IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!

Bemus Point, New York Circa 1940s

Bemus Point, New York .. Light the Lakes

Everyone is familiar with the positive slogan .. if you build it, they will come.  In the case of Bemus Point the community through the years became synonymous with entertainment.  Music could be heard near the water whether it was in the 1940s with a raised stage on land, the 1960s at the popular Surf Club, the Village Casino ballroom or in most recent years when the Pops first appeared on the roof of the Italian Fisherman (IF) then subsequently moving to another stage nearby though this time .. on water!  Diners could sit on the pressured-treated wood deck of the Italian Fisherman overlooking the floating stage and enjoy the music while having a wonderful dinner or dessert with friends and family while watching a beautiful sunset over Bemus bay.  It doesn't get any better than this!

A stage that floats was built and they did come!  Through the years it became a Bemus Point summer landmark.  When you saw the floating stage in Bemus .. you knew another fun summer .. with music .. had officially arrived!

A tried and true formula .. vision + hard work = success.

                           

     

   Chautauqua Lake Pops 2019 in Mayville NY

The Pops evolved through the years which eventually included a name change from the Bemus Bay Pops to the Chautauqua Lake Pops.  Pops attendees witnessed hundreds of beautiful sunsets in Bemus bay and hundreds of musical tribute groups stepping onto a stage that floated. One man's vision has and continues to give us memorable first-class musical entertainment for all to enjoy and to appreciate.

The Bemus Bay Pops location has changed though the 'spirit and the spice' of the Pops and all it brings to our region has never dimmed. The Pops' journey which began 35 years ago in Bemus Point started with an idea of what could be for everyone from across the Chautauqua Lake Region to enjoy and to treasure. Non-believers can and do become believers and supporters.

The Chautauqua Lake Pops concert series entertains residents and non-residents throughout the summer months. It has become a spectacular musical tradition which attracts folks from all ages providing quality family entertainment for years in Bemus Point and now in Mayville along the lake with the historic train depot as its backdrop.

The train depot seen in this drone photo set along Route 394 is on the present site of the Chautauqua Lake Pops known for its unique floating stage with its distinctive white tarp.  The Pennsylvania Railroad Station built in 1925 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.  The steamboat with its trademark red paddlewheel is the beloved Chautauqua Belle.  It operates out of Mayville running between Chautauqua Institution, Bemus Point, the turn-around docks in Jamestown and the vessel's homeport located near the Chautauqua Lake Pops.  These iconic landmarks add to the ambience of a concert location that provides concert-goers with a view of another iconic landmark, the Miller Tower on the beautiful grounds of the Chautauqua Institution.  It doesn't get any better than this! 

Chautauqua Lake Pops Labor Day 2019 Finale with Pops Announcer, Mike Ferguson

Please join us with your support of Bringing the Arts to the People

For information regarding sponsorship, ticket sales and special events

www.chautauqualakepops.com

As creator and writer of the Chautauqua Lake Pops Maestro Muse blog I am honored that Dan Dalpra, Pops Founder and CEO, asked me to bring this blog to the people.  As a believer and supporter of the Pops program since its inception I now enjoy writing stories about the 20 years of the Pops, the 35 years of the Italian Fisherman in Bemus Point NY and the 2019 concert series in Mayville NY.  The Pops brings to the Chautauqua Lake Region the magic of music through a man who had a vision in 1997 .. a vision that became reality through hard work and dedication.

          Thank you, Dan for all you do for all of us!         

In closing, a friend of mine who plays guitar for The Groove based in Erie PA gave me a quote prior to the band's appearance on the floating stage in Bemus June 25, 2016.

                                    "We can't wait to float."                         

Be Safe.  Support the Pops.

Thank You.

Pat Locke
Maestro Muse 

When The Eagles stopped to catch their breath a few decades ago having sold over 100 million records, collected six Grammy’s and enjoyed six #1 albums Hotel California began a pioneering journey through their history-making music that has taken them around the globe and thrilled hundreds of thousands of Eagles fans. 

It’s been a journey they could never have imagined back in 1986, but their dedication, unique musical gifts, and an obsessive commitment to doing this legendary music true justice in performance set them apart from the many Eagles bands that came after them.  Hotel California toured relentlessly from the 80’s straight through to today, setting the standard for world-class tribute productions as they went and sharing stages with the likes of The Doobie Bros., Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, and many more.  From Japan to Dubai, Toronto to Texas .. Hotel California has boldly taken the tribute band where none had gone before them and changed an industry’s collective mind about how good a “tribute” band could really be!

Today Hotel California continues to tour internationally and their stage show has evolved into one of the most impressive popular productions in North America.  Featuring original members within their strongest lineup to date, the band is enjoying what they do today more than ever - and it sure sounds like it! It won’t take you long to hear why legions of Eagles fans come back to see them time after time and the top venues & festivals have them backing again and again. The easy-going warmth that comes from the band onstage exemplifies the Southern California sound of the 1970’s. The experience of a Hotel California show isn’t just about the band – it’s about celebrating the music, the memories.  The band gets the audiences involved and on their feet! Close your eyes and you’re right back there!

"For any band to continually exceed such high expectations this deep into their career, and remain at the top of their field for as long as Hotel California, it is truly a remarkable accomplishment. That’s why when top talent buyers need the proven, absolute highest quality Eagles show in the world, they book the original Hotel California year after year." 

 Steve Birnstihl, CTA Tributes

Today Hotel California continues to tour internationally and their stage show has evolved into one of the most impressive and popular productions in North America.  Featuring original members within their strongest lineup to date, the band is enjoying what they do today more than ever!  It won't take you long to hear why legions of Eagles fans come back to see them time after time.  The easy-going warmth that comes from the band onstage exemplifies the Southern California sound of the 70s.

Hotel California band members are Andy Lapointe, bass/vocals; Mike Dimoulas, electric guitar/acoustic guitar/double neck guitar and keyboards; Rick Spyder, electric guitar/saxophone/vocals; Kevin O'Donnell, drums/vocals.  Mike is the original member of the group.  He's been in the band since it was formed in 1986 and it would be easier to list the places Mike hasn't played!  Kevin is an incredible Don Henley sound-alike.  Rick's cowboy hat and his down-home country charm are a hit with the Eagles fans. Andy had been with Hotel California since 1987 and has performed literally thousands of shows with the band!  Even after all these years Andy is enjoying HC's touring schedule more than ever!

"The floating stage is unique because we're always surrounded by people on land and on water.  It's one of the best venue in which we perform.  I recommend anyone from out of town to experience it."

Andy Lapointe, bass player/Hotel California

Mississauga, Ontario

www.californiahotel.ca

"To our fans,  We wish you all good health and safety during these difficult times.  Let's continue to stay positive and care for one another.  We look forward to seeing you again soon!"

Hotel California

This tribute band would have appeared on the floating stage .. July 11.

Be Safe.

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse

These musicians appeared on the Bemus Bay Pops floating stage in 2013.  I attended one of their concerts then immediately informed Dan and .. the rest is history!

In their spectacular mult-media show, The Hitmen not only pay the classic hits they helped rocket to the top of the Billboard charts, they also share fascinating insider back stories about their days on the road and in recording studios with music royalty.

From transistor radios, vinyl, eight-track tapes and cassette to the Sony Walkman, CDs, digital downloads and the Apple iPod, The Hitmen have seen and heard it all.  And they have the stories to go with it!  They play music's greatest hits the way you first heard them!

The Hitmen are:  keyboardist and group founder, Lee Shapiro; lead guitarist/vocalist Jimmy Ryan; bassist/vocalist Jeff Ganz; keyboardist, percussionist & vocalist Russ Velazquez and drummer/vocalist, Steve Murphy. 

You may not know their names, but you went to their concerts, heard them on the radio, watched them on TV and bought their records.  They have appeared on over eighty five albums, won multiple gold and platinum recording awards and Emmy awards.

   

These men are the musicians who made and played the soundtrack of your life!  The Hitmen not only played the music, they lived the music!  

Be Safe.

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse

      

DFT Communications Floating Stage Stands Apart in Performing Arts

June 21, 2012

By Eric Wise, Star Staff Writer

Eleven years ago, Dan Dalpra didn't know that would be the last year the Bemus Bay Pops performed their annual concert on the roof of his Bemus Point restaurant, the Italian Fisherman.  That was because one year later, they'd be performing on a one-of-a-kind floating stage.

"The last year, we were starting to get a little worried about the roof," said Dalpra.  "We contacted Pepsi and some other groups to help sponsor the DFT Communications Floating Stage.  Nobody had really heard of one before that, but we figured, "how hard could it be?"

After researching and gaining understanding of what the process would entail, there was no holding Dalpra back.  He and his team found a company in Knoxville Tennessee that could manufacture the stage at a weight capacity of 65,000 lbs. set to safely hold more than 200 people.  

Once the stage itself was taken care of they hunted down a company to design and build the unique top structure. 

"We wanted a similar theme to the Sydney Opera House," said Dalpra.  "We found a company in Colorado who could do it.  The rest is history".

And what a history it has been.  Since that first year the Floating Stage has grown to host some sort of event nearly every night of the week during the summer season.

"We decided to do something more than once a year," said Dalpra.  "So we started events on Sunday afternoons.  We found sponsors to do multiple shows. People brought their own chairs down and the whole thing evolved from there."

Annual shows like Chautauqua Idol and the Light the Lakes event have become a hit with local residents, but don't expect Dalpra to let a sleeping dog lie.

We just keep looking for innovative ways to generate revenue so the stage can become self-supporting," said Dalpra.  "Our yearly budget is about $300,000, but the stage and the Bemus Bay Pops generate around $12-14 million a year for this region."

In the beginning, all the events at the stage were free so we figured out what service people would be willing to pay for", said Dalpra.  "We found out most didn't like lugging their chairs to the stage three hours before a show to hold a spot so we bought lawn chairs and sold tickets for those chairs.  Of course, it's still open to the public to sit in the street or pull up on their boats."

Maintenance on a floating stage with a decade under its belt has been pretty easy going with the most intense jobs being power-washing and cleaning up the area. But as the stage grows older, Dalpra foresees some usual maintenance needs.

"The canvas will likely need some adjustments soon" said Dalpra.  "We'll have to work with the floats underneath and possibly replace them as well as some of the pressure treated wood in the stage.  But overall, it's held up great for ten years in business."

With his eye always on the future, Dalpra has a great vision for what the stage could someday become. 

"We'd love to expand the size of it at some point," said Dalpra.  "As we get more and more acts in, we need to have dressing rooms.  People want to use it for weddings and such, but we need more of a kitchen set up to really do what we'd like. When things with the economy turn around, we'll see more opportunities for growth."

Be Safe.

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse 

GIL-MAR

For many years a place called GIL-MAR was the lakeside local stop in Bemus Point by car or bicycle for a Light Lunch, Sealtest Ice Cream, Pepsi-Cola, newspapers, etc.  Years later it became the site of the Italian Fisherman and the Bemus Bay Pops.  Many sites have changed through the years in Bemus Point though one thing remains the same .. the charm and the quaintness of a lake resort town along the shores of Chautauqua Lake.

Though the Italian Fisherman isn't in Bemus Point anymore you can still purchase those delicious Italian Fisherman Chips at the Chautauqua Lake Pops, Wegman's or online. Get some today to go along with any planned picnic this summer! Delivered right to your door!  Available in 2 great sizes.  Fresh local potatoes become crisp, crunchy gourmet chips, specially seasoned with our Tuscan blend of herbs making them the perfect snack choice.  Experience our passion for great food and feel the love in each crunchy bite!  Sorry, the chips are only shipped within the USA!

italianfishermanchips.com

Email: contact@italianfisherman.com 

This blog entry marks #50.


Be Safe.

Pat Locke

Maestro Muse