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Tuesday, December 24, 2013
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7 comments:
Why is a speeded up show called a "John Robinson"?
Bloggers, what's your answer?
I've heard many explanations over the years, please share your version.
Mry Chtms.
(That's Merry Christmas in John Robinson speak.)
Mike, from a tent hands perspective, it's probably an easier way to say "with this storm coming in we better hurry up or this son-of-a bitch will be upside down two miles down the road". From a historical standpoint, apparently John Robinson preferred, on occassion, to give the public the Readers Digest version.
Many years ago we were seeing Sells and Gray circus in Louisiana and a cold front came in with high winds and the tent was already catching hell.
Willie Story came in and gave them the signal to givem a John Robinson.
They ran in the two elephants for just a few and the show was over.
The tent crew went to work getting the rag down.
Harry in Texas
The story I got from Mabel Stark, who was on John Robinson and knew the best version was this: Knowing destructive weather was at hand, he ordered every act to work double time, some seriously overlapping others. The prop men were stumbling over each other, and some situations with animals became dangerous. But Robinson got the whole show in--he gave them everything he advertised in less than half an hour--then ordered tear-down while the audience was being hustled out. That's where "Give 'em a John Robinson" or "We're gonna Johnny this one" came from.
Yes Roger
Same story I was told as a youngin the early 60's. He was noted for cutting the show performance for various reasons
Yes Roger
Same story I was told as a youngin the early 60's. He was noted for cutting the show performance for various reasons
Roger, the JR show that Mabel Stark was on was a Corporation show and in name only had connections with the original family-run show. I think that what Mabel Stark stated was older folklore from the business but that doesn't discount what she related. It was already an old story by the time she related it, going back to before she was born. It would be nice to discover its earliest use in print (such as in Billboard) to better understand its use. But all that has been recounted here is true. But how recently has it been used? I think it might be dying out. Buckles, John Herriott: how often was it used during your long careers?
Dick Flint
Baltimore
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