From a patron of the Parma-Snow Library-CCPL
after “A Conversation with Eleanor & Lucretia” on May 4, 2013:
“I learned so much today! Why
couldn’t history class have been like this?”
Comments sent to Linda
Laronge after her visit to the College Club of Cleveland on
April 8, 2013:
“What a big hit you
made. All I’ve heard are good comments. Our members
sure know more about
Eleanor Roosevelt
because of you. Thanks so much for your professional
approach and great performance.”
- Mary Lou Bregitzer, Program Committee
From William Howard Taft’s visit to the Painesville
Masonic Temple Lodge #28 on February 13, 2013:
“We
received many compliments on the presentation. We were pleased
that Dale had researched President Taft’s involvement with the
Masons. It was informative and entertaining.”
-Mike Gilkerson, Junior Warden
Regarding General and Mrs. Garfield’s meet-and-greet
prior to the March 9, 2013 Civil War music concert presented by
The Western Reserve Chorale and the Singers' Club of Cleveland:
“Thank you
so much for spending your Saturday evening with all of us.
There were many people who really loved speaking with you - they
were impressed with how you never went out of character. And it
just added such a nice touch to the event. It was wonderful, and
I'm grateful.”
– Joanne Poderis, Executive Director and Accompanist.
Overheard at
the Yours Truly ~ Mentor “Dinner with the Presidents” event
about Linda Laronge’s portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt:
“Listening to your accent gives me goosebumps! It’s so much
like Eleanor’s!
From Abraham Lincoln’s program for Buckeye
Local Schools in Geneva, OH on Feb. 21, 2013:
Jacqueline Jenks, 1st
Grade Teacher wrote:
“Mr.
King is so knowledgeable on his topic and shared many
insightful interesting stories about A. Lincoln.
He brought in clothing
articles, books, period toys, etc., to add to his
presentation. He was warm and friendly with our students,
answering questions and making kind comments. Mr. King has
so much knowledge to share & we are blessed that he does!”
From Abraham Lincoln’s visit to
Collinwood’s Masonic Lodge #582, Feb. 11, 2013:
Robert Hager wrote,
“Good program. John was
great to work with and tailored his presentation to our
requirements.”
From Abraham Lincoln’s program at Cuyahoga
County Public Library’s Independence Branch, Feb. 18, 2013:
Kathy Roach wrote,
“I think Mr. King knew
Abe Lincoln as well as Abe knew himself – not a single
question he couldn’t answer. He handled our audience of all
ages (infants to grandparents!) very well and was thoroughly
engaging. *I really appreciated that Mr. King took the time
to answer all questions and pose for pictures with our
customers.”
From Abraham Lincoln’s program for the Valley of
Youngstown, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite,
Feb. 18, 2013: Randal E. Davis, Secretary, wrote
“One of the finest programs we have had to date!”
From “A
Visit with Widow Lucretia Garfield” for Lake County Historical
Society’s “Home for the Holidays,” Nov. 28, 2012:Carla Woodcock,
Receptionist, wrote,
“She
never broke character while she was in the Garfield room.”
[a parlor has been set-up to showcase Lucretia and her
influence on Lake County]
“She captured Mary Todd
Lincoln to the ‘nth degree’.”
-- Cheryl Fain of the
Traveler’s Club of Rock Creek, OH , September 18, 2012.
“It takes a
special performer to hold the attention of a group of 3 to
7-year olds. All of the anecdotes were spot on for a family
group. You made our presidents program a success and we will
definitely be calling on your group again in the future. (about
presidents Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Garfield visit)
Thank
you!” -- Brenna Friesner, Children’s Librarian, Chagrin
Falls Branch Library-CCPL
The kind
folks at Harpersfield United Methodist Church enjoyed President
Garfield’s June 14, 2012 (Flag Day) visit so much that Valerie Virant, UMW president, wrote:
“The
only thing disappointing was it ended too quickly. You made
it so interesting we wanted to hear more!”
President
and Mrs. Garfield were videotaped at the Garfield Cabin in
Moreland Hills and the Garfield Monument at Lake View Cemetery
on May 15, 2012. Becki Trivison, Project Coordinator for Ohio
Historical Society’s “Ohio as America” wrote:
“These
performances will make a great addition to our online [4th
Grade Social Studies] textbook and be very memorable for the
students!"
After
presidents Lincoln, Grant, and Garfield visited Munson
Elementary in Chardon, OH on May 17, 2012, Leigh Ann Ferguson,
Third Grade Teacher, said:
“The
speakers were prompt, very informative, and totally looked
authentic. They held the kids’ interests for 2 hrs.!!
Thank you so much! We really enjoyed your visit and we all
learned a great deal!”
Ulysses S. Grant portrayed by
Donald Miller for the Louisville-Nimishillen Historical
Society Dinner on
May 5, 2012:
“Thank You! Great presentation and
unknown facts about our past President.”
Following
“A Conversation with Eleanor & Lucretia” at the Peninsula
Library Tea on May 9, 2012:
“Wonderful program… You two made quite the pair discussing
your lives with a couple of Presidents! And didn't you set
all the ladies a twitter with your discussion of
Presidential philandering!!! It makes people realize a lot…
Presidents are human.”
– Tim Garfield, Great-Great-Grandson of President &
Mrs. Garfield
“What
made the program so interesting was that Lucretia and
Eleanor had incidents in their lives that the audience
could relate to and they empathized with the two women. As
I looked around the room, the group was attentive the whole
time.”
– Laura W., Brunswick, OH
“… I
thought you were amazing and all one had to do was close
their eyes and they would think you were Lucretia. You
never miss a beat, hesitate or lose your place in your
story. You ARE Lucretia. You don't seem to
follow any script.”
– Dianne M., Avon, OH
After President James
Garfield’s program at the Dunham Tavern in Cleveland, OH on
Sunday, April 29, 2012,:
a doctor came up and
apologized for the President’s botched medical care in
1881. “I’ve never had that happen before!” exclaimed
Ed Haney (Garfield portrayer).
“I let him off the
hook and said that Dr. Bliss was the real one to blame.”
From President & Mrs. Garfield’s visit to the Shaker Heights
Historical Society on February 26, 2012:
“After listening to a few minutes of your program, you
became the Garfields.”
Regarding the
February 10, 2012 program, “A Conversation with Eleanor &
Lucretia” for the Willoughby Woman’s Club:
Marie
Francis, program chairman, wrote, “I have never heard so
many good compliments about a program.
Everyone loved this and, as you may have noticed, were
very attentive.” She also stated that they
[Eleanor & Lucretia], “exceeded expectations!”
“We had children from the age of
seven to seventy and they were all amazed.”
Cary C. Carter, Sr., Masonic Lodge –
Western Reserve #507, regarding Abraham Lincoln’s visit on
February 3, 2012
Regarding President Taft’s visit to the Abraham Lincoln
Birthplace NHP:
Dale [Liikala] did a fantastic job as William H. Taft
and delivered the historic 1911 speech of Taft
magnificently.
…I have forwarded your name and contact information to
the director of the Robert Todd Lincoln Home in
Manchester, Vermont and to the Chief of Interpretation
at the William H. Taft Historic Site in Cincinnati,
Ohio. I told them that if they ever needed a William H.
Taft presenter, you were their man.
-
Gary Ferguson, Park Guide, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace
NHP, Hodgenville, KY