Second Grand Marshal Added to Ocean City's Doo Dah Parade

Ocean City, NJ -- Ocean City has added a second grand marshal for this year’s Doo Dah Parade.

Doug Jewell, owner of Air Circus, the kite and novelty store on the boardwalk, will serve as the community grand marshal, City officials announced on Tuesday. Jewell is being honored for his many contributions to the City’s special events, including the Doo Dah Parade, Martin Mollusk Day, Miss Crustacean, Night In Venice, Weird Contest Week, and more.

He has also brought the Eastern Regional Yo Yo Championships to Ocean City and is working on bringing the Nationals to the Music Pier.

Ocean City Public Relations Director Mark Soifer has already been announced as the “run of the mill” grand marshal, as he put it in the statement issued on Tuesday.

Soifer started the parade with the help of his friend Clint Campbell in 1985. Soifer has kept the parade going for 31 years.

The parade evolved into a celebration of humor with celebrity grand marshals that included Mickey Rooney, Carol Channing, Soupy Sales, Larry Storch, Edie Adams, and many more.

Along the way, the Tri State Basset Hound Rescue League added more than 600 friendly basset hounds to the mix, and this year, a contingent of German Shepherds will join the Bassets.

The parade begins at noon on Saturday, April 16, on 6th Street and Asbury Avenue, proceeds to 12th Street, then up to the Boardwalk and ends at the Music Pier, where the PieAsco is held.

During the PieAsco, folks sit in grandstands and smoosh each other with shaving cream pies, the kind Soupy Sales used on his syndicated TV shows.

To march in the Doo Dah Parade as a humorous brigade or individual, call (609) 399-6111, email msoifer@ocnj.us or access http://www.ocnj.us/Doo-Dah-Parade/. To register a basset hound for the Waddle, email irescue2@comcast.net.

The attached image is a Patch file photo