SPOTLIGHT ON THE YOUNG MATRONS’ CIRCLE YEARS 1937-1947

From 1937 to 1947, Tallulah Falls School grew to serve 300 students, plans for architectural expansion took shape, and The Circle’s membership climbed toward 1,000. The Young Matrons pledged to expand their fundraising efforts to meet the school’s growing needs—and proved, again and again, that dreams could become reality.

​The $500,000 Dream Doll House

The Circle soon drew the attention of Hollywood star Colleen Moore, whose celebrated career allowed her to complete an extraordinary childhood dream: an elaborate Fairy Castle valued at $500,000. The miniature house stood 14 feet tall and weighed a ton, with eleven lavishly decorated rooms and gardens.

Its wonders included electrified chandeliers adorned with real diamonds and emeralds, an organ in the chimney that actually played, working kitchens, floors of rose quartz, mother-of-pearl, and jade, ermine rugs, antique miniature furniture, and ancient Egyptian and Chinese jars.
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The Circle sponsored a ten-day public exhibition at Rich’s Department Store. At the opening reception, Moore delighted guests with stories about the fantasy before them. Georgia’s governor, senators, representatives, Atlanta’s mayor, and their wives were among those in attendance. Although the exhibit was scheduled to close at 11 p.m., visitors reportedly lingered until nearly midnight. Proceeds benefited the Tallulah Falls School Building Fund.

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A Golf Match for the Ages

The Young Matrons’ first venture into golf was the Women’s Golf Benefit Match—and the press loved it. La “Babe” Zaharias, one of the world’s greatest women golfers, agreed to play alongside three other stars: Georgia’s own Louise Suggs, Dorothy Kirby, and Patty Berg. Together, they formed a famous foursome and hosted a pregame clinic for the public.

Atlanta legend Bobby Jones signed on to referee. Comedian and movie star Joe E. Brown served as master of ceremonies for gate-prize drawings that included a diamond-and-platinum wristwatch, a $1,000 gift certificate, an automobile, and a washing machine. Baseball icon Babe Ruth joined the festivities as honorary referee.
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The press declared, “No one will miss this show!” The benefit sold 7,000 tickets, with proceeds supporting the Tallulah Falls School Library Building Fund.

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​Fashionata Takes the Stage

Fashionata—its name coined by Circle members—was part fashion show and part musical, and it soon became a fixture of Atlanta’s social calendar. Audiences traveled from across the country, while radio programs, newspapers, and leading magazines in fashion, home furnishings, and travel spread the word.

New York supplied top models, technical staff, and Broadway performers, who appeared alongside local talent. Each year brought increasingly elaborate stage entertainment and fashions for morning, daytime, evening, travel, sports, and furs, often paired with musical cabaret.

More than a glamorous production, Fashionata was philanthropy performed on a grand stage. Like the doll-house exhibition and golf benefit, it united entertainment and generosity in service to Tallulah Falls School—while helping bring national attention to Georgia and The Circle’s work.