Win big on ‘Jeopardy!’: Salem Days pageant plays to a game show theme
Stone Cushing, 12, of Salem, catches a beach ball during Salem Days concert in the park at Veterans Ball Park on Friday, August 8, 2014. IAN MAULE, Daily Herald
Gabrielle Semandeni, 3, of Salem aims his bow and arrow during Salem Days concert in the park at Veterans Ball Park on Friday, August 8, 2014. IAN MAULE, Daily Herald
Joey, 3, Mark, Libby, 6, and Janessa Warner, all of Spanish Fork, watch as Jocelyn Baker performs during Salem Days concert in the park at Veterans Ball Park on Friday, August 8, 2014. IAN MAULE, Daily Herald
Acting, singing, dancing and video — that’s what the pageant is all about at Salem Days. As one of the culminating activities of a week-long celebration, the Salem Days Pageant continues its more than 60-year tradition.
“We hope to show that Salem has a big heart and is a great community,” said director Betty Hunt, mentioning that the theme of Salem Days for 2015 is “Small Town Big Heart.”
“It has always been a way of celebrating the community and bringing people closer together,” she added. Hunt and her daughter, Jamie Rindlisbacher and friend Andrea Curtis are using the “Jeopardy!” theme for the pageant.
“We are putting posters around town that will have a picture and a question on the poster,” she explained. “When you see the poster you’ll be directed to Salem City’s website to discover the answer We want the community to get involved with the pageant.”
The pageant is somewhat scripted, but the emcees and contestants will be in charge of having fun and drawing the audience into the game, added Hunt.
Hunt has usually been the “costume lady” in past Pageants. “I’ve probably been involved with eight or nine pageants. …” she said. “My adult children were young elementary-age kids when I started. Now they have children of their own!”
That’s why Mayor Randy Brailsford chose Hunt and Rindlisbacher to direct this year’s event. “Betty’s been involved in quite a few pageants and [both ladies] like tradition and history,” he said. “The pageant teaches the young people about our history and it teaches new residents about our traditions and history.”
Brailsford likes to see both the seniors and young people involved — to have the experience of participating in drama and the arts.
“We have brought in some wonderful, amazing women together to be on the committee,” Hunt said. “Their ideas, dedication and excitement have been so inspiring to me.”
Salem has grown since Hunt went to kindergarten at Salem Elementary School but she feels it is still “a community with a heart” and added, “neighbors care about their neighbors. One of my friends who moved here called it a ‘Huck Finn’ town because of the way it feels – friendly, simple, a hometown where you can hear the crickets on a summer night and cheering at the baseball park.”
Brailsford agreed. When he first became mayor 18 years ago, “I knew everybody and the names of their dogs! It’s a beautiful community and I’m proud of our citizens and volunteers. Salem is a great place to raise families and it’s affordable to retire here.”
He is, however, sad to see the orchards and farms disappear because “agriculture is very important for our green space.”
“But it’s nice to see a lot of young people stay and raise families here,” he added. “We welcome people to come on over to Salem Days.”