The Big E – Education, Education, Education!

BY ELAINE LESSIG

As I was growing up, Sunday nights were spent as a family watching the Ed Sullivan Show on television. Live from the Ed Sullivan Theater in mid-town Manhattan, wholesome entertainment filled the hour. Singers, circus acts, comedians, magicians, and a variety of stars appeared on the screen. It was the most prestigious and popular show, the one on which every talented performer wanted a booking.

Everything eventually changes. Viewing tastes did, too. Ed Sullivan knew the show needed a boost, and fast. What did he do? Well, he was the first to bring the Beatles from their meteoric rise to fame in Britain to New York. It was a complete turnaround for the usually staid show. Chaos ensued. Teens thronged in the street in front of the theater. Screaming, crying, and desperate to get near the Beatles, the adolescent mob staked out their hotel, ran in front of their limos, and threw flowers wher- ever the Beatles went. By the time the Beatles ap- peared on the show, the frenzy had only escalated. That week’s show had the highest viewership in the show’s history and Ed Sul- livan had a new audience and new fans.

I see the very same thing happening in Dogdom today, and it is all for the good. We now offer a variety of events for and about dogs that also builds us a new audience and a whole lot of fans. Have you been to a barn hunt? My first experience was several years ago at the Hatboro Dog Club show. Signs posted the times and place for the barn hunt. I was told not to miss it. Off I went to a covered area where bales of hay were stacked in piles of different heights. The place was packed. Handlers with their dogs soon appeared. The scenting and loud barking began. One by one, the dogs followed the scent to the rats that were safely placed among the bales in their heavy steel cages. Soon the barking escalated as the rat was found to the squeals and cheers of the crowd. Even inspired first-timers released their dogs into the pile. All day long, the sounds of awe and delight came from that pavilion.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=137646

Posted by Alex on Jan 16 2018. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.