The "Make Mine A Chocolate 'Jigger'" Story

One of the two entrances into the "Jigger Shop" at Mt. Gretna.

It was an ordinary day.  Standing in line with my date at the "Jigger Shop" in Mt. Gretna.  For years I have told Carol that sometime I would like to take her to Mt. Gretna to eat.  Well, before it's physically impossible, I thought we better make a lunch voyage.  Just happened to be Labor Day and the last day that the "Jigger Shop" is open for the season.  Traditionally their busiest day of the year, which needless to say, I didn't know.  We picked up our friends Pat and Dale slightly before 11:00 AM and in 15 minutes pulled into the parking area near the restaurant.  

View of the "Jigger Shop" eating area at Mt. Gretna.

Walked through the gift shop that is next to the place and when we saw a line begin to develop about 11:40 AM we walked over towards the entrance.  Five minutes later the line had stretched to the parking lot.  Wow, I knew this was a popular restaurant, and we have previously stopped for a snack in the evening, but never knew it was this popular.  As the three of them waited in line I wandered off with my camera to snap a few photos of the place and the surrounding area.  Mt. Gretna is a beautiful little town nestled in the woodlands between Lancaster and Lebanon.  and the "Jigger Shop" is right in the middle of the action.  It is known for the quality of the food, the generous serving sizes, the friendly service, the old fashion methods of creating outrageously delicious ice cream treats for their patrons and the world renown "Jigger".  

Sign saying "Myers Pavillion" is about the door of the "Jigger Shop."

It was founded in 1895 by a Mr. Myers (no one seems to know his first name) who established the ice cream parlor known as Myers Pavilion just inside the gate to the Chautauqua (more on that name in a future story).  In 1910 a group of girls from the nearby Campmeeting Grounds urged one of the waitresses to make them "something different."  

The "Jigger"

Together the waitress and the girls created a new ice cream sundae.  It was a hit and thereafter the girls would always ask for "one of those jiggers" when visiting the shop.  Jigger, in the early 1900s meant "Thing", so the girls were just asking for one of "those things" when they asked for a jigger.  The new concoction became so popular that the owner eventually renamed the Pavilion, the "Jigger Shop."  So, exactly what is a "Jigger" you are wondering?  Nobody knows exactly, except for the owners of the "Jigger Shop," for you see, the secret recipe for the jigger was passed down from owner to owner and they have nevered shared the recipe with anyone.  Today's owner's, Chuck and Charlotte Allwein, the seventh owners of the establishment, have said that people have suggested marketing the special topping, but they are a lover of tradition and refuse to tell anyone.  

Ice Cream counter at the "Jigger Shop".

Over the years the "Jigger Shop" has changed much, yet the friendly and cozy atmosphere still remains.  When an addition was made to the outdoor seating, taking it to approximately 200 seats, rather than clear the surrounding trees to allow for the larger deck, the owners built the deck around the trees.  And, I'll tell you, it makes for a fantastic atmosphere in the wooded hills of Mt. Gretna.  The menu isn't super large, but the quality of the food is great.  Hamburgers aren't the usual patties you get elsewhere, but ground round beef.  The only criticism the owners ever get is that they are too busy.  One could only hope that to be true of their own business.  For me, I didn't realize the place was only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  That explained why the crowd today was so very, very large.  

Painting for sale at the "Jigger Shop".

Of yeah, the jigger is a special concoction served in a tall parfait glass which begins with the basics: vanilla ice cream, chocolate or butter- scotch syrup, thick marshmallow topping and a heaping spoonful of jigger nuts.  That's the mystery part of the sundae.  Oh yeah, as I was standing in line, quite a few times I heard, "Make mine a chocolate jigger with an extra scoop of jiggers on it."  I'm sure the girls who helped created the jigger are enjoying them in Heaven as you are reading this.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Photos below show the "Jigger Shop" in the past.  Photos are from the "Jigger Shop" website.

"Jigger Shop" in 1905 when it was still called Myers Pavillion.

Entrance to the "Jigger Shop" in the 1960s.

Outside the "Jigger Shop" with owner Chuck Allwein on the steps.

Soda fountain from years past.

The "Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Chevrolet" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just got back from a Sheetz gas station where I purchased what have become known in my house as "Larry Pies."  Found the pies made by JJs while we were visiting the islands of the Turks and Caicos.  Shopping for groceries one day while on Provo and bought these fantastic pies.  When we returned to the states I found they had them at Sheetz, so whenever I needed my pie fix, I headed to the gas station to buy my pies.  Favorite pie they sell is the apple pie.  Just something magical about a buttery, sugary, sweet tasting apple pie and JJs fits the tab.  Found that pie came to America with some of the earliest settlers and apple was also their favorite.  Maybe because it was one of the fruits that the Pilgrims brought to their New World.  Back then pies were cheap to make and filled many a hungry immigrant.  The crust for the pies used less flour than did bread so the flour they had went farther.  At the time the crust was more the vessel that held the apples than it was part of the pie, since it was made from coarse flour and suet and was thick and tough.  Wasn't until the immigrants from France arrived in the New World that they introduced butter into the crust and made it a tasty part of the pie.  Apple pie isn't necessarily the favorite of everyone.  In Maine, where blueberries are plentiful, they have named the blueberry pie the state pie.  In the Midwest, where dairy farms abound, the cream pies are a favorite.  In Florida the Key Lime pie is king, and I must admit I also love that one.   In the South, the "Chess Pie" (sugar, cream, eggs and bourbon) is famous. In New Hampshire they became know for their fried hand pies called "crab lanterns."  And, how could I forget my local roots and the Pennsylvania Dutch molasses "shoofly" pie.  So you see types of pies depend sometimes on location, but no matter where you are pie has become a symbol of baseball, hot dogs, and Chevrolet, as the saying goes.  I'm sure you have heard the saying, "As American as apple pie."  Don't you think June Cleaver must have baked lots of apple pies for Wally and the Beav?  For years the pie was an important part of our diet, until the mid-1800s when there became concern for diet and nutrition.  In the 1841 cookbook "The Good Housekeeper," pie was described as injurious to persons of delicate constitutions because of the nature of the pastry.  I'm sure the author never ate one of JJs pies.  But, then along came 1959 and the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and "The Big Bopper."  Shortly after singer-songwriter Don McLean wrote his song about ...the day the music died... and titled it "American Pie."  Wow, we rediscovered pie again.  In '75, Chevrolet made it part of their ad on TV and we have been eating pies, preferably apple, since.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Historical Discovery at Manheim Township High School" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Date was March 19, 2003 and one of the secretaries at Manheim Township High School had just made a remarkable discovery.  For years the space under the concrete wall that held the seating for the Convocation Hall in the high school served as a space for storage of just about anything.  Old records were stored there.  Cases and cases of old continuous-feed computer paper with the holes punched along the side were stored there.  Empty boxes were stored there.  Just about anything imaginable was stored there.  And then, more space was needed for some reason or another and Darlene Walton was asked to start to get rid of stuff that was no longer used.  I had retired four years earlier, but still did in-house printing for the school district.  She called me and asked me to stop and pick up all the computer paper, take it home and trim the holes off the sides and trim the perforation marks off and pad it into tablets for the high school office.  She worked a few hours a week at this job and then one day, March 19th to be exact, she made a precious find.  On that day she found a heavy object wrapped in a roll of kraft paper.  

Carolyn Weidman on the left and Darlene Walton hold
the banner that Darlene discovered in storage at the
Manheim Township High School in Lancaster, PA.

After opening it she discovered it was a banner about six feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide.  Neither she nor Marlene or Carolyn, co-workers, knew the significance of the banner.  They asked an art teacher if she could use it for scraps or for a class project.  Then, luckily, another teacher walking by the secretaries mentioned that it was a war banner.  Shock set in!  It turned out to be an original banner or service flag, hand-sewn in 1943 and sometime after that placed in the kraft paper and found it's way into the storage room.  Probably was in storage for some 50 years.  They shared it with me one day when I stopped in the office to visit with everyone.  Pretty neat banner.  The high school principal, Dave Hanna, suggested that, "The banner expresses the dedication, the patriotism, the willingness to sacrifice.  Actually the total commitment to sacrifice that happens in war."  The banner was made to commemorate Manheim Township soldiers who served in World War II.  On it were listed the number who served - 274 - and the number who died - 11 - in the war.  According to Carolyn Weidman, office manager, records were found that said the banner was first dedicated in a school assembly on January 27, 1943.  It was rededicated twice more to update it as the two numbers changed.  

The banner now hangs in a hall
of the high school.

Records showed that a 1939 graduate, Norman Diehm, was the first casualty while fighting the Japanese on the island of Attu in the Aleutian Islands.  The 1944 "Neffvue", the school yearbook, was dedicated to his memory.  The banner shows the heroes of WWII and the sacrifices that Manheim Township graduates made for their country.  What was such a coincidence about the timing of the banner surfacing was the date.  The following day, March 20, 2003 was the start of the war in  Iraq.  Mr. Hanna wondered if the timing of the discovery was more than a coincidence.  He said, "It was perfect, not only to help remind people of the sacrifices made by troops during World War II, but also now, in Iraq.  The banner now hangs in a hallway of the high school that has a wall covered with photos of past members of Township classes, men and women, who have served in the armed forces of our country.  I recently wrote a story about one of my classmates, Norm Billipp, whose photo is on the wall.  Norm died during the Vietnam War.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

The "Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor dark of night shall ... " Story

It was an ordinary day.  Thought I'd mail a check to Magali who works at Sprimbarth Cap Caraibes in St. Martin.  She has become a good friend over the years and has helped us with renting properties for our annual vacation on the island.  This past May, after a couple of weeks on St. Martin, we stooped to visit with her at her office and made a decision to rent the same property for 2014.  Picked our dates and put a deposit on the villa at the time by using my credit card.  Well, today I thought I would make another deposit so when the time came for the final deposit, it wouldn't break the bank.  Then I got to thinking about two years ago when I mailed a check to her and it never arrived.  Never figured what happened to it, but put a "stop payment" on the check and paid with my credit card instead.  She told me that at times the air mail from the USA doesn't reach them.  No explanation, but it just doesn't reach them.  So instead of writing a check, I 

John Wise leaving on his airmail run.

just called and made another contribution with my credit card towards our next vacation on the island.  A few days later I got an email from a neighbor across the street from me with a story about the beginnings of air mail in the USA.  Just a coincidence?  On January 9, 1793 Jean-Pierre Blanchard carried a personal letter written by George Washington from Philadelphia to Deptford, NJ.  First flight that carried airmail in the USA.  Then in 1859 John Wise piloted a balloon that left St. Louis on July 17 with a bag of mail entrusted to him by American Express.  A month later on August 17 he arrived in Henderson, NY.  

Plane used for airmail deliveries.

In 1957 the United States Postal Service issued a 7 cent stamp commem- orating Wise's first airmail flight.  Airmail, as we know it, began on August 20, 1920 when the United States opened its first coast-to-coast airmail delivery route, 60 years after the Pony Express stopped making deliveries.  

Large concrete arrow used to direct pilots with airmail

Aviation charts at the time were almost nonexistent so pilots had to eyeball their way across the country.  Landmarks were a big help, but needless to say night flying and bad weather made it just about impossible.  The problem was solved by the postal service when a ground-based civilian navigation system  was developed.  Lit beacons extended from San Francisco to New York spaced approximately every 10 miles apart. Each beacon light was accompanied by a bright, huge yellow concrete arrow on the ground.  

Mail routes using the beacon and yellow arrow.

Now mail could cross the country in about 30 hours instead of weeks.  New advances in radio and radar made the beacons and big arrows obsolete, but certainly not as cool as the bright yellow arrows.  In the 1940s the government decommissioned the beacons and arrows and many of the beacon towers were torn down.  But to this day, many of the arrows are still visible from the air.  The yellow paint has faded, but the concrete arrows will forever remain.   My friend Tom included a few photos with his story that I am sharing with you.  Pretty neat!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "A Little Piece Of History So Near Home" Story

Recent photo I took of the Stoner House in Overlook Park

It was a ordinary day.  Carol and I just got back from our walk which took us around most of the grounds of Overlook Park in Manheim Township.  We live a stone's throw from the park which makes a great place to walk as well as to take in wildlife, farmland, woodland, watershed and a few historic sites.  We have seen deer, foxes, herons, hawks, frogs, and many other species of birds.  We also pass one of the most historical farmhouses in Lancaster County.  The Stoner House sits next to a barn that has been refurbished for use as a restaurant and banquet hall.  Last year my high school class held our 50th class reunion in the barn.  The house was originally a log cabin built by Jacob Slough in 1734 on 300 acres that was given a patent by the sons of William Penn in 1747.  At the time of this first structure, our country was still a British colony.  The following year Jacob Wilhelm purchased the farm and replaced the log cabin with a Germanic 1 1/2 story stone farmhouse.  The arched cellar remained and still played an important roll as one of the features of the house.  

Stoner House when the Township bought it in 1999.

In 1793 David Stoner obtained 150 acres from the descendants of Mr. Wilhelm which included the house.  Two years later David and his wife Anna added a 1 1/2 story kitchen to the east side of the house.  When David died, his son David Jr., inherited the house.  In 1848 David and his wife Magdelena added a Federal style addition by removing the roof and adding a full second floor to the house.  In 1864 the Stoners sold the farm, but regained ownership six years later.  They remained owners until 1882.  

Front porch of Stoner House.

In 1890 Adam Shaeffer added the final addition, a two-story Victorian-style brick wing.  The land was farmed until it was purchased by Manheim Township and established as the Overlook Community Campus.  This move probably saved the grounds and Stoner House from suburban sprawl.  It wasn't until a few years ago that the Manheim Township Historical Society saved the house from destruction.  

Plaque erected in the Stoner/Steiner
Graveyard. Click to enlarge.

The house's location in the park makes it a perfect choice for community use.  The Historical Society is receiving help from the Canassatego Chapter of the Questers Organization as well as the Stoner Family and hopes to make it their home in the near future.  The outside of the house is starting to receive attention and the grounds look great.  I read that the 1890 addition is going to be removed and then the interior will be renovated to it's original condition.

  Close by is the Stoner Cemetery where many family members have been interred.  

Tombstone for David Stoner

It too has been preserved in the past few years.  We pass this home and cemetery every time we walk and I finally took my camera with me to document the house and grounds.  Kind of special to know we live so close to a few monumental historical sites in not only Lancaster, but in the United States.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Recollections of the Fulton Opera House: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Yesterday I posted Part I of the story about the Fulton Opera House (nee Fulton Hall) in downtown Lancaster, PA.  Well, the story yesterday didn't tell you anything at all about my participation in the history of the place, but that will come today as I continue my tale of one of Lancaster's most beloved and historic places.  

Photograph is from the late 1800s when
an unlettered canopy was added to the
exterior of the Fulton Opera House.

I left off yesterday with the Fulton Opera House as a movie theatre which became a disreputable "art film" house.  In March of 1952, the 100 anniversary of the Fulton, a reporter for the Lancaster newspaper wrote a series of articles about the glory years of the old Fulton Hall and the unsuccessful crusade in Broadway's Playbill booklet to turn the Fulton Opera House into an American Theatre Hall of Fame.  It was in the mid-1950s that I had my chance to be part of a Fulton Opera House production titled Amahl and the Night Visitors.  I was eleven at the time and part of the famed St. James Episcopal Church boys' choir from Lancaster who were directed by Frank A. McConnell.  We had about 30 or so boys who were between the ages of 8 to 12 and sang either soprano or alto.  One of the boy's names was Pete Martin and he was selected to appear at the Fulton in the one-act musical based on the Magi's journey to see the Christ child.  They stopped for the night at the home of a young crippled boy and while there, the boy's mother tried to steal some of the gold that was to be a gift for Baby Jesus and was caught.  The kings felt sorry for the mother and told her to keep the gold, but the woman refused and gave it back.  The boy was invited to go with the kings to search for the Baby Jesus and he said he had nothing to offer except his crutch.  Shortly after telling his intentions of giving his crutch, his leg was miraculously healed and he went with the Magi to see Baby Jesus.  I think I have most of the account correct, but that really isn't an important part of my story.  Pete was chosen to be Amahl and another boy named Whitey and myself were chosen as backups who had to learn all of the songs and lines and be prepared just in case Pete was ill and couldn't do the show.  I can still remember how neat and scary it was to sit backstage and watch the practices and the movement of the scenery for the opera.  I got to see the show one time, but never had the chance to perform which was fine with me, since I'm still afraid to get in front of large groups of strange people and talk, let alone sing by myself.  And, .... you know how many strange people probably came to see the opera.  

This photo from 1963 shows the Fulton as it was showing
the film "The Night."  At the time it was owned by the
Coho family, but was then purchased by the non-profit
Fulton Opera House Foundation.

In 1959, after my starring role was long forgotten, a group going by the name of the Lancaster Theatre Arts Association, trying to kindle interest in the Opera House, brought Victor Jory to the Fulton to perform in Our Town.  The following year they brought Louis Vyner and the String Virtuoso of Philadelphia to the stage and it was the first time since 1930 that live music was heard at the Fulton Opera House.  But in 1961, the Lancaster Law and Order Society had the Fulton shut down after a showing of the "blue movie" The Immoral Mr. Teas.  The building was set for demolition soon after, but a group of civic leaders led by Mr. Nathaniel Hager, the grandson of the Fulton Hall founder, formed a non-profit foundation to save the building from demolition.  

This photo taken by Lori Stahl is from 1995 after a
$9,500,000 renovation was complete.

In 1963 the foundation was chartered and purchased the Fulton Opera House for $55,000.  By 1966 they had spent $90,000 to refurbish what they now called the "Old Lady of Prince Street."  A few years later the building was named a National Historic Landmark, thus preventing it from demise in the future.  In the early 70s the Fulton Summer Repertory Company was established which was comprised of primarily students from nearby Franklin and Marshall College which included future star Treat Williams.  

Photo as it appears today with new LED lighting and
improved marquée.

The Fulton Opera House continued to grow and thrive over the next 20 or so years, until in 1994-1995, a nine and a half million-dollar renovation took place which refurbished many of the theatre's systems and facilities.  Two years later a ceremony was conducted at the theatre to pay tribute to and honor the Conestoga Indians that were massacred while locked in a jail cell in the basement of the building that preceded the Fulton Opera House.  Only the rear wall of that building still remained when building the original Fulton Hall in mid-1850s.  Today's Fulton Opera House is alive and well and still entertaining Lancasterains.  Recently new LED lighting was added to the marquee, the marquee structure was repaired and new letters were added.  The "Old Lady of Prince Street" is alive and well!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  

PS - Photos from my recent trip to the Fulton Opera House follow ........

Photo by Lori Stahl of the renovations done from 1994-95.

The rear of the Fulton Opera House.  The lower portion of the wall is all that remained of the  1763 City Jail that stood on the same spot as the Fulton.

Entrance to the Fulton Opera House.

Ticket window of the Fulton Opera House.

This is the original wooden sculpture of Robert Fulton that stood outside for years.  In 1995 it was brought indoors and and a replicate was placed outside.

One of the two grand staircases that lead you from floor to floor in the Fulton.  Remember you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

The box seats can be seen on the left while the first floor, second floor and "Peanut Heaven" can be seen on the right.

Some of the ornate wood carvings are seen between the first and second levels of the theatre.

Decorations and carvings around one of the theatre boxes.

The gold leafing is real gold.  The managing director of the Fulton Opera House, Mr. Aaron Young was telling me that when he applied for the position he was shown through the theatre as they were making renovations to the ceiling and as he looked around the theatre it looked as if it were raining gold.  Little pieces were falling to the ground as the workers did the gold leafing.

All above images that were not my own or given previous credit were "Used by permission from the Fulton Opera House Foundation."

The "Recollections of the Fulton Opera House: Part I" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Visiting with Mary who is a volunteer historian for the Fulton Opera House in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  She is sharing photographs of the Fulton with me that are helping me understand the background and history of this remarkable and beautiful piece of real estate that stands in the first block of North Prince Street.  After our meeting I was able to photograph parts of the theatre that I will share with you that will hopefully illustrate this story as well as tomorrow's story.

This is a rendering made by Philadelphia
architect Samuel Sloan of the design
for the original Fulton Hall circa early 1850s.

The story of the Fulton began in the early 1850s when businessman Christopher Hager purchased, for $8,400, what had been the city jail where the last of the Conestoga Indians were massacred in 1763, and hired Samuel Sloan, well-known Philadelphia architect, to build the Fulton Hall.  The first performance took place on October 15, 1852 when Kindall and Dickinson's Ethiopian Minstrels took the stage.  The name of the Hall came from famed steamboat designer Robert Fulton who lived in Lancaster County and died in 1815.  

Sculptor Hugh Cannon produced this wooden
likeness of Robert Fulton for which the
Fulton Hall was named.

In 1854 a wooden statue of Fulton, crafted by Philadelphia sculptor Hugh Cannon, was placed in the alcove above the building's front doors.  Over  the years the elements and the local pigeon population forced the wooden sculpture inside the building and a fiberglass replacement was placed in the second-floor alcove in 1995 where the original had stood for over 140 years.  The exterior of the building, as it appears today, is very similar to the original design with the major changes being made to the interior of the building where the original hall boasted 1,500 seats on a flat wooden floor and parts of the hall were used for storing items such as tobacco, wool and even cow manure.  A shooting gallery could be found on the second floor of "Mr. Hager's City Hall," as the building was called.  

This is the first block of North Prince Street in downtown
Lancaster, PA.  The Fulton Hall is located on the left
with a horse drawn buggy in front of it. Photo was
probably from the mid-1850s.  Click on image to enlarge it.

Performers who made a curtain call at the Fulton Hall during the early years were: Ole Bull, a famous Norwegian violinist who appeared six days after the Ethiopian Minstrels; a nine-year-old vocalist, Adelina Patti, who became a world class opera singer; Horace Greeley; and Mark Twain who visited in 1872.  The Hall served at times as a municipal building, church, an armory during the Civil War and a make-shift military hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg.  The Republican Party had it's beginnings at the Fulton when it was started by Lancaster's own "Great Commoner", Thaddeus Stevens.  Many of the entertainers listed made their debut at the Fulton after Mr. Hager sold the Hall in 1856 to Blasius Yecker, a harness shop owner, and his partner Hillaire Zaepfel who owned a hotel.  The purchase price was $16,200, almost double what Mr. Hager paid for it just a few years earlier.  Early in their tenure as owners, they installed more seating and enlarged the stage.  

Plaque on the rear of the Fulton Opera House

In 1869 Mr. Yecker obtained full ownership and four years later made major renovations and renamed his building The Fulton Opera House.  Yecker hired theater architect Edwin Durang to transform the old and dismal Fulton Hall into a showplace of American Entertainment.  Mr. Durang was the great-great grandson of Lancaster born and America's first native born thespian.  On the rear wall of the current Fulton is a plaque in honor of actor John Durang.  

I'm not sure of the date of this photo, but
it is the earliest photo I could find that
featured the curved archway and curtain
and a painted mural on a screen at the rear
of the stage.

It was during Durang's renovation that he first added an arch over the stage, a balcony that could seat 625 and a third-floor loft known as "Peanut Heaven" where 500 more theatergoers munched on peanuts during the shows.  Access to this area was by way of an outside stairwell.  The stage curtain at this time featured a Swiss lake scene and lighting was supplied by gas chandeliers and statues on either side of the stage that held gaslights.  Opening night of Mr. Yecker's new theatre was October 2, 1873 with E.L. Davenport, a famous Shakespearean, presenting Othello.  Evening ticket sales were donated to the widows and orphans of the Civil War.  The rowdy patrons of the Futon Opera House became a target of Yecker over the years and he hired policemen to patrol the audience and eject troublemakers.  Late 19th century performers were Buffalo Bill Cody and Wild Bill Hickok.  Buffalo Bill left a few bullet holes in the stage's arch during his visits to the theatre as souvenirs.  Other performers of note were Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., father of John Wilkes Booth and John Phillip Sousa and his Band.  

Another photo of the Fulton Hall showing the brick
sidewalks and dirt streets.  It appears that a lager beer
saloon stands to the left of the Fulton and a music
and stationery store are to the right.

At the beginning of the 20th century Charles Yecker, son of Blasius and new manager of the Fulton Opera House, hired C. Emlen Urban, Lancaster's finest architect, to make more renovations.  The theatre walls were raised fourteen feet, an orchestra pit was added, box seating was installed and the gas lighting was changed to electricity.  The entertainers in the early part of the century included entertainers Ethel Barrymore, Maude Adams, Douglas Fairbanks and Sarah Bernhardt who was considered "one of the finest actresses the world has ever seen."  In 1917 Al Jolson made a visit to the Fulton and a year later the New York Symphony made an appearance.  Other stars included dancers, magicians, lecturers, a heavyweight boxing match featuring John L. Sullivan  and a variety of novelty acts.  One spectacle of note was a production of Ben-Hur in 1907 which featured a company of 300, tons of scenery, ten horses and a camel.  The play had the famous chariot race where two chariots pulled by four horses running full gallop charged straight at the audience.  It was accomplished by having the horses and chariots on massive treadmills in front of a moving panorama of stadium spectators run by electric motors.  Pretty dramatic and exciting!  

This photo of the building at 14 North Prince Street
bears the name of "Fulton Opera House' so it must
have been taken after 1869 when Mr. Yecker had full
ownership, made renovations and changed the name
from Fulton Hall to Fulton Opera House. I'm not sure
who all the men and one little boy(?) are that are gathered
in front of the Opera House for this photo.  They all seem
to have some sort of badge or ribbon on their jackets.

Over the years fewer traveling shows became available to the theatre and Charles Yecker began booking vaudeville and burlesque.  One burlesque show got him in trouble when in 1920, the Lancaster Law and Order Society arrested him for "exhibiting immoral shows."  Probably mild compared to today's standards.  The following year he sold the Fulton to businessmen Harry Butzer and John A. Guerrini who also made, what seemed to be mandatory for new owners, renovations.  In the early 1900s the film industry started giving live theatre some competition for the disposable money available families for entertainment.  Some the artists who performed at the Fulton Opera House who went on to gain fame on the silver screen carried names such as W.C. Fields, Spencer Tracey and Frederic March who led the list of personalities.  Eventually the Fulton, under new manager Ralph W. Coho, was converted into a full-time movie house.  This took place after a touring production of Blossom Time on March 5th and 6th of 1930.  Then the Great Depression and WWII caused the Fulton to deteriorate into a disreputable "art film" house.  Tomorrow's story will tell you how LDub began his career on the Fulton Opera House stage.  A story you certainly don't want to miss!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

 PS - All images that are not my own photographs were "Used by permission from the Fulton Opera House Foundation."

The "Just Clownin' Around" Story

"Tootsie"

It was an ordinary day.  Headed down the steps, following the bright red arrow, taking me to the Clownfest at the the Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center on the Lincoln Highway.  I had read about this event, that featured clowns from around the world, a couple of months ago and marked it as a "don't miss" in my date book.  

At times I have been accused of being such a person.  So, I wanted to see exactly what a Clownfest consisted of and see if I could pick up any pointers as to how to be a better clown than what I am accused of being.  I walked past dark empty room after dark empty room and finally saw the light at the end of the hall. Stuck my head in the door and was greeted by three people who were painting their faces and sticking on their eyelashes and noses.  Happened to have my camera with me and decided this would be my first stop of the morning.  The gentleman at the one end of the "make-up" table was telling the sparse crowd that he had been a circus clown for over 30 years and it takes an hour or more to put on the makeup and get dressed so that you can be seen for maybe 15 minutes as you accompany some of the circus acts around the floor of the circus tent.  

But, you better do the best job you can in getting prepared for that trip around the tent or you won't be working long.  His nose sat before him in a container of liquid as he applied face paint with either a brush or Q-Tip as he talked about the proper procedure for applying face make-up.  The woman sitting next to him in her dressing robe was telling the crowd about using the proper make-up so it doesn't run or lighten in color as you sweat.  The joys and tribulations of being a clown are many, I guess.  I stepped into the aisle to snap a few photos and about 15 seconds later someone taps me on the shoulder.  "I'm taping this program and you're standing directly in front of my camera," he said, rather annoyed.  I found a different spot, snapped my photos and off I went to find more clowns.  Then I saw the desk where you register for the event and the different shows that they sponsor.  Behind the table was a large room where they were  selling "Goofy Gear", as the sign said.  While the young woman was busy with the new registrants,

I walked around the table into the room to see exactly what goofy gear might be.  Yep, just as you might have guessed, it was just about any goofy item that would help to make you a clown.  One guy was selling funny-looking shoes that weren't cheap.  Prices seemed to start at about $300 and go to around $600, for a pair of shoes so you can look funny!  I could have told them my closet at home is filled with them!  The owner of the stand, John Spear, had about 100 pairs of his custom-made shoes that were used in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  Even the mascot of the Baltimore Orioles wears shoes that are made by him.  

Wow, pretty neat business!  Another fellow I talked with, Leon McBryde, is the owner of ProKNOWS which sells noses to clowns.  Leon used to be a clown with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus so I guess he should know his noses.  The sign in front of this nose products said, "Pick Your Nose Here!" Most of the noses were red or a variation of red, but I did see one big blue nose amongst the red ones.  

Other stands were selling colorful clown hats, clown costumes, face make-up and even books on how to apply that make-up.  I was amazed at the cost of the items.  You need to be fairly wealthy to be a clown.  I stopped an older lady, now I should tell you that she was probably my age, and asked if I could take her photo.  Smiled at me and went into her posing routine.  "Tootsie" was a member of the White Rose Clowns" from York, PA.  She told me that there were close to 100 clowns registered for the event and they were heading to the Lancaster Barnstormers baseball game that night.  

She loved talking about being a clown and all the fun you get from seeing people laugh and smile at you.  "Neat thing to do after you retire," she told me.  I turned around and another younger clown with bright red hair struck a pose for me.  This is going to be easy to take photos here, I thought.  

Another clown sporting a flower that shot water at me was my next photo.  

On and on it went until I reached the door of the "Goofy Gear" room.  As I entered the hall I saw a gentleman with a Clownfest shirt that carried many autographs.  Got the story behind the shirt and asked if I could take his photo.  "No, no," he said.  "I'm not dressed the part right now."  I assume he also was a clown and hadn't time yet to prepare for my photo shoot.  Great bunch of people, these clowns are.  I left the place with a smile on my face, but then again, that's how I usually leave.  Just clownin' around!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.