Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 22, 1993 TAG: 9305220021
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DENVER LENGTH: Medium
Thousands of people were expected today, many coming in chartered jets and fleets of buses. Motels are booked. Cookies were coming from Guam. A top New Orleans restaurant sent chefs.
Limbaugh referred to the spectacle of arts, crafts, food and entertainment - and an appearance by himself - on Old Town Square in downtown Fort Collins as "Rushstock '93."
"We just think it's going to be a real hoot to get together with people who feel the same way we do," said Linda Athens of El Paso, Texas, who planned to attend with her husband, Richard.
The idea started a couple of months ago, when Kay called Limbaugh's top-rated syndicated radio talk show, which according to radio ratings services has a total nationwide audience of 18 million listeners, 4.3 million of whom are tuned in at any given time. Kay mentioned in passing that a friend was sending him copies of Limbaugh's newsletter since he couldn't afford the $29.95 subscription rate.
Limbaugh, who preaches self-reliance, suggested Kay hold a bake sale to earn the money.
"It just sort of popped into his head. So, I laughed and sort of went with it," said Kay, 24, a former flea market employee. "I'm really having a good time with it."
The idea grew from the simple bake sale and organizers were expecting 25,000 to 40,000 visitors, including chartered jet loads from California and Alaska, said Ellen Zibell, executive director of the Downtown Business Association, which helped organize the event.
Part of the proceeds will go to nonprofit groups.
"It's just blossomed way more than we anticipated," Zibell said. "If you're a Rush fan, you will love it. If you're not a Rush fan, come down and people-watch and have a cookie."
The 1,700 rooms at 23 lodging centers in the college town 65 miles north of Denver were booked for the weekend, and others were filling fast in nearby Loveland and Cheyenne, Wyo.
KNUS-AM, a Denver station that carries Limbaugh's show, chartered at least 18 buses. A Colorado Springs restaurant leased four buses.
True to the original concept, Kay planned to sell cakes and chocolate chip cookies.
But from there, things moved upscale.
Bob McLaughlin, a baker from Guam, planned to bring about 200 pounds of macadamia nut-chocolate chip cookies.
Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans dispatched its top two chefs and two administrators to serve up about 8,000 portions of Bananas Foster, using 2,700 pounds of bananas.
It's the epitome of Limbaugh's sermon of self-reliance, Athens said.
"I never intended to just right down the line be in total agreement with Rush Limbaugh, but it turns out that I am," she said. "I am a very patriotic, right-wing, flag-waving American."
Besides, she admitted: "It's hot as hell down here on the border . . . I hope that it's going to be a little cooler up there."
In the Roanoke Valley, Limbaugh's radio show airs weekdays from noon-3 p.m. on WFIR (960 AM), where it is the third-highest rated show in the time period.
by CNB