, shrubbery and the houses and grounds are in great condition. Here is a view of Lake Tahoe as seen from the area where the NCDBS park their cars for the show and shine. The cars are parked on the lawn of the Pope Mansion which sits about 75 yard from the Lake itself. The homes were built almost 100 years ago and have been restored to their former glory. A view of the lawn area of the Pope Mansion where the NCDBS park their vehicles for the event. The digipix above show the Pope Estate in all its glory and the out building of the Nannys Quarters, Gardeners Quarters and the Butlers Quarters with attached Servants Bathroom. The estate is in exquisite condition and with the surrounding tall pine trees (as noted in the picture of the Pope Estate) it is really a Valhalla to visit. All NCDBS members should try to attend the event with or without a car to see what the ambiance is and personally learn why a core group continues to return to participate year after year. EVENT ACTIVITIES: During the Festival, there was a Silent Auction for items created by "Friends of Tallac" as well as items made on site by local crafts-people. Items from businesses in South Lake Tahoe, Carson City and Reno were available to bid on. The was a Laurel and Hardy movie with popcorn provided as another attraction. For the kids, there was a tug of war, potato sack race, toss games and cotton candy. A Speakeasy was also available for Root Beer, Wine and Beer. A live Jazz band was playing outside of the Speak Easy. In addition, the South Lake Tahoe Kiwanis Club provided a BBQ of hot dogs, hamburgers, tri-tip sandwiches and drinks at a nominal cost. If you need a little dessert then the hand dipped ice cream vendor provided a delicious choice! The Jelly Jam Jazz Band from Lodi provided live Jazz and Ragtime music throughout the day. NCDBS PARTICIPANTS: For the NCDBS members who did attend, the Festival began well in advance of the specified date. We are well versed in how to "dress Gatsby" and all of the NCDBS participants are well stocked in Gatsby era costumes and memorabilia. We all motor up (trailering our DB's) from different parts of Northern California to attend. Since this is a two day affair over the weekend, we usually arrive prior to the weekend activities and enjoy time to relax in the pine trees and the Lake itself. This year was "Screenside-centric" with the Marinovich 1923 DB Screenside, the Gong 1925 DB Screenside, the Reid's 1927 Graham Brothers Screenside joining with the Gehrke 1927 DB Roadster. Each vehicle had a display associated with it. Donn Marinovich and Sherrin Grout had their 1923 Dodge Brothers Screenside decked out as a green grocers truck. Antique cans of dry goods, a scale for measuring material, antique boxes used for shipping and even a gram-a-phone playing 78 rpm records was provided. As for Bruce and Gloria Reid, their 1927 Graham Brothers truck was outfitted as a vegetable and fruit truck with obligatory scales attached. This 1927 Graham Brothers Screenside was in original condition and has not been restored. They intend to keep the truck in its original condition. Amil and Sharon Gehrke had a display of the complete restoration of the car from the ground up. This beautiful car has won numerous prizes for its appearance and attracted a large crowd of patrons. The Roger and Lynne Gong (with daughter Leah) 1925 Screenside was represented as a laundry truck with side curtains to announce the fact. In addition the display included a National 801 brass wash board, a 1912 Singer sewing machine for alterations, an antique (patented 1892) clothes wringer, a Rid Jid Ironing board, a Summer Girl Sad Iron heater and numerous Sad Irons from steel handled to the Mrs. Pott's removable wooden handled type. All in all, each vehicle was well represented by articles which were era appropriate! The Marinovich/Grout 1923 Dodge Brothers Dry Goods Screenside in all its splendor. The Reid's 1927 original Graham Brothers Vegetable Truck Screenside without restoration in all its beauty. The Gehrke's 1927 Dodge Brothers Roadster. The Gong's 1925 Dodge Brother's Laundry truck Screenside with side curtain advertisement. Upon arrival at the Tallac Historical Site we were greeted by a number of U,S. Dept. of Forestry volunteers who had coffee and donuts available for members of the NCDBS contingent. The cars were driven from a holding area to the lawn of the Pope Estate and parked for the show and shine. Once in place, the NCDBS members began unload the cars and set up our displays. Once the displays were out and a cup of coffee consumed, it was time for the public. As if by magic, patrons began to stream through the area asking questions, noting the differences between DB years and DB versus Graham Brothers, partaking of the Jazz Band, touring the Pope Mansion and just enjoying the atmosphere. Across the lawn were vendors for old books, maps, era magazines and toys. We were fortunate enough to have Darcy Park directly across from the 1925 DB Screenside. Darcy is the artist who has painted the Tallac Great Gatsby Festival poster for the past few years. This years theme was the Concourse de'Elegance for wooden boats and surely will become a collectors item in years to come. So the area between the DB vehicles and vendors become the "mid-way" attraction leading to the Pope Mansion. All guests (many multi-generational families) were funneled through this area, making the show and shine an interactive place to be. With every one of the NCDBS members in period appropriate costume - we provided the event with the ambiance of the 1920's to 1930's that the event was trying to emulate. A great time was had by all - the NCDBS, the U.S. Forestry Department and the general public. Gloria and Bruce Reid with their 1927 Graham Brothers Vegetable truck. Sherrin Grout and Donn Marinovich with their 1923 Dodge Brothers Screenside Delivery truck Amil and Sharon Gehrke with their 1927 Dodge Brothers Roadster. Leah, Lynne and Roger Gong with their 1925 Dodge Brothers Laundry truck. THE TALLAC TEA AND FASHION SHOW: On Sunday afternoon, there is a high Tea on the grounds of Vahalla. Here, 300 hundred people gather to take an afternoon Tea and observe the traditional era Fashion Show. The Tea place settings were provided by Sherrin Grout. Sherrin has sufficient place settings -Tea, Creamer and sugar silverware, China tea cups and saucers, spoons, forks and linen - provided for two full tables of guests. At Table 9 - the NCDBS members were seated with Donn Marinovich as the host. At each place setting, each attendee found a exquisite Pin of Middle Eastern motif for our own to keep. These gifts were from the Marinovich's who procured them during a recent trip to the Middle East. At Table 8 - there were guests from the Art Deco Society of California with Sherrin Grout as the hostess. First the Tea was served along with instructions of how to hold the tea cup and the origination of the afternoon Tea itself. The tea was soon followed by Champagne and finger food sandwiches, fruit and finally a dessert tray for all to sample. A great time was had by all. Once the Tea was winding down and a magnum of champagne was consumed Deborah Rush stepped to the microphone to begin the Fashion Show. This years theme was Dance-Influencing Dress. All models were over 18 and volunteers. The history ranged form the late 1800's and early 1900's where the Waltz was the rage, then moving over for the faster moving ragtime of the 1920's, followed by dresses of the Swing era of the late 1930's through 1940's, followed by the rock and roll era of the 1950's and 1960's finally culminating in the Latin influenced dance of the 1970's. Deborah Rush who is responsible for the Fashion Show. Laura Grout in a gown of the early 1900's when the hand-holding and body contact Waltz was the rage. At the early part of 1900's the dance became less body contact when the music changed towards a more syncopated beat took over from the Waltz. In the 1920's the dresses became much shorter to provide the ability of more leg movement as the Roaring 20's became known as the Charleston era. There was almost no touching between partners as this dance craze took over. During the WWII era came about the dance movement became the sound of the Big Bands and swing was introduced. Couples were once again united in movement and contact and the dresses once more became longer. With the 1950's rock and roll took over and the dress became more flared for easier movement with the Poodle Skirt. Obviously the couples were touching less and less as this movement evolved. As the music reached into the 1970's we are once more into elegance with long dresses as the Latin Beat became the rage in the large cities. Once again, couples were touching and moving simultaneously with the music. THE END GAME: The Tea and Fashion Show ended approximately 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. At that time the members of the NCDBS Region headed back to our cars to pack up and say a few farewells to the volunteers and the rest of the NCDBS entourage before heading out. The area into the Tallac Historical Site is regulated for employees only and there is a security lock on the entrance which is not manned at all hours of the day. Therefore, all NCDBS vehicles had to vacate the property by the end of the day. Two of the four members immediately left for home while two remained and stayed over night to depart for home on Monday morning. So we bid farewell to the Great Gatsby Festival at the Tallac Historical Site until the second weekend of August next year. Here are a few more digipix of the NCDBS participants at the Great Gatsby Festival 2011. Note their "Gatsby" attire for the Tea and while interacting with patrons throughout the Festival. Donn Marinovich Host of Table #9 at the Tea. Bruce and Gloria Reid (first time participants) imbibing at the Tea. Sharon and Amil Gehrke at the Tea. Sharon expressing how the Fashion Show left her breathless! Leah Gong at the Tea. Sherrin Grout hostess at the Tea with ADSC members at her table. PARTING WAYS: We encourage other members of the Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters to mark this on their calendars and come join with us in the future. You do not necessarily need to bring your DB car. You can come and sit with us and partake of the camaraderie extended by those of NCDBS who are present. You need to see, touch and feel the magic created by the Gatsby Festival - even if it is for one afternoon as a day trip. There is nothing like sitting under 100 foot plus pine trees on the shore of Lake Tahoe in perfect weather conditions to make one feel relaxed and in a Dodge Brothers mood. Come join us if you can - it will definitely be worth the effort ! ! ! !

Northern California Dodge Brothers and Sisters is a group of vintage auto owners who love their Grahman Brothers trucks and Dodge Brothers cars.…