Fred Choose Lucky Elephant, So Did I!

MY FRIEND CHOSE LUCKY ELEPHANT OVER CRACKER JACK(S) - THE EXTRA CANDY COATING MADE THE DIFFERENCE

EXPOSURE TO MERCHANDISE AS A KID, HAS BEEN USEFUL AS AN ANTIQUE DEALER TODAY

     FRED SCHULZ AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES IN THE PAST. I PRETTY MUCH KNEW HE WAS A "LUCKY ELEPHANT" MAN, WHEN I POSED THE QUESTION IN YESTERDAY'S BLOG. IF YOU MISSED IT, I HAD CALLED FRED OUT ON THIS, TO GET HIS OFFICIAL WORD ON WHETHER "LUCKY ELEPHANT" CANDY POPCORN, WAS BETTER THAN "CRACKER JACK(S)" OVER A LIFETIME OF RECREATIONAL CONSUMPTION. HE SENT ME AN EMAIL TODAY, CONFESSING HIS PASSION FOR THE PINK CANDIED POPCORN OF LUCKY ELEPHANT, ESPECIALLY THE LARGER BAG THEY PUT OUT FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ON SIDE WITH LUCKY ELEPHANT, ALTHOUGH I WENT THROUGH A TEENAGE THING, WHEN IT WAS FAR COOLER, TO BE SITTING ON THE STEPS OF "LIL AND CEC'S" CORNER STORE, IN BRACEBRIDGE, WITH A HAND INSIDE A BOX OF CRACKER JACK(S) RATHER THAN TO BE SEEN CRADLING THE LUCKY ELEPHANT WITH ONE HAND, AND A BOTTLE OF COKE WITH THE OTHER. AS A TEENAGER, I FELT THE GIRLS WOULD RESPECT THE SAILOR ON THE CRACKER JACK(S) BOX, MORE THAN THE PLAYFUL ELEPHANT. CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE THE SUGAR OVERLOAD ON THE BODY? IT'S GOOD BAMFORD'S WOODS HAD A LOT OF TREES TO CLIMB, BECAUSE I REALLY NEEDED TO EXPEND ENERGY AFTER ALL THE CORNER STORE TREATS. FRED SCHULZ BY THE WAY, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE "MUSIC ON THE BARGE" CONCERT PROGRAM, EVERY SUMMER AT GRAVENHURST'S GULL LAKE PARK, GREW UP IN THE ENCHANTED EMBRACE OF ONE OF MUSKOKA'S WELL KNOWN GENERAL STORES, IN THE HAMLET OF KILWORTHY, ONTARIO, AND HE LEARNED AT AN EARLY AGE, WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A PROVIDER OF GOODS AND SERVICES THROUGH THE FOUR SEASONS OF CUSTOMER NEEDS. AS I AM A BIG FAN OF OLD TIME GENERAL STORES, I LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH HIS DESCRIPTIONS OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE, TO STOCK SHELVES, "CUT THE CHEESE," (REAL CHEESE, YOU KIDDERS), RECEIVE SHIPMENTS FROM SUPPLIERS, (ALWAYS NEAT AROUND HOLIDAYS, SUCH AS EASTER, THE 24TH OF MAY, THANKSGIVING AND OF COURSE CHRISTMAS)…..WITH SEASONAL PROMOTIONS, WHICH MEANT A MORE ELABORATE DECORATING EXERCISE, OF ENHANCING THE MOOD OF THE STORE……INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC TRAIN SET-UP; IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY WHAT FRED TOLD ME ABOUT THOSE GRAND DAYS OF SERVING THE PUBLIC…….AND ENTERTAINING THE STORE PATRONS WITH THE BEST OF EACH SEASON. I NEVER SET FOOT IN THE KILWORTHY GENERAL STORE, BUT FRED IS A MASTER STORY-TELLER (YOU CAN READ HIS WEEKLY COLUMN IN THE GRAVENHURST BANNER), AND WE CAN BOTH SPIN STORIES ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS FROM SUN UP TO SUN DOWN.

    FRED SCHULZ WAS ALSO THE FORMER MANAGER OF THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE, AND IN FACT, (ALTHOUGH VERY FEW PEOPLE KNOW THIS) HE IS ONE OF THE CITIZENS WHO SPEAR-HEADED THE FIGHT TO KEEP IT OPEN, BACK IN THE 1990'S, WHEN IT WAS CLOSED BY PROVINCIAL ORDER, DUE TO STRUCTURAL CONCERNS. HE JOINED WITH A LOT OF OTHER CIVIC MINDED FOLK, WHO WEREN'T ABOUT TO LET THE OPERA HOUSE BE CLOSED PERMANENTLY, OR TORN DOWN. I KNOW HE WOULD LIKE TO GET BACK TO THE OPERA HOUSE TO PUT ON SOME MORE SHOWS, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, (AND HE WOULD DO A BANG-UP JOB) BUT ADMITTEDLY, THERE ARE MORE FINANCIAL OBSTACLES FRUSTRATING HIS EFFORTS THESE DAYS, FROM THE OUTSIDE, THAN WHEN HE COULD CALL THE SHOTS FROM THE INSIDE……BOOKING SHOWS WITH SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT ACTS IN CANADA. IN FACT, HE KNOWS SOME OF THE MOST PROLIFIC AND LEGENDARY AGENTS STILL WORKING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.  I'D BACK THIS GUY TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, AS FAR AS ENTERTAINMENT SAVVY GOES, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF  "MUSIC ON THE BARGE" PATRONS, WHO WOULD AGREE……FRED SCHULZ IS GRAVENHURST'S "MR. ENTERTAINMENT."

     POSSIBLY FRED, IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WILL BE ABLE TO HURDLE OVER SOME OF THE PRESENT OBSTACLES, BLOCKING THE WAY, WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM HIS FRIENDS, AND TAKE A SHOT ONCE MORE, AT PUTTING ON SOME MAJOR CONCERTS….BACK ON THE SAME OPERA HOUSE STAGE…..AT THE HISTORIC TOWN LANDMARK, HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING. IF YOU'RE LIVING IN GRAVENHURST OR VACATION HERE IN THE SUMMER SEASON, YOU MOST CERTAINLY WILL HAVE HEARD OR READ HIS NAME. SO IF SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, YOU WERE TO SEE A "FRED SCHULZ IS PROUD TO PRESENT" NOTICE ON THE MARQUIS, OUTSIDE THE OPERA HOUSE, PLEASE HELP THIS ENTERTAINMENT GURU LAUNCH HIS COMEBACK TOUR……WHICH IS LONG OVERDUE, AND GREATLY DESIRED. HE'LL HAVE BACKERS LIKE THE CURRIE FAMILY, IF AND WHEN HE ANNOUNCES A DEAL HAS BEEN REACHED WITH THE TOWN OF GRAVENHURST. IT HASN'T BEEN FOR LACK OF TRYING.

     AND YES, JUST IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING WHY I SUPPORT THIS "LUCKY ELEPHANT" KIND OF GUY…….IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR MANY ENJOYABLE YEARS WORKING IN THE WINGS OF THE "MUSIC ON THE BARGE" PROGRAM, AS THE UNOFFICIAL "BARGE DEBATING SOCIETY." OUR SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, HAVE SPENT A DECADE WORKING FOR FRED EACH SUMMER SUNDAY, AND HONESTLY, IT WAS HIS SUPPORT AND INFLUENCE, THAT CONVINCED US TO PUT THE BOYS IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS, BY HELPING THEM BOTH ESTABLISH THEIR MAIN STREET VINTAGE MUSIC SHOP, KNOWN BOTH AS "ANDREW CURRIE'S MUSIC AND COLLECTABLES," AND "ROBERT CURRIE'S MUSIC," NOW IN THEIR EIGHTH YEAR, IN THE FORMER BUILDING, OF THE MUSKOKA THEATRE. THEY FEEL PRIVILEGED TO HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH FRED AND THE ACTS HE HAS BROUGHT TO THE BARGE FOR SO MANY DECADES, INCLUDING "THE GOOD BROTHERS." HE HAS SHARED WITH ANDREW AND ROBERT A GREAT DEAL OF HIS EXPERIENCES IN THE ENTERTAINMENT FIELD……AND VERY FEW IN THIS TOWN OR REGION, KNOW JUST HOW EXTENSIVE HIS KNOWLEDGE, AND HIS CONNECTIONS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY ARE…..EVEN AFTER A HIATUS FROM THE MAIN STAGE OF THE OPERA HOUSE FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS. WE OFTEN COMPARE THE "PRINTER'S INK" IN MY BLOOD, AS A CAREER WRITER, WITH HIS "ENTERTAINMENT" MOLECULES CIRCULATING THROUGH HIS HEART AND SOUL. WE'RE BOTH NOSTALGIC, BELIEVERS THAT HISTORY CAN REPEAT, TRADITIONS ARE MEANT TO BE REKINDLED, AND "IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!" IF YOU'VE BEEN TO A "MUSIC ON THE BARGE" CONCERT, YOU'LL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FOLKS IN ATTENDANCE. FRED BROUGHT THEM THERE TO BE ENTERTAINED. VERY FEW LEAVE FEELING UNFULFILLED. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, FRED HAS PRETTY MUCH WRAPPED-UP THE SUMMER SEASON LINE-UP FOR THIS YEAR…..AND IT LOOKS TO BE A DANDY. WE'LL BE FRONT AND CENTRE, LIKE WE ARE EVERY SUNDAY EVENING, WITH OUR PICNIC. SUZANNE HAS PLACED ME ON A DIET, SO YOU WON'T SEE ME EATING FRENCH FRIES THIS YEAR, OR ICE CREAM CONES. THERE'S A TRADITION THAT MET AN UNCEREMONIOUS DEMISE. HEY, NONE THE LESS, HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE THIS SUMMER. I WILL HAVE UPDATES, PROMOTIONS, ADVANCED NOTICES, AND REVIEWS AS I DID LAST YEAR……..AS THE UNOFFICIAL BLOG OF THE BARGE.

     FRED AND I ARE GOING TO COMPANION ON A START-UP OF MY FORMER "MUSKOKA AS WALDEN" BLOGSITE, AROUND THE FIRST OF APRIL, WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF MUSKOKA…..AND MY ACCOMPANYING WRITE-UPS. FRED HAS LIVED IN MUSKOKA HIS WHOLE LIFE, AND I'VE LONG ADMIRED HIS PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK IN THE REGION, SO I WAS SO PLEASED WHEN HE AGREED TO COME UP WITH SOME IMAGES FOR ME TO USE…… I ONLY HOPE I CAN WRITE HALF AS WELL, AS THIS MAN CAN PHOTOGRAPH THE COUNTRYSIDE. I'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.

I PAID ATTENTION TO ALL THE INVENTORIES OF MY FAVORITE SHOPS

     It is a bonus, that's for sure, that I paid as much attention to my shopping extravagances as a kid, because as an antique and collectable dealer today……well sir, all the study by happenstance, pays huge dividends at present. As a result of spending huge amounts of time, in Bill Elliott's, "five cent to a dollar store" on Manitoba Street, in Bracebridge, amongst others up and down the north-south artery, including "Green's Variety," where I bought my models, "The Thomas Company" where I purchased gifts for my mother (tea cups), and Thatcher's, the place where I found "Mozart's" plaster bust for the top of my mother's new cabinet stereo, I made and preserved many mental images of what these places looked like inside…….and of course what they sold. This is of critical importance today, because much of the same inventory, from back in the 1960's and 70's, is the modern-day collectable. My customers want retro decorations from their homes, based on what they had when they were growing up through this period. This happens strangely yet routinely with each generation, but there is extra magic attached to this semi-modern inventory, that lines the shelves of second hand and thrift shops all over God's half acre. But the stuff, priced right, will sell. One of the big pushes on our industry, was the popularity of "That 70's Show," and the re-runs still being aired. Right down to the furnishings, home decorators are hot on the trail of these affordable, wonderfully nostalgic pieces, that were popular in the 1960's onward…..with of course a big smattering of 1970's relics, like fondu pots, kitsch lamps, funky stereo units, department store art work, and disco remnants. And oh yes, paintings on black velvet. The real hot pieces, of retro, are the period design glassware, that is gaining popularity…..and will soon remove a lot of the best nostalgia items from these same thrift shops. If you go to full fledged antique malls, you will find the items I'm talking about, with substantial price tags attached…..that actually, Suzanne and I find remarkable…..considering our houses and cottage were loaded with the period items, that even a few years ago, we figured would never be worth much on the open market. Gads, here are two antique dealers who pitched out, and donated thousands upon thousands of these period reflective articles. Maybe we just didn't want to think of ourselves as being old enough to have lived through the period that is now becoming vogue for collectors……seeking remnants of the recent past. We are two surviving members of the period, and frankly, we don't know what all the fuss is about…..other than we know for fact…..we now have to re-purchase what we threw out, to satisfy customer demands. Don't we look foolish. It wouldn't be the first time a changing trend caught us ill prepared.

     So at least this time, we know what it's all about……and having been there through all the actuality of those decades, have a good chance of keeping up with the ever changing demands. One other advantage we have, over our competitors, is that Suzanne's family had a snack bar and gift shop, known as "The Skipper," in Windermere, Ontario, just below the famous "Windermere House" hotel, on Lake Rosseau. She can walk through a flea market or thrift shop today, and spot many of the items they had for sale at the time of the late 1960's and early 70's. In antique malls, even just recently, she ran a full commentary around the whole venue, making corrections about inaccurately labelled price tags, on items she remembers selling over the counter, in those days in their summer shop. Many of the china jugs, for example, were remakes of much older english pieces, with almost identical patterns, but they didn't carry the age being purported by some misguided antique vendors. They were selling these as early 1900's china and pottery pieces, but were wrong by about sixty years per jug. This happens a lot, and it's because of poor research skills, I believe, and it's very much a case of "buyer beware out there." We know the copies, and we'd buy them if they weren't being priced as antiques……instead of 1960's plus reissues to sit atop the chrome kitchen tables, and the top of the old Frigidaire.

     I loved my life as a kid. No I didn't want to grow up. I adored Saturday mornings hanging around our main street shops, in my then hometown of Bracebridge, the home of "Santa's Village," which brings up another point. We had mountains of Santa's Village souvenirs….and they were as nostalgic as Christmas itself. I know quite a few people around, who have Santa's Village collections…..and we are always on the look-out for their higher quality merchandise, offered during those early years. It opened in the late 1950's. Suzanne just recently sold our finest Santa's Village collectable…….a wood carving of two black bears on a rock, and it was fabulous. I believe it was a commemorative piece from the mid 1960's. It went to a collector, who as well, had never seen anything parallel. It was one of the best made souvenirs we've ever sold…….and believe me, we sell a lot…..especially with Muskoka references. The best one still remaining? I have a "Brown's Beverage" novelty bottle, from the 1970's, with a stretched and exaggerated neck…..like you used to find with 7-UP bottles, as part of a promotion at the time. I've never seen a local bottle, like Brown's, done in this fashion. Browns of course, was a well known Gravenhurst industry…..known for its Muskoka Dry Ginger Ale.

     Well, it's getting late, and I'm back on the road tomorrow morning, for another antique hunt, so I will let you in on the latest finds when I write my next blog. Thanks for visiting. It's always a pleasure to have your company.