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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1996-10-02, Page 8• • • Page 8 Times -Advocate, October 2, 1996 COMM 1I1\JIT The Pauls have the best cure By Roil Haugh T -A Reporter KIRKTON - Laughter is the best medicine. If that statement is correct, the Paul Brothers and Shirley have saved a lot in doctor and pharmacist bias for many residents of Canada and the United States over the past 50 years. The popular Kirkton based comedy and singing trio, Leon Paul, his wife Shirley and brother Gerald, better known as "Duck" put on their fust show professionally on September 20, 1946 at the Royal Canadian Legion in St. Thomas. Their 50th anniversary in show business is being celebrated by the CBC television network on October 9 at 7:30 p.m. when they appear on the CBC show, "On the Road Again." A CBC camera crew along with host interviewer and producer Wayne Rostead was in Kirkton a week ago and followed the Paul's around to five shows to depict a uue picture of their entertaining prowess Shirley Paul explains their acts this way, "We are a family fun act with lots of costumes and harmony singing. No matter where we travel, we find that people want to laugh." The emphasis should be on "lots of costumes." The uniqueness of their performances is that they go from one routine to another with barely time to gasp for air. The two brothers start out each show wearing six or seven costumes on top of each other. The system of putting all of the costumes on at one time started at a gar- den party at Glen Allen, near Guelph when other entertainment from To- ronto failed to show up. Shirley says, "Because of that we didn't have time to change between acts. It went so well, we decided to continue." 'The boys give Shirley the credit for laying out the costumes in order for them to put on. Duck says, "Shirley never gets mixed up and we are al- ways matching when the first costume is removed." Their most popular routines over the 50 year span include the Astronuts, firemen, ball players, jockeys, jailbirds and Hawaiian grass skirts. The baseball act could feature the Blue Jays, Expos or Tigers depending on the location of the show. Lee says, "When we perform in our grass skirts, sometimes the crowd urges us "to take it off' and we do by stripping to the next costume." Duck interjects, "We try to get the audience going with the Astronuts, but one of our first was the "Abba Dabba Doo Honeymoon." Only last week, the Paul's received a plaque from Perth -Wellington - Waterloo MP John Richardson on behalf of the federal government. Rich- ardson said, "Leon, Gerald and Shirley you have brought many hours of good cheer, laughter and sense of reality to the lives of many Canadians. Your commitment and generosity of spirit will be remembered by many people. It is my pleasure to thank you for your excellent work throughout the years." • They also received commendation from Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Ontario Premier Mike Harris and Perth MPP Bert Johnson. The trio has performed more than 7,000 shows since 1946 to audiences, large and small. The largest was a crowd of about 20,000 at an open air amphitheater near Guelph about 10 years ago for a Recreation Vehicle As- sociation camporee and the smallest was 11 persons last Christmas for the sitaff of an M&M Meat shop in Kitchener. Elie 50 years in show business have taken the Paul Brothers and Shirley across'he country from a Centennial Year show for the Atlantic Exhibi- tion in St. 7ahn, New Brunswick to Vancouver for a CBC radio show. They have appeared in Nashville, Tennessee with the Tommy Hunter Show and on CBC television a number of times with Hunter and Gordie Tapp. One of the highlights of their cacao.. wipkitertaining aakibe Bavarian Festival in Frankenmuth, Michiganitirletien years with dues shows each day for a week. Asked if they would be going back to Frankenmuth for future events, Lee replied, " Only for special occasions. At our age we can't handle 21 shows a week. We've been back a couple of times for special occasions for Tiny Zender at the Bavarian Inn." In all of 50 years, they have never missed a show because of ill health. Lee says, "The closest we came to that was a few years ago at the Charter - ways Bus Lines annual party at the Scout Hall in Exeter when I had a diz- zy spell. After sitting down for a few minutes I was okay and have been fine ever since." One of the highlights in their 50 years was a couple of visits to the Cale - don Hills farm of former Toronto Maple Leaf owner Conn Smythe to en- tertain for crippled children. One night in the Toronto area after doing their jockey routine, they had a visit from E.P. Taylor, a renowned owner of thoroughbred race horses and an official with the Ontario Jockey Club. The oddest dressing room they were ever asked to use to get ready for a show was the fire escape at the old London Hotel on Dundas Street, oper- ated by Joe McManus. Shirley says, " I had a little trouble with my high heels on the mesh wire steps." For about five years they performed every Friday night from October to March for owner -manager Harry Law of the old London Arena on Ba- thurst Street. On these engagements they were followed by the CKNX Barn Dance Gang for dancing. While their main concern is to make people laugh, there have been at least two occasions when they didn't laugh too much themselves. The first was a few years ago when they had a flat tire while travelling out of Toronto on Highway 401. Lee explains, "It was a new car and we hadn't had the jack or spare out of the trunk. There we were trying to make the change with Shirley reading instructions from the manual and cars whipping by at what seemed to be high rates of speed. The flat tire was on the traffic side of the car and we had nine pieces of luggage piled up on the median. Passing motorists were very curious as to what was going on. It was a very scary experience, but we got through it. We were not a very happy group." Another time they arrived in Hamilton for an engagement and found they had left their music at home. Duck made a quick call to his wife Nor- ma in St. Marys and she met him halfway, while Lee was master of cere- monies for the first part of the show. On most of the trips, Shirley does the driving and Duck is the map read- er while Lee :rakes up words for new songs. On a recent trip to Brigden. Duck failed to see the right sign for Highway 79 and they ended up in Sar- nia. He said the sign wasn't there, but Lee says, "It happened to be there on the way home." The Paul's currently entertain three times a month at the Paris, Ontario fairgrounds as an opening act for the Walters Family Band for a matinee dinner show. During November and December they do eight shows each month with a Christmas theme. On October 6 they will be busy as they entertain at the Georgetown Le- gion in the afternoon and in the evening at the Toronto Airport Holiday Inn for a K -Mart convention. 111111111111111•111, as■■■s■s■s• ■� ■II ■ Sareptarountry ar4n ■ • ■■ (proofs Fall Verandah ■■ ■ Lob of: Pal Minw t •• g SteBales ■ ■ • Discomfit* Com • Asir* and AIM• alk Art •COIR Stalks ■ NI •Molly$Country i�At,, lat.1O4 111 III ■• Open Mie T1.nkgOMI/ w..ko,M ■/ ■ OR 3 Oashweed, NOM 1J40 T& (AI) 237-3217milms M 1-1/4 mules. t al FH Dashwood on wy. #83 M /■ ■ Ill s■ Ill ■■■■■■oww■■ ■ ■ ■ ar ■ ■ ■ ■ w to w al ■ ■ ■ w St. Patrick's planning Thanksgiving service There will be a lunch following the October 6 service. By H. Davis Saintsbury corresponderu SAINTSBURY - St. Patrick's celebrated their Morning Prayer Service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sep- tember 29 with Rose Cunningham leading the service from the book of Alternative Services. Processional hymn was "All Peo- ple That On Earth Do Dwell" with Mary Davis playing the piano. Courtney MacGillivray did the Children's Focus "Faithful Choic- es" about what it means to be faith- ful. The children's hymn was "Je- sus Loves Me." Kim Kelley read the scripture. Rose Cunningham read the gospel and gave a message based on the readings "Alive in God's Way." Following the Thanksgiving lita- ny, General Thanksgiving and dos- ing prayers, the recessional hymn was "Breathe on Me, Breath of 1 God." Sunday, October 6 at 10:30 a.m.' is Harvest Thanksgiving Service. Lunch and a time of fellowship will follow in the parish hall. Linda and Lucas Durnin, Auburn' were visitors with Bob and Heather Mac Giltivray and family. Mary Davis was a visitor Satur- day afternoon with Bob and Alexia Tindall. Visitors with Ron and Marg Car- roll this week were Brenda Carroll and Michelle, Wednesday and Brenda and family Sunday after- noon. Suzanne Davis, Starr and Travis visited Saturday and Sunday with mother Dorothy Dietrich. Sarah Walker spent the weekend with Crystal Davis, enjoying the races on Sunday. Harley Davis finished ninth in the 80 cc and eighth in the Super Mini at Gopher Dunes in Courtland. ALL BRANDS AVAILABLE Beer & Wine Brewing Supplies Complete supplies for amateurs & Professionals John & Kalen Harris 519-233-9161 Varna General Store Downtown Varna Lee, Shirley and Gerald Paul have celebrated 50 years in show business. In the background is a picture of them taken 46 years ago. ••••••••••••••• • •Dr. • • • • • • • • • •• • J. 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