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Fair Weather Brings Best Chicken Broil in Years

For 61 years, Manchester has hosted the world at its Famous Chicken Broil. Gary Bross, Co-Chairman of this year’s broil, declared this year “one of the best yet.” Bross noted that perfect late summer weather, as well as the new and widely praised drive-thru, combined to lead the broil to essentially sell out of every chicken in all of Alumni Field.

Michael Tindall, our other Co-Chair, reports that 8,123 dinners served. 2,269 dinners were served on the field, and 2,400 dinners served through the drive-thru, and the remainder were carryouts. It will take months to account for the total revenue of the event, but all involved praised the event as a total success.

“I think ourÌýbroilÌýenjoyed another successful year,” Tindall said, “and we will make enough money to follow through with our commitment to the MAYS (Manchester Area Youth Sports) and donate the proceeds from this yearsÌýbroil. Our community volunteers worked hard to make the 61st annual ÌýManchester CommunityÌýChickenÌýBroilÌýa big hit with our customers.”

Billy Lewis and the Soul BacksÌýplayed all through dinner, visitors had a chance to enjoy a field full of classic cars, and everyone basked in the sunshine. Staffed by over 600 volunteers, the broil was first held August 12, 1954. Cooking outdoors was at that time a novelty. According to Broil history, “about 2000 meals were served that first broil, and the net profit of $1,075 was used for the Athletic Field fence.”

by Fritz Swanson

Fritz Swanson has written for The Believer, the Christian Science Monitor, Print Magazine, McSweeney's, Esopus, LSA Magazine, and The Mid-American Review. He serves as a trustee on the Manchester District Library Board. He's the designer and publisher of ÌÇÐÄÊÓƵ.