Founded in 1908
DEL MONTE KENNEL CLUB HISTORY
1908
The Del Monte Kennel Club, "Classic of the Pacific," was originally founded by the Ladies Kennel Association in 1908. The American Kennel Club licensed these shows with Winners Classes offered with twenty or so breeds shown. The results of the judging were sent to AKC and published in the American Kennel Gazette. Championships were conferred on qualifying dogs by AKC. All Officers, Directors and Members of the club were women, and the shows were held at the Hotel Del Monte in Monterey, California. The Superintendent was Thomas J Blight. The first President was Mrs. W.C. Ralston of Oakland
1924
In 1924, Samuel Finley Brown Morse organized the Del Monte Kennel Club as part of his Del Monte Properties. The Kennel Club was a closed, private organization run by Mr. Morse and officers of Del Monte Properties.
The club's annual show was held on the lawn in front of the Del Monte Hotel as a hotel event. The occasion was quite prestigious, beautiful, and elegant. It began on Saturday afternoon and lasted for two days. Twenty-seven breeds were represented in the 1924 show, with over 100 dogs entered.
1926
The train tracks from San Francisco ran right by the Del Monte Hotel. Dogs to be shown at the dog show in Monterey were sent from San Francisco in a special car and were returned to San Francisco after the show was over on that special train.
Reportedly, handlers, owners, and judges at times retired to the hotel bar, and thus adherence to a schedule was questionable. Groups were sometimes not held until 11:00 pm.
1929
In the 1929 catalog were ads of prestigious hotels, fancy new cars, and liquor ads. The Hotel Comino and Grill in Salinas, frequented by John Steinbeck is cited for a trophy donation, as are the hotels St. Francis, Fairmont, and Palace in San Francisco. In the 1929 catalog is an ad for the new Ford Town Car. "It is the personal car of intimate size, unquestioned taste, and delightful convenience in crowded city traffic." Later there were ads for Jaguars and Cadillacs.
1936
Many movie stars used to come to the show. In 1936, Gary Cooper's bitch, a Sealyham, CH hollyQuick Delia, was Best in Show. Stu Erwin, another movie star who owned a Scottie, afterward went to the bar with Gary Cooper and accused him of fixing the show. A shuffle ensured. In later years, handler Ben Brown, who had an especially devious reputation, was threatened by fellow handler, John Kickey, to a "hat pin in the rear" when Brown attempted to back himself into Hickey's dog. In another like fashion, Ben Brown was literally jumped on by a professional wrestler-handler when he started a conversation with the judge in the ring.
1937
By 1937, obedience was offered with Novice, Open, and Utility divisions: the obedience entry was twenty-six dogs. Also, the individual breeds in conformation were classified and divided into six groups, and by 1937, the total entry of the show was nearly 400 dogs.
1938
For the year 1938, it is of interest that AKC offered cash prizes to be competed for at all-breed shows. The prize given best in show for an American-bred dog or bitch was $25.00 (worth $532.55 today) and $15.00 was given for winning a group.
During most of the 1930s and 40s, Miss Marion Kingsland, a woman who worked in real estate, owned Del Monte kennels and veterinary Hospital, and bred Scottish, Sealyham, and Welsh Terriers served as secretary of DMKC and ran these shows.
1940
In 1940, Derek Rayne, first showed at Del Monte Kennel Club’s show. In the years that followed, he won two Working Groups with Welsh Corgis and in 1948, a Terrier Group and Best in Show with the Wire Fox terrier, Ch Elsking of Foxlorn.
In 1940, Venita Oakie, the very beautiful wife of famous comedian actor, Jack Oakie, was Best in Show with the Afghan Hound, CH Barbarryhill Dolly.
Due to World War II there was no show held in 1943.
1946
From 1946 - 48 the show moved in the parking lot of the Mission Ranch after the Del Monte Hotel was bought by the Navy, and became the Naval Postgraduate School.
The entry in the show was just under 500 dogs. These years are described as a rather chaotic when occasional drunks from Mission Ranch bars ended up in the dog show rings.
1949
In 1949, the show was moved to the Del Monte Lodge and was held in a site adjacent to the tennis courts.
In 1949, aware that DMKC had a closed membership, Derek Rayne wrote AKC wanting to start a new kennel club in Carmel, CA. As a result of this request, in 1950, AKC wrote to S.F.B. Morse and associates asking them to admit twelve new members. Mr. Morse gathered twelve men and women and thereby formed the current Del Monte Kennel Club.
1950
In 1950 at the request of the AKC, the membership was opened to other local dog fanciers. This created the structure of the current club.
The 25th-anniversary show was held on the lawn in front of the Lodge at Pebble Beach. The show was benched and there were 508 dogs entered. Miss Marion Kinsland was the show chairman.
1952
Beginning in 1952, the show became permanently unbenched and it continued to be held in front of the Lodge until May 1968.
1953
Starting in 1953, Derek Rayne served as show chairman and since DMKC became an AKC Member Club, also served as AKC delegate. For most of the shows in the 1950's Derek Rayne served as show chairman.
Starting in 1953, since DMKC became an AKC Member Club, Derek Rayne also served as AKC delegate.
1957
In 1957, Tom and Ann Stevenson, Poodle breeders and later, well-respected judges, became club members and remained active throughout the 1960's.
1959
The club organized conformation and obedience classes held as a community service. In 1959, the first of subsequent annual puppy matches was held at the Lodge in Pebble Beach. The match was moved to the Monterey Fairgrounds in 1961.
From the 1950s through 1966, Bernice Behrendt was the show superintendent, and from then Jack Brashaw through 1978.
1960
By 1960, with an entry of 1555 dogs, the Del Monte show was the largest unbenched show in the nation and the 8th largest all-breed show. The annual summer show was called the "Classic of the Pacific".
1961
Frank Grover, a Doberman breeder interested in obedience, served as president and show chairman from 1961-1966. During this time the club was in discord and turmoil. The board held several hearings charging individual members with conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the club. Resulting in six-month suspensions and expulsion for these members. One member leveled charges against two other members, which resulted in six-month suspensions. Frank Groves was formally accused in writing of being dictatorial.
In 1961, the annual puppy matches moved to the Monterey Fairgrounds.
1962
Derek Rayne served as AKC delegate until 1962 when he was removed by Mr. Grover who wished to serve as delegate himself. AKC did not allow Grover to serve as president, show chairman and as delegate, so for six years Del Monte had no delegate.
In Dec. of 1962 and 1963, in addition to the May show at the Lodge, winter shows were held at the Monterey Fairground with entries of 500 dogs each. Jr. Showmanship was first offered at the December. 1962 show. The entries of the May shows at the Lodge throughout 1967, held at just over 1,600 dogs.
1966
In 1966, letters of incorporation were drawn up, and Del Monte Kennel Club, Inc. a non-profit corporation was formed. At this point, the club's deposits were removed from Del Monte Properties and put into a separate club bank account. This completed the separation of the club from Del Monte Properties.
1969
In 1969 the club adopted a new constitution and bylaws of Del Monte Kennel Club and this provided for the election of an AKC delegate.
Julian Graham
Many of the photographs on this page were taken by Julian P. Graham of Loon Hill Studios.
Julian P. Graham, nicknamed “Spike” was the independent, official Photographer for Del Monte Properties, which is known today as the Pebble Beach Company. Graham’s legacy is over 40,000 photographs and negatives which provide a glimpse, frozen in time, into the world of the rich and famous that symbolize the spirit, fashion and elegance of the classic years. Graham photographed the many famous, beautiful and glamorous people that visited, played and lived on the Monterey Peninsula.
