For the Stereo Realist Slide Collector

Original Stereo Realist slide

This came with a group of slides from a vintage (1950s) air show.

I do not know the exact date, location or other details.

This vintage 1950 Stereo Realist slide captures a unique moment in mid-century American history.

The Airplane and Airline

The aircraft shown is a Douglas DC-3, the definitive commercial airliner of its era. It is emblazoned with the livery of Mid-Continent Airlines, a prominent trunk carrier that operated scheduled routes throughout the central United States. Originally starting as a small Iowa-based flight school in 1928, Mid-Continent grew extensively through the 1940s until it eventually merged into Braniff International Airways in 1952.

The Figures and Context

The Cattle Queen: Standing prominently on the passenger boarding stairs is a young woman wearing a sash that reads "MISS CATTLE QUEEN" (or a similar regional title). She is elegantly styled in a green tailored skirt suit, matching hat, and a vibrant pink floral corsage. Promotional events involving local pageant queens—such as agricultural, dairy, and festival winners—were a highly popular marketing tactic used by airlines during this era to celebrate regional commerce.
The Presentation: She is met at the base of the steps by a gentleman in a long overcoat who is presenting her with small boxes, likely representing a gift or local cargo shipment delivered on the flight.
The Logo: Visible on the left side of the fuselage is Mid-Continent's distinctive circular winged logo.

Note: The film chips were heat-sealed on paper mounts (the original Stereo Realist mounting system) and glass. I removed the glass. If the film chips were falling off, I remounted in Realist aluminum mount. If they were held in place, I put tape at the top to hold them. You can tell which is which from the pictures.

See my other auctions for more interesting slides!

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