When Gene Autry brought his show to the Toledo Sports Arena the evening of April 2, 1948, the crowd broke an attendance record. About 8,900 cheered and applauded as Autry performed audience favorites, including “Back in the Saddle Again” and “You Are My Sunshine.” Autry’s horse, Champion, helped close out the show as he rode the steed through the aisles, to the delight of those stationed far from the stage. Earlier in the day, Blade photographer Carl Gifford was at the Sports Arena for the matinee performance that was attended by more than 6,500, mostly children, including 300 youngsters who were guests of the Lions Club. From left to right are William Smith from the Lucas County Home, Bill Fischer from the Lutherans’ Home, C. Gaylord Bancroft from the Lions Club, Gene Autry, and Dorothy Wexel from St. Anthony’s Orphanage. The singing cowboy was in Toledo as part of a 60-day tour that included more than 50 cities. Sports Arena officials said attendance at the evening performance topped a previous high set by the Spike Jones Orchestra. An estimated 1,800 people were turned away at the door, as tickets were sold out.
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Circus patrons take a ride on an elephant before a performance by the Shrine Circus at SeaGate Convention Centre in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday, March 16, 2017.
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Ring Master Ari Steeples watches the action during a performance.
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Tigers are tamed during a performance by the Shrine Circus at SeaGate Convention Centre in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday, March 16, 2017.
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Robie Muzik, left, and Diane Hans, Lorain, dance during the St. Patrick's Day celebration to benefit Toledo Firefighters Local 92 Charities at the Blarney, Toledo, Ohio, Friday, March 17, 2017.
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Former college football coach and sports analyst Lou Holtz speaks during the Critical ConneXions event at the Huntington Center in Toledo.
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Emily Ziegler, planning director of the Metroparks of the Toledo Area, stands in the area where two person suites will be built in a treehouse village on March 15, 2017.
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University of Toledo Police Chief Jeff Newton, left, and Lt. Tressa Johnson, center, joke with student Jane Rapp, right, as another student grabs a slice of free pizza Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the University of Toledo's Student Union. The department holds a booth at the Union monthly to hand out informational flyers and distribute free slices of pizza to help them be more visible among the student body.
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Owen Hancock, 7, of Whitehouse, front, and Luke Schoon 6, of Perrysburg, back, enjoy a morning of sledding in Side Cut Metropark Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Maumee. Several area school districts, including Anthony Wayne and Perrysburg, were closed to to weather.
The Blade/Dave Zapotosky
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Wylie Fournier, 10, facing camera, and his cousin, Sophia Farrugia 11, both of Maumee, have a playful fight in the snow at Side Cut Metropark Tuesday, March 14, 2017, in Maumee. They attend St. Joseph Catholic School in Maumee, which was closed due to the snow.
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Sophia Ray, 2, of Fayette, goes down the slide despite it being covered with fresh snow at the playground in Wildwood Preserve Metropark on March 13, 2017.
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Tom Jackson, 14, battles the snow as he walks home after school from Northpointe Academy near the corner of Weber and Elm streets, Monday, March 13, 2017.
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Sophia Ray, 2, of Fayette, tries to catch snow on her tongue while playing at the playground in Wildwood Preserve Metropark on March 13, 2017.
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BGSU professor Daniela Jankovska walks to BGSU's Jerome Library in the snow.
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Snow is blown across US 20 by a snowplow and heavy wind near Woodville, Tuesday, March 14, 2017.
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Head football coach Mike Jinks laughs with his quarterbacks during BGSU spring football practice at the BGSU Fieldhouse in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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Notre Dame Academy's Ariel Cummings (34) shoots against Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame's Maria Pisciotta (45) during the girls Division I state basketball championship game Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
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Notre Dame Academy players from left Ariel Cummings (34), Sarah Ohlinger (13), Kailah Johnson (11), Maelyn Kizer (14), and Ashely Barron (21) react to losing to Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame lost 55-44 during the girls Division I state basketball championship game.
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Notre Dame Academy's Bre Hampton-Bey (23) shoots against Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame's Maria Pisciotta (45) during the girls Division I state basketball championship game Saturday, March 18, 2017, at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio.
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Wauseon's Carter Bzovi (22) picks up a steal from Elida during the first half of the Saturday, March 18, 2017, Division II regional basketball championship match up at the University of Toledo's Savage Arena. Wauseon won, 54-45.
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Wauseon's Austin Rotroff, center, races Elida's Calan Henderson (21) for a loose ball off an out-of-bounds throw-in.
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Carter Bzovi (22) raises the trophy high after Wauseon defeated Elida.
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Wauseon head coach Chad Burt, center, embraces his team after their win.
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Wauseon's Owen Newlove (21) snips his portion of the net after his team beat out Elida, 54-45.
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Archbold's student section is silent as their team shoots a free-throw during the Saturday, March 18, 2017, Division III regional basketball championship match up against Marion at the University of Toledo's Savage Arena. Archbold won, 48-24.
The Blade/Katie Rausch
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Archbold's Rigo Ramos (23) shoots for two over Marion's Nathan Bruns (5).
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Marion, left, and Archbold team members pray together after the Saturday, March 18, 2017, Division III regional basketball championship match up at the University of Toledo's Savage Arena. Archbold won, 48-24.
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D3boysRegional19p Archbold's Toby Walker, left, and Austin Welch (15) hold their trophy aloft after their team beat Marion, 48-24.
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Archbold's Rigo Ramos (23) snips a portion of the net after his team bested Marion.
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St. John's Jesuit's Joey Fretti (24) and Houston King (14) celebrate defeating Elyria 48-47during a Division I regional basketball semifinal Wednesday, March 15, 2017, at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio.
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St. John's Jesuit's Vincent Williams, Jr. (32) passes the ball against Elyria's Antonio Blanton (22).
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Notre Dame Academy's Maelyn Kizer (14) battles Newark's Olivia Fox (24) for a loose ball during a girls Division I state basketball semifinal Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Newark 75-59.
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Notre Dame Academy's Ariel Cummings (34) celebrates defeating Newark 75-59 during a girls Division I state basketball semifinal Friday, March 17, 2017, at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Newark 75-59.
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Notre Dame Academy celebrates defeating Newark 75-59 .
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Wauseon's Brooks Gype (32) shoots against Sandusky's Keith Williams (3) during a Division II regional basketball semifinal Thursday, March 16, 2017, at Savage Arena in Toledo, Ohio. Wauseon defeated Sandusky 54-33.
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Cardinal Stritch's Joey Holifield is guarded by Archbold's Bryce Williams, 2, and Rigo Ramos during the Division III regional semifinal basketball game at the BGSU Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.
The Blade/Lori King
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Cardinal Stritch's Joey Holifield covers his head in the final minute of their loss against Archbold.
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North Baltimore's Chase Naugle drives through Mansfield during the D4 regional semifinal boys basketball game at the BGSU Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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Holgate's Trey Jones tries to steal the ball from Delphos' Collin Will during the D4 regional semifinal boys basketball game at the BGSU Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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North Baltimore's Noah Cotterman hangs his head as the clock winds down during the D4 regional semifinal boys basketball game against Mansfield at the BGSU Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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Holgate fans react to their team scoring against Delphos during the D4 regional semifinal boys basketball game at the BGSU Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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Delphos' Timothy Keeger reacts to dunking against Holgate during the fourth quarter of the D4 regional semifinal boys basketball game at the BGSU Stroh Center in Bowling Green, Ohio.
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Delphos' Timothy Keeger dunks over Holgate's Clay Waisner near the end of the fourth quarter.
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St. John's Jesuit player Kyren Bolden (22) sits dejectedly on the bench with the runner-up trophy after the Titans lost to Massillon Jackson during their Division I regional final basketball game at the University of Akron, Saturday, March 18, 2017.
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Actress and Toledo native Katie Holmes watches as St. John's Jesuit plays Massillon Jackson during their Division I regional final basketball game at the University of Akron, Saturday, March 18, 2017.
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Actress and Toledo native Katie Holmes cheers the St. John's Jesuit Titans.
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St. John's Jesuit player Vincent Williams Jr. (32) fouls Massillon Jackson player Kyle Young (35) during their Division I regional final basketball game at the University of Akron, Saturday, March 18, 2017.
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University of Toledo women's basketball coach Tricia Cullop reacts to finding out who her team will play in the first round during a viewing party for the NCAA Selection Show at Savage Arena on March 13, 2017.
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