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| At The Big E Radio Booth - But Nobody's Here |
The Eastern States Exposition - The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts - is the sixth largest fair in the USA and the biggest on the Eastern Seaboard. Its bigness isn't the only thing that doesn't change much over time, so it's not a destination I feel the need to visit every year. That consistency provides something comforting about making the hour journey up there. I know that was especially true right after 9/11/01. That was when I did some remote broadcasts on WDRC from the Connecticut Building on the Avenue of the States, my favorite section. It was such a relief getting out of the solitary studio and being among thousands of other people trying to deal with one of the most shocking chapters in American history. Maybe I missed it at an unmanned "Big E Radio Booth", but I didn't see any radio stations live on location during my visit. Perhaps it says a lot about how broadcasting has changed. Maybe the listeners don't miss it, but this was one opportunity for broadcasters to get out of their isolated studios in a big and interactive way you don't get at a car dealer or furniture store remote. The rest of the Big E continues to offer unusual and high ticket products, livestock galore and food that is all certifiably unhealthy. I didn't try something called Fried Kool-Aid, sticking with your basic hot dog and soft serve cone. My wallet still managed to feel a lot lighter afterwards. See you later in a few years, Big E!
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