Thursday, May 10, 2012

50 Years Ago Today! #4

6 comments:

Jimmy Cole said...

From what I have since learned, this was the former Wilno cannon which was purchased by the show in 1961. The projectile was Luis Munoz, and was billed as "Capt. Astronaut".

Chic Silber said...

This was the 1st cannon I had the

opportunity to work on as rats had

chewed up some wiring in WQ & they

asked me to redo some of it & after

that I was trusted by Pappa to do

some minor electric on his during

Jimmy Harrington's date in PR

All together I have done some work

on 7 different cannons & I have

installed closed circuit TV units

in several of them

Chic Silber said...

Ironically when Elvin's BigBoy was

put back in service Luis Munoz Jr

became the "astronaut" & his wife

Vicky was the launch operator

Ole Whitey said...

Chic: By Papa, I assume you mean Edmondo Zacchini.

You will recall he used the space under the cannon as a dark room to develop his photographs. He also sang Italian Opera quite well.
Very nice man.

I once had the honor of having breakfast at his table in Tampa. Not during this millennium you understand.

Jimmy Cole said...

This was not a Zacchini cannon, however Luis Munoz had worked for Emmanual Zacchini a few years prior on the Cristiani show.

Chic Silber said...

Yes indeed Whitey & he was also

an accomplished cook & invited me

to several gourmet Italian dinners

More than compensation for the few

favors I did for him

I believe he was the eldest brother

Don't know if his limp was caused

by a cannon mishap or what