About

Gridiron Club of New Canaan History

There are many great volunteer organizations in New Canaan, and thousands of men and women have given countless hours in service to this community over the years. The Gridiron Club exists solely to celebrate community service, and we do that in a unique way. We gather once a year to honor a local citizen who has demonstrated exemplary service to the town and people of New Canaan. The particular honor bestowed upon this man or woman is a dinner and original musical theater production depicting the honoree’s life and times. All in fun, the “roast” pokes fun at the “Fall Guy” and fills the evening with memories, laughs, and good-natured fun.

The show is performed by an all-male cast of volunteers (hence, most of the laughs), who work with an original script every year, written by volunteers and based on research done by – you guessed it – volunteers. It takes a lot of work to put it all together, but the producers, directors, and actors love it – and audiences (and Fall Guys) have loved it for more than sixty years.

Gridiron was started in 1961 by a group that included state senator Bob Bliss and New York City theatrical producer Paul Killiam, both long-time New Canaan residents. The “Groundhog Day Dinner”, as it was originally known, was held on February 2nd, and honored local newspaper editor Carlton Hill. Killiam wrote and directed the original musical production and recruited more volunteers to join the cast – a tradition was born. Since that first show, other journalists, artists, doctors, firefighters, grocers, bankers, car dealers, lawyers, educators, politicians, police commissioners, and even a minister have been honored with Gridiron shows. Only previous Fall Guys can vote on who will be honored each year, so the stars of our show are highly respected members of the community, who are also admired by their peers.

Once a members-only club, Gridiron today is an annual event open to the public, and buying a ticket to the show makes you a “member” and pays your “dues”. In the 1990’s, the Gridiron Club of New Canaan was formally established as a 501c(3) charitable organization, and net profits from the show each year go to a charity of the Fall Guy’s choosing.

The purpose of the Gridiron Club today is the same as it was more than 60 years ago: honor the spirit of community service that makes New Canaan a great place to live, and remind people that it’s important to celebrate that. We appreciate your participation, and we hope to see you at the show!