Send in the Class Clown
by Danny McCoy
In March 1960, I appeared in my second Stars Over
Meadowbrook. From the previous year it was obvious that I had limited talent. I
was assigned a role as Co-Masters of Ceremonies.
Bob Larmer and I were Circus Barkers. Actually the only reason that I
was allowed back-to-back performances was because my mom was a seamstress and
had found enough extra money to buy the expensive reflective fluorescent fabric
that glows in the special black lights. So I was available with a ready
costume.
My striped jacket with a matching, bow tie and hat band
would all glow in the dark along with all the sets that were painted in
day-glow paint. The PTA moms had spent a lot
of money on the black lights. Every Act focused on blazing glowing costumes
instead of the talents of the dancing girls. So for the most of the time the
smiling benign faces of our adolescent thespians were lost in darkness except
for my mugging in front of the curtain and apron floodlights
The role of the Barker was to warm up the audience;
introduce each act; and to ad-lib when the stage crew needed more time for
setting the scenery or in the event there was a costume malfunction.
In reflection of my adolescent memory and of course the
black lights, I only excelled in adlibbing.
One of the filler jokes was to introduce the sponsors and special guests
in the audience and asked them to stand.
If the Stage Manager needed more time, I would simply introduce more
people which I made up on the fly.
One night I felt compelled to introduce Henry Ford Jr.
We have a very special guest tonight, all the way from Detroit
Michigan. Let’s give a warm welcome for
Henry Ford Junior. The audience would turn their heads and look around. There
would be scattered applause. The spotlight would sweep all sides of the
auditorium. Barker Danny said: Mr. Ford, don’t be shy, so please stand up. After several painful pauses Barker Danny
said: That's funny, I saw one of his
cars parked outside!
