The Circus World stories that I am hearing brings to mind a friend of mine who communicates with me regularly but not on the Blog Site. In his day he, like Gary, was a raw boned Westerner whom I'm sure a lot of you show guys my age will remember as a rigger and prop boss and today as a successful business man in Las Vegas.
At one point in his career he was offered a job with one of the major Ice Shows as a rigger but coming from a circus background he explained that since he already owned a trailer he didn't want to stay in hotels but would prefer to park at the building. They reluctantly agreed.
Now this is the stuff legends are made of, the trailer had a full bar, plenty of lavish pillows and the bed room over the fifth wheel was decorated entirely in black silk, the sheets, pillows, curtains, etc. and the obligatory mirror on the ceiling.
He once told me of his extreme delight when he arrived to discover a vast number of girl skaters but only a hand full of straight guys. His residence immediately became the official show girl lounge and being a compassionate young man he would console any of those who may have problems.
He quickly earned the name "The Midnight Cowboy".
He says that in spite of his brief career in that business, till this day when talking to Ice Show people he will hear "My God, are you the guy that had the house trailer with Ice Capades?". |
13 comments:
I think Ole Jewel was the Casanova, at CW. God Rest his Soul,he was a busy bee when it came to the ladies. I always had to be careful before entering his dressing trailer! Trevor Bale was there everyday playing chess, but if the door was locked, Jewel was Entertaining, usally a dancer! Gary
Jim A. identified the Midnight Cowboy right off and reminded me that from the Ice Show he went to Disney on Parade, their first arena show, and from there to Vegas.
One of the funnier tales on the blog. We all loved these people who intertained in more ways then one. Everyone was happy. He really had style and class. Some of my best friends from the shows and to this day who had odd ways were and are some of my best friends. Salt of the earth. You could not ask for better friends.
I was here Yesterday. For once I did not have much to say. I have three little guys that are so close to leaving the group that I try to make their last days special. Karen I guess that you did not know I do Hospic care for pets that had belonged to people who have died or gone into nurseing homes and can not care for their pets any longer. No one wants old pets. I am a Vet Tec, groomer and trainer. The police department brings me these pets and I keep them until they die. No money is involved. I have three that are 17 years old and just want to stay a while longer. It is something that gives me great satisfaction. It is something money can not buy. It also is a 24 hour a day project. Thats why I am always here to play on the computer. I usually have one pet on my lap as I type. All together I have 15 little ones that share my inside space. I also care for pets when abused woman need to go into shelter. Always something to do. so it keeps me busy and feeling useful.
Karen, Back a hundred years ago when I was first on a circus, I thought the PIE CAR was a w^&*$ house. I never ask anyone or visited it so I remained ignorant for months. Then I discovered they provided liquid refreshment and you could not keep me out. All I ever saw was men going in. Never a female.
No Karen, I will most likely go to my grave NOT knowing? To defend myself, I must admit that at the pool I always did my best not to stare at the ladies until they were safely in the pool. As to what I drank back then ,it is all a fog unless it was BEER! That might have put me in a fog! I really wish I could remember names better but faces I NEVER forget. Maybe Anonymous will let us all know so we can all have a good laugh while I CRY!!!!!! Always, Gary
I have a funny story that involved Ted S. I was one of the only guys to have truck so I was asked alot to carry people to and fro. Ted asked me one day if I wanted to hit Orlando that night and try to scare up some women! We drove around looking for a parking spot at Rosie's and he saw a Beautiful black gal working the streets. He hung have way out of my truck whistling and hooting at this gal. He made me turn around and he gave her another dose of his immaculate charm! On the next block a squad car of Orlando's Finest pulled me over and Ted and I almost went to jail that night. He thought she was a hooker but she was working undercover!! We were kindly allowed to go back to CW at once! Ted told the cops I was a" Virgin " and he wanted to get me laid!!!! We laughed so hard all the way back to CW! Gary
OK, let's go back 30 years to “The Day the Circus Came to Town.” Gary I think that you were one of the lucky elephant men who got to see the show because you had us goofs run the ride. I can almost see Anonymous in the town sequence as the little rich girl. The little poor girl (Cindy was the girl I remember) would say, “It’s coming to town, it’s coming right here.” And then the rich girl would say, “Well I’m going! You go back to you trailer park you white trash little blond hussy.” I may have the lines wrong, but the girl that we are trying to remember her name, I see her playing the little rich girl role
By God Watson I think your on to something! I sent Buckles a picture of High Flyer walking Peggy (I think) in one of the many parades though the park and riding her is our SWEET young thing??? Now if I can talk the Capt into sharing the photo we might have solved "part" of our puzzle??? Gary
Bye the bye, If you remember Jewel's Lions opened the show and I was at the door of the cage watching his back. I did sneak on board the train and rode it like I was the engineer, then ran to the cat act. Fun times for sure back then, used to make old Murphy so mad he'd want to spit! Anyone know what every happened to him? Or Keith Trusdale? Gary
One year at Edge Hill on Super Bowl Sunday, at half time I went on a beer run to the 7-11 and we stopped by the park to be up to no good. The security guard was not at his post, but he left his walkie talkie radio in his little shack. I took the radio back to the party, and I pretended to be “What’s his name the Security guard, Clem maybe?” anyway I had a bunch of people running around the park because I broadcasted that the Emus were loose. (Something that happened on occasion.) After about ten minutes of hilarious chatter on the radio, I heard: “OK Little John bring back the radio and you won’t get into any trouble
There is a news caster out of Tampa that looks like what Keith Trusdale would look in these AARP years, but I don’t think it’s him. If it is he’s using a stage name: Wells Fargo with the action news. There was Jim Murphy, and Murphy James. Jim Murphy was like the president of the park. (I saw him driving a tour bus many years ago) and Murphy James was a dancer and director. (I’m sure he went on to bigger and better things after Circus World because of his talent.) But that little twinkle toes smoked three packs a cigarettes a day, I hope he quite and is still breathing.
Miss Ellie are you out there????Maybe you can solve our little mystery? Little John, I was referring to Murphy James, as Bill Ketchen was GM at first, I didn't know the other guy. I think you had the dialogue correct as I interpreted it from the "children"! Gary
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