My Love For Theater, It's Been My Life (Singer / Actor / Stuntman / Symphony)
Posted: Monday, April 06, 2009
by Gary W. Halsey Sr.
All Season Karaoke and D.J.
It only seems like yesterday when I first auditioned for a part, whereas my character name was Sir William Wiley, The Elixir Salesman. It was more or less on a dare from Diamond Lil, who was the leading lady at the saloon show, doing a melodrama titled " For The Lands Sake " , where I, as an audience member, was chosen to participate. It was quite fun, and had a sense of familiarity. I have been in entertainment off and on, all of my life, starting out when I was just a little boy, doing a Hawaiian dance, strumming a ukulele, walking in and out of a whole string of girls dancing on a stage in grass skirts in a theater in Indiana. I was only 5 years old when I did this, and at the end of the dance, I would give a big " wolf whistle " to all the beautiful girls in the dance line, and also in the audience. So in that sense, I have theater in my blood. I was also on the Art Linkletter show, Kids Say the Funniest Things, also, Bozo the Clown Show. I even worked for awhile for Disney, at Frontierland, as a towns kid, when my dad was working there as a electronic engineer, when he was involved in building the TWA Rocket in Tomorrowland.
My mom, God rest her soul, always had me involved in things like, tap dance lessons, dance lessons, and playing the drums. But anyway, getting back to Old Tucson Studios, I was in several plays, doing several different characters, from a sheriff or a marshal, to a cowboy stuntman, and gunman, to a prospector. I have had the opportunity to perform in several different types of plays and movies, One was in Pioneer Town California, when John Wayne was filming a part for the movie Commencheros. The last movie that I was in was a movie called Ghost Rock with Gary Busey. I was playing the part of one of his bad guys, and was in several shootouts in that movie, as a matter of fact, as a stuntman, I died 7 times in that movie! The role I enjoyed playing the most, was in a theatrical production of A Christmas to Remember. I was on contract for that production for 3 years in row. I played the part of a grandpa, whos wife had died, and he was about to experience his 1 st Christmas without his wife of many, many years. It was quite the tear jerker, but one of the most heartfelt productions that I had the privilege to Star in. I was the Leading man in that production. I will never forget it, it was written and produced by a man of immense talent, whos name was Dave Girton. Yes, theater to me is one of the most exciting things to do, because it is live. The audience gets what the see. No room for error, and if so, the need to improves was immediate.
I am a firm believer that the arts need to be both supported, and cherished for those that work so hard to entertain. I was also a singer for the San Jose Symphony, at the Center of Performing Arts, and was in their Choral Group for 3 years running. This was solely voluntary, to help earn money for the arts, and for the retirement fund of the Symphony Orchestra. It was well worth the rehearsal time, and the time performing to packed house at the Center of Performing Arts. I was also a stuntman at a Theme Park called Frontier Village, and would rob the train, and stage whenever the cue called for it!! I would get shot off of buildings, fist fights in town square, and raising chaos as a bad guy where ever I could. I remember when I was in a gunfight at Old Tucson Studios, and the part called out that I was to have a gunfight in the center of the street by the saloon, when my gun jammed, (technical difficulties), and the bad guy shot at me, and I had to take the hit and die right there in the street!! Well, this little girl in the audience started crying so bad, that I had to come out and show her, that I was okay. She was very upset when the Marshal was shot, so I went out to hold her for awhile, and gave her a Honorary Deputy Badge. She was my Deputy for the day, and you could not even begin to wipe the smile off of her sweet little face!! Yes indeed, I wouldnt take any of the theater back for the world, I loved it, I lived it, and I enjoyed it. It is my passion, that, and writing of course.
This Article has been viewed 1,167 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Gary, I remember that day! I never really felt bad about lightin' up lawmen except that one time. Hope all is well! - Xavier
LoL! How are you doing Xavier? Long time no see buddy. It is great hearing from you. Its great that you remembered that day, It was Easter, and when you guys shot me, since it didn't go the way it was supposed to , all you could think to say, which I thought was haliarious, (after I was "dead" of course, you yelled "Happy Easter" at me while I was laying there...It was all I could do to keep from crackin' up...hahahhahhaha, it was great...we definately had some fun out there...and I do miss it....mostly the guys and gals we both worked with...I really appreciate your reading the article, and it was a pleasure working with you....Oh, do you remember the trantula wasp you put in Greg's locker? hahahahaha, it was great. I hope you and doing great, I have some great pic's up on myspace under Gary Halsey.... I hope to hear from you again, I am writing everywhere....Take care buddy, and again, thanks for the shout out!!! Your friend and fellow actor/stuntguy.....Gary.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.