Jim Letchworth
Re: the Ed (Bishop Joey) Holmes bio and the first St Stupids Parade;
yes it was La Famiglia Bologna, 1979 was the first year we did commedia at
the northern faire, don't forget my brothers Drew Letchworth, Lee Letchworth
(the juggler, with whom Marilyn and I am doing a gig for Kevin & Leslie Patterson
with Will Wood and Annie Lore this Saturday) Paul Harkness, Barbara Reinertson
and Lee Grodsky. To save money, we picked our lovers out of the audience.
After the faire we kept working, using Ed's space in West Oakland (since demolished
in the Loma Prieta quake of '89). In the Spring, Ed wanted to something for
April Fool's, so a small contingent of his mime class joined La Famiglia Bologna
for silly mobile gathering downtown at the Pacific Stock Exchange.
We paraded around aimlessly, having fun, raising only a few eyebrows (it
was San Francisco). I remember doing "the big sneak" a broad slow motion blatant
advance down Grant Ave astounding the Chinese merchants and ending up in Drew's
acupunturist's office drinking tea and listening to classical Chinese music.
It must have spring 1980, that means this coming April must be the 20TH ANNUAL
FINAL SAINT STUPID'S DAY PARADE.
Jim