"Vaudeville comes to town."

We used to have two really fun shows come to town and set up.  The circus would come once a year and set up on the Ringo lot where the Mission House sits now.  It was a full blown circus with all the animals and acrobats.  I never was able to sneak under the tent.

The big one for me though was Bisbee’s Comedians.  Once a year they pitched tent behind what is now Hickman County Elementary gym.  All the kids in town would meet them, hopefully to be picked to help set up the tent, chairs and stage.  Billy Choate one of the actors was usually in charge of putting up the tent.  

Seems I was picked every year and Billy and I became acquainted.  Later he bought out the show and his parents left where they were and joined the show.  When they retired they bought a portable skating rink under tent and set up by the bridge on hwy 58E.

They stayed all summer and did a great business.  The Choates and I became good friends.

When I was in the service I was traveling back to Ft. Benning, Ga., after a leave, and out the bus window I saw a Bisbee`s sign on the right of way.  When we stopped at the bus station I jumped off.  I had several hours to report back and I wanted to reconnect with my youth.

When I got in the line to buy a ticket someone grabbed me.  It was Mrs Choate.  She and her husband had come out of retirement to help Billy for a while.  Needless to say I got in free…..again and spent the night.

The shows were vaudeville at its very best.  We could not go to vaudeville so it came to us.  Billy Choate was “Toby” and Rob and Rod Brasfield were regulars.  Many of Nashville`s finest would join them when they could.  This was my first glimpse of the famous “Minnie Pearl.”  Just a note Minnie Pearl had a degree in education and held a teaching certificate.  I heard her give a motivational speech once and she said that her dad, while not educated, demanded college for his children whatever career path they chose.  Without all the outfit and makeup she cut quite a figure.