CAPITAL TIMES, October 25, 1989
Harrisburg: Mr. Mike's" offers
music - recorded and live
Karen L. Peiffer
Capital Times Staff
Nestled among tightly-spaced row
houses on South Third Street in
Harrisburg is a one-room record store
brimming with an extensive R&B and
jazz record and tape collection.
Untouched by the downtown
development project, Mr. Mike's Record
Store has tremendous architectural
character on the exterior, even more
character on the interior, and attracts its
share of characters as well.
Into the store walked a bespectacled
man with a Marilyn Monroe pout
wearing dress trousers and a tailored
trench coat. He was greeted warmly by
the staff and customers present.
"I thought you was into Mozart,
man. Whatch you doin' here?" said one
grinning record buyer.
A blushing teenage boy sporting a
crew cut stood at the counter softly
singing the words to a song whose name
he could not remember. Manager Nate
Clory leaned forward and smiled with
patience at his off-key vocal attempts.
A curvaceous young woman
approached the counter and said, "I don't
know what I want. I want some mellow
music. Some midnight music."
"Oh! I see," said Clory. "You have
plans for the evening."
Mr. Mike's is often a place of high
fives and greetings such as: What's up,
brother? How's it goin', cuz? and Check
it out, home! Customers seem to be on
a first name basis with one another and
cover the broadest spectrum of ages and
professions.
Suddenly, a steady stream of
customers poured in, the phone rang off
the hook, and Clory sprang into action
greeting customers, pointing out new
albums and CD's, and ringing up several
large orders.
"It's busy like this from Thursday to
Saturday," said Clory.
From outside customers see a collage
of album cover posters and a large, red
sign spelling Mr. Mike's Discount
Records and Tapes in bold, white letters.
Inside, record bins filled to capacity
line the walls, black leather medallions
GLOBAL PURSUIT
TOURNAMENT
TUESDAY, NOV. 14
3 p.m. IN THE BCAC
SIGN YOUR TEAM OF 3
UP BY OCT. 26 IN ROOM 212
FREE SHIRTS & FOOD !
CASH PRIZES !
COMMUNITY
picturing the African continent hang
from hooks, and colorful tee shirts
dangle from the ceiling.
An overflowing rolodex strategically
sits on the desktop with the office
numbers of personal contacts at A&M,
Arista, Atlantic, CBS, Columbia,
Elektra, Epic, GRP, Island, MCA,
Virgin, and Warner Brothers record
companies as well as every secondary
label imaginable.
On the counter flyers announcing
upcoming concerts are piled next to
stacks of "Mr. Mike's Likes" -- the staff
produced publication of album reviews.
Pegboards provide the backdrop for
dozens of proudly displayed photographs
of R&B and jazz superstars arm-in-arm
with Mr. Mike's staff.
When owner Mike Albert and
manager Nate Clory are not selling or
writing they are promoting concerts and
staging autograph-signing sessions with
today's biggest stars.
Musical sensations Keith Sweat,
Najee, Rob Base, Kid 'N Play, and M.C.
Hammer have all taken a glorified seat at
Mr. Mike's and autographed albums,
posters, and tee shirts (while worn) for
adoring fans often numbering in the
hundreds.
All this hard work and dedication has
definitely paid off for the five-member
staff at Mr. Mike's which also includes
Mike's wife, Cathy, his brother, Jason,
and good friend, Leroy Burke.
"We have been invited guests at
many of the larger shows in Philly and
Baltimore," said Clory. "We rarely sit
in the audience." We are given
backstage passes; enjoy the catered buffet
dinners; and, are privileged to socialize
with the artists and their entourages, he
said.
Backstage at the York Fair Grounds,
Tone Loc, an hour before his
performance, said "I could really use a
cool one," recalled Clory. "We all piled
into the limousine; me, Tone, Mike, and
Harrisburg rapper Jaißock; found a bar;
picked up a few six packs of Heineken;
and, got him back to the show a little
late."
More "Mr. Mike's" on 7
photo by Sondra Kinsey
Balloons take to the sky at the First Annual Hometown Hot-air Balloon Classic
in Hershey.
Hershey:
Sondra Kinsey
Capital Times Staff
Balloon rides, skydiving, and dance
demos, live music by Big Wheelie and
the White Walls, fireworks and more
attracted thousands to the First Annual
Hometown Hot Air Balloon Classic in
Hershey this month.
Early morning and late afternoon
balloon launchings highlighted the three
day event. Pilots from the National
Balloon Racing Association were
competing for $7,500 in prize money
and points to go on to national
competition.
Announcer Ron Griffin of the NBRA
explained that this balloon "race" was
really a "hound and hare" chase. The
launching is the only part of the race the
audience gets to see.
With a short lead, the hare balloon
lands in an open field for its crew to
mark a 40-foot "X" on the ground. The
object of the race is for the hounds to
maneuver in the winds to drop a beanbag
on the mark from at least 75 feet up.
"The winner isn't the fastest, but the
most accurate," Griffin said. "Up and
down is easy, but going sideways means
catching a steering wind. A hundred-foot
change in altitude can mean a change in
wind direction."
Pilot Michael Renish, of Allentown
said, "If they hit the mark, it's 99
percent luck and one percent pilot error.
I haven't dropped a beanbag yet this
weekend."
Pilots were taking passengers along in
the race at $lOO to $l6O a head. One
average-size wicker basket under a seven
story balloon can hold three or four
people. Taking riders helps defray
personal hobby expenses.
"My balloon cost $20,000," said Kathy
Martin of Quakertown. That figure
Hot air balloons fill skies
doesn't include the Cherokee to haul IL
Camp Hill pilot Don Dillon said he
was happy to come in 20th out of 30
racers.
"Those pilots are good competitors
because they follow the circuit every
chance they get," he said.
Dillon's balloon, Windcarver, is one of
only 4,000 registered sport and
commercial balloons in the United
States.
The crowd seemed fascinated by the
balloons.
"I never thought they'd be so big," said
Tony Rubinic from Linglestown.
Long lines of people waited patiently
for the free rides in two tethered
balloons--30 feet up and back down
again—two people at a time.
Other events featured juggling, kite
demos, classic and antique car displays,
kiddie rides, gymnastics, a night "glow"
of several balloons.
"I liked the skateboard show best," said
Andy Diehl, 11. He was one of 29 Boy
Scouts and 24 adults from Troop 43 in
Dallastown poking at paper cups on the
ground and emptying trash cans.
Sponsored by WPMT--Channel 43, the
promotion also benefitted the Make-A-
Wish Foundation for seriously ill
children.
The York-based TV station had hoped
for a turnout of 100,000, but the actual
figure was closer to 35,000.
"I thought it was a very good turnout
for a first year event," Dillon said.
"I'm disappointed that none of the
newspapers carried it," said Jon Paiva,
executive producer at WPMT--Fox 43.
"We had over $lOO,OOO invested in it."
"This is a conservative area, but a good
market for family fun," he said. "People
have a wait-and-see attitude about
something new.. I've been deluged with
[vendors and sponsors] who want in next
year."
Meade Height Married/
Family Student Union
Tuesday Oct. 31
Is hosting a Halloween
event for the children of
families in Meade Height
From 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. at
the Capital Union Building