Gridiron initiation for the uninitiated
For more than 80 years, the PLCA held a Gridiron Show, an off-the-record evening of booze, barbs and comedy during which reporters and governors poked fun at each other. The governor always got the last word.
There were, as you might imagine, many memorable examples of laugh-riot moments. But since the event was OFF THE RECORD (we didn't even allow Tweets) our lips are sealed.
Still, feel free to imagine Govs. Thornburgh, Casey, Ridge, Rendell, Corbett and Wolf in costume or odd settings spouting things no elected official ever would choose to say in public.
And, of course, feel free to imagine what reporters, with no editors, no filters, might say, sing or suggest about any governor or lawmaker.
Want more? Of course you do, and that's where the legislative caucuses and row officers often come in with their skits mocking reporters, governors and themselves.
Gridiron roots date back to the 1930’s when the association began hosting dinners for new governors and top incoming administration officials.
This is from minutes of an association meeting in January 1935: The Philadelphia Inquirer’s John M. Cummings proposed “the Association give a get-acquainted dinner to the Cabinet, correspondents paying their own way, free guests to be the governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary-elect of Internal Affairs, the Cabinet, Harry E. Kalodner and Thomas E. Williams, secretary and assistant secretary respectively to the new governor. The motion was carried. The date is to be February 5, if convenient to the governor.”
By 1937, the dinner evolved (some would say devolved) into a show held at the downtown Harrisburg Penn-Harris Hotel, now the site of Strawberry Square.
By 1939, there were official invitations addressed to, among others, “Legislators, Politicians, Lobbyists, Accusers, Accused, Lame Ducks, Candidates for Governor, Job-Holdovers and Job Hunters.”
The ticket price was $5.
The show was put on hold during World War II when, according to a PLCA history (1895-1995) written by former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter and PLCA member Gary Tuma, 13 Capitol Newsroom reporters left for the armed services.
The show returned in 1945 for the PLCA’s 50th anniversary.
Gridiron history includes all-male performances for all-male audiences, stand-up comedy by men in tuxes, musicals by professional troupes, video appearances by Vice President Dick Cheney, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and Arizona Sen. John McCain, live animals (Rendell’s dogs), a visit by national anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, and even a drop by, during his 2015 visit to the U.S., by “Pope Francis.”
This long-running show is more than a valuable tradition. Its proceeds fund the PLCA’s internship program, which recruits top collegiate journalists and has helped produce what is now a long list of successful professionals.
John Baer
columnist, Pennlive.com/The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, and formerly of the Philadelphia Daily News/Inquirer
There were, as you might imagine, many memorable examples of laugh-riot moments. But since the event was OFF THE RECORD (we didn't even allow Tweets) our lips are sealed.
Still, feel free to imagine Govs. Thornburgh, Casey, Ridge, Rendell, Corbett and Wolf in costume or odd settings spouting things no elected official ever would choose to say in public.
And, of course, feel free to imagine what reporters, with no editors, no filters, might say, sing or suggest about any governor or lawmaker.
Want more? Of course you do, and that's where the legislative caucuses and row officers often come in with their skits mocking reporters, governors and themselves.
Gridiron roots date back to the 1930’s when the association began hosting dinners for new governors and top incoming administration officials.
This is from minutes of an association meeting in January 1935: The Philadelphia Inquirer’s John M. Cummings proposed “the Association give a get-acquainted dinner to the Cabinet, correspondents paying their own way, free guests to be the governor, lieutenant governor, and secretary-elect of Internal Affairs, the Cabinet, Harry E. Kalodner and Thomas E. Williams, secretary and assistant secretary respectively to the new governor. The motion was carried. The date is to be February 5, if convenient to the governor.”
By 1937, the dinner evolved (some would say devolved) into a show held at the downtown Harrisburg Penn-Harris Hotel, now the site of Strawberry Square.
By 1939, there were official invitations addressed to, among others, “Legislators, Politicians, Lobbyists, Accusers, Accused, Lame Ducks, Candidates for Governor, Job-Holdovers and Job Hunters.”
The ticket price was $5.
The show was put on hold during World War II when, according to a PLCA history (1895-1995) written by former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter and PLCA member Gary Tuma, 13 Capitol Newsroom reporters left for the armed services.
The show returned in 1945 for the PLCA’s 50th anniversary.
Gridiron history includes all-male performances for all-male audiences, stand-up comedy by men in tuxes, musicals by professional troupes, video appearances by Vice President Dick Cheney, MSNBC’s Chris Matthews and Arizona Sen. John McCain, live animals (Rendell’s dogs), a visit by national anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, and even a drop by, during his 2015 visit to the U.S., by “Pope Francis.”
This long-running show is more than a valuable tradition. Its proceeds fund the PLCA’s internship program, which recruits top collegiate journalists and has helped produce what is now a long list of successful professionals.
John Baer
columnist, Pennlive.com/The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, and formerly of the Philadelphia Daily News/Inquirer