FEZHEAD
CHRONICLES
Special Christmas edition
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THE FEZHEAD CHRONICLES |
Issue Number 2 Special Christmas edition |
A new act for a new Millennium, the Wheel of Death is based on the old American burlesque Act of ‘Chopper’ Smith and his performing Baboon in the 1930’s Midwest.
The original Act consisted of ‘Chopper’ strapping the unfortunate Baboon to the Wheel of a Wagon and throwing knives between the spokes of the wheel and the Baboon.
Obviously we could not (for various legal, moral and practical reasons) lay our hands on a Baboon and Wagon, however we appeared to have the next best thing in Pete the ‘Flying’ Cleggett and Adonis Kebabs brilliance for building Stage Props.
The Act of the ‘Flying Cleggett and the Wheel of Death consists of Pete (the ‘Flying’ Cleggett) being strapped onto a revolving wheel of death and having knives thrown at him by a Blindfolded Knife Thrower!
The Blind Knife Thrower purely using the sound of Cleggett's voice as a guide for the deadly blades.
Warning:
This is a dangerous Act performed by Trained Experts do not try this at home.
Blind Ned and Knife Throwing.
We do not know the details of Blind Ned’s brief attempt at a knife act but we do know he met ‘Chopper’ Smith when they performed together at the Liverpool Empire in 1934.
But by then Ned’s eyesight was deteriorating (he was already blind in one eye) and it seemed a strange decision to take up Knife Throwing.
Anyway there was an unspecified accident involving ‘Buddy Boy’ the Baboon after which Ned abandoned throwing in favour of escapology with ‘Chopper’ returning to the USA the following year.
Some may remember ‘Chopper’ Smith on the Johnny Carson show in the early sixties when he performed his lasso and rope trick.
He was by then an old man and ‘Buddy Boy’ the Baboon was long gone, but the magic was still there.
‘Chopper’ also made the cover of TIME magazine shortly before his demise (he bled to death) in 1969.
Back to contents
10 Things you always wanted to know about the Fezheads.
( But were afraid to ask )
Top Tips when dealing with a Fezhead. Always buy a Fezhead T-shirt. Never go out to see the contents of his old white van in the car park. Always suggest ‘money’ and ‘pub’ when negotiating the details of a booking. Never mention the words ‘shopping centre’. Always mention ‘Full cooked English Breakfast’. Never make any references to ‘times’ or ‘dates’. Always expect him to let you down. The promise of ‘Free Beer’ is always a good bargaining Chip. Never ask to look under his Kaftan. If he appears ‘shifty’ or ‘ill-at-ease’ first thing in the morning, you may have accidentally alluded to ‘C’ word at some point the previous evening. The ‘C’ word stands for Commitment. Never allow him to escort your wife and daughter to anything after 6pm. Never expect him to do anything on a Sunday. Always pay in cash.
Acknowlegements and thanks
Providor of the natty little clip art for the letters and news section was once again J.O.D's Old Fashioned Clip Art
Finally....
See you next time.
...if you wish to see more about The Fabulous Fezheads; experience online the strain of dancing, see The Fabulous Fezheads practicing LIVE!, see where we drink...then follow the links below to our main site.
