The April meeting of the Goschenhoppen Historians will feature a presentation titled “The Day the Music Died” by Larry Roeder, local historian and editor of the Town and Country Newspaper, on the history of Sleepy Hollow Ranch, a local “hot spot” that opened in 1940 and remained a major Country Western destination for almost a quarter of a century.
For 23 years, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, summer weekends at the Sleepy Hollow Ranch in Milford Township usually featured a Wild West and Rodeo show, where it wasn’t unusual for crowds of over 3,000 to attend. Log cabin concession stands in wooded surroundings, pony rides, games and “kiddy” rides helped provide a carnival atmosphere! The rodeos were indeed popular, but the musical entertainment that filled the large auditorium was the trademark of the local attraction. The musical entertainment set several “firsts” in the nation for radio and television programming.
Country Western stars like Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Sally Starr, Eddy Arnold, Jimmy Dean, Loretta Lynn, Roy Acuff, Chet Akins, Minnie Pearl, Granpa Jones, Tex Ritter, George Jones, Gene Autry and Porter Wagner appeared on the same stage as pop stars Bill Haley & the Saddle-men (later know as Bill Haley and the Comets), Frankie Avalon, The Everly Brothers, the Ink Spots, the Carter Family and the Mills Brothers.
Learn a bit of the history of the local entertainment venue and hear about the devastating 1963 fire that doomed the place once popularly known as “The Country Music Capital of the East Coast.” Larry has hinted that there may even be a musical surprise in store for those in attendance.
The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, at the Goschenhoppen Historians’ headquarters in Red Men’s Hall, 116 Gravel Pike (Route 29), Green Lane. A special feature of April’s meeting will be recognition of the recipient of this year’s Goschenhoppen Historians’ Annual Award of Merit, and presentation of the Certificate honoring that person’s many contributions to interpreting and preserving Pennsylvania German folk-culture in the Goschenhoppen Region. As always, there is no entry fee and the public is welcome. Refreshments will be served during an informal get-together at the close of the meeting. More information can be obtained at 215-234-4119 or on the Historians’ website: www.goschenhoppen.org.
