LU to host screening of ‘The Melody Maids Movie,’ Q and A with director

The Lamar University College of Fine Arts and Communication will host a screening of “The Melody Maids Movie” on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, followed by a question-and-answer session with director Kai Jai Conner. 

The screening is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Room 103 of the Lamar University Communications Building and is open to all faculty and staff. The event will take place ahead of the opening of the Boomtown Film & Music Festival later that day at the Dishman Art Museum.

The documentary tells the story of the Melody Maids, an all-girl teenage singing group from Beaumont that performed from 1942 to 1972. During that time, approximately 1,500 Melody Maids traveled to military bases and hospitals around the world, performing for service members during periods of war and global conflict.

Led by Beaumont music educator Eloise Milam, the Melody Maids were built around the guiding principles of morals, manners and music. The group faced demanding travel conditions and performed in remote locations, earning a reputation for bringing music, morale and goodwill to soldiers far from home.

The film centers on firsthand accounts from former Melody Maids who toured with the group during the 1950s and 1960s. Their stories are supported by archival photographs, newspaper articles and diary entries that reflect life in Beaumont at the time and the broader national impact of wartime performance efforts.

“The Melody Maids Movie” examines the legacy of Milam’s leadership and the long-term influence of the Melody Maids on the young women who participated and the audiences they reached.

The screening and discussion serve as a lead-in to the opening day of the Boomtown Film & Music Festival at the Dishman Art Museum.

To learn more about the College of Fine Arts and Communication, visit https://www.lamar.edu/fine-arts-communication/.