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February mid-'80's...I was
in Buckeye AZ workin in the Culpepperer Circus WQ's...right
down the road in Peoria AZ, Gopher Davenports "Ford
Bros Circus was set up...Bunch of us went over to
catch the show and visit the Late Ken "turtle"
Benson...we visited and settled into our seats right
in front of the Center ring...as Longtime show
organist Dean Koonrud hammered out on a old Hammond
organ the EXACT same tune for each act (he was drunk)
I noticed since there was No entrance curtain a Bear
run by...w/ Harry Locker the Bears trainer chasin
it...THEN...I saw Harry run by w/ the Bear chasin
him!!!..Apparently Giovanni (the Ringmaster) had
noticed this also and came to conclusion that the Bear
would be a little late...So when the act performing
finished...Giovanni being the seasoned veteran he is,
casually drew the Microphone up...and began to
speak....
"Ladies and Gentleman...Boys and Girls....Many years
ago..in the faraway land of Norway...it became very
very Hot...So Hot that the King of Norway could not be
kept cool...Finally after many futile attempt to be
cooled...The King summoned his Finest Knight, gave him
instructions and a silver Chalice, The Finest Knight
then went to the Royal Stable, summoned the Kingdoms
finest stead and with Chalice in Hand rode over the
draw bridge and out of the Castle...The Knight rode
thru the Peasant Villages...thru the Farmlands till he
came to the Base of the Highest peak in all of
Norway!!!...The Knight then rode the finest stead up,
and up, till the stead could go no further!!!, The
Knight with silver Chalice in hand proceeded to climb
till he could climb no more!!!...so The Knight still
with silver Chalice in Hand crawled and crawled till
he reached the Highest peak in all of Norway!!!...Now
this Peak was covered with pure freshly fallen snow,
and the Knight with the silver chalice scooped it full
of snow, The Knight then made his way back
down...where he mounted the now rested stead,,,and he
rode down the mountain, back thru the farmlands, back
thru the Peasant Villages, over the Draw-Bridge and
back into the Castle!...he then returned the Stead to
the Royal Stable...and headed to the Royal Wine
cellar...where he poured the Finest wine in all of
Norway over the freshly fallen snow in the silver
Chalice...He then hurried to the King, handed the King
the Chalice and the King was cooled.....By the Worlds
First Sno-Cone!!!!!...Now Ladies and Gentleman...Boys
and Girls...We have substituted the Silver Chalice for
a sanitary paper cup!!, We have replaced freshly
fallen snow with crystal clear shaved ice!! ...and
Fine Norwegian wine with your Favorite Flavor
Cherry!!!...Our vendors are now in the seating
area....Et. et. et.....Needless to say Harry by this
time had rounded up the Bear and the Bear act could
now go on, and yours truly had witnessed the Greatest
Snow-Cone pitch I had ever Heard... |
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