In 1958 my father had a food stand at the fair. It took him about an hour to realize you can not sell hot dogs in the King's back yard; Yocco, the hot dog king. When Yocco's claimed last year they were not at the fair because their canvas ripped, I was skeptical. This year it's official, they have abdicated their spot. Tonight the fair was jammed. In Ag Hall the granges still compete in vegetable canning. A wiseguy still incites you to dunk him. The world's smallest horse hasn't grown. Maybe Yocco's is gone, but the fair is still much more like 1958 than any other aspect of Allentown.
REPRINTED FROM AUG.28, 2007
I like these retro-vision articles you do very much, even though I grew up in 70s...
ReplyDeleteSo much of Allentown has changed in just those thirty years, let alone another twenty.
Good article - the Fair IS a prominent link to past.
HOW MANY OTHERS ARE LEFT?
J. Birney Crum Stadium STILL looks weird to me these days. I liked it better with bleachers on BOTH sides, like pretty much 99% of normal sports arenas have.
My great grandfather raced ponies at the Allentown fair - I think about that every time I drive by the track.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about Yacco's. Great hot dogs. My favorite is still Potts, but I like yacco's chili sauce.
ReplyDeleteWhy have they left? This is my first post on your blog, and I too like the retro-pix and stories.
ReplyDeleteI'm 48, and have live in Allentown all my life.
love the Village Voice, Zippy the Pinhead thing!
ReplyDeleteyocco's is now a third generation business. the fair stand was started by the second, which enjoyed it. the current owner found it a distraction from the regular business, which has expanded to a number of shops.
ReplyDeleteI travel to Lehigh Valley Medic Center about twice a month these days. Its is ALWAYS mandatory to stop at the Rte 29 store in Emmaus. (Even though I prefer a pork weiner with 'kraut!)
ReplyDeleteMM -
ReplyDeleteI was at the fair last night. While I took my older daughter on the rides, my wife took our youngest to see the animals.
My wife said there were fewer animals than she could ever remember.
Did you notice the same and, if so, do you know the reason?