The Count was ill-suited for this show despite his Ringling credentials where announcements were relatively sparse.
I had no trouble because when asked I told him "BOYS AND GIRLS! HERE COME THE ELEPHANTS!" will do nicely.
No so with Billy Barton whose exit announcements and music were choreographed into five phases, when alighting from the rigging, at the back of the ring, by the band stand, whilst dragging the cape out the back door and often "The Death Scene From Camille" afterward in the back yard, at which time Paul McCausland and I always tried to be on hand to agree with Billy that something should be done.
|
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Program #1 (From Buckles)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
My father was working our elephant act on the track in front of the grandstand at some Punkin Fair when from the stage behind us the leader of the Western Band yelled, "What should we play?"
My father yelled back, "Comin' Around the Mountain" you Hillbilly S.O.B."
And they did.
I believe that Tommy Sheehan was
a union stagehand
Another legendary "death scene in the backyard" actor was Pat Anthony. From among the keenest observers of his overwrought antics, came a voice declaring, "For God's sake, you put on a better act back here than you do in the ring!" The irrepressible wag was Gee Gee Engesser, who nick-named him "Pat Agony."
Post a Comment