I remember going to my first outdoors show. I must have been 7 or 8. My father took me down to Chicago’s south side to the International Amphitheater for the annual Chicago Outdoor Show. It was an event that I will always remember.
Like many of today’s shows, there were thousands and thousands of square feet of booth space filled with rods, reels and tackle along with boats, hunting equipment, resorts and destinations. That wasn’t what made the show so special.
What was most memorable was the entertainment that made the show the true extravaganza that many of us still remember today. John Bromfield was the master of ceremonies. Bromfield, an actor, was best known as a television cowboy from the series, "Sheriff of Cochise" (renamed "U.S. Marshall"). In his cowboy outfit and white hat, Bromfield would ride his horse into the entertainment pavilion and rein herd over a wonderful stage show.
Another memorable feature was the always-popular Victor the Wrestling Bear. The 650-pound Alaskan black bear took on all comers, one-after-the-other and pinned them all. Darrell Baker remembers, “I worked at the show and was a pretty big guy and was constantly being talked into going up against Victor. I don’t remember Victor fondly.”
Those were the days, weren’t they? The big show changed hands and migrated to Rosemont. It underwent a couple of changes in ownership and decreased in size over the years and also decreased in attendance. The last few years were horrible, the show a mere shell of its former self. Everyone knew that the end was drawing near.
At the last minute the show was rescued. No, I shouldn’t say that. The show did indeed die, but from its ashes, a totally new show was born called America’s Outdoor Show.
A trade show promoter named Jim Sugarman, a Bostonian, by way of the West Coast, decided to buy what was lest of the old Rosemont Show. With no outdoors show experience, the new venture was very daring. Why, Jim? "I was looking for a consumer show to buy ... I found out about this one.
What I liked most was the 30-year history and that it once was the largest sportshow in the country"
The show had developed a declining reputation with too few good exhibitors and too much carival sideshow merchandise for sale. He told me, “Steve, I promise you this – no Ginsu knives and no Sham-Wows. There will be no “flea market” appearance at America’s Outdoor Show. We are all about hunting and fishing – period!”
I am sure you heard an awful lot of people complaining that the shows of recent years lacked the sizzle of the shows from the days of our youth. He excitedly responded, “Promoters have forgotten what business they are really in -- namely the entertainment business. My job is to create a fun, affordable and educational experience for attendees to connect with exhibitors and get great deals! That's why we have a $100K giveaway program and have many family attractions for parents and kids to learn how to catch more fish, how to become a better hunter, and how to preserve our natural resources."
How are you going to do that? “By creating a fun, safe and affordable experience for attendees. By creating an emotional connection between attendees and exhibitors, and especially by creating memorable moments between parents and children in the Back Country Parent/Child Experience area, the Back Country Parent/Child Clinics on learning how to cast, do archery, the tent competition and the turkey call competition. We have dangerous reptiles, Fetch and Fish, the BassMeister, a Trout Pond, Fly Tying, a Survival BootCamp, the Illinois State Archery Competition, Randy Oitker the Trick Archer and Guinness Book of World Records Holder, just to name a few.
What else has been missing? “"Deals ... along with seeing new tackle introduced at the show. We have that covered, as well."
The tag line in the show’s advertising is “After 30 years ... it's back to basics- a fishing and hunting show done right. The best lineup of pro speakers to come to Chicago in 30 years!” That is a bold statement. The main eventers are the legendary Babe Winkelman and Bassmaster Champion Mike Iaconelli. That is proof enough for me. The rest of the speaker lineup is stellar, as well.
Going even more “out-of-the-box,” America’s Outdoors Show also features a concert by the Eddie Butts band on Friday night and a fashion show staged by the Bikini Ice Fishing Team on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. McHenry gourmet chef, Mike Ventresca, will be butchering whole whitetails and turning the venison into his personal specialties throughout the show.
America’s Outdoor Show comes to the Donald A. Stevens Convention Center on River Road in Rosemont, Wednesday, Jan. 27, through Sunday, Jan. 31. The hours are Wednesday 2 to 9:30 p.m.; Thursday 2 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday 2 to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For directions, a complete list of attractions and seminars, please go to www.americasoutdoorshow.com. At the site, you can purchase discounted advance tickets and also two-for-one tickets for the weekdays.
I asked Jim if he would be able to pull off all that he promises. “Yes... I believe in being held accountable. My vision is for America's Outdoor Show to first become the “Celebration” sport show in Illinois, and then the Midwest.”
McHenry’s Spence Petros is on the advisory board for America’s Outdoors Show as well as a key seminar speaker. I asked him for his thoughts. “When I was approached by Jim Sugarman, I wasn’t sure about him, so I asked him to go crappie fishing on the Chain with me. I thought he was a square guy. He wasn’t a fisherman, but wanted to learn and he learned fast. He got mad when I offered to bait his hook for him. He told me about his plans for America’s Outdoor Show. I believe he is doing it all right. It’s going to be a hell of a show..” That is good enough for me.
• Steve Sarley is the host of "The Outdoors Experience" radio show Sunday mornings at 5 a.m. on WIND AM-560. The show can also be heard anytime at his Web site, www.oexperience.com. Contact Sarley at lcjedit@lakecountyjournal.com.