Olddudes saturday evening story time.
THE 'FAMILY' SHOW. An exerpt paraphrased from the book "30YEARS ON THE ROAD" BY Michael Wier
Back in the day we had grown a bit and squired several games and amusement rides and decided we needed to move up to a larger show. We decided to join one of the top midways who had 9 state fairs on contract. This show will remain nameless, for as you will find out are obvious reasons,
We arrived on location late in the season in FT Myers FL First things first. We asked and were directed to the lot mans (foreman) trailer. It was a large fifth wheel surrounded by a picket fence and a chain link gate which housed 2 pit bulls.(my first clue) and a tall fellow guarding the gate (my second clue) I asked if this was Nicks trailer and the answer came ya just go knock on the door. I was wearing a hat and at the time had a beard and mu stash. I'm a little hard of hearing so when I knocked on the door. I thought I heard come inn.
When I entered I very clearly heard the words WHAT THE F+++ ARE YOU DOIN IN MY HOUSE. standing before me was a guy of about 50 or so dressed only in a pair of white boxer shorts standing behind a coffee table scattered with bundles and envelopes of cash spilling onto the floor. (my third clue)
Now this was before the movie GOD FATHER but if you picture a shorter version of Lou Cabrassi, a little shorter you see what I saw. The next words were "GET THE F+++ OUTA MY HOUSE. It took me less then a nano second to figure out that was the right thing to do. This guy was known as Nick Pompano (not his real name he just ate Pompano fish all the time) (nick name )( my fourth clue)
At the gate I told the guy (what ever he was) we were new and needed to get set up. He said to look for a guy named Brian.
I immediately went to our Motor home ditch the hat and shaved off the mustache and beard.
THE CASH> , We required to give an envelope to Brian at the end of each show I was informally informed my envelope should not contain less then $1000. It is said that it was a slush fund used to smooth certain feathers and pay off any problems however, my guess it was just the expected cut to who ever gave Nick his nick name.
This was my introduction to big time show business.
