History Of Captain Kidds

1989. Our 40th year and the 100 year anniversary of the State of Washington. I thought that those two things made this a significant milepost in the history of the Seattle Seafair Pirates. As it turned out, most people didn’t consider either of the two significant, or a mile post. But that is hindsight.

At the time I wanted Seafair 1989 to be one of the most memorable and enjoyable years ever in the history of this band of playful buccaneers. It was. Well, at least for me. I know every Captain feels the same.

During the course of my year as Captain Kidd we had many, many wonderful and exciting times - starting off with the Pirates Landing at Alki Beach. On that day before the landing we finally, actually did what the Pirates had been threatening to do (in song) for several years. We “....(Music notes)...Took Smith Tower and filled it up with rum, with rum, with rum, with rum, with rum, with rum, Yo Ho Yo Ho,Yo Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho...(Music notes)...” Ivar Haglund would have been proud. We erected our 30’ by 50’ flag at the very tip top of the Tower, sang the song and there it flew, for all of Seattle to see, for the duration of Seafair. ‘Tis a bit of Pirate history. Whilst I may sound like this was some clever roguish act, I had actually secured permission from Smith Tower management and we were assisted by the head maintenance man and custodian for the Tower.

There were so many ‘’fun’ things . Like when we stole the chrome bell off of the Seafair Clowns fire engine. It was war in reprisal for something that they has done to us. Anyway, they were mad about it and came down to our hotel the next day to retrieve it. In plain clothes yet. Have you ever seen a MADD!! Clown?

Another memorable time we had just completed participating in the Salty Sea Days Parade in Everett, WA. We stopped at the American Legion Post to entertain (?) and visit with the people there. As we were about to leave a fellow in civilian clothes approached me and invited us to come down and visit the new U. S. Navy base on the Everett waterfront where a navy ship, a destroyer if I remember, was berthed. I thought the guy was bluffing so I told him, “OK, Let’s see if you can get us all in our 16th century costumes with the “Moby Duck,” aboard the base.” He used his rank, whatever it was, to get us through the main gate and onto the naval property. He directed us to within 100 yards of where the ship was moored and said we needed to stop there. About this time the sailors began to crowd the deck gawking at this antique, us. I thought that this would be the ideal time to fire the cannons in salute. I couldn’t believe it! Within seconds we were surrounded by armed uniformed U.S. Marine guards and U. S. Navy Shore Patrol Officers and they didn’t think the incident at all funny until I convinced them that we were not firing upon the ship but that it was only a salute to the Navy. BLANKS! Just a salute. The sailors aboard the ship thought it was a hoot and we were invited aboard, met the skipper and crew and had a fine time. I believe the fellow who brought us there was an officer in the Navy and was severely reprimanded. In parting, I told the officer in charge of security that we were all loyal Americans and that we were on “the same side.” He smiled and said,”Yes, but don’t ever do anything like this again.”

“I’ll never know where they came from so suddenly. It was just a salute.”

Ah well, so goes a year on the beach. The sand was God and the vacation too long (gave me time to get good and sick). I suppose there is some solace in knowing you're mortal after all.

The beat goes on and no one person is bigger nor more important than the Seattle Seafair Pirates. Good luck, good wind, and keep on keepin' on.

My most exciting experience as a pirate has to be the time I was asked to be Captain when we were invited to Kobe, Japan in 1993.

Kobe is the sister city to Seattle. It was an honor and privilege to have the pirates represent Seafair. — We departed SeaTac and headed for Japan landing at Osaka International Friday morning. At the airport we were greeted by the dignitaries and representatives of the Kobe parade and were rushed through customs with all our muskets, swords and guns, we were put in limos and off we went to Kobe. At Kobe we were met by the Mayor and City Council and given keys to the city. We were interviewed by the Kobe press and were informed by the Mayor that we were to be guests of Kobe City Council for a dinner in our honor.

The ten of us pirates were taken to our hotel rooms - we all had individual rooms. Then we were taken out sight-seeing until it was time for dinner.

Dinner was at the Kobe Embassy Suites, we were put on an elevator and taken to the top floor to a formal dining room, and seated on the floor. We were given grand food, we had no idea what we were eating - it looked like raw fish, noodles and something boiled and we ate it.

There is an old custom in Japan and it goes something like this - when in Japan a guest can’t fill his own sake glass and you have to fill the glass for the person across the table from when he fills yours. Lucky for me, the person across the table from me was the Deputy Mayor, and it was his goal to drink me under the table, which was a mistake for him. Half way through the dinner and about 10 bottles of sake later, the Deputy Mayor decided that he and the City Council would stand up and sing songs, after they stood up and started singing they started dropping like flies.

We got up and sang 3 pirate songs and helped carry out the Deputy Mayor and his Council. The rest of our visit was very pleasurable and we were made to feel very special. The Kobe operation was great. The people were gracious and kind. If you think that the Seafair Pirates stand out here you should have seen us stop traffic in Japan!

My year as Captain Kidd for the Seattle Seafair Pirates was very rewarding to me in several ways.

I originally pined the Seattle Seafair Pirates while I was still employed by the Seattle Police Department as a Patrolman in 1967. I was active in the Pirates for almost two years, then unfortunately had to drop out to raise my family. Several years later, after I retired and moved to Marysville, I had an occasion to go see the local community parade, and lo and behold, there were the Pirates, still chasing the kids and having a good time. There just happened to be a few of the "old timers” there, and with a little prodding and urging, I decided to get out the old costume and give it a try again. The moth's sure had a nice time with the old costume and would you believe it, they had actually shrunk while I had them stored in the attic???

Naturally, I had to replace everything, but what the heck, I had a job to do, and besides, the guy's needed me. So I got back into the swing of things, and became active again, and was having so much fun that I decided to run for “Captain Kidd” in 1992. You can only be the Captain once in your Pirate career, and you serve in that position for a year. You are voted in by the membership, and n is an honor to be selected by your peers.

As Captain, you are the leader of all the costume operations during the year of your reign, and it is your responsibility to "set up" the entire 10 days of Seafair, which is no small task. It's a lot of work, but also, it's a lot of fun.

The part about being Captain I enjoyed the most was the people you meet. From the “knighting ceremony by King Neptune,” to all the other Seafair groups. At times we even get to meet some of the more influential dignitaries, such as movie stars, the Blue Angels, the Seafair "Royalty,” and a host of others. It is a memorable, rewarding time, which all past Captains hold dear, and will never forget Friendships are made, some are renewed, occasionally some of the "old time pirates" will break out their costumes and join us for a parade during Seafair.

Being “Captain Kidd,” is an honor and a privilege, and one that not all pirates will have the chance to enjoy.

My reign as Captain Kidd was a great year that I will never forget. It is a great honor to be elected Captain Kidd of the pirates and of Seattle.

Our landing was heralded by two additional cannons that I purchased with my Captain's budget. The good people at Albertsons Food Stores donated a load of candy and children's toys that we gave out before departing Golden Gardens after the landing. We were literally surrounded by kids getting a personal Pirate Treasure. It was great to give something back to our biggest fans, the kids.

That year we also took KING 5 and Evening Magazine to the Cayman Islands with us. They did a terrific job explaining to our, fans in the Northwest what we do in Grand Cayman every year during Pirates Week. John Stofflet of KING TV did a wonderful job capturing the true friendship that has developed these many years of attending this world renowned festival. Mike Lockwood, Chairman of Pirates Week was one of those special friends. Mike passed away this year but his spirit lives on in his wife Ella, son Ashley and daughter Michele who will visit Seattle this year.

While visiting the real Pirates Caves in Cayman, we put John Stofflet in stocks.(the ones where your head and hands are locked down, not the Microsoft kind) His picture appeared on the front page of the National newspaper the next day. The show was so popular that KlNG TV has aired it ten times! Every new Captain Kidd has a new honor in store for himself and his crew. I especially congratulate the new Captain, for he was my Davy Jones in 1993-94. "One for All, All for One."

In the fall of 1980 Mike Merryfield sponsored me as a candidate for membership in the Seattle Seafair Pirates. After lots hard work and with good fortune, I was later welcomed into the Pirates as a member.

I'm Bob Odman, the Oddsmaker, and ten years after becoming a Pirate, in 1990, it was my very great honor to be elected Davy Jones XXXVIII. — It was unusual for me, as a ten year veteran of the Pirates, to be asked to accept this office. Only four other serving Pirates had ever been elected to the post, Ivan Casey - 1973, Tom Chase - 1976, Bill Johnson - 1980, and the late Weaver Dial in 1989.

Naturally, I had a ball. From the seat high atop the MOBY DUCK you get to have a different perspective on things. As pirates, running down the street, we often take for granted how much fun we're having. Putting on a show for the people is hard work and we just don't have time to stop and enjoy it. But from up on the DUCK I could see the whole crew working the crowd, and I for once, had the leisure to appreciate how wonderful it is to be a pirate.

Four short years later I was riding in MOBY DUCK’s best seat, as Captain Kidd. I had a great year as Captain, & I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to all the Pirates who have helped me organize my Seafair campaign. Not least, I want to thank the crew for turning out. No leader of buccaneers, however great he may think himself, can hope to be a leader without a crew of pirates to follow the red coat. — Thanks again.

Hello to all and welcome to SeaFair 1998. It was a great honor to be chosen Captain Kidd 1995 and to be the recipient of the highest honor the Seafair Pirates can bestow to one or their own.

My story this year is about the pirates trip to Squim, WA, to attend the irrigation festival. (this occurred during my candidate year)

As we were passing through the town of Hadlock, the pirates stopped to entertain at a local watering hole. Imagine my surprise when the local police arrested me and took me to jail. (Now the plot thickens) One pirate joker by the name of Jim Makos, had set this arrest up.

Little did he know that another pirate (unknown), had made sure that pirate Makos would be sharing a jail cell with me. Fortunately, I still had my gadget bag which, among other things, carried a deck of marked and shaved poker cards. While in jail, I took Jimmy for every dime he had. We also enjoyed sipping a beverage through a straw, through the steel bars in our cell. - By the way, it rained really hard that Saturday, but if nothing else, Jimmy was penniless and we were both warm and dry.

1996 My Year with the Pick up Duck. A few hours before my big night, the Torchlight Parade, our flagship Moby Duck broke down. For the first time since 1950 the Seafair Pirates would run the big Seafair parade without the Duck. We felt undressed and uncertain but the people who had braved the long day of rain were happy to see us anyway and everything turned out OK. Unfortunately things were not so OK for the Duck, It remained out of action for much of my watch, not really in service again until the following July, Almost a whole year!

Since I became a pirate I have literally been Green and had My head on a platter. The joy's the feelings were the ultimate .

My year as Captain Kidd, it's a awesome place to be. I know that I had a great year because I had like the Marine Corps. A few good men! Thank you our fans and a special think You to My Brother 's The Seattle Seafair Pirates.

It is a great honor for me to be chosen as 1998-99 Captain Kidd of the Seattle Seafair Pirates. Although not yet 50 years in existence, fate would have it that I am the 50th member to serve in this capacity. I will be following a cast of 49 other colorful characters who have led this group of swashbuckling buccaneers into the hearts of many people throughout the northwest and around the world. With Captaincy comes great responsibility, both to the Seafair Pirates, and to you the public. As Captain Kidd I will endeavor to be equal to the challenge.

This is an historic time in the Seafair Pirates history. Next year will be the clubs golden anniversary and the start of the new millennium. I am poised to assist the Pirates in meeting the publics expectations while retaining history and traditions generated by my predecessors.


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