Sandusky, Ohio – The band was warming up, the garden chairs began to fill the field along the picturesque coasts of Lake Erie on a beautiful summer night.
Then, two people appeared with what seemed pumps tied to their torsos.
The appropriate answer? “Santos Schnikes!”
Almost anywhere else, this would probably be worrisome. But not this weekend in Sandusky, Ohio, the scenario of the classic cult comedy “Tommy Boy”, starring Chris Farley and David Spade.
The film, which debuted in March 1995, was actually filmed in Canada. But that has not prevented the city of Ohio from about 25,000 to treat Tommy Callahan as a city’s hero.
This weekend, Sandusky celebrates the 30th anniversary of the film with Tommy Boy Fest. The festivities began on Thursday and will end on Saturday.
Hundreds saw a contest similar to anyone, or anything in the film, including the success of the deer on the road trip of Tommy and Richard.
Jay Stevens, who entered the appearance contest, said he has been watching the movie with “My dad since he was a child, I know I have probably seen him more than 10 times. It has always been a very healthy memory of always seeing Chris Farley over the years.”
Festival’s events include a “Tommy Want Wingy Thrown” fund collection, film projections and a car show with the infamous destroyed convertible from the film, which now belongs to director Pete Segal.
“I have had a more successful movie box office, but this is the one that people keep talking,” Segal said Friday from the driver’s seat.
“I think it’s a generational film … and I think there is a sweetness, and the fact that it was possibly, you know, Chris Farley’s best movie, and people absolutely worshiped him,” Segal said.
Michael Pecker led more than three hours from Cincinnati to participate in the fun “Tommy Boy”.
Farley “has a way of grabbing the audience and captivating you, and leads to where you dive in him,” Pecker said. “For me, it is a good outdated comedy at its best, and delivered it 100 percent.”
This was Segal’s first visit to Sandusky of real life, where a restaurant changed its name of “Tony” to “Tommy’s” on a banner and another offered a “Tommy Want Wingy” special.
“It is so moving and wonderful. The people of Sandusky have been fantastic. The entire city. There are banks on the street and posters in each store. It’s amazing,” Segal said.
Farley died less than three years after the premiere of the film. His brother Kevin made the trip to Sandusky for this milestone celebration.
“He lived a relatively short life, but he lived a great life, and I think it is good to see that people still remember him after all this time,” said Kevin Farley.
