BANGOR – A blue rope surrounded the Bangor Auditorium floor. Thousands of children and adults lined the rope seven and eight deep. Inside the rope stood Tuesday night’s star attraction, the Harlem Globetrotters.

The Globetrotters had just put on a show that few who were there will likely forget. And the show was being extended for an additional 30 minutes while the Globetrotters signed autographs.

Just beyond the crowd near an exit from the Auditorium floor level, Emily Roy of Carmel stood with her mother, a basketball in her hand and a smile on her face. It was her 11th birthday and her parents had given a present she likely will remember for a long time.

“It was great watching them slam dunk and do tricks,” young Emily said.

That’s what the Globetrotters seem to be about, smiles, fun and kids.

The team, and make no mistake about it they are a basketball team, put on a two-hour show of dazzling dunks, skits, and even a little dance thrown in, while whipping the poor old New York Nationals 72-32.

But even the Nationals were smiling. Though they’ve been through this many, many times before, the reigning Clown Prince of Basketball, Matthew “Showbiz” Jackson is going to make you laugh no matter who you are.

He made Emily Foley of Bangor laugh when he pulled her out of the crowd for a little midcourt dance. He allowed her to return to her seat only after tricking her into losing a bet that cost her a kiss on both cheeks.

“Showbiz” also made the crowd laugh with the old confetti-in-a-bucket trick in which the crowd is sold into believing the bucket is full of water.

And he made the crowd laugh when he admonished it for clapping for a made Nationals basket.

He and his teammates also made 12-year-old Bricker Raye of Dexter laugh when they danced.

“I think it was very amazing how they made their tricks,” Bricker said. “And it was very funny how they danced. It was just awesome.”

Awesome? Well, their choreographed dance number proved they’re were no Pips to “Showbiz’s” Gladys Knight but they accomplished what they wanted to with the bit.

“This is very important,” high-flying Globetrotter Kris “Highlight” Bruton said. “What we do is take their minds away from everyday things that people have problems with like bills or war. Whatever’s going on.”

And make no mistake, among the gags and laughs some serious basketball is played.

Charles “Tex” Harrison has been with the Globetrotters since 1954. He now coaches the team, having stopped playing in 1972.

Harrison moans and groans, and not for the crowd, during the game. He calls out plays to run and offers advice to players as they move up and down the court.

“Next week we’ll be playing the college all-stars at the Final Four. So, we want to keep the basketball up to par, too,” Harrison said. “We still want to be considered one of the great basketball teams. So, we have to play some basketball.”

They also make the audience part of the show. Emily Neville, a cute little 5-year-old from Old Town brought down the near capacity house when she passed on giving a hug to “Showtime,” instead bestowing one on Herbert “Flight Time” Lang.

And to Dalton Braley, a 10-years-old from Carmel, it was doubly exciting. The winner of a drawing at a local store, he sat with the players on the Globetrotters’ bench and reported that they treated him well.

“The best part is the players. They’re fun,” Braley said.

And the proof is in the number of children and their parents who stay, long after the show is over for autographs.

“All of these kids,” Harrison said waving his arms around. “All of these kids are happy with that gleam in their eyes. That’s the best part.”