Over 300,000 square feet of entertainment, gaming & dining! Sign up for our new EQC players club & start earning points towards free play & comps today! MAIN LINE: 253-594-7777. World Poker Tour is the premier name in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. The Fabulous Hubcaps play two shows tonight in The Gold Room of Harrington Raceway and Casino for the Live on Stage series. An area music staple for decades, they have played all over the East. Harrington Raceway and Casino is not responsible for sales by third party ticket agencies. All tickets must be purchased through Eventbrite and the link provided on this website. Any questions about ticket prices or purchasing tickets can be directed to the Casino Gift Shop by calling 888-887-5687, x5246.
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Comedy Hall of Fame executive director Tony Belmont, left, joins comedian/actor Robin Williams. Mr. Williams was scheduled to be inducted into the hall shortly before his death. Mr. Belmont will present 'The Comedy Time Tunnel' during two shows tonight at Harrington Raceway and Casino's Gold Room. (Submitted photos)
Does the name Thomas Wignell ring a bell?
If it doesn't, 'The Comedy Time Tunnel,' set for tonight at Harrington Raceway and Casino's Gold Room, might be worth checking out.
Mr. Wignell, who lived from 1753 to 1803, is considered America's first comedian. He starred in 'The Contrast,' the first comedic play written by an American citizen that was professionally produced.
He and other great comics from the past will be featured in a program hosted by Tony Belmont, director of the Florida-based National Comedy Hall of Fame, during shows at 6 and 8:30 p.m.
The audience will go through a fast-paced journey through comedy history and see rare moments and interviews.
The program goes through the 1800s, vaudeville, standup, theater and on to the early days of radio and the beginning of television.
It is the brainchild of Mr. Belmont, who says he has long been interested in comedians. Also president of Alan Freed Productions, Mr. Belmont has staged thousands of concerts. Mr. Freed, a popular disc jockey, helped popularize rock ‘n' roll in the 1950s.
'The concerts that I did always opened with a comedian and I became really fascinated with these crazy guys,' he said.
Toasters 4 slot. 'They were the kids in high school who would launch a spitball when the teacher's back is turned and then point to you when she turned back around. These were the ones who grew up and became comedians.'
When talking to comedy legends Morey Amsterdam and Steve Allen about 15 years ago, Mr. Belmont discovered
Among the Comedy Hall of Fame's artifacts is a dress and hat belonging to the late country comedian MInnie Pearl.
there was no place or group that archived the history of comedy.
So he took it upon himself to get the ball rolling. He set out to interview the comedic greats of the past to record their thoughts for posterity.
'I figured once they were gone, all of this material and history would go with them forever,' he said.
For the next 2½ years, he interviewed the likes of Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Sid Caesar, Martha Raye and Imogene Coca, all of whom have passed away in the meantime.
Those interviews make up the bulk of 'The Comedy Time Tunnel.'
'Milton Berle will talk about what it was like to make the jump from vaudeville to television. Sid Caesar talks about those early years of television when there was practically nothing on and viewers would just stare at an emblem waiting for him to come on.'
Along with those famous faces, the show includes famous routines and trivia questions where audience members can win prizes, some gag gifts and others collectibles, such as copies of old radio comedies from the 1930s.
'It's part educational game show as well — mixed together with this fast-paced hour of entertainment. In all of the years we've been doing this, I've never had anyone walk out or get bored with it,' Mr. Belmont said.
'I also tell personal stories about what it was like to interview Red Skelton or manage (ventriloquist) Señor Wences and then meet Salvador Dali through him.'
Currently, there is no actual National Comedy Hall of Fame venue. A museum filled with comedy artifacts and archival material did find a home for a year in 2006 in Treasure Island, Florida.
An artist's rendering of a proposed Comedy Hall of Fame. Officials are searching for a place to house the facility.
The facility was in a 7,000-square-foot building and saw 1,000 visitors a day. It contained items such as a Minnie Pearl dress and a Jerry Mahoney dummy along with interactive exhibits and holograms of comedians from the past such as Abbott and Costello.
'We set it up just to test the waters but it got to be too overwhelming so we had to close it,' Mr. Belmont said.
He has been on the lookout for a new home ever since, having had interest from some cities across the country but has never been able to nail anything down permanently.
'It can be anywhere really. Baltimore, New York City, Philly. With all of the history you have, Delaware would be a great place for it,' Mr. Belmont said.
'You'd be looking at about 500,000 tourists a year. In talking with the folks from the football and baseball halls of fame, they get 650,000 a year.'
Many legendary comedians have been inducted in the National Comedy Hall of Fame, from Laurel and Hardy and Charlie Chaplin to Bob Newhart and George Carlin.
Robin Williams was to be the next comedian inducted but he passed away before plans could be completed.
'We have those on hold for the time being,' Mr. Belmont said.
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A panel of comedians and those from the New York Friar's Club vote on induction. In order to be eligible, a comedian has to have been nationally known for at least 25 years.
The hall is a nonprofit organization with Mr. Belmont not taking any money for his work.
'It's strictly a labor of love for me,' he said.
To reach Mr. Belmont or get more information, email him at comedyhall@aol.com.
Tickets for tonight's shows are $10 and can be obtained by visiting the Casino Gift Shop or online at harringtonraceway.com.
Gin Blossoms and more at Harrington
Also in Harrington, the casino hosts rock-pop group Gin Blossoms at 8 p.m. Saturday in Exhibit Hall.
As we told you last week, Gin Blossoms made their mark with such hits as 'Hey Jealousy,' 'Until I Fall Away,' 'Follow You Down,' 'Till I Hear It From You,' and the Grammy-nominated hit 'As Long As It Matters.'
Formed in 1987 in Tempe, Arizona, the group's 'New Miserable Experience' went triple platinum in 1992.
It was followed by other hit albums such as 'Congratulations I'm Sorry' (1996), 'Major Lodge Victory' (2006) and 'No Chocolate Cake' (2010).
They are led by original members Bill Leen, Jesse Valenzuela, Robin Wilson and Scott Johnson and later Scott Hessel.
Tickets are $39.
Two more shows were announced Thursday as part of the On Stage – Harrington series lineup at Harrington Raceway and Casino.
The 5th Dimension featuring Florence LaRue will perform at Exhibit Hall on Saturday, Jan. 23 while The Time Jumpers featuring Vince Gill, Kenny Sears and 'Ranger Doug' Green are scheduled to perform there April 8.
With over 20 million records sold worldwide, 22 Top 40 Hits, five No. 1 hits and six Grammys, Florence LaRue and The 5th Dimension have a repertoire of classic songs, whichi include 'Up, Up, And Away,' 'One Less Bell To Answer,' 'Last Night I Didn't get To Sleep At All,' 'Wedding Bell Blues,' 'Stoned Soul Picnic,' and the iconic 'Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In.'
The Time Jumpers were established in Nashville in 1998 by an assemblage of high-dollar studio musicians who wanted to spend some spare time drinking beer and jamming with their sonically gifted buddies. The notion of building a rabidly devoted following was the last thing on their minds. But that's what happened. Learning that Monday evenings were the slowest in the week for the Station Inn bluegrass club in Nashville, the super pickers settled in that fabled venue at the start of each week and set up shop. Pretty soon Monday nights were sounding a lot like Saturday nights – drawing lively crowds.
Tickets for the 5th Dimension are $34 with The Time Jumpers' show costing $49. Both shows are at 8 p.m. with tickets going on sale for both on Thursday at 10 a.m.
All shows can be purchased online at www.harringtonraceway.com, by calling 888-887-5687, Ext. 5246 or stopping by the Casino Gift Shop.
English at Old State House
The Delaware Friends of Folk is partnering with the First State Heritage Park in sponsoring a series of concerts through the winter at the Old State House in Dover.
Today at 7:30 p.m., they will feature bluesman Chris English.
Mr. English toils in Delta blues, singing, playing guitar and harp, stamping out the time on an old wooden Coca-Cola crate.
He uses vintage guitars from the '20s and '30s to replicate the sound and feeling of the blues he has studied and loves. He also teaches a course in blues that he created, at Salisbury University, titled 'Blues, the Roots of Rock and Roll.'
Admission to tonight's concert is free.
For more information about the concert, call (302) 827-FOLK or go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/delfolk.
Bell rings for Toys for Tots
As the holidays approach, the need for gifts for underprivileged children comes into focus.
As he has done for the past several years, Lafayette Bell, aka Sgt. Bell, of Houston, tries to get the word out about Toys for Toys through a song he wrote called 'The Totz for Totz Rap,' a video for which can be seen on YouTube.
Local dropoff points for Toys for Tots include CNB Banks and Walgreen's Pharmacies.
For more information, contact Sgt. Bell at 302-531-7278 or e-mail lwbs66@yahoo.com.
Now showing
New in theaters this weekend is the comedy 'Love the Coopers' and dramas 'The 33' and 'My All American.'
On DVD and download starting Tuesday is the action-adventure TV remake 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'
Reach features editor Craig Horleman at chorl@newszap.com
With 43 years under their belt, The Fabulous Hubcaps will perform two shows at Harrington Raceway and Casino's Gold Room tonight. (Submitted photo)
Denny Cook can't even imagine how many different songs he's performed as a member of The Fabulous Hubcaps.
'It's gotta be at least 1,000,' he said. 'I know it's a lot.'
He can be forgiven for not having an exact count. He's been with the group from the very beginning — 43 years ago. He's the last original member still in the band.
'To tell you the truth, I don't know where the time went. I have a lot of great memories. That's for sure,' said the 68-year-old lead singer and bassist for the group that specializes in the music of the 1950s and '60s.
The Fabulous Hubcaps play two shows tonight in The Gold Room of Harrington Raceway and Casino for the Live on Stage series.
An area music staple for decades, they have played all over the East Coast and in places as far away as Puerto Rico, California, Arizona and Michigan. They even played at the White House in 1995 for a press corps picnic.
For those who miss them tonight in Harrington, they will have another chance May 4, when the band opens Springfest in Ocean City, Maryland.
The Fabulous Hubcaps is the only band with which Mr. Cook has ever been involved, joining the group in 1974 when it was Harvey Hubcap and the Do Ron Ron. Dover resident Rocky Simon was one of its founding members, later retiring from the group in 2008.
'Sports and music were my two passions and I got into radio as a DJ spinning records. I thought that was the closest to rock 'n' roll I would ever get,' Mr. Cook said.
'I got off the air and got into sales and didn't do too well and I got laid off. I discovered this band at the College Park (Maryland) Student Union. There was an opening for a bass player. I had been playing the bass for about six months by then. I auditioned and got the job.'
A year later, he found himself singing lead for the group — a spot he hasn't given up since.
For a while, Harvey Hubcap and the Do Ron Ron merged with The Moon Band to do a history of rock 'n' roll show but the '50s music went over so well, The Moon Band was ditched and the band then became The Southern Maryland Band featuring The Harvey Hubcap Show.
Realizing that name was a bit long to be put on a marquee, The Hubcaps were born.
'I personally got tired of being called Harvey and people kept describing us as ‘fabulous' so we added ‘The Fabulous Hubcaps.' But even to this day if anyone asks, I say I play in The Hubcaps.
Today, the band's company is The Southern Maryland Band Productions, based out of Owings Mill, Maryland, which trades as The Fabulous Hubcaps.
'By the time the band was well established, my dream was for the band to become a business. We're not weekend warriors. We practice every week. We each get a check bi-weekly. We are a business. This isn't a game to us,' Mr. Cook said.
'I think that attitude has gone a long way to present a solitary and unified front where we have worked for each other and we've been one for all.'
The second-longest tenured performer in the band is 65-year-old drummer Barry Holober, who joined in 1982.
Harrington Casino Gold Room Entertainment Room
Members, who all hail from the Baltimore-Washington area, also include Tommy Dildy on keyboards and vocals; vocalist and keyboard player Lorraine Allen; guitarist and keyboard player Dean Andrews; guitarist and vocalist Michael Shipley; saxophone player and vocalist Jay Cleaver; and crew chief Bob Linkous, who also adds vocals and keyboards.
'If you took all of the experience in this band, it would add up to about 250 years,' said Mr. Cook, adding that if there is an opening in the group, it's quickly filled by someone wanting to join because of The Hubcaps' reputation.
'It's a nice position to be in.'
Through the years, The Fabulous Hubcaps' repertoire has grown but it's still the 'oldies' that keep people coming back.
'We tried to do some original stuff in the past but it wasn't what the audience wanted to hear. They want to hear the good old rock 'n' roll songs of the '50s and '60s. They want to hear the beach music and Motown,' Mr. Cook said.
'We do a few things beyond that. I do a Frank Sinatra bit and sing 'New York, New York.' Lorraine will do Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You. But we try to stay with the nostalgia that the 50-, 60- and 70-year-olds want to hear.'
As any Fabulous Hubcap fan can tell you, the group doesn't just sing the songs, there are costume changes and props galore. One minute Elvis hits the stage and the next minute you might see Willie Nelson.
'Someone who has never seen the show may not know what's coming. They don't know what's going on,' said Mr. Cook with a laugh.
'When I get up there in front of the room, I can sense if we're playing to a room full of fans or a fresh audience. It's always fun to play to a fresh audience, especially in a theatrical audience and work hard to make sure they like you and they don't walk out on you.'
For more than four decades, Mr. Cook has had many more fans stick around and he's been happy to entertain them.
'We've had a lot of members come and go over the years, some have passed away and some have chosen to do something else. But this is where my passion is and I'm going to do it as long as I possibly can,' he said.
'I've never thought about doing anything else. This is what I want to do.'
Tonight's shows at Harrington are at 6 and 8:30. Tickets for the 21-and-over concert are $14 and can be purchased by visiting harringtonraceway.com, stopping by the casino gift shop or calling 888-887-5687 ext. 5246.
11th Sour upon us
Through the years, The Fabulous Hubcaps' repertoire has grown but it's still the 'oldies' that keep people coming back.
'We tried to do some original stuff in the past but it wasn't what the audience wanted to hear. They want to hear the good old rock 'n' roll songs of the '50s and '60s. They want to hear the beach music and Motown,' Mr. Cook said.
'We do a few things beyond that. I do a Frank Sinatra bit and sing 'New York, New York.' Lorraine will do Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You. But we try to stay with the nostalgia that the 50-, 60- and 70-year-olds want to hear.'
As any Fabulous Hubcap fan can tell you, the group doesn't just sing the songs, there are costume changes and props galore. One minute Elvis hits the stage and the next minute you might see Willie Nelson.
'Someone who has never seen the show may not know what's coming. They don't know what's going on,' said Mr. Cook with a laugh.
'When I get up there in front of the room, I can sense if we're playing to a room full of fans or a fresh audience. It's always fun to play to a fresh audience, especially in a theatrical audience and work hard to make sure they like you and they don't walk out on you.'
For more than four decades, Mr. Cook has had many more fans stick around and he's been happy to entertain them.
'We've had a lot of members come and go over the years, some have passed away and some have chosen to do something else. But this is where my passion is and I'm going to do it as long as I possibly can,' he said.
'I've never thought about doing anything else. This is what I want to do.'
Tonight's shows at Harrington are at 6 and 8:30. Tickets for the 21-and-over concert are $14 and can be purchased by visiting harringtonraceway.com, stopping by the casino gift shop or calling 888-887-5687 ext. 5246.
11th Sour upon us
Also tonight, Fordham & Dominion Brewery in Dover will introduce the latest in a series of upgrades to their Fordham line. The 11th Sour is the first sour batch brewed by FoDo Brewing.
The ale is a kettle sour that uses lactobacillus, fermented on house ale yeast and then aged on Concord grapes.
'Some of our best work is done at the bitter end. This beer was no exception. A last-minute decision to add to our Fordham seasonal calendar and we nailed it,' said Ryan Telle, head of marketing and graphic design.
The beer release party, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the brewery off Horsepond Road will include the Nothing Better food truck, winner of last weekend's Harvest Ridge Winery Food Truck Competition and music by Bodhi Woof.
Meatball-Con Saturday
Harrington Casino Gold Room Entertainment Console
On Saturday, Mispillion River Brewing in Milford will host its third annual Meatball-Con craft beer and meatball convention from noon to 4 p.m.
Last year, Meatball-Con garnered a crowd of over 300 meatball enthusiasts and raised over $600 for the Food Bank of Delaware. The brewery hopes to double that donation this year.
In addition to Crust & Craft, who will be returning to defend their 'Number One Baller' title, 13 restaurants will compete in three categories: Traditional Balls, Balls to the Wall and Sweet Balls.
James Beard nominee Hari Cameron will be representing Grandpa Mac and returning for the third time. In previous years, Mr. Cameron has narrowly missed the overall title.
Additionally, Grain Craft Bar and Kitchen, who won the Balls to the Wall category last year with a venison meatball, will be entering a rattlesnake meatball this year.
Other competitors include The Starboard, Restaurant 55, Crooked Hammock, Argilla Brewing, Brick Works Brewing and Eats, Dewey Beer Company, Cantwell's Tavern, Bethany Blues, Mr. Bar B Que and Dewey Beach Club.
In lieu of charging for tickets, the brewery is asking that attendees bring a can of food or cash donation for the Food Bank of Delaware.
'Beer and meatballs are my two biggest passions. The opportunity to bring them together in an event is my greatest joy in life,' said event organizer Lauren Bigelow.
The brewery is at 255 Mullet Run St. in Milford and meatballs are free to all.
Dover Days car show
It's not too early to be thinking about Dover Days and definitely not too early to sign up for the car show on May 6.
The cost to participate is $10. Advance registration must be received by April 30 for Featured Club recognition. The show will also allow registrations on the day of the event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The first 50 participants to register will receive a commemorative dash plaque after payment is received. Funds raised from the show will go to the Dover Kiwanis Club, who have partnered with Kent County Tourism Corp. to organize and run the car show.
The car show is a participant judging event. The top 24 cars are awarded trophies by popular vote and Best in Show are awarded by popular vote of registered car owners. The public also selects a winner. Voting by the public will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 2:30. There is no show admission charge for the public to view the vehicles. The awards will be announced at 3:30 p.m. from the main stage the day of the event.
For more information and to preregister, visit www.DoverDaysFestival.com or contact John Doerfler at 734-4888.
Now showing
New this weekend in theaters is the animated 'Smurfs: The Lost Village 3D' and a remake of the geriatric comedy 'Going in Style.'
Harrington Casino Gold Room Entertainment Center
On DVD and download starting Tuesday are the acclaimed films 'Hidden Figures' and 'Lion' and the animated 'Monster Trucks.'
Reach features editor Craig Horleman at chorl@newszap.com
