2008 Woodie Awards
Flashback
Sell-out crowd relives Mississippi River Festival
Matthew Schroyer
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: A&E
For the nearly 400 that stepped into the Meridian Ballroom of the Morris University Center Thursday and Friday night, priceless memories became reality once more, and history was remade.
Friends were reunited, fond times were remembered, dancing and laughter ensued as the Flashback to the Mississippi River Festival rocked the at-capacity crowd in the MUC. They came from as far away as Kansas City and Texas.
The crowd represented all walks of life, from faculty to bankers, and even a member of the Illinois chapter of the Hell's Angels. Some had been in the crowds of the MRF, some had been students and still others had worked and helped pay for their education at the MRF. And yet, they were linked by a common bond - fond memories of the festival, which ran annually from 1969 to 1980.
"I expected to sit through a four-hour slideshow," SIUE alumnus Rick Scheibel said. "I wasn't expecting so much festivity, I'm really having a good time."
When asked how many experiences at the MRF he remembered, Scheibel's answer was frank.
"Few," he said. "I had a good time!"
Lying on blankets in the front of the stage, in the back sitting in chairs or standing around chatting, the crowd took in the ambiance set by Alumni Affairs. On stage rested speakers salvaged from the MRF, which cranked out the music of the 1970s as played by "Radio" Rich Dalton and his band The Classics.
Among the songs most popular with the crowd were REO Speedwagon's "Roll with the Changes," "Get Together" by the Youngbloods, "Your Momma Don't Dance" by Loggins and Messina and "The Weight" by The Band.
"They really struck a cord," bassist Chuck Bonano said of the songs. "They were definitely into it. It was like that festival atmosphere, people were singing and dancing and getting into it. It was a very cool thing."
"Flashback" brought back memories for Dalton, who said there were many aspects of the university that hadn't changed since his time at SIUE.
Friends were reunited, fond times were remembered, dancing and laughter ensued as the Flashback to the Mississippi River Festival rocked the at-capacity crowd in the MUC. They came from as far away as Kansas City and Texas.
The crowd represented all walks of life, from faculty to bankers, and even a member of the Illinois chapter of the Hell's Angels. Some had been in the crowds of the MRF, some had been students and still others had worked and helped pay for their education at the MRF. And yet, they were linked by a common bond - fond memories of the festival, which ran annually from 1969 to 1980.
"I expected to sit through a four-hour slideshow," SIUE alumnus Rick Scheibel said. "I wasn't expecting so much festivity, I'm really having a good time."
When asked how many experiences at the MRF he remembered, Scheibel's answer was frank.
"Few," he said. "I had a good time!"
Lying on blankets in the front of the stage, in the back sitting in chairs or standing around chatting, the crowd took in the ambiance set by Alumni Affairs. On stage rested speakers salvaged from the MRF, which cranked out the music of the 1970s as played by "Radio" Rich Dalton and his band The Classics.
Among the songs most popular with the crowd were REO Speedwagon's "Roll with the Changes," "Get Together" by the Youngbloods, "Your Momma Don't Dance" by Loggins and Messina and "The Weight" by The Band.
"They really struck a cord," bassist Chuck Bonano said of the songs. "They were definitely into it. It was like that festival atmosphere, people were singing and dancing and getting into it. It was a very cool thing."
"Flashback" brought back memories for Dalton, who said there were many aspects of the university that hadn't changed since his time at SIUE.
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