Bill Hall, longtime coordinator of Glenside’s 4th of July Parade and a legend in the minds of many, passed away on the morning of Thursday, April 4.
His passing was peaceful and he was surrounded by loved ones. Mr. Hall was hospitalized on Tuesday, according to a member of the Downtown Glenside Foundation.
“The Glenside Community will be forever grateful for all that Bill has done to make our 4th of July celebration the success it is known for!” the member said.
Mr. Hall was in his 27th year as coordinator, a run that saw his beloved parade grow from a simple afternoon to an “all-day, three-tiered celebration,” as he called it.
“We hope we give the area the best family-friendly outing of the year, and our reputation has grown. In a sense, we’re the Fourth of July capital of the eastern United States, and possibly beyond,” Mr. Hall said in a February 2023 interview with Glenside Local.
A talent agent since the 1960s, Mr. Hall worked with a large number of circus performers, as well as produced circus shows, including the Circus Hall of Fame in Sarasota, Florida. He authored a regular column called “Tanbark Topics” for White Tops, the magazine of the Circus Fans of Association of America.
For his May 2023 interview with Circus World, you can click here. For his 2022 interview with the Greater Glenside Patriotic Association, you can read this transcript:
GGPA: How did you get involved with and how long have you been with the GGPA?
Bill Hall: Late Glenside Ward 13 Abington Township Commissioner Mike Gillespie (R), aware of my family-friendly entertainment business, solicited us in 1998 to become involved with the community’s July 4th parade, which he said was on a downward slide. We originally rejected his bidding, stating we were “too busy” to get involved. Appreciating his persistence (3 visits within a 3-week period), we finally relented, providing we had his okay “to shake up the parade.” We added a condition that if we helped improve the parade, Greater Glenside Patriotic Association officials would consider bringing back a July 4th fireworks display for the 2000 celebration, as pyro displays in Abington had been cancelled in the 1990s. Fireworks (“America the Beautiful Aerial Fireworks Spectacular”) have occurred ever since.
GGPA: What are your role(s) with the committee?
Bill Hall: My titles are Parade/Fireworks Coordinator and Media/Public Relations Director. When soliciting discerning and heavy-hitter financial contributors, we sign our request letters as Grant Coordinator.
Believing that you must be ready to assist when and wherever necessary, we are known to be a severe critic, at times, in our attempts to improve each year’s celebration rather than accepting the status quo.
GGPA: What is your favorite part of July 4th in Glenside?
Bill Hall: Oddly, seeing large, quality motor coach vehicles, rolling east along Jenkintown Road, and then south on Easton Road, after discharging parade musical and marching units, enroute to parade finish at Renninger Park. Spectators seeing them pass by know, excitedly and expectantly, that the parade is coming, and it will be a big one. Also, knowing that the GGPA team gave the community its top, family-friendly, patriotic event of the year!
GGPA:What is your favorite 4th of July memory?
Bill Hall: Too many good memories to select one over another. But clear-weather days and nights are always well-remembered.
GGPA: What is the best thing about Glenside?
Bill Hall: Pleasant, helpful, considerate residents in a small-town setting who solidly support a big-city, real Americana-style 4th of July celebration.
We will be in touch with more information about Mr. Hall as it becomes available.
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Photos: Bill Hall