Thursday, November 4, 2010
Adventures At An Amusement Park
It all began with running away and joining the circus....well, actually it was a small theatre company that performed at an amusement park in Albuquerque....it kind of felt like joining the circus. Before life on the road as a successful, touring show band The Pink Flamingos were a children's theatre company.I was twelve and I arrived backstage in the midst of the craziness of everyone getting ready for the "All Star Rock 'n Roll Revue" puppet show. They did a form of puppetry called Bunraku in which three puppeteers dressed completely in black operate one life size puppet.
Some folks were frantically trying to get their clown make up off and into their puppet costumes. Not only did they do puppet shows, but they also did clowning, juggling, mime, magic comedy, and face painting.
I was in awe and felt like I had arrived home. I'd always wanted to be in the performing arts.
Someone asked if I would like to be part of the "Rock n Roll Revue" puppet show featuring Tina Turnover, Bif Boom Bang, Michael Jackson, and Billie Nelson. I was like "sure". I was told I would be a chill. All I had to do was sit at the very front of the theatre and Billie Nelson (Willie Nelson's half brother) would come up and invited me to the stage. He offered me a chair, so I sat down and he sang "You Were Always On My Mind" to me. I was so embarrassed, I thought I would never have to do that again. Ahhh, the sacrifices we make for the glamour of being on stage. I think I did it fifty more times. In fact, for a while there was another kid (Joanna, 13 years old, future lead singer of The Pink Flamingos) about my age also there and we would draw straws on who would have to do it.
I advanced from chill, to backup singer hand puppets, to the body of Vic Breeze, the obnoxious MC of the musical revue. One time, Ed, who operated the head, left arm, and voice fell asleep in his car and it was show time. If you have ever been in show business you know the term "The Show Must Go On" does apply and you do anything you can to get the job done. Sarah (the future alto sax player of "The Pinks") was part of the theatre company at this time and she decided she'd do it. She didn't know all the lines, so I whispered the lines to her while she in her best effort tried to do the manly, man voice of Vic Breeze. Well, let's just say that night Vic Breeze had a slightly higher voice....
My favorite show that they did was the "Juggling Joe Brothers" juggling, comedy act. The Joe Brothers were Chris, John, Dave, and Jeff who ended up being the original drummer, bass, tenor sax, and baritone sax players for The Pink Flamingos. The first summer I was there I think I only missed one show. I'd sit in the audience time after time waiting for the end when after the show was done when I would go grab the fake shaving cream pies that they used at the show finale and try to pie all the "Joe Brothers". More so than not, I got the pie in the face.
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