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July 16, 2005
Potter Mania, Family Fun Night Fills Pullman Square; Empire's Owner: Turnout 'Spectacular,' More than Anticipated
by Tony Rutherford
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- Walking around Pullman Square's Potter Party Friday evening, July 15, 2005 brought back a few tastes of nostalgia.
No, the déjà vu did not come from walking in circles in an area that once upon a time had a "Cruise Avenue" name.
Instead, listening to a band playing, couples sitting on benches, hot dogs, lemonade, and peanuts roasting, I thought Huntington's Summerfest had returned --- without the beer. You remember, that seven- or ten-day party at Harris River Front Park that eventually folded after sponsors and boats left town. Actually, the mid-July event served as an inexpensive mini-vacation, until the organizers began charging to just cross the floodwall gate.
Tonight, however -- much like in the architect's drawings -- Pullman Square crawled with people of all ages. Of course, there were tables to sign up and reserve your spot in line for the magical Midnight Hour when the newest Potter wizardry would be unveiled.
Empire Book Store employees dressed the parts, even one young guy with rimmed glasses who might have passed for a Potter movie extra. One older gentleman wore a beard and dark cloak.
John Gaylord, bookseller operator of Empire Books and News, said several hundred people had already pre-paid for the sixth book in the Harry Potter series and had a reservation number to join a line at a little before midnight. Gaylord deemed the Family Fun Night a "spectacular" success with hundreds of people having a good time. The response was "way more" than Gaylord anticipated for the event.
Revelers have celebrated new cult flicks, a band's debut, or even a little wearin' of the green on St. Paddy's day or at the tailgate.
Midnight would not unfurl a curtain, strike up a band nor would the sky explode with fireworks. The object of the obsession: The release of a 600-plus page children's book! Tempting the eager readers, a stack of cardboard boxes partially covered by a curtain and guarded by employees.
Inside, a magician created balloon creatures as wee tykes looked on and other youngsters dabbed with face painting or slipping into their own creative minds with sketches of Potter characters that adorned the Old Village Roaster coffee bar.
As darkness covered the Square, mingling couples and colorful Frisbees flew around the bubbling fountain. Bands kept the amphitheatre rockin.' Essentially, everyone enjoyed themselves in a non-alcoholic family atmosphere. Actually, with two new flicks --- "Wedding Crashers" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" --- opening at the Marquee Cinema upstairs, a comedian taking the stage at the Funny Bone, and Starbucks brewing cup after cup of coffee, Pullman's entertainment portions blossomed, even as the two retailers, E.B. Games and the newly opened Merle Norman locked their doors for the night.
For "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince's" witching hour opening, Pullman sparkled, perhaps closer to the dreams of its developers than on any other day or night in its young history. ("Star Wars: Episode Three" midnight screening evening excluded.)
Asked about the enthusiasm and carnival atmosphere for the release of a book, Gaylord smiled and said, "Isn't this cool. We get our place in the sun too. There's one more [Potter] coming."
The Family Fun Night sponsored by Pullman Square, Empire, Clear Channel Communications and WOWK will soon return. "We're going to do this all the time," Gaylord revealed. "We had lots of great food, sno-cones, ribs, hot dogs and a wonderful time."
