Guests: Dan Dierdorf, Joe Horrigan & Steve Perry

Hosts: Larry Hackenberg & Mark Milano

If there’s anything synonymous with the city of Canton, Ohio, it’s the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As we near this summer’s FIFTIETH anniversary of the 1963 hall construction, we are blessed to be joined by two of the caretakers who know it best – Hall of Fame President Steve Perry and Vice President Joe Horrigan.

The first stop on our journey is likely the furthest we’ve traveled to date as we arrive in 1892 to witness the birth of professional football itself when William “Pudge” Huffelfinger is the first player to be be paid to play a game.

We then jump to 1920 when the very first National Football League championship team was…. Akron??? Yep, the team to hold that distinction was the Akron Pros! In addition, their star player was “Fritz” Pollard who was not only one of the first two african americans to play in the league but also went on to become the league’s very first african american head coach!

NFL great and Canton son Dan Dierdorf calls into the show and tells many great stories! The highlight of which has gotta be when, as a young boy, Dan’s father takes him to attend the actual GROUNDBREAKING of the hall’s construction! A wide-eyed Dan never dreams that he himself will one day be inducted into its hallowed halls.

Additional questions answered during this information packed show include:

Why, of all the many communities vying to make their city the home of the HOF was Canton chosen?

Where did the term “grid iron” come from exactly?

How was the bust of O.J. Simpson stolen and how did the hall get it back?

And MANY more!

Mark Milano, Steve Perry, Joe Horrigan, Larry Hackenberg, and Phil Changet

As the show comes to a close The Time Machine briefly visits the FUTURE as we get an up close look at the hall’s currently in progress “Future 50” expansion project! Adding an additional 34,000 square feet of space, the largest renovation project in the hall’s history will feature:

A total refreshing of the exhibit gallery experience incorporating video and sound elements like never before as, in many cases, the actual inductee HIMSELF will narrate for visitors the story and significance of the various collection artifacts!

The environmental control system of the hall will be upgraded to take the preservation of the priceless collection of documents and artifacts to the state of the art level. Complimenting that, the space devoted to the collection will be greatly expanded leading to the unveiling of “The Ralph Wilson Pro Football Research and Preservation Center.”

Even the interior of the iconic rotunda itself will be completely transformed as both its upper and lower level will be maximized to showcase an additional 3500 square feet of exhibit space along with all new chronological and thematic presentations.

By show’s end it’s clear: as we honor the past of Canton’s crown jewel, The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s FUTURE has never looked brighter!!!rn

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