Fellas read parts 1 and 2 first or you'll think old age has finally caught up with my brain.
Well, hells bells fellas, I've gone this far, I might as well write a book. Sheesh, I've got to find the end to this story.
Anyway, back to opening night. I've now positioned myself on the back row looking for sneak ins. I told the boys that there would be some trying to get in and beat the system. I told them to keep a sharp ear open in case I whistled (3 times) meaning get your asses to the back row and help me kick some asses. I was right. Before the evening was over, there were 2 different cars doing the wobbly trunk routine. The first one was no big deal. Actually, I stood around and shot the shit with them for awhile. Nice guys, but I threw their asses out.
The next was different. I looks up and saw this 50 Ford coming towards me. The driver saw me and went to the far end of the ramp. It was obvious the dumb shit didn't know what he was up against lol. I saw his shaky trunk. To be honest, I was a little concerned. This was a nice car. It was lowered in the back, had spinner hubcaps, nosed and decked, with nice paint. I knew this cat was no hay seed, but me and my duck tailed hair, sauntered on down to that slick Ford and took up my position.
It was obvious that the guy saw me stroll up. I'd no longer stopped walking, when he opens his door and steps out. He calmly walks to the back of his car, taps the trunk, and takes another few steps towards me and stops. Two cats step out of the trunk , and the guy riding shotgun steps out and walks to the back. So there's four of them standing there. They were righteous looking guys and definitely not hayseeds.
So I'm standing there having my"oh shit" moment, figuring out what I was gonna do. I decided that they were going to say the first words. I calmly take 2 or 3 steps towards them and stop and just gaze into the drivers eyes. I'm thinking, Wuf you dumb shit , you need to beat feet, but no, my bull headedness won't let me do that. I stand there looking at him. I can tell that he's a little uncomfortable and caught a little off guard, trying to figure me out. Finally he says, why're you being an asshole.
I apply the ol pregnant pause and take a half step towards him. Then I said, (I'll never forget the following conversation, also I concluded that the other 3 cats were not part of the fray. It was me and him) so I say, if you roll out of your car with a shithead attitude, then this deal is gonna go south real fast. I continue, you come in here trying to steal admission and it's my job to not let that happen and you get pissed because I'm doing my job............ Yee haw, I can tell I've won.
He stands there and finally says, you're right, can I pay you for my friends admission? I say, sure you can and I take his buck fifty. We end up shaking hands and I go on myway. I think ol wufee talked himself out of an ass whuppin.
After all the cars are in and parked , the lights dim and the movie starts. Hot Sheila turns on the sold out sign and takes her sweet little self home. One of the boys puts the chain across the driveway and now we can relax a bit. I'm told that beast didn't bite any kids, which is always a relief.
Things are fairly relaxed until the movie is over. I let half the boys take a 30 min eating break (free concession goodies) then the other half. During the movie , i send one of the guys to the playground to keep an eye on beast and pu the trash. Another of the guys stays at the concession and patio to make sure every thing stays orderly. The rest of us slow walk the ramps just taking care of business.
This was always an interesting time. I always walked the back making sure the beer drinkers didn't get in trouble. These boys sucked down their brews and threw the empties out the window. We left them
alone unless I got a complaint from a customer. Surprisingly enough, we never had to many problems.
The main event was keeping track of all the screwing that was going on. A normal weekend would have 2 to 4 going simultaneously. They'd get those old cars to rocking and squeeking and we'd stand back there grinning and watching waiting for the climax. We'd hear a whole range of grunts, groans, some shrieks, and some loud ahhhhhs. Fellas I'm not kidding. The real downer was they'd throw their damned rubbers out the window for us to pick up , after the movie , when we walked the ramps picking up trash and hooking up the speakers. Naturally, we used spiked sticks to pick up trash. Btw, the record for one car was 4 condums. Amazing!!
I need to mention that I drove my Studebaker to work and always parked it in a prime spot by the concession. I always kept my ride slicked up and looking good. Invariably, a few of the HS gals asked to sit in the car. Some were trying to catch my eye and some were just friends. Occasionally , they'd need a ride. My motto was, "Always take care of the customer". So I did my duty.
I dreaded it when the movie was over. Part of our job was to direct the traffic out of the theatre. We tried to spread out the exit traffic so that the front ramps didn't have to wait all night for the back ramps to finish leaving. We had them take turns. It was actually a little bit dangerous.
So we get the place emptied, pick up the trash,feed Beauty and Beast, lock up, turn on security lights and leave, ready to do it again in about 10 hours. Naturally, I probably had a passenger
I'm gonna jump ahead 4 or 5 weeks to tell an interesting story. I learned a life lesson.
The crew and I showed up to work, on a week day, at 11 am. We reported to the large maint area (behind the screen) where tractor, mowers, tools, and everything else that was needed. We rolled us some smokes and planned out the afternoon. We finished our smokes and split up to get the work done. We'd been at it a couple of hours and I needed to go back to the maint barn. I walk in and find Cliff-turd in there hiding out. It was hotter than hell and every one was working their asses off, except Cliff-turd.
Well, my ears, ass, and nose all turned red and I chewed him out until I was winded. I finished up with, Cliff-turd , get your sorry ass out there and get to mowing and I turned around to walk off. Suddenly I heard this loud , roaring bellow. At the same time took a heavy blow to the side of my head, that knocked me to my knees, and I was close to blacking out. It was Clifford. He sucker punched me up side my head, then jumped on me while I was on the floor. Remember he had at least 30 lbs on me.
I tried to curl up while I was trying to recover my wits. Ol Clifford just kept squalling and flailing away. He didn't know how to fight and his swings were more like slaps. My head finally cleared and I wrapped my arms around him and rolled him off me. We rolled around on the floor like 2 cub bears for awhile. I finally started getting the upper hand and landed a few. About now ol Clifford was running out of air . I managed to get him in a head/choke lock and rolled him to the floor. Well, he was wiggling and squirming trying to get loose. I finally told him, I'm gonna hold you like this as long as I have too until you calm down. He said, ok, I'll quit. I said, I'll let you up after you tell me what the hells wrong with you.
He started crying and told me that I keep calling him Cliff-turd. Well hell, I was shocked and dismayed. I had no idea that I was hurting him this much. Shit it almost bought tears to my eyes. I stood up and helped him to his feet and start brushing him off. He finally calmed down and I stand there in front of him . I said Clifford look at me, don't ever, ever jump a guy from behind like you did me. It's cowardly and someone could get bad hurt. He agreed.
I said , Clifford I'm sorry for calling you that name. Is it alright if I call you Cliff. He about shit his pants with pleasure and said ok. I learned several good lessons that day.
We finished out the season in grand fashion. It ended my career in the entertainment business as well as the the summer of 1958.
Btw, in less that 30 days, I'll meet the love of my life and my future wife. I'll never forget that Sept day in 1958, when looked up and saw Dar for the first time. , walking down that school hallway, towards me. She was drop dead georgeous. As they say, the rest is history.
Well, hells bells fellas, I've gone this far, I might as well write a book. Sheesh, I've got to find the end to this story.
Anyway, back to opening night. I've now positioned myself on the back row looking for sneak ins. I told the boys that there would be some trying to get in and beat the system. I told them to keep a sharp ear open in case I whistled (3 times) meaning get your asses to the back row and help me kick some asses. I was right. Before the evening was over, there were 2 different cars doing the wobbly trunk routine. The first one was no big deal. Actually, I stood around and shot the shit with them for awhile. Nice guys, but I threw their asses out.
The next was different. I looks up and saw this 50 Ford coming towards me. The driver saw me and went to the far end of the ramp. It was obvious the dumb shit didn't know what he was up against lol. I saw his shaky trunk. To be honest, I was a little concerned. This was a nice car. It was lowered in the back, had spinner hubcaps, nosed and decked, with nice paint. I knew this cat was no hay seed, but me and my duck tailed hair, sauntered on down to that slick Ford and took up my position.
It was obvious that the guy saw me stroll up. I'd no longer stopped walking, when he opens his door and steps out. He calmly walks to the back of his car, taps the trunk, and takes another few steps towards me and stops. Two cats step out of the trunk , and the guy riding shotgun steps out and walks to the back. So there's four of them standing there. They were righteous looking guys and definitely not hayseeds.
So I'm standing there having my"oh shit" moment, figuring out what I was gonna do. I decided that they were going to say the first words. I calmly take 2 or 3 steps towards them and stop and just gaze into the drivers eyes. I'm thinking, Wuf you dumb shit , you need to beat feet, but no, my bull headedness won't let me do that. I stand there looking at him. I can tell that he's a little uncomfortable and caught a little off guard, trying to figure me out. Finally he says, why're you being an asshole.
I apply the ol pregnant pause and take a half step towards him. Then I said, (I'll never forget the following conversation, also I concluded that the other 3 cats were not part of the fray. It was me and him) so I say, if you roll out of your car with a shithead attitude, then this deal is gonna go south real fast. I continue, you come in here trying to steal admission and it's my job to not let that happen and you get pissed because I'm doing my job............ Yee haw, I can tell I've won.
He stands there and finally says, you're right, can I pay you for my friends admission? I say, sure you can and I take his buck fifty. We end up shaking hands and I go on myway. I think ol wufee talked himself out of an ass whuppin.
After all the cars are in and parked , the lights dim and the movie starts. Hot Sheila turns on the sold out sign and takes her sweet little self home. One of the boys puts the chain across the driveway and now we can relax a bit. I'm told that beast didn't bite any kids, which is always a relief.
Things are fairly relaxed until the movie is over. I let half the boys take a 30 min eating break (free concession goodies) then the other half. During the movie , i send one of the guys to the playground to keep an eye on beast and pu the trash. Another of the guys stays at the concession and patio to make sure every thing stays orderly. The rest of us slow walk the ramps just taking care of business.
This was always an interesting time. I always walked the back making sure the beer drinkers didn't get in trouble. These boys sucked down their brews and threw the empties out the window. We left them
alone unless I got a complaint from a customer. Surprisingly enough, we never had to many problems.
The main event was keeping track of all the screwing that was going on. A normal weekend would have 2 to 4 going simultaneously. They'd get those old cars to rocking and squeeking and we'd stand back there grinning and watching waiting for the climax. We'd hear a whole range of grunts, groans, some shrieks, and some loud ahhhhhs. Fellas I'm not kidding. The real downer was they'd throw their damned rubbers out the window for us to pick up , after the movie , when we walked the ramps picking up trash and hooking up the speakers. Naturally, we used spiked sticks to pick up trash. Btw, the record for one car was 4 condums. Amazing!!
I need to mention that I drove my Studebaker to work and always parked it in a prime spot by the concession. I always kept my ride slicked up and looking good. Invariably, a few of the HS gals asked to sit in the car. Some were trying to catch my eye and some were just friends. Occasionally , they'd need a ride. My motto was, "Always take care of the customer". So I did my duty.
I dreaded it when the movie was over. Part of our job was to direct the traffic out of the theatre. We tried to spread out the exit traffic so that the front ramps didn't have to wait all night for the back ramps to finish leaving. We had them take turns. It was actually a little bit dangerous.
So we get the place emptied, pick up the trash,feed Beauty and Beast, lock up, turn on security lights and leave, ready to do it again in about 10 hours. Naturally, I probably had a passenger
I'm gonna jump ahead 4 or 5 weeks to tell an interesting story. I learned a life lesson.
The crew and I showed up to work, on a week day, at 11 am. We reported to the large maint area (behind the screen) where tractor, mowers, tools, and everything else that was needed. We rolled us some smokes and planned out the afternoon. We finished our smokes and split up to get the work done. We'd been at it a couple of hours and I needed to go back to the maint barn. I walk in and find Cliff-turd in there hiding out. It was hotter than hell and every one was working their asses off, except Cliff-turd.
Well, my ears, ass, and nose all turned red and I chewed him out until I was winded. I finished up with, Cliff-turd , get your sorry ass out there and get to mowing and I turned around to walk off. Suddenly I heard this loud , roaring bellow. At the same time took a heavy blow to the side of my head, that knocked me to my knees, and I was close to blacking out. It was Clifford. He sucker punched me up side my head, then jumped on me while I was on the floor. Remember he had at least 30 lbs on me.
I tried to curl up while I was trying to recover my wits. Ol Clifford just kept squalling and flailing away. He didn't know how to fight and his swings were more like slaps. My head finally cleared and I wrapped my arms around him and rolled him off me. We rolled around on the floor like 2 cub bears for awhile. I finally started getting the upper hand and landed a few. About now ol Clifford was running out of air . I managed to get him in a head/choke lock and rolled him to the floor. Well, he was wiggling and squirming trying to get loose. I finally told him, I'm gonna hold you like this as long as I have too until you calm down. He said, ok, I'll quit. I said, I'll let you up after you tell me what the hells wrong with you.
He started crying and told me that I keep calling him Cliff-turd. Well hell, I was shocked and dismayed. I had no idea that I was hurting him this much. Shit it almost bought tears to my eyes. I stood up and helped him to his feet and start brushing him off. He finally calmed down and I stand there in front of him . I said Clifford look at me, don't ever, ever jump a guy from behind like you did me. It's cowardly and someone could get bad hurt. He agreed.
I said , Clifford I'm sorry for calling you that name. Is it alright if I call you Cliff. He about shit his pants with pleasure and said ok. I learned several good lessons that day.
We finished out the season in grand fashion. It ended my career in the entertainment business as well as the the summer of 1958.
Btw, in less that 30 days, I'll meet the love of my life and my future wife. I'll never forget that Sept day in 1958, when looked up and saw Dar for the first time. , walking down that school hallway, towards me. She was drop dead georgeous. As they say, the rest is history.
