Two memorable events occurred during the Kikaida/50th State Fair days in 1974.
The first was the Daiei Store autograph event at Pearlridge Center. As I drove the troupe over to the shopping center, I had the radio on and heard the traffic helicopter guy report a massive traffic jam leading into the center.
Daiei had advertised its event, and hordes of kids and their parents were determined to get a first-hand view of the television sensation.
When we got there, Jaycee Stan Wada directed us to a secure parking era and told me, “You’ve got to see this.” I entered the second level of the mall through a side door and almost fell down in astonishment. There were thousands of people there (later estimates totaled 10,000).
The first was the Daiei Store autograph event at Pearlridge Center. As I drove the troupe over to the shopping center, I had the radio on and heard the traffic helicopter guy report a massive traffic jam leading into the center.
Daiei had advertised its event, and hordes of kids and their parents were determined to get a first-hand view of the television sensation.
When we got there, Jaycee Stan Wada directed us to a secure parking era and told me, “You’ve got to see this.” I entered the second level of the mall through a side door and almost fell down in astonishment. There were thousands of people there (later estimates totaled 10,000).
Pearlridge Center on Kikaida Autograph DayWe had scheduled photo ops, so we sent Kikaida and the bad guys out in shifts to accommodate the crowd, situating them at various points throughout the mall to avoid being crushed by the stampede.
I remember escorting one out into the crowd. Moms and Dads were holding their kids out at arm’s length exhorting them to “Touch him! Touch him!” My feet were being stepped on constantly and a couple of my toes were black and blue the next day.
We had two Kikaidas working that day. I was summoned to help rescue one who was exhausted (those rubber suits were extremely uncomfortable and HOT inside) and wanted to come back into the passageway but couldn’t because fans were blocking the doorway.
Stan and I got there as quickly as we could and opened the door from the inside so Kikaida could slip in. The crow began to push in, so put our palms flat against the doors, leaning heavily against them, pressing hard against the entrance that by now was pulsating from fans pounding and trying to get through!
Kikaida took off like a shot outside into the parking lot where another Jaycee directed him to the right. As soon as he disappeared, we released the door and a horde of several dozen people rushed in and down the hallway in pursuit. The Jaycee at the other end pointed to the left as if to say, “He went that-a-way” and everybody turned left.
There was no way the actors were going to get into the sponsoring store and participate in an autograph session, so the store manager was informed that we were taking the actors away for their safety. When last I saw the manager, he was trying to mollify an angry parent who was demanding he do something about the unsafe conditions and unruly crowd.
Daiei suffered a lot of damage to their store that day and I’m sure lost a lot of merchandise. They even ran a full-page newspaper ad apologizing for the autograph session that never happened.
What a day THAT was.
I remember escorting one out into the crowd. Moms and Dads were holding their kids out at arm’s length exhorting them to “Touch him! Touch him!” My feet were being stepped on constantly and a couple of my toes were black and blue the next day.
We had two Kikaidas working that day. I was summoned to help rescue one who was exhausted (those rubber suits were extremely uncomfortable and HOT inside) and wanted to come back into the passageway but couldn’t because fans were blocking the doorway.
Stan and I got there as quickly as we could and opened the door from the inside so Kikaida could slip in. The crow began to push in, so put our palms flat against the doors, leaning heavily against them, pressing hard against the entrance that by now was pulsating from fans pounding and trying to get through!
Kikaida took off like a shot outside into the parking lot where another Jaycee directed him to the right. As soon as he disappeared, we released the door and a horde of several dozen people rushed in and down the hallway in pursuit. The Jaycee at the other end pointed to the left as if to say, “He went that-a-way” and everybody turned left.
There was no way the actors were going to get into the sponsoring store and participate in an autograph session, so the store manager was informed that we were taking the actors away for their safety. When last I saw the manager, he was trying to mollify an angry parent who was demanding he do something about the unsafe conditions and unruly crowd.
Daiei suffered a lot of damage to their store that day and I’m sure lost a lot of merchandise. They even ran a full-page newspaper ad apologizing for the autograph session that never happened.
What a day THAT was.
Bob Nagao, Al Tamayose and Kikaida meet Gov. George Ariyoshi
It was amazing. Somehow, somebody in the governor’s office told a Capitol worker that Kikaida was coming, and the news spread like wildfire. Nobody let on they knew, but they apparently yanked their kids out of school and brought them to work with them.
Kikaida was an amazing attraction that resulted in one of the most successful 50th State Fairs in recent history, raising lots of money for the Jaycees to run our community projects the coming year.
I’ve never seen anything like it since. We did bring in Zaboga the next year, enjoying modest success, but nothing to compare with Kikaida.
I am fortunate to have been involved with this one-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.
Kikaida event pictures by JN Productions.
2 comments:
I remember going to a Kikaida event at Ala Moana, Sears side. Can't remember the year, but '74 sounds right. Was that a part of your tour as well?
No, we didn't do an Ala Moana event. That must have been the second time he visited, a year or two after the 50th State Fair.
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