Guest Regis Philbin speaks Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at the Life Expo at the Chattanooga Convention Center in Chattanooga.
Regis Philbin speaks Saturday at the Life Boomers & Seniors Expo at the Chattanooga Convention Center, produced by the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Janet Eell tries out an organ Saturday at the expo.The ladies of Chattanooga showed up in droves Saturday to see famous TV personality Regis Philbin at the Life Boomers & Seniors Expo, produced by the Times Free Press.
Ashley Farrar, who was neither a boomer nor a senior, came with her fiancé, Tommy Peak, because she said when she heard Philbin would be there, she knew she had to go.
She's so devoted she named her dog, a Newfoundland, after him.
"He's a larger-than-life dog," she said, explaining that he needed a name to fit his size.
She said her love for Philbin goes back to her childhood.
"He's just been around my whole life," she said.
Philbin had a VIP meet-and-greet before his appearance Saturday afternoon. In an earlier interview with the Times Free Press, he'd expressed concerns about whether anyone would attend his show.
"You never know if anyone's going to come," he said in his dressing room. "Is there a crowd out there?"
About 200 people were waiting when Philbin went onstage, and as soon as they saw him, they stood up, cheering.
He did part of one of his comedy sketches and told stories of his own struggles with getting older. Eventually, he began to sing, and he walked down to the crowd. Senior women swarmed him, touching him and giggling, and soon he began kissing some of them upon request.
When he managed to get back onstage, he said to the pianist, "Never let me go down there again."
This was the fifth year for the expo, said Lyndsi Lane, marketing manager for the Times Free Press. She said thousands of seniors attended.
"Attendance has been really good," she said. "We're really pleased."
Seniors could visit booths advertising things like wheelchairs, hearing aids and assisted living communites. Erlanger Health System had doctors present to answer certain questions on the spot.
Michael Ringering, practice administrator for UT Erlanger Ortho South, said having doctors on site was one of their main objectives.
"We really wanted to connect with patients that way," he said.
The expo had entertainment all day, including bingo, an Elvis impersonator and the East Ridge Cloggers, Lane said. But it all culminated with Philbin.
Near the end of his show, Philbin brought some women onstage, and he asked one if she was married. She said no, but she had a boyfriend of 25 years.
"Do you think one day you might get married?" he asked.
"We won't worry about that today," she said with a laugh. "I'm here to see you."
Contact staff writer Hannah Smith at hsmith@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6731.