Showing posts with label Butch Patrick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Butch Patrick. Show all posts

Sunday, May 27, 2012

There's No Business Like Show Business, From What I've Heard

So here's something wacky for you.  A couple of weeks ago, Like an episode straight out of "I Love Lucy," Mr. Tiny joined show business!  I've been involved in the business world for years - primarily monkey, but this was a real star turn.  True, I have had my brushes with fame.  I've been told repeatedly over the phone that I could be a voice-double for Robert Downey, Jr. (by the same person, sort of a phone stalker who was more than likely deaf).  I've met Hollywood A-Listers like Alice Cooper, Kurt Russell, and Butch Patrick.  I have been paid to dance, act, model, but this was the big time - real show business.

 Proof
Ashley, Alice, Mr. Tiny, and Richard (l to r)


About a month ago, Mary was asked to perform a show down in San Diego at The Tin Can Ale House.  Mary is a Wild Records artist so she is entirely accustomed to the smell of grease paint, the glare of flashbulbs, and the bright lights.  I, on the other hand, am a hopeless rube, a bumpkin by the standards of slick, big-city, show folk.  Fortunately, it was a cowboy/honky tonk show, so I fit right in.

The mural on the front of The Tin Can Ale House is pretty darn cool.
Mary & Mr. Tiny (photo courtesy of Sarah Drake)
Maybe sitting wasn't the most flattering position to take.

Strangely, the pure and unadulterated hatred that I have for the sound of my own voice has never stopped me from singing  - or talking for that matter (although I might reconsider after barely making it through a brief review of these videos that a friend was sadistic kind enough to shoot).  Even more strange was the generally-positive response we received for our set.  Here are a couple of the songs (including a Mr. Tiny original) that we performed.  Please, be kind, it was our very first show!

"Someday"
written by Jimmie Hodges 
performed by Mary & Mr. Tiny

"Wagon Wheel"
written and performed by Mr. Tiny and Mary


I was dreading the performance on our way down to San Diego, mostly because I felt weird that I would just be there singing while Mary did all of the heavy lifting (guitar, song writer, vocalist), but I ended up having a lot of fun!  We even tried our best to include some witty banter in between songs.  The wittiness of the banter is widely open for debate, but I think we did a pretty good job, all things considered.

I'm tellin' ya, it was the real deal.
We got drink tickets (wasted on non-drinkers, like ourselves) and everything.
We even got paid; although Mary has yet to fork over my half of the loot!

I'm doing my best to have a good attitude and accept the challenges and opportunities that come my way.  Hopefully, this was the first of many fun times and exciting adventures ahead!  After all, how you gonna keep 'em down on the farm after they've seen SD?


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

Sunday, January 29, 2012

I Met a Teenage Werewolf!


I had a completely different post planned for today.  But good plans are thrown out like the baby with the proverbial bath water when one meets Eddie Munster!!!  

Eddie Munster


That's right, I met the Eddie Munster, the boy werewolf from The Munsters (one of the finest programs ever produced on American television).  It sounds like a terrible joke, "What do you get when you cross Frankenstein with a vampire?"  The answer, of course, is a werewolf!  I would try and explain monster genetics to you but it gets pretty complicated.

A publicity still for The Munsters.
Butch doesn't look all that into it here, but working
on The Munsters had to be the best job in the world!
(Source)

Grandpa & Eddie
I'd probably look a little suspicious too is I was forced to sit
on Al Lewis' lap.
(Source)

Herman, Lily & Eddie - the perfect 60's nuclear family
(Source)

Alright, alright, so Eddie was more of a pre-teen werewolf, and if you want to get uber-technical, I actually met Butch Patrick the man behind the pointy ears and extreme widow's peak.  But to me, and probably to the rest of the world, he will always be Eddie Munster.

I offer no explanation as to the expression on Mr. Tiny's face,
other than than I was trying for a scary monster...and I couldn't
see - no glasses!

Butch was especially nice and even autographed photos
for everyone.  Fred & Yvonne would have been so proud
of their little boy!

Butch is a great guy, but to me the most exciting part is that now only one rather-insignificant degree separates me from Yvonne De Carlo!  Now that's my kind of wacky tacky celebrity encounter!  Have you met anyone of wacky tacky repute?  Do you have a favorite Munster's episode?  Please share.


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny