Monday, February 22, 1999
Rugrats upstage convention center opening
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — When the Rugrats roamed the Northern Kentucky Convention Center's Family Day celebration Sunday, everyone else took a back seat.
Not even an Elvis impersonator upstaged Tommy, Angelica and Chuckie as dozens of youngsters and camera-carrying parents mobbed teen-agers in cartoon character costumes.
“Elvis is here, and he's not even getting the kind of attention that the Rugrats are,” said Kathy Ivie, the convention center's marketing director.
The Rugrats of Nickelodeon cable television appeared at the convention center's opening celebration Sunday.
The event included attractions from the Wayne Martin puppets and a juggler on stilts to karaoke with the Elvis and Marilyn Monroe impersonators.
But it was clearly the Rugrats that most people had come to see.
Wherever the cartoon characters appeared, dozens of children immediately surrounded them, seeking a hug or posing for pictures.
Covington resident Stacie Jenkins was among the adults who patiently stood in one of several long lines for a chance to photograph her 3-year-old daughter, Shayla Stewart, and her 2-year-old nephew, Jacob Norris, with Rugrats.
“She watches just about every episode of the Rugrats,” Ms. Jenkins said of her daughter. “She's got the Rugrats clothing, the book bag, the whole nine yards.”
“We've been looking all over for them,” said Becky Wheeler of Florence, as she and daughters Ashley, 8, and Brittany, 5, stood in line for the chance to get their pictures taken with their favorite Rugrat. “The Rugrats are the main reason we came here today.”
Rugrats were portrayed by Walton-Verona High School students Rachel Prater, Lauren Mastin, Sara Davenport, Becky Butler and Elizabeth Vest, as well as Angie Brugger, InterMedia cable's marketing manager.
They all were chosen because they stand between 5-foot-3 and 5-foot-5, the opti mum height for the costumes.
“You're a different person when you wear that costume,” Sara, 17, said. “I felt like a celebrity.”
Ms. Ivie said the grand opening, which included a formal gala on Saturday and visits for tour operators on Friday, was a chance to let Tristate residents see the $30.5 million facility that opened in November.
“It's basically just to say hello and to thank the community for supporting us,” Ms. Ivie said.
Future events include a bridal show on Feb. 26-28, and the Cincinnati Auto Expo on March 22-24.
“Now that people have stopped by and seen us, we're hoping that when we have other shows, they'll know where we are,” Ms. Ivie said.
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