16
AUG. 3�10, 2022
CULTURE & HERITAGE
CELEBRATING THE HISTORY
OF EASTERN OREGON
Miracle cure, anyone?
Interpreter Mike Follin
returns to Baker City as
Dr. Balthasar
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
BAKER CITY — The slick-talking
salesman known as Dr. Balthasar is com-
ing back to town with his miracle cure for
whatever ails you.
That’s right — a cure for anything.
And if you believe that ...
Mike Follin, who worked as an educa-
tion interpreter for the Ohio Historical
Society, has portrayed Dr. Balthasar for
40 years. He’s brought his show to Baker
City since 1993 when he fi rst performed
at the National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center.
He returns this week as Dr. Balthasar,
and an additional character he’s never
performed in Baker City.
The fi rst new show is Friday, Aug. 5.
Follin, as Sean O’Shaughnessy, will share
his story “Saints Preserve Us! The Irish
in America.” The show starts at 6 p.m. at
Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, 2020
Auburn Ave.
In character, Follin takes his audi-
ence back to the 1800s as he tells the
story of Sean leaving Ireland during the
1840s potato famine with his young
bride, Mary.
“Learn about their diffi cult and sad
journey across the Atlantic and the
reality of coming to America, the land
with the door of golden opportunity —
arriving in New York City only to fi nd the
doors of opportunity shut tight,” Follin
said. “Hear how Sean traveled to Ohio
and made a new beginning and life for
himself and his wife.”
For his weekend performances, Follin
will bring back Dr. Balthasar’s Traveling
Medicine Show to “peddle elixirs and
gossip — just like any good doctor along
the Oregon Trail.” Catch his Dr. Balthasar
show at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug.
6, and Sunday, Aug. 7, in Geiser-Pollman
Park.
Follin said when he developed the
character of Dr. Balthasar, he did re-
search for about six months and chose
the name “Balthasar” from a Cincinnati
newspaper printed in the 1820s.
“I wanted to pick a name that was
equivalent to a medicine man,” he said.
THE CENTER
The National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center is closed for renova-
tions, but a temporary Oregon Trail ex-
Travel Baker County/Contributed Photo
Mike Follin will perform as Dr. Balthasar Aug. 6-7 at Geiser-Pollman Park in Baker City.
hibit is on display at the Baker Heritage
Museum, 2480 Grove St. (across Grove
Street from the park).
The museum is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Monday through Saturday, and noon-
4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $9 adults, $8
seniors, $5 ages 6-12 and free for 5 and
younger.
AIRPORT ANTIQUES &
THE FURNITURE LADY
Children’s
Museum of
Eastern Oregon
400 S Main St.,
Pendleton, OR
541-276-1066
cmeo.org
HOURS:
Tue. - Sat.10AM - 5PM
Closed 1-2PM for cleaning
1816 NW 51st St.
541.278.0141
Tuesday - Friday 10:30am - 6pm
www.pendletonfurniturelady.com