Press Pass 27: “M*A*S*H Bash to Benefit MDA”

February 28, 2024 will mark the 41st anniversary of the M*A*S*H finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.” There was a lot of excitement and anticipation for the two and a half hour finale, and over the next several months, I am going to use the Press Pass posts to highlight a few different ways that the finale was celebrated. To begin, this week we look at a press release from a local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Dallas, Texas. Across the United States in February 1983, a number of “M*A*S*H Bash” celebrations were held. This particular gathering was set up to benefit the MDA in the Dallas area. It would have been a great way to celebrate the end of the eleven year run of M*A*S*H and contribute to a worthy cause.

Held on February 23, 1983, the “M*A*S*H Bash” to benefit the MDA was held at Union Station in Dallas. The cost to attend was $5 per person, but if you dressed in M*A*S*H related costume, the entry fee dropped to $3! Dressing as a favorite M*A*S*H character or in Army fatigues was common at a number of “M*A*S*H Bashes” held in February 1983. The event was sponsored by the KDFW-TV, which was a CBS affiliate at the time (it is now a Dallas area Fox station). One of the most interesting aspects of the evening, besides the costumes, would have been the drawings held for “M*A*S*H memorabilia donated by Twentieth Century Fox.” I wonder what kind of memorabilia was donated? How much money did the MDA raise from this event? I tried to look up news reports from the time, but it does not appear that the local newspapers have an online archive going back to the 1980s.

These “M*A*S*H Bash” events were fairly common for the series finale. What makes this one slightly unique is that is benefited the MDA, and that it was held a week before the finale aired. Many of the other “M*A*S*H Bash” celebrations that I have materials for were held on February 28, and included watching the finale in a large group setting. This event did feature a highlight reel from the series, and I suppose a charity organization would want to the focus to be on the actual benefit and not the M*A*S*H finale itself. Attending this event with fellow M*A*S*H fans in 1983 would have been fun, and it had the added benefit of supporting a great cause.