Business Casual

Remember that Dr. Pepper commercial that played at almost every stoppage in play last fall in the National Football League and NCAA? The one with the, shall we say, rotund chap in a football uniform celebrating a touchdown, including a cannonball off the goalpost?

I’d forgotten it – until Tuesday afternoon’s press conference in Park City to announce a schedule change in the return of Wild West World.

Here’s Chapter 27 of the WWW story: The park will reopen in May, with its old western theme, and apparently under the operation of Tulsa park guru Jerry Murphy despite some doubt if Murphy can manage the manpower for the park and its Johnny Western Theatre.

Today’s press conference came eight days after the theater’s scheduled reopening, thanks to the snail’s pace of contract talks with Murphy, according to Doug Spangler, who represents park owner AHG LLC.

I’d love to cyber-look all of you in the eye and tell you the park’s return is locked down. Dead certain. No more of Thomas Etheredge’s overpriced Kiddieland. Extreme thrill rides for teenagers and young adults.

And maybe it is.

But every time that thought crosses my mind, here comes that jingle again: “Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends.”

Especially that last line: “I’m so glad you could attend. Come inside, come inside.”