Topic starter
22/10/2010 1:12 pm
Pax and crew alike have fond memories of one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, on or off the river, Lewis Hankins.
Lewis is our resident Mark Twain performer and he always delights audiences and his fellow crew members with his wit, talent and good humor. "Fellow crew member" is not a term we who occupied billets on the boat throw around lightly. Lewis is truly one of "us".
Here's a link to a short, recent interview with our pal, Lewis Hanks.
Paul
Five Minutes With: Louis Hankins, Mark Twain enthusiast | islandpacket.com
22/10/2010 1:42 pm
Paul,
Thanks for sharing this great interview with us!
What I'd give for those good ol' days where I would run into Lewis in the Forward Cabin Lounge of the DELTA QUEEN in the morning and catch up with him. He was always a ray of sunshine and had a glint in his eye that let you know there was a joke hiding in there somewhere if you'd pull it out! A great man to work with on the river!
Last time I saw his show was aboard the AMERICAN QUEEN. In that setting (The Grand Saloon) his character stood out and filled the stage like no other! The audience were mesmerized as he lept onto the stage and grabbed them with a snappy Twain-esque one liner...he had them till he left and when he did, they wanted more!
I always felt (after his performance) I had been in the presence of Twain. Having grown up in theatre myself, I have seen alot of live performances. Few people can take to the stage and make me believe in their character in the way Lewis has!
If we ever get our overnight boats back on the river, they will be half-baked attempts, failures, if you will - if we don't have Lewis and his inimitable Mark Twain along for the ride!
Travis