That 60's Show Was A Barge Victory

ICONIC MUSKOKA SUMMER NIGHT IN GRAVENHURST

"THAT 60'S SHOW," A HIT ON THE BARGE - COULD BE A BLAST AT THE OPERA HOUSE

     I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE GOOD FOLKS OF PARIS, ONTARIO, WERE DOING TONIGHT. OR THE CITIZENS OF BELLEVILLE, GRIMSBY, OAKVILLE, OR EMSDALE; OR FOR THE FUN SEEKERS IN HALIFAX, VICTORIA, REGINA OR MOOSE JAW.  BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT, THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL THOUSAND FUN-SEEKERS TIME-TRAVELLING IN UPTOWN GRAVENHURST.  BACK TO THE NINETEEN SIXTIES. BACK TO A TIME ON THE NEW BARGE, WHEN IT WAS THE PLATFORM OF REFLECTION, IN THE ERA OF PROFOUND CHANGE AND SOCIAL UPHEAVAL…..FROM BIG BANDS TO ROCK 'N ROLL……GLEN MILLER TO THE ROLLING STONES. FOR THOSE WHO LIVED THROUGH THE SIXTIES, NO EXPLANATION IS NEEDED. FOR THOSE WHO MISSED THAT DECADE, HERE WAS THEIR BIG CHANCE TO UPGRADE, IN A GENTLE, ENTERTAINING WAY. NOT QUITE LIKE THE WAY WE HAD IT…….FINDING OUT A PRESIDENT HAD BEEN ASSASSINATED. WATCHING FROM OUR LIVINGROOMS AS ASTRONAUTS LANDED ON THE MOON. BEING INTRODUCED TO HIPPIES AND DRAFT DODGERS. LEARNING ABOUT A WAR IN THE JUNGLES OF VIETNAM. I WAS A KID. A PARTICULARLY ASTUTE KID, WHO WAS PRETTY SURE THEN, WHAT HE WAS LIVING THROUGH WAS ROUGH STUFF FULL OF IMPLICATIONS FOR LIFE IN THE FUTURE. I WASN'T WRONG. YOU MAY HAVE FELT THE SAME. IT IS STILL MY DEFINITIVE ERA WHEN I THINK ABOUT "PROFOUND" CHANGE I'VE KNOWN IN MY 57 YEARS ON THIS PLANET.

   AND IF THERE WAS ANY COUNCILLOR, OR TOWN STAFFER, WHO MAY HAVE PAUSED AT THE OFFICE WATER-COOLER, TO DISCUSS THE BIG PRICE TAG OF THE BARGE RESTORATIONS THIS YEAR, WELL SIR, THEY'D HAVE HAD ALL THEIR RESERVATIONS QUASHED IN ONE NIGHT OF THROWBACK MUSIC, THANKS TO THE TALENTED GROUP THAT MAKES UP THE MUSICAL TRIBUTE, 'THAT 60'S SHOW." THE AUDIENCE WAS HUGE, AND AGGRESSIVE WITH THEIR DONATIONS, AND THERE WERE TWO MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY IN THE RANK AND FILE OF COLLECTION TAKERS. BY THEIR REVIEWS, THE AUDIENCE WAS ABUNDANTLY APPRECIATIVE, THAT THE BARGE MANAGER DECIDED TO BRING IN A QUALITY "60'S SHOW." IT WAS, LET ME MAKE THIS CRYSTAL CLEAR,  "A QUALITY SHOW." WHEN YOU SEE BEACH AND DOCK DANCING, AND LAWN CHAIR BOBBING AND WEAVING, YOU KNOW IT'S A NIGHT FOR THE RECORD BOOK. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE LARGEST EARLY SEASON CROWDS IN YEARS. IF THERE ARE ANY COMPLAINTS……IGNORE THEM. THESE FOLKS WOULDN'T BE HAPPY WITH A FLUTE SOLO, OR A LONE DRUMMER. IF THEY WANT A KNITTING PERFORMANCE, WELL….THERE AREN'T ANY……. UNLESS SUZANNE OFFERS TO STAGE A SHOW FOR THE TRULY HARD TO PLEASE OUT THERE. SHE'S A KNITTER.

     It was one of those perfect summer evenings in South Muskoka. Some literary types would call it "iconic," and "paradise found." The photographers and artists, were delighted by the variety of images and the magic of light and shadow on such a naturally beautiful location. There was a lot for the voyeur-me to look at, and I sat for most of the evening making copious notes, and writing what I thought were clever overviews and philosophical side-notes about a parallel universe and transcendental stuff that, frankly, I don't understand but feel obliged to write about, in case some university seeks my collection of rough notes, when I become famous. I've just finished reading the notes I made, and have discarded them like all the other "actuality" I feel compelled to make note of, when covering current events. It's my old reporter-days rearing up against my complacent senior years, when I can get enjoyment and fulfillment, without analyzing a bloody thing. I have given myself the privilege of doing just that, and by golly, it's what I enjoy most about being a writer and a sightseer without feeling any obligation to opine about anything more than……did we all have a good time.

    I have to footnote here, for those who don't know the history of the past two years, and the failing condition of the platform where tonight's concert was being held. You see, this is the pivot from which everything rotates, including "That 60's Show," which might not have even happened, without restoration of the woodwork and support piers of the more than fifty year old island stage. For the past two years it has been an issue, and for the past year a constant concern, especially with the Town of Gravenhurst facing austerity budgets, now and in the future. For those who were part of the lobby to keep The Barge up and running, it was a year of ups and downs, and nagging doubts about whether it would be ready for the 2012 season. Thanks to incredible work from the inmates of Beaver Creek Correctional Institution, and funding by the Town of Gravenhurst, the patrons tonight at Gull Lake Rotary Park got to see a talented group of performers, presenting a good chunk of the nostalgia connected to this same bit of woodwork, backed by fiberglass panels, against a backdrop of pure Muskoka lakeland. Most people didn't even know about the restoration, or how much it cost. Or how much lobbying it took to put councillors on-side.

     There were swimmers, cyclists, canoeists, boaters, motorized cart users, the picnic crowd, the family gatherings, uncles, nephews, long lost relatives, reunited neighbors, CAO's, past company presidents, bankers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, custodians, waitresses, cooks, carpenters, politicians, soon-to-be politicians, mechanics, and those who need mechanics. It was a happening. An incredible summer night. Sun, cool breeze, gentle lapping of waves upon the sand shore, blue sky, vapor trails from silent planes passing over head, the sounds of laughter, screaming for ice cream, friendly chiding, informative conversation, and so many hale and hearty greetings, patrons meeting patrons, in the same part of the beautiful park as the year before and the years before that. This is the portrait of Gravenhurst that needs to be on the front of the brochures. This is the scene that should be on film promoting our town. This is the event that has been ignored and misunderstood for far too long, by those who represent our community. Some councillors, at least in the past, didn't feel it was necessary to sample the local fare, of these traditional Sunday night concerts, in the middle of their hometown. I told them they were wrong then, and if they weren't in the audience tonight…….well, what can we do, but invite them to come next week, to see for themselves, just how popular the Concert on the Barge series is, and has been since the late 1940's……before The Barge was even constructed. A bandshell on shore started us off, and it's been history-making ever since.

     When a member of council asked to see a picture of the audience, (to prove our claims of having large crowds) at one of the average summer concerts from the previous years, I was shocked, dismayed, and rather determined, to make sure this situation didn't happen again…..where any elected councillor has to ask to see a picture of an audience, to infill what they haven't seen in person. There is no excuse for not knowing what's going on in our town, when it comes to public spaces, and very public events. So now we have a fully restored Barge structure, and after only two concerts this season so far (the first one was rained out), the Barge Manager, Fred Schulz, can boast, one of the most positive starts to any season in recent memory. I do want the Town of Gravenhurst to get the credit for this one. They came through with the funding, after some gentle persuasion. But they made the right decision. And when I was leaving the park, to get home to write this little post show review, I couldn't help notice the traffic at some of the nearby businesses that sell refreshments and ice cream treats, and as far as I can tell…..that's economic spin-off "up-close and personal." The personal part is that I didn't have time to get the ice cream cone Suzanne promised me, if I was a good writer-husband, and didn't mention her so much in my blogs. There were too many ice cream customers and too little time for me. I'll hit Suzanne up for a cone tomorrow. Point is, not only did the park snack bar have a good and solid business….(it smelled heavenly), and so did many other businesses especially following the concert. This is what I want councillors to see. Experience. Believe without us having to email them a photograph and caption. This is their Gravenhurst and they need to be a part of what's going on…….not just at town hall, but in places like Gull Lake Park, where economic development gets a shot in the arm every summer Sunday evening……buy hasn't been noticed by our decision makers for far too long.

     The audience enjoyed "That 60's Show." The collection takers told me so! I believe them. I saw concert-goers running to the collection takers, not running from them. It's a pretty good sign, the patrons like what they're seeing on the main stage. The GO-GO dancer was a peach, and it was enough to gyrate the hill-sitters and seniors, who found youth a matter of mind, even if the body couldn't navigate the same twists and leaps. The group of musicians? Well, I'd like to see their full show, and if I was a town official, I'd be over to see the Opera House manager first thing Monday morning, to pitch a new show for a willing audience. Most people in the audience wanted more, so give it to them! Sign them to a full stage spectacular, with all the bells and whistles, and give us the opportunity to buy tickets for a fun evening on the town…….like Gravenhurst used to be, and offer fun-seekers, before we turned the Opera House into another town office. Get some life and action in there. If this group can attract this large group to the outside venue, it most certainly could fill 320 seats in the Opera House by ticket sales. Give us a chance to see the full, uncut show, in one of the most historic Opera House buildings in the province.

     Our family has been participating in perfect evenings like this for years, sitting on the shore of Gull Lake, enjoying the magnificent lakeland, and the talented performers Fred Schulz brings each summer to the island stage. Tonight was another example of how this community welcomes music and recreation lovers from all over, to join up on these memorable Sunday nights……for the sheer fun of it! Nothing serious. Nothing ponderous or cumbersome. Just plain old summertime fun.  And in Muskoka, in case you didn't know this, we've had generations of experience, to make it a great place to visit, reside for a season, or a lifetime. We're happy to share the abundance of good things we have in our district, and if ever there was a scene that should have been captured, as an example of Muskoka hospitality, and Gravenhurst's dynamic as a host community, it was all there in front of me. A lakeland being enjoyed and celebrated. Me, the comfortable poet, sitting with my feet upon an ages-old birch, just a little older than me. My notes meant nothing. The "actuality" of being there, meant everything. If you haven't been to a Concert on the Barge performance yet this summer, it's not too late. Please come out and support this fine local tradition…..and most of all, support your hometown. We dwell a lot on the negatives. I hope some of the naysayers had a chance to drop by for a visit, so that in their next editorial offerings, they can bestow some credit on the worker bees who make all this possible…….because they love their home town. Some things folks, are a lot less about money, and a lot more about kinship and being good hosts and obliging neighbors. This is what that wooden platform has inspired of the people connected……for long and long.

     Thank you so much for visiting tonight's blog. Please visit again soon.