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n the early and mid-1930s the
traveling Medicine Show was a big attraction in small towns across
the country. A small, one or two-man show might set up on a street
corner for an hour on Saturday. After entertaining for a few
minutes he would pass among his listeners "hawking"
his linament, tonic and corn remover. But the bigger and better
Medicine Show came to the park and played nightly all week. One
such group was out of Batesville and they lived in house trailers
and had their own out-in-the-open stage. They had fine vaudeville
acts and large crowds in the Pangburn area would gather on those
warm spring or summer nights and forget their troubles for a while
by splitting their sides with laughter. People who did not bring
their own stool or chairs either stood or sat on the ground.
A character known as "Willie" was the star and did
several blackface skits. Willie had a pretty wife who always
sang a few popular and torch songs. Also his wife and her dad
(who was the owner and manager of the show) would play "straight"
roles in the skits. Another very funny couple was "Boob"
and "Frosty." He was a big ole dumb, awkward red-haired
guy and she was a silly, giggling bleached blonde. The piano
player was always the handsome man with the wavy hair and pearly
teeth. I think he doubled as Boob. Our town liked this show
group so well, and they liked us too, so not only did they play
four or five summers but they came two or three times in the winter.
They played a couple of times in the school auditorium and at
least once in the old American Legion Theater. That year in the
old theater the show sponsored a young ladies popularity contest.
Unlike the shows held in the open-air summertime in the park
which were free, these inside ones charged a small fee for admission.
Your ticket allowed you to vote for a contestant and also a top
from a candy box was good for a vote. There were four or five
girls in this contest but I can only remember one, Ruth Edwards,
who was the winner. Before the closing night got under way, I
was standing on the walk out front. Two or three older guys were
saying "ole 'Jule' will see that she wins even if he has
to plunk down 10, maybe 20, dollars more in votes." They
were referring, of course, to Ruth's Uncle Julius Albert. Whether
they knew what they were talking about I never knew, but anyway
she took first place and got a ring (or was it a watch?) as a
prize.
And so, my friend, we close another chapter from the American
Scene of our childhood days. That great institution, the old-time
Medicine Show, has passed on out yonder. It remains in only one
place - in the mind of each one who remembers.