Spectacular show hits 50

This Saturday night the annual City of Hope Spectacular turns 50. It has been a great show featuring local talent since the early 1960s and with the support of dedicated volunteers, is still strong and looks like it will continue for many years to come.

Of course, the Spectacular has benefitted the City of Hope hospital in Duarte. Over the course of the 50 shows, tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars, have been donated to the hospital thanks to the generosity of Porterville residents and the many acts who have performed.

This year’s 50th show will be held Saturday at the Frank “Buck” Shaffer Theatre in the Memorial Auditorium. The show begins at 7 p.m. and will feature more than 25 acts showcasing local talent.

Those who have performed over the years is a virtual who’s who of talent in Porterville. Many are accomplished artists and some have gone on to greater fame. However, many are just people, mainly children at the time, who performed with one of the many twirling organizations, local bands and others in town. Literally, thousands have performed on the stage.

The show began in the early 1960s and was the brainchild of former mayor and civic leader Bill Rodgers and former Porterville High School band director, the late Buck Shaffer.

For many years Buck would organize the show and Bill would emcee it.

The two did many good things in Porterville, the Spectacular was just one of those. For the past several years, Dick Eckoff has led the show and kept up the strong tradition of highlighting local talent.

Some of those who performed on the stage include Ann B. Davis, who played Alice on the “Brady Bunch” and was an early performer at the Barn Theatre. Jerry Hall and Trick Shot have probably performed at half of the shows and the Fabulous Studio Band may have the longest tenure.

Doug Scarbrough, who is performing this year, has graced the stage many times before. Sarah Peters, who today performs with Disney’s World Tour and first performed on the stage at age 5, is scheduled to perform this year, as well.

Another local talent to be showcased this year is Ayla Stackhouse who just released her first CD. The Porterville Twirlerettes are back again, as is Deenie’s Dance Workshop. The Twirlerettes have performed for decades.

There are many more who have volunteered at the show over the years as well.

Tickets for the Spectacular are $7 and available at the auditorium box office the night of the show or in advance at the Porterville Recorder, 115 E. Oak St.; KTIP Radio, 1660 Newcomb St.; Porterville Chamber of Commerce, 93 N. Main St., Suite A; Hanson Travel, 311 N. Second St., Suite A; and Jeff’s Music, 342 N. Porter Road.

Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with pre-show entertainment by Jerry Hall and Trick Shot starting at 7 p.m., and the main show at 7:30 p.m.