By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The World Series. The Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NBA Finals. And now, the Eldridge Fencing Jingle Showdown. Game Seven is one of the most exciting nights in any professional sport. This Saturday is Game Seven for Eldridge Fencing in Great Bend. After six weeks of fan voting for the best jingle, owners Wally and Billy Eldridge are tied at three apiece. The stakes: a lucky voter will win a Napoleon 22-inch professional kettle grill during a live Eagle broadcast Monday night.
"I realized how important radio advertising is after we've done this," Wally said. "You wouldn't believe, just around town talking, I can't go in the grocery store without somebody asking me about the jingle."
Last March, Eldridge Fencing, 80 10th Street on the east edge of Great Bend, celebrated 30 years of service to the community. For most of those three decades, Wally relied on a professional singing group out of Branson, Mo., to provide the radio jingles. About five years ago, Eagle Media's Shannon Towns suggested Wally give the jingle a try.
"A while back, Billy had to do a commercial because I was on vacation," Wally said. "I got a thousand texts, emails, and phone calls about Billy being better than me, so I said, 'Okay, it's on.'"
Seven weeks ago, the Eldridge Fencing Jingle Showdown was born. Each participant cuts a new radio ad each week. Voters can stop by the store each week and vote on their favorite. Wally or Billy - whoever pulls in the most votes that week - then gets to pick the winner of a gift basket loaded with Eldridge Fencing goodies. Every person who has cast a vote will be eligible to win the Napoleon grill on July 28.
The contest has grown each week. Wally's ads have featured the likes of Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark and even Elvis. Billy's ads have featured singers Logan Mize and Jadynce Jean. Then there's Cooper, Billy's son, who seems to be easily swayed into voting for either daddy or papaw. He was recently persuaded by a candy bar to vote for Wally, but only after some creative editing in the studio.
Hoping for a week seven to bust out the big guns, Billy's bid to bring in Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs and Smith Center-native Mitch Holthus came up a little bit short.
"I just couldn't get ahold of him," said Billy. "I figured I'd be able to get ahold of him with him being from Kansas."
Now, the final jingles have been cut. Voters have until Monday, July 28 to stop by Eldridge Fencing to vote for the week seven winner. This one will decide all the marbles. While the final vote will bring the joy of winning or the agony of defeat, the whole ride has been a learning lesson for a local business.
"We definitely understand a little bit more about how many people listen to the radio and the different stations as well," Billy said.
Check out the final jingles this week on B104 3 The Point, 1590 KVGB/95.5 FM, 100.7 Eagle Country, and Hits 106.9, then join the Eldridges and Towns for a live broadcast at 7 p.m. on July 28 for the final count and Napoleon grill giveaway.