Springfield, OH - George Rogers Clark Park

Fair’s down. It’s a very bizarre experience watching an 18th Century event being torn down, what with a mix of the very modern and the very not on the field together.

It was an outstanding fair this year for everyone. Attendance was stellar, shows packed and vendors selling out of stock and, unfortunately, food. Alex had a great deal of help on both ends of each of his shows from a very with it young lady who has been attending these events since she was quite small. She made sure his pitch got put out during his bally and packed it up while he collected hat money. This allowed me to remain topside and complete a linen shirt, prepare the twin Adam & Eve swords for swallowing as well as gave me time to go down onto the filed to find a couple f gifts and some much needed supplies in the form of lining fabric, braid for pirate garb and hook and eye tape, a hard to find notion in any venue.

I had looked high and low for a glass bucket, fashioned of wood and good for any time period, and kept coming up empty-handed. It wasn’t until we were loading out the pitch that we passed a vendor who was just beginning to load his stock into a box trailer and saw the next items to be loaded were large handmade wooden buckets of just the sort I had been seeking. I bought one on the spot and it was hard to tell who was more pleased, me or the vendor.

I have information on a prop I want to investigate further for the Victorian show and Bob Olson (aka Mr. Bayly, Magician), who I first saw performing with it, was kind enough to show me some of its ins and outs under the awning last evening, as well as leave me a book reference to investigate. There is a chance he’ll be able to come to the Palace of Wonders to see the Museum early next year and I hope to connect him with the owner. They would have a lot to talk about, performance, performer and venue historians both.

Today we go to Ohio Ren Fair to visit friends. I may break down and buy a new shirt instead of sewing one for St. Louis. I have a place to stay in St. Louis now, about 2 hours away, with a vendor we know and love. Kismet, that.

We’re on our way down to Cheapside Theater to perform a ritual Alex has done for the last few years, burying a dollar coin in the ground to seed the spot for excellent returns to all who work there in the years to come. More to come later.

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