VetFest USA 2014 – Rosie O’Grady’s 40th Anniversary

Held at the Underfour Church Street Amphitheater at Bob Snow Lane on Labor Day weekend 2014, Vet Fest USA was a production of Snow & Associates and Team Market Group to support veterans’ groups through fundraiser ticket donations. Ticket sales supported UDT-Seal Association, The Col. Joe Kittinger Vietnam Memorial Fund, the USO, and VFW. Sponsors of the event include Downtown Orlando, Bass Pro Shops, AmeriGas and others.

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The event featured up to fifty gourmet food trucks by the Daily City Food Truck Bazaar, performers Darryl Worley, Big 10-4, Trotwood, Tom Jackson, John Henry Gates, Country K-OS, Kip Sweeney, 1984 – Van Halen Tribute, The Long Run – Eagles Tribute, Strolling Mariachi Band, Bill Allred – 1943 USO Show, Rosie O’Grady’s Bagpipe Band, Rosie’s Dixieland Jazz Band, Military hardware and Robosaurus!

First to take the stage for the 40th Anniversary of the opening of Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium in 1974, were the Rosie O’Grady Highlanders bag pipe band. The band performed nightly at Church Street Station and still perform today.

When former members of Rosie’s Jazz Band took the stage, they brought along a banner with the original trademark for Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium which was situated  at the corner of Church Street and Garland in downtown Orlando.

Rosie’s opened in July 1974 and brought joy and music to people from around the world for almost 30 years.

This beautiful image once graced the west facing exterior but was painted over when new owners took over the property and stripped the showrooms of the architectural elements and beautiful antiques, collected by Bob Snow from around the world, that made Church Street Station unique. Learn more about fun times at Church Street Station.

Bob Snow’s sister Mary, operates the double honker, providing accompaniment for the Blue Danube performed by former members of Rosie’s O’Grady’s Good Time Jazz Band.

Bill Allred explained to the folks who may not have been regulars to Rosie’s that the band would select a young female to operate the old steamboat horn based on how they would look in the spot light. Read more about Bill Allred and Rosie  O’Grady’s  Good Time Jazz Band

Don Lord was an original member of the Rosie’s Good Time Jazz Band when it was formed for the opening of Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium in 1974. Don was an amazing cornet player and great entertainer. Sadly Don passed away before the 40th Anniversary, but you can read about his life at EpochLegacies.org.

Former Rosie O’Grady’s band member, Davy Jones, the musician in the center of the stage in the plaid shirt in this photo. He paid tribute to Don by playing Don’s cornet with the band for the 40th Anniversary of the opening of Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium on Church Street at Garland.

Rob and Cindy doing the Charleston in the tribute to the 40th Anniversary of the opening of Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium on Church Street at Garland in July 2014.

Rob and his dance partner performed on the West Bar during each show at Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium in Orlando at Church Street Station.

They would do the Charleston, the old soft shoe to the tune Me and My Shadow, and were always a part of the grand patriotic finale at the end of each show.

At VetFest 2014, Rob and Cindy continued the tradition that kept garters flying from the bars at Rosie O’Grady’s during the almost 30 years it was a destination in downtown Orlando. With Rob’s help, Cindy retrieved her garter and shot it into the audience to the delight of one gentleman who retrieved it.

For over 25 years, Rosie O’Grady’s Red Hot Mama Ruth Crews, belted out songs endearing herself to folks from around the world.

And as you can see in the photo, her philosophy has not changed from 1974 when Rosie’s opened.  Decked out in an ostrich feathers and a boa, Ruth was joined by the crowd when she delivered her famous line explaining her over the top accessories: “Honey, if you can’t hide it – decorate it!”

Rosie O’Grady’s Red Hot Mama – Miss Ruth Crews took the stage amid applause and cheers. She performed some of our favorites including “Sadie Green the Vamp of New Orleans”, Fat Waller’s “Your Feets Too Big” and the Patriotic Grand Finale with Kate Smith’s rendition of “God Bless America”.

Band members got wind that it was Ruthie’s birthday and Bill Allred and the band helped the crowd wish her a happy birthday.

Ruthie was Red Hot in more ways than one – performing all decked out in the terrible heat.

Peruse additional images from Ruth’s performance at VetFest 2014 below under Attachments.

Read more about Rosie O’Grady’s Red Hot Mama Miss Ruth Crews

Twins, Holly and Dolly Harris, returned for the 40th Anniversary of the opening of Rosie O’Grady’s Good Time Emporium. The two sisters thrilled the crowd with their performance of the Can Can just like the did with fellow waitresses on the East Bar in the good old days at Rosie’s. You would never know that these amazing ladies were born in 1950!

The twin sisters were working as mermaids at Weeki Wachee when they were asked to join the team at Rosie’s back in 1974. They were paid 25 cents more per hour if they performed the Can Can on the top of the East Bar. Holly and Dolly said it wasn’t the extra money that made them want to dance on the bar; it was the thrill of performing that had them sliding down the fireman’s pole from the third floor – high above the stage – and climbing atop the bar to do high kicks four feet off the ground.

The twins went on to open a restaurant/bar in Casselberry called Holly & Dolly’s. It was the location of the 2004 Rosie O’Grady’s 30th Reunion.

Bob Snow took the stage to say a few words. Chided into singing, he broke into “When the Saints Go Marching In” which he recorded many years ago on the album “Sights of Sounds of Church Street Station.” Listen to the recording.

Just before the Grand Patriotic Finale, Bob Snow acknowledge all the performers and former waiters who performed Bill Allred’s Waiters’ Welcome” before every show at Rosie O’Grady’s. All the former Church Street Station employees and performers were invited to come back to the stage to join Bob, Ruth and the band one last time.

See more images below under Attachments.