A risqué fund-raiser for the Hightstown Fire Company attracted almost 200 women.
By: Julie Gartland
It may have snowed enough last Friday to keep area children out of school but not enough to keep 177 women from engaging in an evening of fun and fantasy with a celebrity male revue show, sponsored by the Hightstown Fire Engine Company 1 Ladies Auxiliary.
While the town was covered with 8 inches of snow and motorists crawled along the icy roads, inside the firehouse women’s voices and body temperatures rose while it rained men well-built, gorgeous, down to the thong, men.
The Ladies Auxiliary first vice president and organizer of the event, Brenda Snook, received numerous frantic phone calls the day of the event from women hoping the event wasn’t canceled because of the snow. Last year they were forced to cancel a similar event from a lack of response.
"This year we had booming sales," Ms. Snook said. "Everybody loved it. They had such a great time."
"Women like to see great looking men with talent, personality and sex appeal," said Roy James, host and promoter of "It’s Raining Men Celebrity Male Revue."
"It’s a theatrical presentation using physical language, humor and a lot of fun. These men take a lot of pride in what they do," Mr. James said. "We run a classy, stylish show. There’s sex appeal in the eyes and mouth, they remember women’s names, and of course, they’re built very well."
The men, dressed in stylish costumes, choreograph their skits to well thought out music and improvise the comedy and fun while interacting with the audience. Each of the performers entertain mainly for the fun of it, commenting that it’s the best way to make a buck and still have time to hold a regular job and workout.
As Hamilton resident Dominick Richards rehearses back stage with his fellow performers, he explains while the worse kind of reaction is no reaction, the women are usually very receptive to their show. They recently performed in Maryland where the dancers worked pro bono, raising thousands of dollars for a feed the hungry benefit.
Mr. James has a degree in engineering from Temple University and is a certified personal instructor; Ian Ross holds the title of Mr. Natural Physique 1998; Mr. Richards is a soccer referee and tri-athlete; Tim Stackhouse, an electrician, was featured in Playgirl 1999 magazine; and A.T. is a chef from the New York School of Culinary Arts.
Mr. James said the show is popular with women because "it’s a chance for girls to have a night out in a fun, playful way."
In organizing the event, Ms. Snook made sure she had the help of a few firemen just in case things get too hot. "The women can get a little crazy," she said. "We ask a few of our firemen to serve as bouncers and a few serve behind the bar."
Don Derr, a firefighter of 11 years, took his role as bouncer in stride, cracking a smile as he said, "If it gets too hot in here I know where the fire extinguishers are."
Hightstown resident and firefighter, Jim Sidelinger appreciates the auxiliary’s fund-raising efforts, "Since we’re a volunteer organization pretty much everything we get is from funds raised. I hope the ladies have a good time as long as they don’t hang from the rafters," he said.
The Ladies Auxiliary, which has between 20 to 30 members, finds many ways to raise money for the fire company: bake sales, silent auctions, basket raffles, and scrap-booking crops.
"Most of the money goes toward new equipment, which is really expensive," Ms. Snook said. Last year they used money to purchase pass-alert devices for the firemen. An invaluable device which is placed on the fireman’s gear and, should he become lost, will signal his location with an alarm.
The male revue, raising approximately $1,500, and the annual Chinese auction which brought in about $7,000 last year, are the auxiliaries biggest fund-raisers, Ms. Snook said.
With all the hollering and hooting throughout the evening, one of the most rousing skits was a salute to the men and women in the armed services. Dressed in Army fatigues and proudly swaying the American flag, the performer was a sure crowd-pleaser while the women stood and applauded.

