Monday, December 16, 2013

GUNTHER! #17



I believe that this and the next image are from the “Lord of the Rings” TV special that was taped in Los Angeles.

Posted by Buckles at 12/16/2013 05:51:00 AM

8 comments:

Eric said...

That taping took place right after the Red Unit played San Diego. The responsibility for preparing the program’s special music was dumped on Keith Greene, and he later told us that he spent many a sleepless night, working to get it all ready in time. Then, because of some contractual agreement, Bill Pruyn got the official credit for the music. (Keith is to one to ask as to how exactly that deal went down.)

16 December, 2013 11:37
Chic Silber said...


Keith was a terrific fellow & he

fell in love & married 1 of the

most beautiful showgirls ever

I last saw Keith & Michelle at

Gunther's funeral where he led

the band assembled at the church

16 December, 2013 23:32
Chic Silber said...


Wasn't Dave King Keith's organist

& wasn't 1 of the Chan brothers

the drummer Eric (maybe Archie)

16 December, 2013 23:38
John Herriott said...

This is the least liberty horse display for a num4er of years. This group of 8 is what was left of a 12 horse act originally trained by Charly Moroski and presented by among a few others, young Franzie Althoff and myself. In the show it was presented by Henry Schoer. The end rings had Tina and Seigrid each with 6, so in order to have GGW showing liberty horses for his special this was done. Now the routine was ver elementory but looked OK with general shots. For a "hind leg walk finale it is shown G walking, Ibelieve 3 or 4 all together. So we had no such thing in the show only single hind leg walkers, so to show the skill og GG he, with hardly any practice ran the group around and then called them at the front of the ring, gave the cue to rear and walk and they did it. A one time shot. Right after the take we laughed in great joy at what had just been done. The next season GG had more young horses and did train more horses fitting with the GSOE.

17 December, 2013 10:06
John Herriott said...

Yes we did the taping in the Forum in LA and did not miss any shows of the engagement and the practice taping was done in mornings and early afternoon and GGW worked his ass off doing the shows, taping practice etc. I was there and I represented GGW thru it all knowing where cameras could not e placed, knowing to what extint G could do those again and again shots and resets, so was pleased to have me as wath direcror, John Moffit. Kenneth gave me an additional fanancial reward as well. So it really was a busy few days with practice, production meetings, etc. We did the taping on a Monday day off of performances and for an audience it was the entire employees of Mattel in LA. I was also the MC of all activities during the taping, changing lighting, other set ups and other time consuming delays, so I introduced all the circus folks involved such as Gs family, worker such as midget Piccolo, some history of GSOE and on and on. Tonly Curtis was the TV host so I introduced him and told about "Trapeze, Houdidi, etc. Kenneth told Tuffy before the taping" to get a 6 pack of coors and to give me one at ever lull in the taping, etc. Tuffy [magr emeritus] and Baker Brown [gen. mgr] got a big kick out of that knowing of my fondness for beer in those days. I debuted Nicole Feld and her mother as she was just a baby in her mothers arms. So it was quite a time. Leading up to the taping and practice G had gotten a serious clawing on his arm that was sore and also a sprain from jumping down off the elephants in a shot, so he was really hurting. A few minutes before the actual taping Gunther said to me quietly," John I want to do everything I can". It was the biggest time of his life and I respected his wishes. After the taping we embraced and were so relieved that it all been done to evetryones satisfaction. It was quite a time and I am pleased to have been a big part of it. johnny

17 December, 2013 10:33
Eric said...

Dave King was the organist and Bob Bachelor (sp?)was the drummer during most of the years I played for the Red Unit.

17 December, 2013 10:48
Paul Gutheil said...

John Herriott, God Bless you real good, for oh so many reasons.

17 December, 2013 21:54
Chic Silber said...


Dave King (a really fun guy) was

originally with the Keith & Kathy

Killinger core group that played

the Circo Panamericano dates in

Puerto Rico for Jimmy Harrington

quite a few years & we had many

memorable parties down there

18 December, 2013 17:16

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