Wingham Advance-Times, 1980-07-23, Page 10es, July 23, 1980
,11
BINGO—The Lions club'r\an Its bingo on main street during the Funfest and attracted good crowds. 'Casey' Casemore calls the
numbers as players mark their cards.
Bill McClory has experienced
realities of show business
By Terri Polilto
After 33 years as a profes-
sional entertainer, Bill
McClory of Teeswater, has
seen the realities of show
a''business — its good and bad
sides. But that hasn't tainted
his love for the worldof
entertainment; its glittering
charm still attracts him to
the stage.
"It's been one hell .of `a lot
of fun, anelerd dolt, all over
a nin in two seconds,;" he
says, reminiscing about the
.past. •e,
Bill left his home town of
•Monktonwhen he was 15
- years old to begin a life of
traveling circuses, one-man
Shows, vaudeville and night
clubs. Each venture -showed
him another side of life
behind the lights. Each one
had its own anecdotes, life
styles,characters and
moments of thrill and
tragedy. -
As a:youngster Bill taught
himself to play a variety of
instruments, including the
guitar, piano and organ,
Which gave him enough
experience to join a three-
man traveling show con-
sisting of Bill, .`Blackie',
another youngster, and
'fiddler Jack Thynne, now of
Brussels.
"The group traveled and
entertained in small towns
throughout Western,Canada.
Bill performed 15 instru-
ments while he and `Blackie'
backed upthe old time
fiddler, who managed to
amuse crowds with his .play-
ing, singing and comical
recitations.
Bill explains `that the late
1940s were a profitable
period for traveling shows.
Young Mem were• hom6 from
the war, household items,
clothing and transportation
were inexpensive and, unlike
today, live performers didn't
have to compete withetele-
vision. .
Brut once television
became popular across the
country, "You couldn't even
get a crowd in a small town.
People had seen everything
on TV before, all the thrill
was gone," he he says Billi. ,
As a result crowds attract -
.,ed to small traveling shows
began to drift towards •carni-
vals.and vaudeville.
"You really saw the seamy
side of life while working in
those places."
Bill described performing
magic and card .tricks in the
side shows where, "people
would throw .things at you if
they didn't like what they
saw"; and the burlesque to
which "the . same.. ,drunks
would come night after night.
to see the girls. And at that
time they wore more clothes
than what you see on the
beach today."
Nevertheless Bill's
credentials grew as he
learned how to please
crowds with novelty instru-
ments, like the saw, door
spring and honky-tonk piano.
By reading books and
watching other performers
fie'caught on to the secrets of
magic.
While,pointing to a number
of shelves,' filled wfthiiiii'giih
books like 'Abbotts Ency-
clopedia of Rope Tricks for
Magicians', 'The Last
Laugh' and 'Humor of
Humor', he declared' than
any trick can.. be looked up.
• "But who cares how it is
done? It's all in the way you
present it."
As the years went by Bill
struck out on his own,per-
forming at, festivals, playing
during concert openings and
intermissions. He worked in
night clubs during the 1960s,
and has now organized a
variety show, featuring his
children Jeff and Kimberly
CHINESE RINGS—Bill McClory, magician, musician and all-round entertainer,
displays his talent by interlocking these Chinese rings and creating forms, such
as a chair and bird cage.
MICHELLE—Bill McClory has had `11 pet monkeys
during his career as an entertainer. This one is
Michelle, age six, from Ecuador.
and his 11th pet monkey,
Michelle.
Through it all he has en-
joyed traveling, "the best
education in the world",
meeting all kinds of show
business characters like
'Shorty' Campbell, a veteran
rodeo clown and stuntman,
the musicians, magicians,
animal trainers and
acrobats.
He has also adopted
theories promoting belief in
yourself "because nobody
else will", and enjoying,
every moment of life. "After
all you're only going around
once, for God's sake enjoy it.
That's what it's all about."
Today Bill still travels to
large and small centres,
presenting his variety show
of family' entertainment.
Inside the group's brown
van, colorfully decorated
with 'a big top, flags and
49• •®®i®•0®®®
LET THE
Wingham
Advance -Times
HELP YOU
PHONE 357-2320
•
slogan 'Life is a Circus', is a
circus itself as it almost
overflows with clown and
magician outfits, suitcases.
of novelty instruments and a
high and low unicycle.
The family Show, which
has beentogether since
Christmas. continues the.
McClory tradition of
promoting the • happy and
mysterious side of life, to
make living that much more
exciting,
The . 1114 'him Buggy'•
Parade *4 100 day.
was very aucceenful ego
this year - There were mo
than 60. entries, which Ina
the judges' job very diet.
Winners of the spar
categories were: Shannon
Robinson, five yea, and.
under; Angst' Bod ng, six
to eight year olds, Monique
Cameron, nine o 10 year
olds;; and li/furOy Skink, li
years and over.
After the judging all
p rticipants were rewarded
fof their efforts with a re-
freshing popsicle and the
penny carnival.
Registrations are still
being accepted for day
camp, for children between
Midgets
outscore
Kincardine
Peter Goodall pitched a
steady game for the Brophy
Midget baseball team to
come up with a 9-6 win in -a
rain -shortened game against
Kincardine.
This was Wingham's final
game of the schedule and
leaves the team in first place
over all the Midget teams in
western Ontario.
Goodall also led the team
:in hitting with a triple and a
single. Coultes and Alton
each had two singles and
Brophy, Deichert and Martin
added singles.
The Brophy Midgets now
wait -to advance to the OBA
Midget C series and also will
be playing off for the WOAA
title, so be ready for some
good playoff action.
rrid4x Arg.. " coat
4'05 per person. For furt r-
h>I )r nation pleaae s ►rltact
the recreaion;dep lrtment at
357412004
The second.seaslon of Olar
grounds will s -be etarting on
Monday, Aug. 11, for three
weeks. Reglatrat ons for this
session are still being ac-
cepted. For further infoi:-
mation, please contact the
recreation department,
Sportsfest '80
set for Goderich
A Recreational event
known as Sportsfest will be
held at Goderich later this
summer. The threo-day
event consists of 18 recrea-
tional tournaments encour-
aging good fun, sportsman-
ship, participation, low-key
competition and promotes
on-going intercommunity
competitions. -
Sportsfest '80, set fon, Aug.
15-17, is sponsored by .the
Lake Huron Zone • Recreation
Association:,, The events
offered are for all ages and
include archery, ball•hockey,
cycling, euchre, fun run,
girls' softball, gymnastics,
horseshoe pitching, karate,
men's slow pitch, shuffle-
board, swimming, soccer,
tee ball, table tennis, tennis,
women's softball and
women's slow pitch.
The registration deadline
for these events 18 July 25e
Anyone interested in more
information or in par-
ticipating in Sportsfest
should contact the local
recreation director or
recreation committee.
CANAD4
Seat Sale
50% Off •
Regular economy return air
fares to all Air Canada's
North American des inalionse
Seats are limited and some
flights may be sold out.
-Applicable between Sept. 15 and Dec. 10, 1980
From the people who brought you the
very first seat sale ..
AIR CANADA
For further details contact:
H)LIDAY WORLD
WINGHAM 357-2701
WELCOME TO THE DUNGANNON
125th Birthday Celebration
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1980
8:00 P.M.
Beauty Contest & Beard Growing Contest
(Agricultural Grounds)
9:00 P.M. -
Dance ''Birthday` 3111"
Music By "Bitter Sweet"
(Agricultural Grounds)
Prizes for Centennial Dress
SATURDAY, AUGI ST 2, 1980 •
8:00 A.M.
Old Fashioned Breakfast
(Agricultural Grounds)
10:00 A.M.
Back to School '
(Bring your own lawn chairs)
(Former Dungannon USS No. 8 School)
1:00 P.M.'
Grand Opening. Ceremonies
(Snyders Shell Garage) .3
1:30 P.M.
Mammoth Parade (� .
(Special Parking and Seating it
Dungannon United Church)
Christian Fellowship Church
Tea and Coffe
Self Help Craft Table
(Agricultural Halt)
3:00 P.M.
Yesteryear
(Dungannon United Church)
Junior Farmers Reunion
Dungannon Agricultural Hall
4:00 P.M. -
Sunfleld Equlrstriannettes
Process Drill Team
August 1st .4th
4:30 P.M.
Barb -B -Q (Pork)
(Agricultural Grounds)
7:00 P.M.
Teddy Bear Parade (Kids Only)
8:00 P.M.
Yesteryear
(Dungannon United Church)
9:00 P.M.
Dance - Music By "Star Trek"
(Agricultural Grounds)
'REMEMBER
i• WHEN?
WELCOME HOME!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 3., 1980.'
8:00 A.M.
Pancake Breakfast
(Agricultural Grounds)
10:45 A.M.
Church Service
(Dungannon United Church)
12:00 NOON
Social Hour
(Dungannon United Church)
2:00 p.m.
Ball Game - 1968 Mens Champions
(Agricultural Grounds) Blyth vs Dungannon
2:30 P.M.
Yesteryear
(Dungannnon United Church) ,e
3:30 P.M.
Cemetery Service
(Dungannon Cemetery)
4:30 P.M. .
Bar -B -Q (Chicken)
(Agricultural Grounds)
8:00 P.M.
Variety Concert
(Brookside Public School)
Bus available at Registration Booth
7:00 p.m.
10:30 P.M.
Shirt Tail Parade
MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1980
11:00 A.M.
Tug -of -War
Arm Wrestling
Log Sawing
Call for particulars
Harold Errington 529-7140
Clete Dalton 529-7124 •
Allister Nivins 529-7432'
(Agricultural Grounds)
1:0( P.M.
Yesteryear
(Dungannon United Church)
0
THEY'RE OFF!
GET IN ON THE
ONTARIO SIRES STAKES
CLINTON KINSMEN RACEWAY
SUNDAY, JULY 27
POST TIME: 1:30 P.M.
Clinton Fairgrounds
OVER
$14 000 1NPURSES
See Ontario's finest 3 year-old Pacing Colts
and top drivers compete in an Ontario Sires Stakes event.
It's harness racing at its very best.
Ontario Ivo
jiL t\la_
aires manes
" rhey've got what It takes'
t. f ;.• .64-;s1 its3'k: ,+pF