Was it really that long ago? That unforgettable summer of 1972 I worked as an apprentice at that well recognized big-top tent on Niagara Falls Boulevard in North Tonawanda — Melody Fair’s ‘Theater of the Stars. I was 21 and on break from attending Fredonia State University. Memories of that great venue jump out at me whenever I pull into the Walmart which now stands on the site of where Melody Fair was a local staple in summertime entertainment.
I can still see Executive Producer Lew Fisher on Monday opening nights wearing some outlandish suit that some men’s store provided for him, thanking them and then introducing the gracious Iney Wallens as she moderated the opening night fashion show. I see them on that round stage along with so many others in the way of big name stars as they made their way onto the revolving stage to an excited audience.
I would first encounter face-to-face the incomparable, but cocky and somewhat arrogant Tom Jones followed by an impressive conglomeration of others that would follow during the summer — Sergio Franchi, Dionne Warwick, B.J. Thomas, Mitzi Gaynor, Don Rickles, Eddy Arnold, Sandler and Young, B.B. King, Guy Lombardo, Glen Campbell and Sammy Davis, Jr. Donald O’Connor appeared in the hit Broadway musical, “Promises, Promises;” as did Dean Jones who appeared in “1776” — just two of the four musicals to play that summer.
Popular music group legends Chicago, 3 Dog Night, The Carpenters and The Association made appearances, among others. Even now, some 50-plus years after that unforgettable summer, I can hear them performing their most popular hits or telling a raunchy joke whenever I walk into that particular Walmart, experiencing ‘déjà vu’ moments and remembering those stars long since dead during their finest moments on stage. Most recently, I could once again hear Sammy Davis Jr. belting out “Candy Man” echoing throughout the massive store.
The hours spent there were immensely long — grueling at times. The pay almost nothing. I became aware quickly this apprentice gig was no piece of cake. The job entailed everything one could imagine — from cleaning out the theater after a performance to cutting grass on the grounds to painting whatever was required — all oftentimes during the midnight hour. These tasks came along with being instructed to aggressively work at selling show book programs.
Under the competent, but hard-driving technical director, our fearless leader, Rosemary Sheldon, in her own right a bright and witty young woman, herself perhaps a Hollywood hopeful with her marvelous sense of humor ran a tight ship when it came to delegating to the apprentices. I was soon to realize I was a part of this rather ‘dorky’ collection of show business wannabees for all the ‘wrong’ reasons. These kids were serious about ‘making it’ in some aspect of theater. I was not at all. I was determined, however, to remain ‘incognito’ as for my reasons for being aboard this ‘sinking ship’ and stick around awhile with the overzealous group.
Tom Jones opened the third week of June. What a week! Head of security, happy go lucky, rotund, nice guy, Charlie Brecht really had his hands full. Jones was at his peak in popularity. Ubiquitous women swooned all throughout the theater as this powerhouse of a sexy singer swaggered with gyrating hip movements belting out everything from the voluptuous sound of “She’s a Lady” to the sentimental ballad, “Green, Green Grass of Home” to the explosive “Delilah.” The crowd proved to be in awe of this man. Seated as a security measure around the stage, under garments flew past the apprentices, including a massive pair of men’s white briefs; all like paper airplanes sailing about as if in a wild and very chaotic out of control classroom. It was pandemonium every night that week!
A similar scenario as Engelbert Humperdinck performed some weeks later. I remember a hot, steamy July night again seated around the stage to subdue audience members. A plus-size bra goes flying past fellow apprentice, Roger, whipping him in the face and another unmentionable lands on apprentice Bruce’s head which Engelbert promptly yanked off. Women were going insanely wild. I “feared for my life.” actually terrified some half-crazed, inebriated individual might be quick to get past me. It happened! A large, bold and brassy woman with a ton of long blond hair tackled this skinny 135 pound 21year old during a Thursday night performance and two other apprentices and a security guard had to come to my assistance.
That month of July, ‘Have an ice week’ was the theme for the Peggy Fleming ice skating show, a huge change of pace for the venue. It was a tough one, working the entire night piecing together large, heavy rectangular sections of an ice rink placed over the circular stage. It was a back-breaking chore to pull off. At the end of her six-day run, she and her stage mother threw an incredible catered Mexican cuisine feast for us.
When the flamboyant Liberace came to the theater, things were much less stressful and his show was an easy one to put together with a black lacquer baby grand piano and a candelabra on stage as he made his entrance each night in a flowing full length white mink coat trimmed with gold embroidery.
One exciting thing I remember most vividly was serving as a ‘runner’ for one of the stage plays being presented that summer. I was chosen for the first non-musical show of the season. It was “Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” a comedy that brought to the stage character actor John Anderson. Each night I was required to race up the aisle to hand him a bottle of wine. Anderson was known as a TV actor who had roles in three favorite “Twilight Zone” episodes, but more impressively, he played the used car salesman in the shocking iconic movie classic, “Psycho” who sold character Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) her getaway vehicle in the film. Having made a ‘connection’ with an actor who worked with both Director Alfred Hitchcock and Writer Rod Serling was a ‘surreal’ dream in itself.
“West Side Story” was next on stage starring the gorgeous Anna Marie Alberghetti. For me the best part of this production was the ‘wacky’ “Gee Officer Krupke” number, though the entire show was magnificently performed.
My observation of the stars I would meet up with that amazing ‘summer of wonder’ in 1972 would forever remain with me some 50 years later. Some extremely likable. Some not so much! But I realized that as a whole they were just people with everyday quirks that had some good moments and some not so good ones each day that passed in much the same way perhaps that we all experience.