Hershey, PA (May 15-21, 2000)

I don’t remember who drove my trailer for me on this trip from Hartford, but I don’t think it was Steve this time. But now that I’m thinking harder, maybe it was. I just remember arriving on the parking lot of the Hershey Park Arena and smelling chocolate in the air. It was GREAT!! I remember this venue pretty well, since it was on the grounds of Hershey Park, where I’ve been many times in my life. It’s the closest amusement park to Baltimore, so we went there lots when I was a kid. I used to remember the park in reference to the front entrance, but now my perspective of the park is the entrance via the gate that leads to the backstage area of the arena. It’s interesting how that changes my whole view of the place.

Somehow, I did a lot in Hershey. We arrived and spotted trailers out in the parking lot, a pretty far walk from the arena. There was plenty of space, though, so I didn’t have to cram people together too tightly. The animal area set up in the section of the parking lot at the top of the ramp down to the backstage area. We set the elephant tent and a large tiger area. There was enough space here to set up the tiger exercise ring at the end of their line of cages. It was great to be able to see the tigers out playing. The horses went into the barn area that is already a part of the Hershey Park Arena grounds, so their tent didn’t have to get set.

We loaded the show in and did the rehearsal. The biggest problem with this arena is the very small hallway to get from backstage to the arena floor. It’s also at a 90 degree angle to the arena floor, so entries through the portal during the big parades were difficult and I think we even changed the order of them a bit, since elephants and horses don’t like to pass each other at close range.

I took part of one day that week to go pick up my kitty, Ghandi. That was a nice time. Then he hid in the trailer for several days. But I told that story already.

Also, we got free admission to the park that week, so we took some time on Thursday or Friday (I think) to go ride some rides. The park opened a new roller coaster that week, so the Ringing clowns took the first ride on it.

I also remember that there was some uproar of some sort about the tiger act presenter (I’d say her name here, but it starts to get dicey when I don’t know the details and I don’t want to slander her online. You can figure it out if you can get your hands on a copy of the program from the 130th edition of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey circus). For some reason, there was talk of the guy who owned and trained the tigers possibly presenting the act several times that week. I think it had something to do with some health problems that the presenter was having. Anyway, the tiger owner was a short, bald man, not all that attractive, while the presenter was a tall, blonde woman, rather striking and lovely. So in the end she wasn’t pulled out of the show after all. I won’t give any further opinions about that issue, but you can form your own if you’d like.

I had lots of visitors this week, since my family is from Baltimore. My parents came to see the show for the first of many times. Also my friend Heather from college came to see the show. It’s possible there were others that I’m forgetting – let me know if you’re one of them!!

Next up: my first split week! (2 cities in one week - argh!)