The annual Gridiron Show is coming up April 25 and 26 at Country Club of New Canaan, and this year’s honoree—or “Fall Guy”—is Tom Stadler.
We put some questions to Gridiron Club member Eric Thunem about the upcoming organization, its history and this year’s show.
Here’s our exchange.
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New Canaanite: Before we talk about this year’s Gridiron Show, please tell our readers a little bit about the organization. How and when did Gridiron Club begin?
“Opening Dave Hunt Show 2021”, L-R: Eric Glerum, Eric Thunem, Kitt Watson, Bruce Wilkinson, Bill Walbert, Robert Curry, Frederick Whitmer
Eric Thunem: The first event, held on February 2, 1961, was initially organized as a testimonial dinner for departing local newspaper editor, Carlton Hill. State Senator Bob Bliss decided, however, that the dinner should be a roast, modeled after the tradition of the Gridiron Club in Washington, D.C. and he thought it would be a great way to bring people together and have a few laughs at the expense of the designated “Fall Guy”. Originally dubbed the “Groundhog Day Dinner”, Paul Kiliam ran with the idea, wrote, directed, and starred in the inaugural show. In 1962, the event took on the moniker of “Fall Guy Roast” hosted by the Gridiron Club of New Canaan. Every year since then, Gridiron has celebrated community service with an annual show honoring a local citizen who has dedicated years and years to serving others in New Canaan.
Talk about this year’s show. Who is your honoree, when does the show run and how can people get tickets?
The MOMS of Military honored Tom Stadler with his U.S. Army photo/banner on Elm Street. Credit: Michael Dinan
This year’s show honors long-time New Canaan resident and community service volunteer, Tom Stadler. Tom has chaired the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Family Fourth celebration, New Canaan Baseball and Softball, and the Chamber of Commerce, in addition to serving many other great organizations. He loves New Canaan, and following his 40-year career in public accounting, he served in Town Hall as Administrative Officer from 2008 to 2020. The show will be performed on two nights, April 25 and 26 at the Country Club of New Canaan. The dinner and show are open to all, and tickets are available at www.gridironclubofnc.org
What goes into putting on the Gridiron Show?
“Dave Hunt Show 2021 – Ching’s Table” photo, L-R: Justin Crisp, Kitt Watson
In September each year, the previous honorees gather for a luncheon and elect the next “Fall Guy” — a man or woman who has given back to our community in significant ways. Our research team then interviews family members, friends, work colleagues, local politicians, and many others who know and have worked with the Fall Guy/Gal across his or her professional and community service lifetime. The team writes eight to ten original skits with parodied show tunes, a choreographed musical Opening and Closing, and the cast begins rehearsals in late February or early March. We have props, costumes, wigs, and set pieces that we store year-round. Come showtime, we have professional musicians, staging, and lighting. It all takes about six months of work.
What do you think are the major attractions for Gridiron Club members and for those who participate in putting the annual show together?
“Dave Hunt Show 2021 – Valentine’s Day” L-R: Robert Curry, Rab Ker
The main thing we do is to celebrate community service, and we have a whole lot of fun doing that. It’s a great honor to be selected as the Fall Guy, but it is, in fact, a roast and we have a blast with it. It’s always a hoot for the honoree to see his or her friends acting, singing, dancing, poking light-hearted fun at his or her life and times. The scenes are mostly fact based, but our writers can take some license and have been known to “bend the truth” for laughs. Traditionally an all-male cast, much of the fun is in seeing a bunch of middle-aged guys act out scenes in dresses, wigs and other feminine props/costuming.
What else, if anything, would you like to say about the Gridiron Club or Show?
The Gridiron Club of New Canaan is a 501(c)3 charitable organization and we donate net proceeds of the show each year to a charity of the Fall Guy’s choosing. This year, we will make a donation in Tom Stadler’s honor to the New Canaan Community Foundation. Everybody is invited to “join” our club — the only requirement for “membership” in the Gridiron Club is to buy a ticket and come to the dinner and show. Reach out to gridironclubofnc@gmail.com with any questions you have. Please come enjoy the fun!