Page 81 - MN

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yards from home! And I couldn't leave it there because the next car would hit the ice and crash into mine. Dead tired, swearing, I spent two hours digging out the car and putting on chains so I could get enough grip to get the car out of the drift.
I live in Chiangmai now. No snow. No winter. I am a happy camper.
Comedian on Ice
Remember the ice show and the gay skaters in Ketchum? Here's the whole story of those shows.
One day my manager called and asked if I wanted to be in an ice show with Peggy Fleming, the Olympic gold medalist. What the hell would I do in an ice show? The answer was simple, I'd walk out on the ice in a pair of golf shoes (spikes so I wouldn't slip) and do 15 or 20 minutes between numbers while the skaters changed costumes.
The show was produced by Bob Banner, who was a highly respected Hollywood producer, and directed by Dick (whose last name I've forgotten), a former Mousketeer on the Mickey Mouse Club TV show. We had four variety acts in the show. Me, Walt Wagner, who was a pianist who always got a standing ovation when he played MacArthur Park, a sister singing group of four black girls, and a skating comedy act. I, of course, fell in love with one of the girl singers and she did not fall in love with me. Girls can be so blind...
In our first rehearsal Dick showed us our costumes for the finale and we all refused. They were like Up With People costumes, with sequined red white and blue outfits and spangled straw hats. Remember, this was the early 70s and we were still part of the hippie culture. Not a chance in hell we were going to wear those costumes. Dick backed down and we got to wear what we wanted.
This brings back a memory of two friends of mine, Dennis Coats and Gary Carlson. They were wonderful musicians and singers, with Dennis on 5-string banjo and Gary on guitar. They were dope-smoking, tequila-drinking bluegrass guys. Dennis was also a pool shark and played big money games.
One night a guy came up and said he could get them a high-paying gig at Disneyland and they got excited. They flew down to L.A., passed the audition with flying colors, and the director said, "You're hired".
Okay! It was a big step up from playing loud bars in the Northwest. Then the director said, "Now we have to get you fitted for costumes".