The Great Danbury State Fair in Danbury, Connecticut operated for 10 days each fall from 1869 -1981. The "Fair," had everything for everyone! It celebrated agriculture & livestock. Featured original quaint villages & loads oads of thrilling amusement rides, arcade games & vendors at every turn. There were tram rides throughout the 150 plus acre grounds. The famous "Bigtop" had it all under one enormous tent; vegatables, fruits & homemade pies. Musical acts. Dancing. Farm stands & vendors selling leather wallets, cowyboy hats, yo yo's, fancy mops, toys, jams and jellies...
The daily parade was like no other, weaving about the fairgrounds featuring marching bands, bands on floats, horse drawn carriages, clowns, animals & themed floats! The parade would culminate on the Danbury Racearena track where thousands packed the grandstand to witness the most spectacular and unique acts the country had to offer, like The Joie Chitwood Thrill Show, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, musical acts, agricutlural events, even ostrich races! From its inception, racing was an intergral part of the Fair's success, beginning with horse races in 1869.
Over its history, the track and Racearena would feature racing off all kinds including Midget auto racing, Speedboats, and in the latter days, Stock cars and Modifieds. "Saturday Night at the Races," focuses on when John W. Leahy and Assistant General C. Irving Jarvis Sr. incorporated the Southern New York Auto Association (SNYRA) to the Racearena -- highly competeive racing that packed the stands on Saturday nights throughout the summer and into October's "Fair Week. " The documentary will reminisce with celebrated drivers, car owners, fans and highlight the Fair's remarkable history.
Interviews for this production include: Mario Andretti. Don LaJoie. Joie Chitwood III. Randy LaJoie. Andy Montanari. Charles Irving Jarvis Jr. Jerry Nadeau, John "Jack" Stetson. Bone Stevens. Art Davis. Corey LaJoie. Nick Giardina. Frank Hislop. Delene hammond. Sean Deakin. Lou Funk Jr. Johnny Kerslake. Rich Hutwohl. Billy Layda. Ken Brown. Art Knapp. Ernie Marshall. Harry Hansen Jr. Francis Burdick. Ron Barrett. Barbara Webb. Betty Giardina. Billy Michael and many more drivers and fans. Audio excerpts from an nterview with Chick Stockwell, conducted by Charles I. Jarvis Jr. in 1996.
Produced by Rich Hutwohl
Directed by Kirk Jarvis
different makes the difference
TV Show
TV Series - Pilot Episode completed 2019
IN PRODUCTION - Feature Documentary
JUST COMPLETED February 2022 - Feature Documentary
Target Completion Date - Fall 2022
