Monday, May 04, 2020

STAR WARS DAY


11 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Whooo knew except for the

"Trekkies" & "Warriors"

Eric said...

Those old enough to remember the RBBB 108th Edition will undoubtedly recall the STAR WARS main title theme being played when Elvin Bale’s cannon was rolled in for The Barnum & Bailey Blast-off finale. At that time, the original Star Wars film had only been out for a year, and the main title music hadn’t yet been used during a Ringling performance. It was one of the many moments that made the 108th Edition (and its musical program) my all-time favorite.

Chic Silber said...


Yup

Chic Silber said...


I helped Elvin convince Irvin

to commit to that "Shuttle"

version of a cannon that he

had wanted for several years

The chasis of the 2nd wrecked

school bus (wrecked by Alvin

"Schwartzie" Schwartz's son)

became the basic frame for

the very strange machine that

I did plenty of work on

Chic Silber said...


When Elvin & his big toys

went out on oue Monte Carlo

touring company the "cannon"

was to be repainted gold

However it ended looking

more like Duckshit Green

Chic Silber said...


Schwartzie's son after

wrecking 2 school busses

went on to also wreck a

brand new custom built

straight job fitted to

carry my 6 brand new

"Super Troupers" which

came back to me by the

insurance company &

they are still in my

warehouse (wrecked)

Free to any takers

Chic Silber said...


For years I handmade all the

gold flitter jerbs & bombs

for the cannon's pyro effects

Chic Silber said...


By the way Eric my pal Kenny

has found a recording of the

108th spec with the chimes at

the end of "Ruled The World"

When I return to Sarasota

I'll send you an audio file

Eric said...

I don't recall chimes at the end of the 108th Edition Spec. If these were on tape, the recording might only have been used in certain venues. (As I recall, the San Diego Sports Arena was having sound system problems while the 108th Edition was here, with the sound cutting in and out during Harold Ronk's announcements. Later the show had its own sound system incorporated into the aerial rigging framework. There WERE chimes for sure at the end of the 100th Edition spec and the 106th Edition Michu's Wedding spec.

Speaking of sound systems, Keith Greene once told me about the time some kid up in a balcony dropped a snow cone and it landed in the middle of the sound board, shorting it out. Vas you dare, Charlie?

Chic Silber said...


Perhaps not all buildings Eric

which would surprise me but I

recall them in Venice the New

Garden in NY & at least several

other joints I visited in 78-79

I recall the Keith story but I

thought it was a coke dropped

Keith married the very lovely

showgirl Michelle as I recall

Absolutely the prettiest ever

Chic Silber said...


The last time I saw them both

was at Gunther's funeral