What is Fame? According to Webster, it is the state of being known or talked about by many people, mainly because of notable achievements. We chose this as one of our eras because we have encountered people of fame and have been inducted into a few Halls of Fame. Our travels have allowed us to meet or perform for famous people such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard Simmons, Patch Adams, Debbie Reynolds, Alan Thicke, Ellen DeGeneres, Bob Costas, and Donald Trump. As for our notoriety in 1989, The Aerobic Diehards performed on the New Mickey Mouse Club Show, were presented the coveted Golden Mickey, and were inducted into the Mickey Mouse Club Hall of Fame. In 2014, I was honored to be inducted into the Garrett County Women’s Hall of Fame.
Competing in the Crystal Light Aerobic Championships would expose us to additional opportunities to meet and be around famous people. In 1986, after winning a regional competition in Pittsburgh with teammates Dawn Panther and Gale Bosley, we traveled to Los Angeles to compete and be part of the television taping of the event. We got just over eight counts of fame on TV! Occasionally, someone will send me a GIF of the show that floats online. It is pretty funny to look back at it now, but it was quite a milestone at that time. We also got to meet Debbie Reynolds and practice at her dance studio. That year’s show host was Alan Thicke, star of Growing Pains. At our hotel, we witnessed a child star named Allison Porter in the lobby at a piano practicing for her upcoming performance on a Star Search; she was unbelievable. Fast forward 25 years later, as I watched The Voice, I heard the familiar name, she would go on to win that season of The Voice. Of course, being near Hollywood, we had to visit the Star Walk of Fame and look for all our favorite celebrity stars.
1987 The Aerobic Diehards were invited by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to perform at a banquet at the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The team crammed into a motor home, and off we went to the Big Apple. We arrived at the swanky hotel with marble floors, gold fixtures, and sparkling chandeliers. The room was full of people, and there was a head table of dignitaries in front of the stage. While anticipating the girl's performance, we were amazed by the VIPs seated at the head table. The two that stood out at the time were sports broadcaster Bob Costas and Donald Trump. The girls took the stage and gave an outstanding performance, and the crowd gave them a tremendous round of applause and acknowledgment. This was quite a resume builder and would open future doors for our Aerobic Diehards. This group could easily be in the Girl Power Era. Still, we will share their accomplishments in the Fame era because they encountered more famous people than any other group representing Brenda’s Body Shop. In 1989, The Aerobic Diehards received an all-expense paid trip, and an opportunity to perform at the New Mickey Mouse Club show at Disneyworld. I will never forget receiving the call to invite us for the opportunity. The woman on the phone asked me if I could provide five dancers for the Hall of Fame segment of the show. I was so excited that I talked a mile a minute, trying to explain what had just happened to Pete. In my processing, I realized I could not choose just five girls; our team had 14. I was like a big sister to this group and loved them all equally. I was ready to decline the opportunity. On the return phone call, I explained the situation. I could tell the person on the phone with me was a little irritated as she replied, “Let me call you back. About ten minutes later, she called again and confirmed that the producers agreed to take all fourteen girls. We were given fantastic accommodation in one of Disney’s premier hotels. The taping of the New Mickey Mouse Club show was incredible. We saw the Mouseketeers in action and practiced our routine on the set ahead of the taping. My son Pete was seven then, and only kids were allowed to sit in the audience, so he represented all of us. I was so proud of him for being brave enough to go alone at such a young age. The parents and I got to watch the show from the green room. The girls did what they always do, performing with electrifying energy and precision. Following the performance, they stood in line and introduced themselves to a live and world audience when the show premiered. Our group was inducted into the Mickey Mouse Club Hall of Fame. We were presented with a Golden Mickey, which we proudly display at the studio. Lexi received it from our group. This experience created lots of buzz in the community, and it was terrific to share enthusiasm with you when the show aired. We had a big party and presented each girl with a golden Mickey that Pete helped me make. This experience still weighs in as one of my top three at BBS.
In 1993, The Aerobic Diehards attended another event sponsored by the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. The highlight came when the team met and photographed Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was very gracious and charming to our group.
I also remember when I heard fitness icon Richard Simmons was going to appear at Morgantown Mall. The Diehards came ready with the hopes of an impromptu performance. I seized the right moment to tell him about the group, and he agreed to let them perform on stage. He is quite a showman. I watched him backstage as he transformed into his bigger-than-life persona when he took the stage.
Some of our fame experiences are personal, like when I was competing at an event in California, and we rehearsed at Debbie Reynold’s dance studio. She was so kind and generous. During the TV taping of that competition, Alan Thicke, star of Growing Pains, was the host. He, too, was terrific. But, speaking of fame, no one has a bigger story than my daughter Morgan. Pete loves sports memorabilia and to have it signed by his favorite sports figures. Pete took Morgan and Zak to a celebrity golf tournament in Latrobe, PA. I was out of town at a sportaerobic workshop in Virginia. With so much excitement, Pete called me from the event and exclaimed that Morgan was golfing with Michael Jordan! I was stunned and did not understand the magnitude until hearing the entire story later that evening. When Michael Jordan came by them, Morgan pleaded with him to sign her jersey. He explained to her that he only provides autographs at the 18th hole. She replied with disappointment that she would not be there. She must have displayed some somber eyes because, at that moment, he invited her to step onto the green and golf with him. She spent the next two hours riding on his cart. He let her pull out his golf clubs, gave her a signed golf ball, and signed her jersey. He asks her, “Do you know who I am?” She was eight years old and replied, “Yes, you're on the movie Space Jam.” I can only imagine the chuckle that I got from him. Of course, her dad was beyond excited to have her sharing time with the greatest basketball player on the planet. Here is the best part… Pete returns to the same event the following year, hoping to see Michael Jordan again. I tag along, but being a skeptic, I say it won’t happen. That was a one-time thing. Wrong! Michael Jordan comes by us, and his security guy recognizes Morgan. Once again, she gets invited onto the green and walks with the superstar for a couple of holes. We have a picture of MJ giving Morgan a piggyback ride across a little dip in the course. We have so many incredible photos, and Morgan has a story to share with new acquaintances that will never get old.
We can all relate to the excitement that someone famous can bring, but at the end of the day, they are just people who have done something extraordinary that makes us all talk about them. Our Eras show ideas have come from the immense impact of Taylor Swift, who seems kind, generous, and talented, so we will leave this era crediting her for the inspiration to create and celebrate our eras.