And the 2026 Myles Rademan Spirit of Hospitality Award goes to … Randy Barton!
Barton, best known as manager of the Egyptian Theatre, was honored with the Park City Chamber/Bureau’s annual award at its meeting last week. In Barton’s words, however, it’s a “recognition,” not an award.
“I don’t accept on behalf of myself, but on behalf of all the folks who love arts and culture,” Barton said.
He added that he appreciated that the award was not competitive in what can be a very competitive town.
Since moving to Park City in 1975, Barton founded the iconic late-night fast food chain Sconecutter, organized a cow ballet, hosted a drive-time radio show, saved the Egyptian Theatre from financial ruin and, most recently, was seen riding a camel through Main Street at the Miners Day parade.
“I was always involved with the Egyptian Theatre from the day that it was renamed the Egyptian in 1981,” Barton said. “I was never in charge but always there.”
As a member of the Park City Players, Barton was involved at the theater as an actor and worked concessions at the Sundance Film Festival.
Over the next few decades, Barton’s involvement around town ranged from television to concert promotion to radio. His TV show, “Park City Faces,” spotlighted the people and personality of Park City every weeknight live for nearly a decade.
“It was really fun to do that show during the Olympics,” Barton said.
For two weeks, the program filmed from Main Street instead of the usual studio, and Barton interviewed a horse.
“I just love that we hosted the world,” Barton said, “and speaking of hospitality, we did such a marvelous job of it.”
After a stint on television, Barton moved to radio.
KPCW ran “The Local View” for four hours a day, five days a week for 20 years. During his time on the radio, Barton was known to make what he called “outlandish” statements. Outlandish, maybe. Radiantly positive, definitely.
Barton said he would advise people to get out and learn to drive in the snow instead of being afraid of storms. During traffic jams, he’d tell listeners to embrace it, relax and enjoy the music.
Barton was organizing a concert series in Salt Lake City in the ’90s and wanted to bring the same energy to Park City. In 1997, he started Mountain Town Stages. That evolved into Mountain Town Music, which programs, produces and fosters live music performances in the area.
“Radio, theater, television, all kinds of at the same time as doing music and concerts. That was kind of my deal,” Barton said.
In 2009, Barton added “Saved the Egyptian Theatre” to his resume.
“Everybody tells me, you know, ‘You saved the theater. Without you, it wouldn’t be there,’” Barton recalled. “I say, ‘Yeah, but I’m one of many, going all the way back to the 1800s, of people that would rise up and save the theater.’”
As Barton tells it, in the spring of 2009, the theater had closed and canceled all productions because it was out of money. The board of directors had in mind a schedule full of community theater programming, but Barton had a different vision.
“I told them that was a bad decision for the community and (to) give me 90 days to show you what it should be,” he said.
Barton luckily negotiated a contract at the beginning of the 90 days; the board tried to fire him three times during that period.
By the end of the three months, Barton had built a model of the theatre that still stands today.
“That is, something on stage every week, building a Pharaoh Club for the support of the theater and making the Egyptian the centerpiece of social life in Park City and a real gathering place,” he said.
As Barton accepted his recognition, he proudly described the theater as “historic, authentic, intimate, genuine, social and, because of me, slightly irreverent.”
There are many opinions about what makes Park City unique. Is it the skiing, the history, the proximity to Main Street or the culture?
“(Arts and culture) has always been a part of Park City from the very beginning, and it is always what makes Park City a real town,” Barton said. “People talk about going to other ski areas, and what they love about Park City is it is real because of the dining, the arts, the culture, the history.”
If it were up to Barton, Park City would market itself as a “stationary cruise ship.”
“We have all the things that you would go on a cruise for: entertainment, shows, great food,” he said. “Base (the city) on that model. If somebody’s here, they’re going to be entertained.”
Barton is quick to share business strategies, and as a father of three, he’s well-versed in giving life advice.
“You know, I tell my kids and others, be careful with what you decide to do because you just might end up doing that and nothing else for the rest of your life,” Barton said. “I’ve done more than the arts. I’ve done business and I’m a runner. I’m a golfer. I have great joys. Best is being a parent, always.”
He enjoys what he calls “goof-off golfing,” a discipline of the sport where points aren’t counted and improvement isn’t the goal. Unlike his openness toward business matters, his favorite golf course is top secret.
Barton was recognized with a hospitality award, so why all the talk of entertaining? Entertainment and hospitality are one and the same, he said. Barton was born in Hollywood, after all.
“When you say that you’re entertaining tonight, that doesn’t have to mean that you’re dancing or on stage with a mic,” Barton said. “(When) you’re entertaining people, you’re bringing them into your home and showing them a nice time. Hosting is the same thing.”
According to Barton, entertaining and hosting go hand in hand with kindness and openness.
“The divisiveness of the world is based on a lack of hospitality and ‘I will welcome anybody’ attitude,” he said.
As he accepted the Chamber/Bureau’s recognition, Barton reminisced about the days when he was new in town and faced with the common question: “So, how long have you been here?”
Barton said he feels like he’s on the other side of that question after 50 years in Park City.
“People want you to talk about what makes you mad or upset, what you hate about the town,” he said. “But I love this town more every year.”