Annual Temple Lions Club Show

The Temple Lions Club's annual show is one of the longest running shows of it's type in the world and is the Temple Lions Club's largest fund raiser. It began in 1936 in the format of a musical minstrel, a spin-off from the turn of the century traveling tent shows that toured the U.S. from coast to coast. In the 1890's, big companies of performers with gorgeous costumes came through the Temple area on a regular basis. The big tent shows were normally located one block north of the Sante Fe Depot, at the corner of where Avenue A and 7 th Street are now.

These shows continued for a number of years. In 1936, The Temple Lions decided it needed a fund raiser ,one that could be done by it's members . The clubs as well as the national organization was just 19 years old at the time. The 60 members were taking the motto of Lions, " We Serve " to heart as they agreed that the minstrel would be the format for this fundraiser. H.W. Hughes, Walter Humphrey, John Connevey, Tom Wright , F. H. Christian, F.A. Thomson ,Mrs. Lillie B. Brooks and Harley Mitchell were all involved in getting that first show off the ground. The first Lions Show, know as Minstrel Burlesque was held at the Municipal Auditorium on May 15th and 16th in 1936. The first Interlocutor was Walter Humphrey . The Interlocutor was the straight man for the jokesters of the show called, End Men. The first End Men were Tom Wright, Charlie Boyd, Jimmie McDonald, Chuck Smith, Waldo Riley, and Beanie Heap. That show was a great success and thus began this long running tradition. Besides the before mentioned names, others like Buster Brown, Eddie Callaway C.I. Mitchell, Chick Walker, D.Q. "Jack " Baskin , Jim Head , J.A. McCelvey and Guy Baker were an integral part of those early shows and lent their time and talents to seeing that the show went on every year until 1942 . The World War II was under way and the shows were postponed until 1946. The 1946 club president S.H. Cauthen and Lionel Campbell felt like it was time to get the shows started again. This time they went outside of town to get a radio talk show personality to be a part of the "come back" show. Mr. Jimmie Jefferies agreed to be the interlocutor. He was from the Dallas radio station WFAA and the show "Early Birds"and was a popular comedian of the time. He was known as " the roundest man in radio ". Making it back from his stint of defending our country on the day before the show was Harley Mitchell. Temple High School had its first involvement with the show this year as the String Orchestra Ensemble performed. The high school has had a large part of the show almost every year since. The late 40's and through the 50's the Lions Show kept the format of the minstrel. The show was just called The Minstrel of the year it was produced until 1950 when themes for the show started to emerge. The show that year was " The 1950 Minstrels - 50 Years of Fun. " Still being held in the Municipal auditorium with the dressing rooms below the stage. The guys were having so much fun. It could not be determined for sure whether there was more laughter in the audience or below the stage.

Through this era and into the early 60's the show made stars and living legends of many of it's home grown members for their antic's on the stage. Some of the most recognizable were Ed Yarbrough, Moon Mullins, Buster Brown, O.L. Petty, Jarrad Secrest, Charles Price, Truman Head , Kiefer Marshall, Jr. , Smitty Tarrant, and Ross Greenwood. Other Lions that would also become legendary with the show in those years were Paul McBurney, Stanley Casey, Frank Matush, Howell Hundley, Ford Wolf, Frank Walker, Barnell Berry, Larry Ingram, Harry Cole, Jack Dempsey, Happy Smith, James LaFan, Charles Cox, Kirby Taylor, Tom Popejoy, Scott Brookshire, Dick Epperson, and Gene Main. 1964 saw a very talented crooner on the Lions stage for the first time. Sam Farrow whom through his years in the show and other local performances has become known as "Sing'n Sam". He has not missed a Lions show performance to this day. Music was a very big part of the production and those that directed the music were greatly valued by the club. Fred Bigelow was one of the first musical directors, followed by the likes of Barnell Berry and the director of the band from Temple High School Durward Howard who first brought the Highlighters to the stage in 1954 as the Starlighters Dixieland Band. The Highlighters, which are a made up a a selected group of musicians from the high school band, have been in every show since. In 1966 a change of location took place which was influenced by the club's involvement with the high school. The old Municipal auditorium had become too small to hold the every growing crowds that year after year attended the show. Temple had grown from a small town of 15,000 in 1936 to a population of near double that size in the mid 60's. The school district had just opened the new high school with a large auditorium with comfortable seating and air-conditioning. It was just perfect for the 27th Annual Show that was titled " Lions Trix in '66 " . Other theme shows of that time were; " Dixie Belle Jubilee" 1959, had a steamboat on stage, " Rip Roarin Twenties" 1960, lots of dancing the Charleston, " New Frontiers" 1961, referenced the Kennedy election, " Utopia" 1962,search for a perfect life and signaled the beginnings of the 60's unrest, " Stop the Presses!" 1963, took a few jabs at the local paper, " 25 Years of Fun" 1964, last of the minstrel make-up shows, " Come Alive in '65" the last of the "chain walk-ons."

The later sixties brought forth a new group of performers that would continue the legacy of the Lions Show. Still utilizing the end men with an emcee or master of ceremonies the likes of Charles Voelter , who was the architect for the new school, Charles Stout who as of this date remains a driving force in the club taking care of the day to day business of the club, Charles Walker, Daron Reedy, J.W. Perry ( later to become mayor), Bill Childers, John Dempsey, John Bonnet, Tyler Cagel and Kirk Delany returned year after year to the pleasure of the audience as end men or other stage parts. Then there were those that just love to dance , mostly in ridiculous outfits born out of the early shows . Mr. Dancer has to be A.J. Mercer as leader and organized the dance group of Lions every year until he retired from the stage a few years ago. Others of this era were Bill Newburn , Cave Wann, Bob Farrell, Ann Chamlee, and Jerry Tyroch who was still working as usher captain at the 2004 show . Bill Chamlee and Tom Popejoy along with Jack Baskin used their artistic and creative talents in set design.

Then along came the 70's and lots of first for the show. It was the first for the Temple High School Polyfonics who where in there first year of existence. The Polys are the phenomenal singing group and some great talents. Some of it's members like John Mischtian have gone on to become Lions and star in the show. That's also true with the Highlighters, Charlie Voelter was in that first group in 1954 and although he's not a real Lion but the closest thing to it is Guy Fowler was also in that group when he made his first stage appearance with Voelter in their now famous "Skat " number. It was 1972 and Guy was a junior in THS. The 70's also are responsible for the mainstay of the Lions Show today. Gary Gosney and Allan Lueck came on board during this time . Since then they have made the show what it is today. Gary as a writer , director and cast member known for his hilarious interviews and other comic talents while Allan has also helped write, direct , produce, and play the straight man to Gosney's antics and emcee the show . Other notable characters on stage around this time period were T.A. Cook, Gene Schwartz, Bill Wison, Dan Cullinane, Ted Floca, Garrett Hill, Charles Pierce, Tex Burrows and our current county judge Jon Burrows who is known for his off-the-cuff monologues at many of the shows. These shows of the 70's became complete theme oriented shows . Borrowing their ideas from the best movie of the year, TV show or just what was going on at the time. The shows were; in 1970 "Injuns" , 1971 "Sawbones ", 1972 "The GI's", 1973 "School Daze" , 1974 "Snow White in Dizzyland", 1975 "The Robin Hood Connection", 1976 " Bye-Bye Centennial ", 1977 " Gunfight at Lions Corral " ,1978 " Big Wheels ", and 1979 "Superman and the Super Lions" .

Then in the 80's some of the greats retired and a new transfusion of Lions injected their witt , talent, and energy to the mix with the seasoned veterans who continued what had become a Temple family tradition . Some of those getting on board in the 1980's were Wade Matthews, Joe Keifer, George White, Jim Covington, Elwood Smith, Steve Cook, Grady Tyroch, Ben Chlapek, and Terry Cost All of these Lions are still very much involved with the show today. Working behind the scenes were Larry Neal, John Rude, Jack Staub, and Don Gregory and they continued their efforts today as well. The 41st Show was called " Fantastic Island " continuing the TV / Movie theme. Others shows of the 80's were "Who Really Shot J.R.?" ,"Raiders of the Lost Coaches", "Little Orphan Annie", "Smurfing with the Lions" , "Ghost busters Temple Lions Style", "Lionbo" , "Startrek IV Lions 3" , " Lion's Mardi-Growl", and the 50th Show in 1989 was "Back From The Future - 50 Years of Fun."

Being associated with anything for 10 years or more is a quite an accomplishment and many of these Lions of the 90's still work to make sure that the audience is entertained. Some of the Lions seeing their first Lion's stage in the 90's were Fred Bender, Mike Ludlow, Harry Adams, J. Brown, Kenny Martin, Bob Gosney, Eddie Lange, Jake Herndon, Jim Hunter, Missy Williamson, Donna Cole ( Donna has transcribed the script into written form for many years ), Triston Mabry, and Jesse Ybarbo. Shows of the 90's kept the end man format until 1996 when it became more of a variety show showcasing more local talent than ever before. The names of those shows included, "Batman and the Lions", "Dick Tracy up against the Lions", " Hook Lions & Sinker", "The Lion In Aladdin's Lamp", "Jezzek Park", "Forrest Gump meets the Lion King" , and in 1996 " That's Entertainment". These shows were followed by " The Purrfect Lions Club Show"( you will notice that " perfect " is misspelled), and "Lions in Black" in 1998. Also in the 90's and before Susan Gosney lent her talents to help choreograph the legendary dancers and entertained audience with her beautiful singing. Susan is wife of Gary Gosney who has also gotten his children involved in the Show over the years. The latest edition is Thumper Gosney who is proving to be quite the comedian , too. The new millennium began with shows Like "Poke`Lion" , "Survivor", and the patriotic themed, "Red,White,Blue and Temple" after the national tragedy of 9/11/01 ( a fireman from New York participated in the show and thanked all for their help and prayers), 2003 saw the show "DATELION" a spoof on the a news magazines, in 2004 "The TwoNight Show" with Len Jayno. John Bailey starred and was the show's producer. This show marked the 20th year of collaboration of Lions Gary Gosney and George White in writing and directing .Lions Cynthia Gibson, Neal Graeff, Bill Hartwell, Cindy Perry, Bob Ritchie, Debbie Brockway, Roy Wells, Scott Nix, and Kristie Arredondo have taken their place in the history of the decade of 2000. The Show in 1999 was dedicated to Lion Harley Davidson Mitchell as well as a published book on the history ."The History of the Temple Lions Show…Show" as it was named. Lion Mitchell, who passed away in 2002, was the driving force. He appeared in, wrote directed, or produced every show until the 59th when his health started to fail. He had a passion for the Lions show, which he has passed on to his contemporaries who plan to keep to show going in his memory for many years to come. The Lions club through the dedication of it's members, advertisers, sponsors, and others that are involved will once again present this year's show at the Temple High School Auditorium with the good Lord willing.

The 2005 show will be another first , it'll be "The TwoNight Show II" and represents 70 years since the first show. The Lions club would like to thank the most important people involved in the show, the audience who year after year supports this great fund-raiser, which allows the Temple Lions Club to help so many.