Bygone Days — A new San Benito Public Library exhibit showcases a bygone era—the Roaring Twenties—as it was experienced in the region. (Archival photo/Rene Torres Collection)
By TRINA “INDI” JOHNSON
Special to the NEWS
A vibrant exhibit at the San Benito Public Library transports visitors back to the Roaring 20s, an era of jazz, daring fashion, and exuberant self-expression.
Filled with vintage hats, a poignant wedding photograph, and other treasures, this compact yet evocative display celebrates a transformative decade.
Curated by local collector Rene Torres, known for his extensive baseball memorabilia, this collection of 1920s artifacts—expected to be on display for one to two months—invites the community to explore a vivid slice of history.
The exhibit’s centerpiece is a stunning collection of hats inspired by the era’s iconic style. “The typical hats from the 1920s and 30s… the fashion started to change with the jazz era, especially in the Roaring 20s,” Torres said, noting how a family photograph of women in period headwear sparked his passion. “I love the colors, I love the designs, and that’s what you see in this small display.”
Women flaunted elaborate hats at social events, especially during “ladies’ day” at ballparks. “Women really didn’t know that much about baseball, but they knew a lot about hats,” Torres explained. “They compared their best Sunday hats at the ballpark.”
The display extends beyond headwear, featuring a magazine with “different chapters relating to sports, music, fashion, and other things that changed during the 1920s,” Torres said, which inspired him to start collecting.
A poignant photograph of his mother-in-law on her wedding day showcases the period’s elegant bridal designs, joined by delicate gloves and other relics, each a testament to the decade’s evolving aesthetic. “It just fascinates me as far as the design, the colors,” Torres added, captivated by the era’s flair.
Torres, whose regional baseball memorabilia collection remains his hallmark, sourced these hats thriftily.
“I got the majority of this from thrift stores. I didn’t pay more than five bucks for any of them,” Torres said.
“They’re beautiful… if you go to an antique store, you’ll pay $25, $30 for them, but at thrift stores, you can buy them for four, five bucks.”
His love for vintage, though rooted in baseball, spills into this collection. “It’s a secondary collection for me, because baseball is my first love, but I also love collecting just vintage memorabilia,” he noted.
The exhibit reflects the vibrancy of the Rio Grande Valley in the 1920s. “Every major city in the Valley– Weslaco, McAllen, Harlingen, and even San Benito… had the big-time dances… dancing to the Charleston, dancing to the music of the era,” Torres said.
Marathon dance contests, especially during the Depression, drew crowds. “They had many participants… this was a way of making a little money or getting a free meal,” he explained, highlighting the era’s blend of hardship and revelry. “They were freer… they enjoyed the dancing and the fashion of the era.”
The San Benito Public Library, though modest, provides a warm stage for this nostalgic showcase, Torres said.
“It’s a small little library, but they are good people there,” Torres said. “It’s a small display case, but I think it shows well.”
For those drawn to history or fashion, this display is a gem, proving Torres’ curatorial talent stretches far beyond the baseball diamond. “It’s unpredictable. It might stay there for a month or maybe two, but… visiting the library will pleasantly surprise you with a small collection,” he added. The San Benito Public Library’s Roaring 20s collection offers a charming glimpse into an era that continues to captivate.
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