Daylong festival filled with fun events
Leo and Marilyn Malinowski drove all the way from their home in Naples, Fla., to attend Harlem's 14th annual Oliver Hardy Festival by invitation of Oliver Hardy himself.
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Okay, their invitation actually came from Dale Waters Sr., who has portrayed Hardy for nine years and is an old friend. As Waters rode past on the back of a classic car in the parade, he yelled, "Where is Beethoven?"
The 175-pound Great Dane who travels with the Malinowskis everywhere.
"He loves attention," Mrs. Malinowski said. "The children just love him. Everybody talks to him."
It was no surprise that many children at the parade wanted to visit with the almost 8-year-old dog. It was a surprise when people from almost every float in the annual parade had to point him out and yell to him. A few even left their floats to come pet the big pushover - "big" being the key word.
"People's faces are so funny when they see him," Mrs. Malinowski said.
The parade, usually the most popular part of the festival, was a success, with more than 60 entries of dance troupes and Scout troops, all kinds of vehicles from classics to ATVs, marching bands, and thousands of people lining a downtown Harlem street.
Beethoven had his own opinions. The only time the calm, well-behaved dog reacted was to the Shetland ponies, who he wanted to follow with a playful wagging tail. The sound of firing shotguns sent him into a few barks, but when the guns were gone, so was the barking.
Thousands of visitors perused arts and crafts booths after the Oliver Hardy Festivals parade.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
After the parade, and a drink of water, the couple followed the parade end into the blocked-off city street containing thousands of people, more than 300 food and craft vendors and two entertainment stages.
The turn-out was much higher than last year's, said Helon Knighton, a Harlem Woman's Club volunteer at the new Laurel and Hardy Museum of Harlem. The museum displays almost 450 items reminiscent of the hilarious pair, including photos, paintings, figurines and fan-club newsletters. During the festival, 16-millimeter Laurel and Hardy films were shown in a small theater in the back.
"We displayed the few things we had over at the City Hall, which was barely big enough for them." Knighton said. "This is so much nicer."
Two of Hardy's second cousins - Merle Hardy Childs, Forsyth, and Margaret Hardy Bledsoe, Johnston, S.C. - attended the festival for the first time.
"It is beautiful," Ms. Childs said.
Kristen Pye dances with the Augusta Clogging Company at the festival. Dozens of dancing and musical acts performed.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Outside the air-conditioned museum, visitors sauntered among arts and crafts vendors selling everything from ice cream, daiquiris, funnel cakes and barbecue to wood and leather crafts, candles, soap and novelty children gifts.
Larry and Lin Coats heard about the festival while displaying their wood and leather crafts at another festival in Sandersville. The couple sold their home years ago and travels the country in a motorhome carving wood and setting up at different festivals.
You have to love traveling and love people, Coats said.
Entertainment was scheduled all day on two stages. Events included a Laurel and Hardy look-alike contest, lots of local dance groups and musical performances. The evening came to an end with a swinging performance from the Swingin' Medallions at Harlem High School's stadium.
Small dogs enjoyed the festivities, too. Buttons, a Jack Russell Terrier, gets a free horseback ride with his owner.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Chris Lovette, 13, and his brother Mickael Sikes, 6, find a comfortable perch on railroad tracks during the festival.
Photo by Jim Blaylock