Topic starter
29/04/2009 12:22 am
Hey all,
I am finding this hard to believe, but I realized this afternoon it will be 31 years since my first paying gig as a calliope player!
In 1978 I was paid to play the calliope on the PA DENNY at the Kentucky Derby Festival Great Steamboat Race.
Tomorrow I will be the soul Judge of the calliope duel between the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE and the BELLE OF CINCINNATI.
Same time....same place....many years older!
It will sure look,feel, and truly be different...but at least the tradition continues on!
Travis
29/04/2009 2:02 am
Travis, take pictures for all of us! And video! And audio recordings! And any other way of recording the calliope duel!
29/04/2009 2:21 am
I could write a chapter in my book about that same day. It was as memorable a day for me as it must have been for you. Thirty-one years, you say?
29/04/2009 2:36 am
Is there even a calliope aboard the BOC??
29/04/2009 6:48 am
Matt;; Yes there is ,,a air CaLLiope like the TWILIGHT's... I played it for the Great Steamboat Race in 2006,,.. i think ??
Wish i could make it down Travis ,,, !!!!
29/04/2009 12:49 pm
Today will be the first time in five years I won't be at the Steamboat Race, four of them aboard the DELTA QUEEN. You think I'm not grieving. And then this morning I find out that my boss and his wife will there. Heck, he wouldn't even know what a steamboat was if I hadn't worked for him the last seven years!!!!
29/04/2009 12:56 pm
Dave, where is it located?? When we were at Tall Stacks, I didn't even see it, and we were moored right next to each other!! How observant was I? lol
29/04/2009 8:58 pm
Matt;
The whistles are across the top deck at the stern ,with the keyboard below ... kinda like the DQ's ...
29/04/2009 9:06 pm
Hay ALL ; Just spoke with Travis on the BELLE OF CINCINATI , the
BELLE OF LOUISVILLE won the the CaLLiope dual ,,... Gee
5:06 eastern
30/04/2009 4:13 am
Hay ALL ;;the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE won the STEAMBOAT race ,, WELL ,, "STEAMBOAT" RACE ,,,..!?!?!?
Topic starter
30/04/2009 2:36 pm
Cap,
I will never forget that day, or your courtesy to the little kid who wanted to play the calliope on the DENNY.
What a special time that was! You;d never get past Homeland Security today to get away with what I did that day. The river was a friendlier place than we seem to believe it has to be today!
Travis
Topic starter
30/04/2009 2:38 pm
Hey all,
Soon as I get the chance I will write the happenings at the Calliope Dual on here...it was lots of fun...and I was proud to have had the opportunity to do it!
The Calliopists were....
BELLE OF LOUISVILLE....Martha Gibbs
BELLE OF CINCINNATI..."Piano" Pete
The winner was.....
The BELLE OF LOUISVILLE!
I'll type the rest of the story when I get a chance...or my computer gets back up and running!
Travis
02/05/2009 9:08 pm
If you're meaning me, you'll have to refresh my memory. Tony Harrison was the captain of the PAD, that day; I was just along for the ride.
My mind was buzzing with the likes of Betty Blake, Ernie Wagner, Mary Bill Bauer, Tony, Ben Bernstein, and the new steamboat some of the afore-mentioned, and I, were planning to build. If somehow, I made your day brighter, I'm pleased to add that to an special day already full of excitement and great expectations. Do you remember the exact date?
Topic starter
03/05/2009 1:40 am
Shipyard,
I remember meeting both yourself and Capt. Tony Harrison that day. According to the notations on the back of the few pictures I took that day the date was the 28th of April 1978.
Just having the opportunity to play the calliope on a paddlewheel boat was almost overwhelming for my 12-year old mind.....and I still have that same feeling when I am blessed with a keyboard and 32 or so whistles...same exact feeling, over 30 years later! See, the kid in you never dies...if you can find what brings him/her back every time!
Travis
03/05/2009 12:33 pm
OK, Travis! What did you play that day? Cap'n Walnut