Gordon Steele, Ted Soars and Andrew V. McLaglen have all done a lot in their lives, but they’ve never led the 4th of July Parade in downtown Friday Harbor… until now.
Earlier this year, parade organizer, Pam Pearson sat down with San Juan Community Theatre Director Merritt Olsen to choose the grand marshal.
“Since the parade’s theme is ‘Life is a laugh in a costume,’ which celebrates the theater’s 22nd anniversary, we wanted to choose one person who started with the theater, continued working with it and is still at it today,” said Pearson. “Then we realized there were three men that fit the criteria.”
So here’s some background on the extraordinary lives of the 2011 parade grand marshals.
McLaglen is well-known as a Hollywood director who worked with actors like John Wayne in “McLintock!” He also holds the record for directing the most “Gunsmoke” episodes.
“I’ve lived in Washington for the last 30 years,” said McLaglen in an interview in January. “In this little town of Friday Harbor, we have a magnificent, legitimate theater. I’ve done every kind of play you can think of, from Chekhov to you name it, I’ve done it here.”
Soars has also directed shows at the San Juan Community Theatre. Before that, he toured North American with a lavish 150 marionette musical revue and spent 25 years in Burbank working behind the cameras in staging operation for the Matinee Theatre, Laugh In and The Tonight Show. During his career he has worked with all kinds of stars ranging from Harpo Marx to Dean Martin.
Steele is also a supporter of the theater and served as a board member for three years. His late wife, Beverly often performed on the Whittier stage.
This year, he and Beverly were added to the nonprofit theatre’s “Life Friends” investment category, joining four other Island families that have donated more than $250,000 to the theater since its beginnings more than two decades ago. Steele moved to San Juan nearly 33 years ago and founded the Luxel Corporation, which produced filters for space investigation.
You can see Steele and his fellow grand marshals all waving their hands in the parade this 4th of July.
“It’s really small town, at its best,” Steele said.
San Juan Island
Monday, July 4
• Firework 5000 (5k) Fun Run, 7- 7:45 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. start. Registration and the starting line are in front of the Best Western Friday Harbor Suites. $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Proceeds go toward firework show.
• Pancake Breakfast at Brickworks, 8:30-10 a.m., Brickworks’ market plaza, 121 Nichols St. Enjoy flapjacks, berries and cream before the parade. Sponsored by SJI Agricultural Guild.
• Fourth of July Parade, 10:30 a.m., downtown Friday Harbor. This year’s theme “Life is a laugh in a costume” celebrates the San Juan Community Theatre’s 22nd anniversary. Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce, organized by Lin and Pam Pearson.
• Annual 4th of July Pig War Picnic, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the San Juan Historical Museum Grounds on Price Street features a $5 lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, coleslaw and hot fudge sundaes. Sponsored by Kiwanis.
• Contra dancing, 7:30-9 p.m. at American Camp. Folk singer Michael Cohen and local folk musicians present an evening of traditional folk tunes.
• Fireworks start at 10 p.m. in Friday Harbor Marina. Sponsored by San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce.
• Rock-the-Dock, 6 p.m. at the the Port of Friday Harbor. Sponsored by the Rotary Club.
Lopez Island
Monday, July 4
• Lopez Island Lions Club 31st annual Fourth of July 10K Run/5K Run/5K: Walk, 8:30 a.m., Lopez Community Center Pavilion.
• Friends of the Library Book Sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lopez Community Center. Browse through a selection of used books, videos and audiobooks.
• This year’s theme for the old-fashioned Fourth of July Parade is “The Rock’s Red Glare.” It is sponsored by the Lion’s Club. The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Creamery and winds through the Village at around 11:30 a.m. on Lopez Road ending at Week’s Road and Fisherman Bay Road
• A hamburger and veggie burger barbecue begins after the parade at Lopez Community Center. Features a 1/4 pound hamburger for $6, 1/2 pound hamburger or veggie burger for $8, and beer for $4. Lopez seniors will be selling baked goods and the fireworks committee will have t-shirts for sale.
• 24th annual fireworks display is from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the spit on Fisherman Bay.
Orcas Island
Saturday, July 2
• Pancake breakfast at the Eastsound Fire Hall, 7-11 a.m., put on by the volunteer firefighters.
• Visitors and residents alike are invited to enjoy the community parade on North Beach Road and Main Street in Eastsound starting at 11 a.m.
• The Orcas Island Historical Museum will hold its “Historical Days Fair” in the Village Green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. , next to the farmers market.
• Orcas Island Lions’ Club 36th annual Salmon Barbecue is from noon to 7 p.m. at the American Legion. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $10 kids at Kay’s Antiques, Cherie Lindholm Real Estate, Windermere Real Estate, and at the parade. Tickets at the door are $18 and $12.
The salmon is wild, caught in Alaska, and flown in for the event. It is marinated in the Orcas Lions’ secret sauce and lightly smoked. Along with salmon or chicken are large baked potatoes, coleslaw and rolls. Beverages of brewed iced tea or lemonade and coffee are included. Homemade dessert is available for a nominal fee. This year’s raffle prizes include a week’s trip for two to a condo in Ocean Shores, six hours of free gardening, and a cord of wood. Raffle tickets are $2 apiece or 3 for $5 and will be for sale at the barbecue. The raffle will be drawn that afternoon; winners do not need to be present to claim their prize. The event is one of the largest fund raisers for the service club, which in turn gives to the community by way of numerous programs.
• Fiddle trio JP and the OK Rhythm Boys will play at Luna’s Restaurant in Eastsound from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
