Orange Show returns to Mayberry days
The National Orange Show Festival has been a city tradition for a few seasons shy of a century.
With attendance slumping in recent years (and a number of legal battles and bad accidents facing the NOS grounds compounding the problem), planners are pitching an interesting concept: Reversion to the "good ol' days."
In a one-on-one conversation I had with NOS Director of Operations Steve Henthorn at The Sun offices Wednesday, he even mentioned fictional, idealized television shows like The Andy Griffith Show and Leave it to Beaver as cultural shorthands for the ambiance he hoped to achieve at the festival in coming years.
Steve is a longtime Berdoo guy, someone who drove his muscle car around town in the 1960s and 1970s, so he knows something about the "way we were," if you will.
Here is Henthorn, pictured below, sitting near my desk during our discussion.
At several other points, he posited that during "tough economic times" and amidst an "increasingly complex" world, people crave simple pleasures with clear, discernable value-structures more than in times of roaring prosperity.
So he didn't quite make a Barack Obama-esque faux pas and say people are clinging to guns and bibles, but he clearly is banking on his event presenting itself as an alternative to loose morals and subprime mortgage scams, or something like that.
Our interesting discussion aside, the NOS festival, which I've been to (on duty) twice, seems like a wonderful way to spend the day, especially for locals. Lots of food, animals, shows and other fair-type stuff to do at pretty cheap prices.
I thought it was perfectly quaint and wholesome last year (The lion-tamer shows were my fav), so I'll look out for any changes.
Click below for a story and schedule ...
SAN BERNARDINO - Steve Henthorn has had a lot of conversations about the National Orange Show in the past few years, with one predominant refrain.
"What I've heard more than anything," said Henthorn, director of operations for the NOS since April 2007, "is `I wish it was like it used to be."'
And so this year, Henthorn and his team of planners and consultants are set to turn back the clock on the city's most historic annual event.
With a nostalgia-inducing "The Way We Were" theme, the 93rd annual National Orange Show Festival kicks off its five-day run at 4 p.m. May 22.
New features this year include livestock pens and 1960s and 1970s tribute bands.
Children and families are the target audience.
Arguably the most conspicuous feature of the new/old-look fair will be the oranges, more than 4 tons of citrus arrayed in various designs and decorations.
In recent years, oranges have not been a part of the fair's ambience, a departure from the festivals of lore, when massive creations, like locomotives and bridges, were built entirely of oranges.
"Whenever you talk to old-time residents, they say they remember smelling the oranges and the orange blossoms," said Steve Shaw, president of the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society brought on as a consultant to help recapture the old flavor. "This year they'll be able to smell the oranges again."
Henthorn said he hopes his strategy of reversion to
a day of simpler lives and clearer values halts the slide in attendance the festival has suffered in recent years, down to about 85,000 attendees last year.
"We're getting back to our roots," he said.
THE DETAILS
WHAT: 93rd annual National Orange Show
Festival, themed "The Way We Were"
WHEN: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. May 22 and May 23; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 24 to 26
COST: $5 to $8; admission on Thursday is free and Friday is half price; children under 5 are free
WHERE: National Orange Show Events Center, 689 S. E St.
Comments
The only way the Orange Show will return to it's former glory is if the entire Board of Directors
and current management is replaced with folks who actually care about the community. Does anyone recall a public apology from the Orange Show after the riot it has been proven,was caused by the Orangwe Show's refusal to hire enough security for a punk rock concert ? Sure,they provided space for fire refugees to stay,but trust me it was not at of kindness -they were re-imbursed for every single dollar by FEMA.The Board does not have term limits, and for the most part,has remained unchjanged for years,sort of like a good ole boy club in every sense of the word.There,in fact, is not one African -American or Asian on the board,and if things remain as they are,there never will be. I am boycotting the event and every American who believes in civil rights should as well.Do not support Bigotry ! Of course Mr. Hewntthorn will evoke Andy Grifith and Leave it to Beaver.Simpler times? With segregation at it's height, it's no wonder the Orange Show wishes to go back. Don't be suprised when they raise a confederate flag at the stadium.
Posted by: John | May 15, 2008 9:50 PM
John, thanks for commenting. Interesting take.
It is true that the board is composed of, predominately, rich, distinguished, older non-minority men who have had power in the community for decades.
It is also true that the riot was a stain on the community for which no one has really accepted responsibility.
That said, the community is the benificiary from a restored and reinvigorated National Orange Show Festival.
Everyone is welcome to have reservations about the powers that be at the NOS, and many people do.
I don't know if there is really a connection with this year's theme and your various grievances with the NOS. I will say that we can only assess its effectiveness in improving the event's reception and turnout after it plays out next week.
I'll go, and so will other reporters. It sounds like a good time. Stay tuned.
Robert
Posted by: Robert Rogers | May 15, 2008 11:30 PM
While the NOS may want to return to the "Good Ol' Days" they should take a look at the after dark patrons. There is no way my family and I will be there after dusk. Until they can effectively secure the show we will be gone by dark, if we go at all.
Posted by: CJ | May 16, 2008 12:51 AM
If the Orange Show wants a return of the "glory days" how about bringing back the parade? I did that parade in my junior high and high school marching band. (Usually in the rain!) There's nothing better for brining out the community than with a parade!
Posted by: Cali Girl | May 16, 2008 8:04 AM