Martin, W L Windy 1978-07-12
W. L. Martin reminisces about his show business career as a performer with the Brunk’s Comedians troupe.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: W.L. "Windy" Martin
Additional Parties Recorded: None
Date: July 12, 1978
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Interviewer: Daily Sentinel
Length: 45 minutes
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Brunk’s Comedians (1931-1932),
Fred Brunk,
"Railroad Show",
Plays performed by the company,
In town procedure,
Setting up,
Getting a crowd,
Experience in the show,
Trade Master,
Drummer,
Part-time dance man,
Stage Manager,
Small parts,
Dressing rooms,
Concessions,
The Company,
40 members,
Second in size only to the Harley Sadler Tent Show,
Sickness,
Lordsburg, New Mexico,
"Straw House",
Grand Junction, Colorado,
Performance,
Vaudeville in the show,
Leadville, Colorado,
Baby Doe Tabor,
Description of tents,
Quarter poles,
Pay for actors,
Married,
Single,
Leading man,
Season travel,
Bonnie Brunk (Fred’s wife),
Barrymores (New York City),
Storms,
Wind,
Rain,
Difficulties on stage,
Profanity,
Brunk Brothers,
Territories,
Moving out of town,
Packing,
Children from the town,
Set up and knock down times,
Winslow, Arizona,
Sponsorship,
Charlie Brunk,
Doc Adams.
Tape 1, Side 2: Changing names of plays,
Bonnie Brunk,
Memorization,
Seven plays at a time,
Ad lib,
Cues,
Cold weather,
Stoves in tents,
Hot weather cross ventilation,
Brunk Brothers,
Fading out business,
Talking pictures,
Scarcity of lots to set up in,
Different crowds,
Season,
Newcomers—"first of May",
After the tent show,
Dance bands (1937),
Vaudeville (band),
Why Brunk?,
Old troopers,
Ed Evans,
Homer Oldfield,
Joe Applegate,
Changing play names (again),
"Pull Up Your Pants".
Range Dates: 1931-1978
Bulk Dates: 1931-1937
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
