Aspen Historical Society Museum to Award Fishwit Prize

June 10, 2008

Though he passed away in 1967, Freddie Fisher’s spirit will surely be with us as the Aspen Historical Society and the Aspen Times hosts “Freddie Fisher Day” this Thursday, June 12th at the Society’s flagship facility, the Wheeler/Stallard Museum (at the corner of 6th and Bleeker in Aspen’s historic West End neighborhood).

Featuring the live music of longtime Fisher collaborator Walt Smith, the celebration will get underway at 5:00 p.m. and will feature complimentary refreshments including a BBQ. The event is free and open to everyone and in honor of the witty and irreverent letters that Freddie would often write to the newspapers the “Freddie Fisher Irreverent Wit Prize for Letters to the Editor” (a.k.a. the “Fishwit” prize) will be awarded to one lucky letter writer from the past year’s worth of letters to the editor.

Freddie and his band were a performing fixture throughout Aspen during the 1950s and 60s and Fisher himself was known for his mechanical wizardry (he invented a process for electroplating leaves) and ability to fix just about anything, not to mention a particularly sharp wit when it came to observing and writing about the issues and foibles that make Aspen … Aspen. He would have been 104 years old this year and to mark the occasion everyone is invited to celebrate the character that Freddie was by sharing stories, discussing local issues, enjoying the camaraderie of fellow Aspenites and perhaps even writing a letter to the editor about something that interests you (just be sure to include some humor!).

The Coveted “Fishwit” Prize will be awarded sometime between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., although organizers say that adhering to rigid schedules might go against the irreverent spirit of the event so don’t hold us to that one. There will no doubt be many tall stories told and truths stretched over the course of the afternoon. Bring your best yarns to share, irreverence encouraged.

The Freddie Fisher Birthday Celebration and Fishwit Prize Ceremony is presented by the Aspen Historical Society and The Aspen Times. See you there!

For more information call the Aspen Historical Society at 925-3721.

Written by debbie · Filed Under Local News

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