LISA DENTON: Barry, the Tennessee Strawberry Festival Parade is Saturday in Dayton, and that brings me to a mystery to solve this week. Aunt Bob gave me a stack of old family photos a while back, and there’s a Polaroid picture of a teenage girl in a long dress on the back of a convertible at the Strawberry Festival Parade. A pageant contestant from the looks of it. Best guess late ’70s. A sign on the side of the car reads: Lisa Denton.
My mama looked at that and said, “When were you in the parade?” Because, you know, I’d dress up and be in a parade and compete in a pageant and not tell her. I was always rebelling like that.
Lisa Denton and Barry Courter
BARRY COURTER: This was during your Leather Tuscadero phase, right? Or did you relate more to her sister Pinky? Which would be understandable since, you know, she dated The Fonz. It is kinda funny about your mom, since you’d think your mother would have been there cheering you on.
LISA: I know, right? I told her tweren’t me. If I’d ever won a crown, I’d still be wearing it. And sceptering all over the place.
I think my uncle took the photo just because this girl had the same name. But now I’m wondering if I can track down this other Lisa Denton, bless her heart, to see if she wants a really poor-quality photo of herself in the Strawberry Parade from 40 years ago. I think she’s from North Georgia, because she was sponsored by the Rossville Lions Club and I know there’s a bunch of Dentons in that area who might be related to me but probably wouldn’t admit it, except for the chance to claim this classic Polaroid.