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A history of the San Antonio Gridiron show – 1985 to 2017 By Susan A. Merkner Gridiron shows traditionally are produced by journalists as local fundraisers, combining original skits and song parodies in a live theatrical production that spoofs newsmakers as well as the journalists who cover them. Proceeds from the San Antonio Gridiron are used for scholarships for college students pursuing degrees in journalism or communications. The show is sponsored by the San Antonio Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), which also administers the scholarship program. SPJ is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. What’s in a Name? The Gridiron show’s name comes from the annual dinner presented by the Gridiron Club, the oldest and one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, DC. Membership in the club, which was established in 1885, is by invitation only. The club’s dinner features satirical music and skits by members and politicians. The first Gridiron show in San Antonio was presented in the fall of 1985. It was the brainchild of Gebe Martinez, then a reporter at the San Antonio Light – back when the city had competing daily newspapers. Henry Cisneros was mayor of San Antonio at that time, and he graciously attended performances during his term of office, setting a precedent for subsequent elected officials. The first four shows were directed by the late Wayne Elkins of the San Antonio Little Theater, which is now The Playhouse. After Elkins’ death, the Gridiron was directed each year by Gloria “G.L.” Liu, who also served as the show’s choreographer in its earliest years. GL directed most of the local Gridiron shows from 1989 to 2013. Frankie Saucedo, who choreographed the 2013 Gridiron and directed the 2014 and ’15 shows, is back as director this year. In the early years, about 50 local journalists were involved in each show -- reporters and editors from San Antonio’s two daily newspapers at the time, the Light and the San Antonio Express-News, as well as local television and radio stations and magazines. Public relations professionals may be “grandfathered” into the show. The show’s format is similar to “Saturday Night Live,” with Cornyation-type local satire. All of the material – skits, songs and videos -- is originally written by local journalists who remain anonymous so they may remain employed. One of the highlights of the show is the presentation of the Most-Panned Award, which is given to a local newsmaker who has garnered the most negative media coverage in the past year, as voted upon by the cast. It’s especially rewarding when the award recipient is in the audience and comes onstage to receive the coveted cast-iron fry pan. The show may look effortless but it involves many people giving their time to help write the script and plan the show, as well as serving as musicians, producing the artwork and playbill, and handling publicity and ticket sales. Starline Costumes has provided the show’s costumes from the beginning. Backstage crew and technical assistants also help with each performance. Members of the SPJ student chapters at San Antonio College, Texas A&M University-San Antonio and Texas State University in San Marcos typically support the Gridiron by serving as ushers, providing refreshments and helping to promote the show. Local Theaters Involved The San Antonio Little Theater, now The Playhouse, was the original home of the Gridiron show in its first four years. In 1989, a bigger auditorium was needed, so the show moved to the Carver Community Cultural Center. The Gridiron also has been staged at the Josephine Theatre and the Watson Fine Arts Center Theater at St. Philips College. The 2016 Gridiron will be presented at McAllister Auditorium at San Antonio College, where it has been staged numerous times. After the San Antonio Light closed in January 1993, the pool of local journalists was reduced, and the Gridiron no longer was produced annually. After a five-year hiatus, the show returned in 2012 and has been produced annually since then. Continuing the tradition of involving the San Antonio mayor in the show, brothers Julian and Joaquin Castro appeared together at the 2007 Gridiron. The theme of the show was “Up in Smoke” in honor of the Helotes mulch fire. Each show’s theme reflects current cultural and political influences. Recent themes have been “Rumor Has It” (2012), “50 Shades of SA” (2013), “Catching Fire” (2014), “Bad Blood” (2015), “Taco Wars: The Farce Awakens” (2016) and “Make Gridiron Great Again” (2017). One of the biggest changes in the Gridiron over the years has been the use of technology to enhance the show’s production values. In the earliest years, there were no microphones available for the actors, so everyone had to learn how to project. Recent shows feature sophisticated sound and lighting systems and professionally produced video shorts. The show is marketed through word of mouth and social media, and tickets are sold online. Bottom line: Proceeds from the show are used for student scholarships to help ensure that the next generation of journalists is even better than the current one. Last year, SPJ awarded $12,000 to 12 San Antonio-area college students.