A 75-year-old Phillipsburg area man is at the head of the line as ticket sales begin to members for the Easton landmark's 90th season.
Ed Schuster was at the front of the line Wednesday morning to buy tickets for the State Theatre's 90th season in Easton.
Schuster -- or someone representing him, because he needed to go home to shower and take medicine at night -- had been outside the Downtown Easton landmark since 6:30 a.m. Sunday.
"I know I'm crazy," the 75-year-old retiree who lives in the Phillipsburg area said with a laugh as he sat in a chair directly outside the box office, which was to open at 6 a.m. for sales to theater members.
And who did he wait all that time to see? Carrot Top "for the family," he said about the March 19 show. The physical comedian has been working mostly out of Las Vegas and hasn't been touring, Schuster said.
Joking about the divide between Easton and Phillipsburg, Schuster smiled and said, "If I'm going to spend money in Pennsylvania, they're going to let me in over here."
Carol Dynes, of Bethlehem, arrived about 10 p.m. Tuesday. She very much wanted to get tickets to see Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer.
"He's honest and he's a Republican," she said.
As with many people in line, she had her order sheet filled out and handy. Capitol Steps and Dancing with the Stars were also high on her list.
She's been ushering at shows there since 1999. Her favorite over the years?
"I can't name them; they're too many," she said, before pointing to Ringo, Willie Nelson and medium John Edward.
But mostly, it was one show she had in mind -- coming up Oct. 6.
"I wanted top get good Krauthammer seats," she said.
Jack and Susan Corrigan, of Palmer Township, were sitting in lawn chairs about halfway between the box office and North Fifth Street. They've been showing up for first-day sales for five or six years. They arrived at 2:45 a.m. Wednesday.
This season they'll see The Midtown Men, the New York Tenors, We've Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembers, the Fab Faux and the Red Hot Chili Pipers, since they were close enough to get tickets to whatever show they wanted.
Barry Fell, of Bethlehem, placed his chair at the corner -- he'd been there for about an hour as the box office was opening -- and as with many in line, the Fab Faux was a highlight and he was looking forward to seeing Roseanne Cash.
"And a few other shows my wife wants to see," he added.
He's been a member "for at least 10 years" and had kind words for the restored theater in the 400 block of Northampton Street.
"I think it's an anchor," he said. "It's one of the most important things we have. It's an absolutely great institution in Easton."
He doesn't mind seeing the sun come over the city.
"I like to do this once a year," he said. "I like to see Downtown Easton wake up."
Betty Mauro, of Easton, arrived just about 6 o'clock and she was last in a line of about 50 people that snaked up North Fifth Street.
She's seen the Fab Faux eight or nine times now. And she'll see them again on March 11. Each show has some elements that are the same and some that are different, she said. But that's not what matters.
"If I close my eyes they sound just like the Beatles," she said with a dreamy tone to her voice.
Phone and Internet orders for members begin at noon. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Aug. 17.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.