FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2024
The 2024 Douglas County Fair and a 1964 Plymouth Fury
(Douglas County, Ore.) The 2024 Douglas County Fair is just around the corner and when it comes to fair time it’s pretty easy to get a little nostalgic for the good old days. Many long-time Douglas County residents can fondly recall Douglas County Fair staples like the Ricketts Review Talent Show, Roseburg Rod & Gun Club’s Shooting Exhibitions, Dougy Sez newspaper column, and Dougy’s Barnyard Petting Zoo. While those fair traditions are a thing for the history books, many long-time fair events and features are still around today. For instance, the Junior Livestock Show/Auction looks to be celebrating 75 years of tradition at the Douglas County Fair, while Pepsi Kids Day, instituted on opening day of the 1964 Douglas County Fair, will celebrate 60 years of family fun at the fair this year. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our fairgrounds mascot Dougy. He is of course the iconic, lovable cartoon dressed as a logger that has been the face of advertising campaigns for the Douglas County Fairgrounds for 59 years.
Speaking of 1964, another great fair tradition started this year. We want to harken you back sixty years to the era of the stylish performance car (a predecessor to the classic muscle car in case you were wondering) and specifically a classic automobile with vintage charm, the 1964 Plymouth Fury III. In fact, a candy-apple red 1964 Plymouth Fury III convertible was acquired by the Douglas County Fair Board in early 1964 as part of their marketing program. She was a replacement for the 1949 Ford brown convertible that was traded in because they needed a vehicle with a bigger engine to pull the Fair’s rolling calliope wagon at local parades and events. The Fair’s calliope wagon was built in 1961 by Douglas County Fair Manager, Dick Turley and friend Jack Smith on an old Oldsmobile frame as a creative way to promote the fairgrounds. You see, back in the day, long before the age of mass communications, the internet and cell phones, most of the advertising for County Fairs was done through word of mouth, posters, and via automobile billboard advertising at area parades and events. Historically mobile calliopes served as the primary promotional vehicle for traveling circus acts and riverboat cruises to draw crowds in because they garnered a lot of attention for their unique loud sound that was audible for miles. Much like the recognizable calliope music used to draw people to an ice cream truck today. While the Fair’s calliope wagon has long since been retired and sold, our 1964 Plymouth Fury III, clad with Douglas County Fair promotional taglines lives on. Over the past sixty years she has been seen at numerous parades and summer celebrations all over Oregon advertising the Douglas County Fair - the old-fashioned way.
Most recently, Douglas County Commissioner Tom Kress was able to take her out for a stroll at the 42nd Annual Umpqua Flatheads Roseburg Graffiti Night Cruise in downtown Roseburg. “It was an honor to be able to drive her in the Graffiti Cruise this year with my family. She is certainly an icon for our Fair and for Douglas County! I was happy to have several people stop me and recall stories about her adventures over the years. It took a little bit to get her up and going, but I’m impressed that she is in such great shape having had very little work done to her over the years. If you see her out and about, give her a wave and say hello!”
Fury is stored and maintained by the Douglas County Fairgrounds staff and comes out during the summer months to promote the Douglas County Fair. She has hauled dignitaries, escorted princesses, taken Dougy (our fair mascot) for rides to pass out candy to his many fans, and perhaps most notoriously transported inmates back and forth from the Douglas County Jail who were released for the work program to work at the Douglas County Fair for the day. We would love to hear your stories about Fury and/or receive photos of her journeys over the years, please email dcinfo@douglascountyor.gov if you’d like to share.
Speaking of the 2024 Douglas County Fair, it starts in less than a week! “Fair Time is Fun Time!” Douglas County Commissioners along with the Douglas County Fairgrounds staff and the Douglas County Fair Board encourage everyone to head on out to the 2024Douglas County Fair - Wednesday. August 7 through Saturday, August 10, 2024! For more about the 2024 Douglas County Fair log onto their website at https://douglasfairgrounds.com/. See you at the Fair!
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Media Contact: Tamara Howell, Douglas County Emergency Communications & Community Engagement Specialist, Douglas County Public Affairs Office | Office: (541) 957-4896 | Cell: (541) 670-2804 | Email: tamara.howell@douglascountyor.gov
Photos courtesy of D.Loomis/Douglas County and DC Fair Archives