THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 4, 1996 TAG: 9611020010
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 33 lines
Virginia Beach is holding its collective breath as Neptune Festival officials begin the arduous task of selecting King Neptune XXIV. The nominations were closed Nov. 1.
Who will the next Royal One be? Will the king be selected from the bevy of Virginia Beach car dealers - or have they all already served? Will he be another accountant, doctor, builder or restaurateur? By finally selecting a lawyer (Thomas Frantz) for the the 1996 festival, the committee tapped a new source of potential kings. In fact, with all the lawyers in town, attorneys could pass the crown from one to another until the year 2050.
One thing's certain, however; they will have had to skip over the president of the Virginia Beach Bar Association - Judith Rosenblatt. King Neptune the 24th will not be a woman.
It's hard to believe that in this progressive city by the sea, with a female mayor and scores of successful businesswomen, there has never been - and may never be - a female figurehead for the annual September festival.
``I know its chauvanistic, but we follow the (Greek) mythology and there never was a Queen Neptune,'' explained one festival organizer last week.
There never really was a King Neptune, either. We're talking fantasy here. But the reality - a King Neptune, encircled by a court of young princesses - is a dated concept smacking of the 1950s.
1997 will be the 24th anniversary of the highly successful Neptune Festival. The city should celebrate by making the new symbol of the festival a woman. by CNB