Allentown Fair billboard gets tongue-in-cheek about KISS concert and cows
By John J. Moser / http://www.mcall.com/
There�s a classic rock legend that Gene Simmons, bassist for the band KISS, had a cow�s tongue grafted onto his own to form his trademark appendage.
Now, a new billboard along Route 145/MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township takes a tongue-in-cheek � or, rather, out of cheek -- twist on the legend to promote Allentown Fair�s Aug. 30-Sept. 5 run and the Sept. 1 concert by KISS.
On the huge sign, a cow representing Allentown Fair (perhaps its mascot Moodonna?) has its face painted to match Simmons� onstage KISS makeup, and has a Simmons-like tongue protruding from its mouth.
And in this case, the tongue definitely has been grafted on: It�s a puffy, pink 3-D appendage.
The sign�s slogan, �Party Every Day,� is from the lyrics of KISS�s song �Rock and Roll All Nite.�
The sign is visible along Route 145 South, on the opposite side of the road between Burger King and Papa John�s Pizza.
In a statement, fair Marketing Director Bonnie Brosious said Adams Outdoor of the Lehigh Valley approached the fair with the idea � �unlike anything seen in our market before. Its intention is to add an eye-catching extra dimension to one of the fair�s roadway messages.�
�During the conference call pitch, when the design was revealed on my computer � let�s just say I flew a bit backward on my office chair wheels,� Brosious said.
�Adams� team tells us they like creating for the fair that doesn�t take itself too seriously. Believe me, this design IS a punch line and I�m pretty sure it will attract attention.�
KISS, which is among the best-selling bands of all time, will take the stage at 7 p.m. Sept. 1. Tickets, at $63-$83, are on sale at the fair box office, www.Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster centers and 800-745-3000.
It will be KISS�s first show in the Lehigh Valley in 24 years � and first-ever at Allentown Fair. It also will be KISS�s first Valley show in full makeup in more than 40 years. Its last Valley shows were during tours on which it played without the makeup. It resumed wearing the makeup in 1996.
Incidentally, Snopes says the legend about Simmons' tongue surgery is false (See http://bit.ly/29RWjtS). But Simmons has called it his favorite Kiss rumor.
