Rachel Whitney, Curator,
Sapulpa Historical Museum
“Order Your Advanced Copy of ‘Preposterous Papa’ Written by Sapulpa’s own Lewis Meyer, publishers release date, Monday, October 19th.” In October of 1959, Gabe’s Office Supply placed ads in the newspaper for the advance sale of Lewis Meyer’s first book. These were to be the first edition and autographed by not only the author but autographed by his own father, the one for which the book was named, Max Meyer.
Like the title, plans for the release date of Meyer’s book were preposterous. The “Preposterous Papa Day” involved prizes, book sales, the Class of 1929 30th reunion, a parade, and a bombing. “One hundred thousand dollars, and more, in merchandise, gifts, and discounts will be dropped over Sapulpa on October 19th at 2 PM, in this city’s observance of Preposterous Papa Day.”
Dropping over the town were “premium certificates that will float to the earth after being released by the Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce ‘Air Force’ on that day. The premium sips will be encased in ping-pong balls so they will cause no damage to the community being bombarded.”
Chairman of the Committee, Myron Frank, said “‘We wanted to do something really preposterous for this one day, and we can’t think of anything more preposterous than dropping merchandise certificates out of the sky worth over $100,000.’”
Therefore, it was scheduled that at 2 PM, the town of Sapulpa would be bombed by ping-pongs. At 4:30 that very afternoon, “a huge downtown parade will et underway featuring area bands. The parade will simulate the one featured in the last chapter of ‘Preposterous Papa’ book and will run the length of Dewey Avenue. Afterwards, the various bands will present short concerts. Then at 8:30 that night in the Washington Auditorium, Lewis Meyer will review his now-famous book.”
If the day wasn’t full enough, the Class of 1929 would also have a reunion during the festival. Lewis Meyer had graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1929. “Members of the class will attend in a group the review of the book ‘Preposterous Papa’ by its author, Lewis Meyer, who was their classmate.”
October 19th was then given the title “Preposterous Papa Day.” The city designated the day for the celebration. “‘Preposterous Papa,’ as most any Sapulpan can tell you, is the title of a recently published book written by a former Sapulpan about a Sapulpan who was an early-day merchant here. Lewis Meyer is the author, and his father, Max Meyer, is the subject of the book. The book appears destined to become a best-seller. The last chapter of the book will be contained in the October 14 Issue of Saturday Evening Post. This recognition by that magazine is almost tantamount to causing the book to make the bestseller lists.”
The main character of the book in real life was Max Meyer, and it was said that the title fit him to a “T.” The Saturday Evening Post published the last chapter of the book, entitled ‘The House on Cedar Street;’ the local newspapers raved about the opening chapter of the book honorary named ‘Who is Max Meyer?’ The newspaper explained that when Max moved to town in 1906 and 1907, he needed to advertise his new business:
“As the word ‘preposterous’ implies, Meyer employed the irrational, contrary to order, method of doing things. Meyer wanted to go into business. He selected a store site 13-15 N Main and moved his stock into place. It was a mercantile store. A delay in preparing the store front held up opening the establishment, so Meyer, not to waste any time, had 15,000 red tags printed with ‘Who is Max Meyer?’” He made signs and posted them on telephone polls with the same question. And with the tags, went all over town and posted them on doors. And he introduced himself to the town’s population by having them ask, ‘well, who is Max Meyer?’ and Meyer would walk up gladly and say, ‘that’s me.’
The last chapter that was covered in the magazine was about Max’s move from one location to another in Sapulpa. Max put his house on the back of a horse and buggy and moved his place from Cedar Street to East Dewey. Max Meyer told Sergeant Mosey:
“‘I just thought I’d tell you that I’m movin’ a house from Cedar Street to a lot I own on East Dewey Avenue tonight, so’s you’d already know about it if anyone mentioned it to you.’ Sergeant Mosey shot out of his chair, ‘You’re moving a house yourself, Max?’ ‘Oh I’ve got my crew helpin’ me.’” Mosey protested saying that “‘Max, you can’t do that! Dewey Avenue is Highway 66. I can’t let you block Highway 66 with a house.’ Later that night, Max and his crew dragged the house. It began to fall apart, and fell off the truck. Sergeant Mosey exploded, “‘I’m gonna throw the book at you. You’re gonna pay the biggest fine in the history of Creek County – for obstructing traffic and for operating a public nuisance. I told you what would happen. You’re the craziest, stubbornest hammerhead in the U.S.A.!”
That very afternoon, Sapulpa and Bristow football team had a parade down Dewey Ave, before their game. Max came up with an idea. He decorated the porch of his house, still on the side of the road, still yet to be moved out of the way of the parade, and told the sergeant that both the band queens from each team could sit on the porch and join the parade. Finally, the parade began, and the house was ready to join the pre-game celebration. “Since the house was a block ahead of the rest of the units forming for the parade, it was chosen to be the first float.”
During ‘Preposterous Papa Day’ on October 19, 1959, the parade began at 4:30 with a look-a-like house and reenactment of the situation. But before the parade, a list of things had to be done before and after the bombing had to be completed.
The shipment of 6,000 ping-pong balls arrived and high school girls had to stuff them with the discount slips from city merchants of $117,000 bargains, or the “bargain-bombs” as they were named to be released.
“The first phase of the wild ‘Preposterous Papa’ celebration came off with throngs of people on the streets. Kicked-off with an hour show on KOTV, Tulsa. Max and Lewis Meyer, Sapulpa merchants, Class of 1929 memes, and other Sapulpans appeared on Bob Mills show, ‘Sun-Up.’ The show was launched on the subject of Sapulpa and continued with talk on ping-pong balls, parades, merchandise bargains, a reunion, and the book.”
Finally, the time had arrived. It was estimated thousands of people swarmed the streets to catch the bargain-bombs. “At 2 PM, a plane piloted by Joe Cannon, honorary member of the ‘Sapulpa Air Force’ released the bargains bursting ping-pong bombs on Dewey Ave. People flocked to the streets to retrieve the tiny bombs loaded with discount slips.”
The ping-pong bombing accord over Dewey Ave. “For insurance purposes, the ping-pong balls will be dropped on Dewey from Main to Maple Streets.” As preposterous as it sounded, the Oklahoma wind made its appearance. “A shifty wind, described as an updraft from the man-made canyon between the Dewey Ave buildings, caused the ping-pong balls to land largely in an area north of the target. School-age children, obviously engaged in a massive game of hooky, made a real ‘haul’’ by climbing buildings, tromping through flower beds, and generally making haste to recover the valuable certificates.”
The bombing of Sapulpa was a huge success. The parade and music went on as planned, with preposterous costumes and prizes. The Class of 1929 dinner had a large crowd of 100 guests. The book review with Max and Lewis Meyer had an overwhelming crowd participating.
“The Sapulpa blow-out, slated all day, heralding the book, has taken full bloom and plans are concrete and firm with merchants and residents preparing for the big celebration. Lewis Meyer said ‘I am very happy with the success of the book, and the overwhelming treatment Sapulpa has given the whole affair.’ Max reared back in chair from autographing a book said ‘it’s going over real big and I’m glad.’”
(Democrat News, October 1, 1959, October 8, 1959; Sapulpa Daily Herald, October 6,11-14, 16, 18-20, 1959; Saturday Evening Post)
