If you were to ask 1,463 Gorham folks what they were doing on a sunny July 30, 2006, even where they were gathered and what they were wearing, they could tell you in an eye blink. They’d say they were standing on the site of what is now the Gorham Police Department trying to break a record. They were laughing and wearing Groucho Marx-like disguises: fake eyeglasses attached to an oversized nose, dark eyebrows and a black mustache, and they were hoping to step into the Guinness Book of World Records. A day to remember.
By the next day one of several Maine newspapers who headlined the event, captioned their article, “Gorham Goes Groucho.” USA Today added a note on Aug. 1, 2006. The Associated Press asked, “What Would Groucho Say?” And the challenge was on to see if Gorham could break the existing record.
Photo credit: JoAnn LeibGorham Times from 2006
Cindy Hazelton, director of Gorham Parks and Recreation, who looks back on 33 years of working for the town, recalls that day well and credits her 2006 staff and a young intern from St. Joseph’s College with brainstorming the escapade.
“We started with ten ideas and landed on the Guiness book of World Records, and we found and filled out the Guinness application. Then it was real—Groucho Marx glasses. We knew we’d have to compete against the record holder, an Australian Junior Rugby team. We knew we’d have to set a number goal—theirs was 1400––find a calendar date and designate two official witnesses who Guinness demanded be of, “upstanding character.” Hazelton asked the town manager and a local attorney to get involved, and they agreed. Then there was the matter of purchasing 2000 sets of Groucho glasses. Could local banks support the price—81 cents per disguise? They could, and so Topshelf Collectibles of Gorham gladly delivered dozens of cartons of the plastic eyewear, enough to fill a small office.
“We found a 20’ x 30’ tent. According to Guinness guidelines, there had to be double accountability: a manned entrance and exit and numbered sets of eyeglasses and people to be sure of the count.” The glasses had to be worn simultaneously for a minimum of ten minutes by the citizens of the participating town. But how to persuade folks to actually show up?
“We planned to have a DJ and music, we called friends, and we went door to door to be sure we had more than enough people involved, but to be sure of success, we offered door prizes.” Prizes included a new Jotul stove, an Old Town canoe with paddles and a life-vest, and what Hazelton describes as the most sought-after prize: six long-handled shovels.
“That day—it was like herding cats. We stopped people who were driving into town to get them to show up. We took pictures. We had a wonderful photographer, Martha Harris, and she got up on one of the fire trucks—on a ladder—to take pictures. Hannaford’s made loudspeaker announcements—you know— ‘leave your carts, go to the Municipal Center for a fun event, and we’ll keep an eye on your things!’ Everyone got involved.”
Photo credit: Joann LeibGuinness Book of World Records lists Gorham, ME
People were bursting to show their Gorham spirit by checking in and being counted, recounted and photographed. The event played out with the feeling that Gorham had done something memorable. Hannaford’s groceries were retrieved. The number of Groucho glasses was verified, and the count seemed to indicate that there was good news of victory to come, though by then the fun of competing against the New South Wales, Australia’s Toukley Hawks was just as exciting as the hope of making a Guinness World Record. Hazelton quickly filed proof of what she hoped would be the Gorham triumph, and soon enough Guiness World Records acknowledged the successful outcome, on their letterhead, but not yet in print in book form. It would be by chance many months later that Hazelton would be browsing through the Guinness Book of World Records 2008 to happen on the Gorham, Maine notation. “The Most People Wearing Groucho Marx Glasses at the Same Time.” It was there, less than an eighth of a page, but in color, and very satisfying indeed. The event is marked by a framed two-page layout, in full color in the Parks and Recreation Center, 75 South Street, Gorham, Maine.