The History of a History Show

Second Post of the Day

My sister Leslie and her husband Rick owned and operated The Kalamazoo Living History Show from 2006 to 2025.

Larry and Carol Coin started the show in 1976 and ran it for 31 years. Ready to step down in 2006, they sent a letter to that effect in December of 2006 when normally they would have been sending out applications to the show. Leslie and Rick discussed helping out, stepped up, and offered to purchase the show and keep it running.

Two weeks later the Coins sent out a "the show is saved" letter which included applications for the coming year. Rick and Les have run the show ever since.

An early picture from 2009 of a staff meeting. Leslie is third from the left in the blue dress.

Rick is fifth from left, and my mother is sixth. (In the red jacket and gold petticoat.)

After a wonderful run of 19 years (which included the Covid year of 2020), Leslie and Rick were ready to hand the baton to someone else.

They sold the show to experienced reenactors Ethan Yazel and his wife, Paisley.

 The Yazels spent the 2025 show shadowing Leslie and Rick in preparation for this year's show. The show could not be in better hands.

Last November the Yazels brought a trailer to the farm and loaded all the show's supplies onto it. A bittersweet day, but it was time - running a living history show is a lot of work and Leslie and Rick were ready to step down.

They haven't stepped totally away from the show, though. At least not this year. They have been answering questions and providing support as Ethan and Paisley have put the 2026 show together.

Rick and Ethan in the farm's kitchen going over paperwork.

Rick looking at a map of vendor placements in one of the Expo's halls.

On the Friday before the event, the staff comes in early and has dinner and a meeting in preparation for the weekend's show.

Leslie and Ethan serving staff at the 2025 Friday night staff dinner.

Kind of the calm before the storm! Staffers listen and eat while directions are given, knowing that they won't be doing much sitting or eating over the next two days.

The last huzzah at the end of every show - the staff photo. This one was especially poignant since it was Leslie and Rick's last.

Already Ethan and Paisley have put their own brand on the show. Not only do things look promising, but they look exciting as well. The show's future is bright. 

Best of luck, Ethan and Paisley!

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