The early 60s: 'This is the best and nicest fair I've ever played'

Sixth in a continuing series

Having survived the death of the fair's founder, W.R. Hayes, with year-after-year successful events in the second half of the 1950s, all seemed to be well. Wrong.

E.J. (Gene) Hayes, W.R.'s successor, died unexpectedly on March 15, 1964, and another turnover was needed.

First, however, were four more record and near-record fairs that extended the Hayes' legacy.

The 1960 Fair was likened to a triple-threat quarterback ... a standout weeklong night show artist in Bobby Darin, a record-setting Hambletonian and three days of superb championship auto racing.

Following opening performances by Marie Wilson and Ken Murray, Darin wowed the crowd of 6,400 with his renditions of "Bill Bailey," "Mack the Knife" and "Splish, Splash." He left the crowd standing and yelling for more.

Singer Gordan MacRae ("Oklahoma," "Carousel") took over as headliner on Labor Day night.

Racing action was thrilling as usual.

A.J. Foyt won for the first time at Du Quoin, taking the Indy-type car race. Norm Nelson won the 100-mile stock car event and Jack Turner the midget 100-miler.

And the Hambletonian action was even more sensational ... a classy field of 19, the biggest purse in history of the race, 25,000 fans and temperatures in the 102-degree range.

The first three heats produced three different winners. Blaze Hanover covered the final eighth of a mile in: 27.3 seconds for the win and top money of $144,590 in the historic afternoon.

Blaze Hanover won the first heat in 1:59 4/5 equaling the Hambo record. Quick Song broke it in the second heat by a fifth of a second and still a third winner, Hoot Frost, matched it in the third heat.

That meant all three had to return for a fourth and deciding heat, which had already seen Bullet Hanover set a new track pacing record.

In the deciding fourth heat of the Hambletonian, Blaze Hanover, driven by the wily Joe O'Brien, covered the final quarter of a mile in: 27.3 to win the first four-heat trotting classic since 1934. It also was his first win of the season. Remarkable.

The following year, 1961, was memorable for several reasons, most of them positive. Still, fair officials were disappointed when they got only a one-year extension on the Hambletonian contract. They were hoping for five.

Once again crowds were good. Real good. Du Quoin Chief of Police Vallie West said traffic was lined up from downtown Main Street to the Fair's main entrance. He also was quoted as saying, "All was quiet."

Grandstand shows were well attended throughout the week and featured Rosemary Clooney with Nelson Eddy. The Lennon Sisters and Julius La Rosa took over on Labor Day night.

A.J. Foyt became the third driver to repeat as winner of the Ted Horn Memorial 100-miler on Labor Day. Paul Goldsmith won the 100-mile stock car feature and Elmer George the 100-mile feature.

The 1962 Fair, the 40th in history, might well have been one of the finest, but the weatherman took over once again and prevented it from happening.

Paul Goldsmith claimed the only scheduled race that managed to be held. He won the 100-mile stock car feature before 25,000 fans who were jammed into the three Fair grandstands. Despite conditions being somewhat less than ideal, his winning time was only three minutes slower than his winning time the previous year.

Less than perfect conditions - nor a broken ankle, which forced him to wear a cast and he needed assistance to get into his sulky - could prevent Sanders Russel from winning the Hambletonian with A.C.'s Viking. He did so in straight heats and somewhat less than sensational times of 1:59.3 and 2:00 flat.

A record crowd of 37,718 had passed through the gates that day and a good percentage was on hand for the race itself. Winner's share of the $116,612 purse was $62,854.

1963 ... 40 years after W.R. Hayes and a few of his buddies got together to start a fair and hire top entertainers to do just that - entertain ... one received a standing ovation.

Here's the Du Quoin Evening Call's account of Red Skelton's first visit to Du Quoin:

"Broken records are becoming commonplace at the ... Fair, but Monday night was the first time in history that an audience gave a performer a standing ovation. The largest crowd ever to see a night performance at the Fair rose in tribute to America's favorite clown, Red Skelton as he ended one hour and 24 minutes on the stage."

It was a good year. Everything - not just Red ... everything.

Earlier in the day the auto racing schedule had been moved up in an attempt to avoid possible showers. It worked, and A.J. Foyt set a new record in winning the USAC-sanctioned 100-miler for the third time in a row.

Foyt had also won the sprint car feature two days earlier while Norm Nelson won the stock car 100-mile feature in his new '63 Plymouth.

And, not to be left out of the record-breaking happenings, Speedy Scot set four while winning the Hambletonian. He won the second and third heats of the big race in 1:58 and 1:58.2 to set the new marks.

Another good year.

But Gene Hayes' unexpected death a few months later more than nullified any carry-over celebration going into the 1964 Fair. Hayes died in Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon on March 15, 1964, where he had undergone surgery to remove a growth in his lower esophagus.

Now headed by Don Hayes, the 1964 night show schedule had a slightly new look.

The Fair opened om a Sunday night with a "Grand Ole Opry Show" starring Hank Snow, Ferlin Husky, Ray Price, Skeeter Davis, Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson, Melba Montgomery, Gordon Terry, Stringbean, the Collins Kids and the Carolina Cloggers.

What a lineup.

And, it was followed by an equally outstanding show starring Nat "King" Cole, crooning "Unforgettable" and "Mona Lisa" among other tunes. The other nights featured bandleader Skitch Henderson, the Harmonia Rascals, the Manhattan Rockettes and the Lou Breese Orchestra.

Johnny Carson took over Labor Day night and anyone who saw the show will remember the comic who opened for him, an unknown entertainer by the name of George Kirby. That's another story in itself, but suffice to say that Carson opened his 40-minute stint by saying something like, "Folks, you've already been entertained by one of the finest talents I've ever seen or heard. If you're ready to call it a night, that's it. Thank you."

Carson did compliment all involved before leaving the stage by saying, "This is the best and nicest fair I've ever played."

And, no one objected to his relatively short appearance. Kirby had been sensational.

Don Branson of Champaign got his first major win by claiming the USAC 100-mile midget title while Joe Leonard won the 100-mile motorcycle race. And, as usual, A.J. Foyt won the 100-mile "big car" feature on Labor Day. It was his third in a row at Du Quoin and fourth straight USAC feature title.

It was an unforgettable year.

• To our readers: We hope you've enjoyed reading Fred Huff's historical pieces on the Du Quoin State Fair in this, the 100th year of the first fair. We're only up to the mid-sixties and so there is a lot of history left to tell. We are moving this series to our website, at www.duquoin.com, where you will be able to go back and read the first pieces, and where we'll continue the series from the 60s all the way up to present day.