Original signatures: Richard Lake and Richard Webb. Historical June 1980 Art Fair/House Tour report.
The 13th annual celebration was a smashing success.
The Mother’s Day weather looked threatening but no rain fell.
The crowd was one of the largest in recent years.
The food was varied and excellent.
The music was great.
All in all Art Fair/House Tour ’80 has to be one of our neighborhood’s best efforts. Financially the fair was also successful. After all expenses are paid, next year’s organizers will have about $700 to work with. That is double the balance that was on hand for this year.
The improved budget outlook is the result of a number of factors.
The fee for artists this year was increased to $10/space. Even though the amount of prize money distributed was double that of last year, with approximately 90 spaces paid for, there was still a balance from artist entry fees.
The house tour was not as well attended as in past years with approximately 300 tickets sold.
In spite of the reduced numbers going on the tour it was still a financial success thanks to Central West End Savings and Loan. CWE paid the cost of printing the tickets for the House Tour.
If you were not on 6100 Kingsbury between 2-4 p.m. you missed the most exciting entertainments of the day.
The St. Louis Police Department’s band, Grand Fuzz, displayed their considerable talent and were enjoyed by everyone, including a news team from Channel 4.
The Grand Fuzz alternated with an excellent singer and guitarist, Bob Abram.
Another highlight was the presence of Alderman Schoemehl at the Male Chauvinist Pig Water Balloon Throw. Like all politicians, Vince has been on the receiving end of some abuse, but his time in the booth had to make politics seem easy. Before he escaped, his nieces, nephew, sister, mother and even his wife each took a shot at him.
The artists were generally pleased and many who were displaying here for the first time indicated that they would be back next year.
The foods offered this year were the best ever and many of those providing food were sold out before the day was over.
As Co-chairpersons for the 1980 effort we would like to thank all those people on the committees who worked to make the day such a success. Without them there would never be an Art Fair/House Tour.
With them, our job was an easy one. Richard Lake Richard Webb
Original photograph caption
Art Fair/House Tour 1980. Photograph by Michael Bracey. The Paper, June 1980, page 6.
Originally published in The Paper, June 1980.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1980_06.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
