Posted 10/15/2007 9:20:01 PM by Webmaster
News from Gary C. Payne viewed 1796 times
Monday, October 15, 2007 - Hartford, Connecticut
Bluch Landolf would be proud, and co-namesake, the late Fr. Jack Toner is likely smiling down from the Big Lot today! Tent No. 24, Hartford, CT, turned 70, and 101 people showed up to cut the cake!
Hartford, CT Bluch Landolf would be proud, and co-namesake, the late Fr. Jack Toner is likely smiling down from the Big Lot today! Tent No. 24, Hartford, CT, turned 70, and 101 people showed up to cut the cake! They came from far and wide. CFA National President and CFA 1st Lady Pete and Shirley Adams motored up from Florida. There were guests and celebs joining Connecticut fans from Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and Minnesota. 101 and all. Reporters and photographers, and even all of the banquet "waitstaff" had "signed up" to be there, as they were all aware of the significance of the event! (One waitress wasn't scheduled and showed up just to say Congratulations!) The Tent flew Joey Kelly (grandson of Emmett Kelly) in for the weekend. Joey, as funny a guy out of costume as in, spent the weekend with the fans, utilizing his hotel room just for sleeping. Like recent guest speaker Ward Hall, Joey raved over the prime rib he was treated to and choose to spend time with the fans over television in his room. Indeed, the night before the event event....Joey was up until nearly midnight, taken back to his hotel by Fred & Nancy Dulac....and the prize for staying awake....goes to Lisa & I, Don Horowitz, and Nick Giannino...who closed J. Timothy's Taverne at 1am. Banquet day dawned. Joey was in costume at 10am and ready to go. He was anxious to meet the motherlode of fans, after having wet his appetite with the committee during the "night before" event. "No room for breakfast" he said, referring to that night before prime rib. (Much to my dismay - Sunday morning at my fav Diner is a ritual) But upon passing the Diner, the line was out the door, and we'd never have made it to the Banquet. On arrival (I got to be the Joey cheaufer) the hall had been decked (sounds like a Christmas carol) by the committee and all was in readyness. On the fireplace mantels, 3/4" miniature circus wagons....several. All around the place....original circus posters, mostly circa 1930's and 1940's. Displays and collages of the Tent's members and activitys.... Standing room only. Literally. 94 sat for dinner, with about 17 walk ins afterward that hadn't been able to get last minute arrangements. How many tables in the restaurant besides? We never got a number on that. Even the non-attendant waitstaff was dropping by to offer congrats, you see, we've been doing this in Plainville for 70 years! At the head table: Pete & Shirley Adams. (Your Nat'l President and 1st lady) Gary & Lisa Payne (Tent President and Tent co-secretary). Rick Davey - Fire investigator and man who identified Eleanor Cook and determined arson to be the cause of the 1944 circus fire. Maxine House, Jack Belles, and Mike and Carol Toner, nephew of the late Fr. Jack Toner, and his lovely wife. And of course, Joey Kelly. So much fun was had, we don't know where to begin. There was Paul & Diane Gutheil....flashbulbsapoppin. Don Horowitz & Nick strategizing. Ralph Emerson Jr. and Ralph III pointing out to Joey Kelly on a display of 1944 fire photos) where Ralph Emerson snapped that famous photo of Emmett Kelly. Joey had visited the Circus Fire Memorial with us on Saturday afternoon and that had been a question. Now answered. Bill Brinley Sr....circus model builder NO>. 5. That's right - #5! And the entire Brinley family. Former CFA President Bob Kitchen. Dan McGinnis, Bruce Johnson.... Feld Entertainment promoter Alexis Frappier... Wil Hevey of Show Lighting. I don't know where to stop. It goes on and on....so many people. Tent Treasurer Joyce Rucci signed a big fat check ($500.00) from the Tent to the Circus and Traveling Shows Retirement Fund. A silent auction netted over $1400.00 for the treasury. Emmett Cole (son of Doug & Sandi Cole) meets his namesakes grandson, at last. Sister Courtney is busy bidding on silent auction items.... Referring to his Dad, Emmett Kelly Jr., Joey's comments explained that his Dad had done something that the circus industry and the circus fans just could not accept. He copied Emmett Kelly Sr. "You just don't do that", Joey said...a bit mournfully. "There is only one Elvis, it's the same thing". Joey seemed to see this address before the CFA Tent No. 24, and it's Nat'l President, as a way to connect back to Emmett Kelly Sr. "Im the brown face of the family" said Joey, pointing at his brownish color simple clown makeup that includes a red rubber nose. While Joey is somewhat of a tramp style clown, his makeup and costume are not copied from Emmett Kelly Sr.. But both in and out of makeup, it's obvious to a veteran fan who he is. "I DO wear a 'Kelly' green shirt", quipped Joey. Another thing that makes Joey different is that he does talk during his performing. In fact, in and out of costume, he is quite chatty. Those who knew Emmett Sr. know that he was a rather quiet and shy guy. Not grandson Joey. Joey spoke of his grand Dad with obvious affection. He last saw him perform in 1955. ( A portrait photographer walks into the banquet room and asks to see me - "I understand that the grandson of Emmett Kelly is here, and I'd really like to take his photo - much obliged) On with the talk.... Joey continues and expresses interest in performing with his family..."America's first family of clowns" a title he intends to develop and earn. Picking 3 victims from the audience Joey proceeds with a skit that has everyone rolling on the floor. Day after we've had 3 reports of stomach pains. Diagnosis: Excessive laughter. After banquet, the committee (whomever was still awake) takes Joey out again for dinner. He walks into the Diner in full makeup and has all the kids going. Jane Kycia, Sherry Whitten, Joyce and Joanne Rucci, Angela Wood, and Lisa & I, and Joey.... Joey to all of us, "We're going to eat again". (The man eats like a bird me thinks, though he blames it on the night before event prime rib) "We don't have prime rib like that back in St Louis" he claims. Was Joey here to set the record straight? Did he want us to know what was on the minds of the Kelly family? YES. He wanted the fans to know that he felt that EKJ should not have duplicated his grandfather. Joey doesn't do that. He is his own character, though one of his greatest assets is that he looks so much like Emmett. He was an instant HIT here in Connecticut, among fans that were ready to hear what he had to say, and the appropriate blowoff...extreme laughter. We shall never forget that he helped us to celebrate a joyous occasion. On the way to the airport Monday morning I told Joey what a thrill it was to have him here. If we did anything to help him set the record straight it's a plus. It was on our minds and part of our reason for inviting him. It's because we continue to follow Fr. Jack Toner's magical ways. We ask ourselves "What would Fr. Jack say"? As I write this Monday evening the phone rings. It's Barbara Connors, "Ted is in the bathroom laughing....so I say to him....Ted....what the heck is the matter with you....and he says to me....it's that Joey Kelly.....every time I think of him I can't stop laughing..." A follow up phone call tonight to Joey to make sure he is safely home. Laughter in the background. Joey is showing his video of Connecticut to wife Lindy and the children. Obvious excitement in the background. They wish they'd been here. We do too. Joey made 101 new friends. We think Fr. Jack is smiling today. And 70 years ain't too shabby. Apology to Maxine House - I know there isn't such a word as ain't, and you're likely to pick up on that.
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