WHEN SEAFAIR IS OVER ARE YOU STILL A ROVER?

What do you pirates do when the Seafair is over? Do you hibernate and den in like a bear during the winter? Don't YOU pirates go anywhere else besides Seattle?

We are often asked questions like this by visitors to Seattle, and let them know hat we are an active organization; ready, willing and able to contribute our effects by participation in local or faraway places at any time in response to a written invitation via addressing such a request to: Seattle Seafair Pirates P.O. Box 30674, Greenwood Station, Seattle, WA. 98103.

There's a little more to it than that, before we get suited up in costume, and box up our musical instruments. We must know the occasion, the sponsor, time, place, and number of pirates desired. Do the sponsors agree to meet any of the expenses to accommodate this venture? What pact of the outlay is the sponsor able to compensate in regard to food, lodging or transportation? Does the sponsor wish the appearance of the pirate float? All of these requests of information are taken up before the club at a regular meeting, and voted upon before any pirates are so released into the field. Local visits to charity drives, rest homes, hospitals and the like, are all done at our own expense. Many times, a dignitary or celebrity will arrive unannounced, and all such requests for pirates to represent the city as Ambassadors of Good Will, are taken with a phone call to our President, who gets the show on the road in a much quicker manner than clearing up the Alaska Oil Spill. That's right now!

Originally, Seafair was a summer festival as far as the pirates and clowns were concerned. Since that time, however, we began taking on invitations to local and community events the year round. Birthday parties, conventions and other requests for our antics didn't always fall during the Seattle Seafair Season, and we soon found ourselves in such places as THE PORTLAND ROSE FESTIVAL, THE P.& E. IN VANCOUVER, CANADA, SPOKANE LILAC FESTIVAL, YAKIMA SUNFAIR, PORT TOWNSEND, VASHON ISLAND, IDAHO BEAR FESTIVAL, and every local town that had something cooking from ISSAQUAH, EVERETT'S SALTY SEA DAYS, BOTHELL, ARLINGTON, DARRINGTON, KIRKLAND, KENT, RENTON, they've all got parades and promotion going, and we're right in the middle of it all, doing a job for Greater Seattle.

Twenty years ago, Bob Staunton took his 'Something Cool" show from Seattle's Opera House to an Asiatic Tow of Okinawa & Japan. Bobby Smyth was a member of the cast. By 1970, Bob Staunton got the Seafair Pirates as participants in the New Orleans Mardi Gras. We sent our nine ton float, (Moby Duck) down there and back at six bits a mile. We had to have a crab feed and dance (at two bucks a ticket) to cover the expense.

Butch Hulit made arrangements to transport 20 pirates to the Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean in 1983.

In late October the Cayman Islands is a lively place to be. It's their famous national festival, CAYMAN ISLANDS PIRATE WEEK. Christopher Columbus claimed these Islands for Spain in 1503, while the Seafair Pirates claimed anything they could lay their hands end Quite a historical background, these beautiful islands, with army deserters, pirates, whose ships commanded by such raiders as Blackboard and Henry Morgan.

Today, The Caymans is a haven for scuba diving, with clear water visibility in living color at depths over 150 feet! It's a Port of call for cruise line ships, and during Pirate's Week, there is dancing in the streets, music with a beat, delicious seafood, a duty free Port, real made on the spot arts and crafts.

We are pleased that an exchange program has been worked out with these gracious people in the Caymans, that they can come to Seattle during our Seafair, ride the Moby Duck, and take part in the fun.

Houston business woman, Eileen Wagner made arrangements for the Seafair Pirates to participate in the Galveston Mardi Gras in February, 1987. We were hosted at the Flagship Hotel, in rooms with a view. Breakfast at the San Luis Hotel where the pirates dove into rising banks of food, all first cabin, and displayed in such a manner, it was a pleasure to try and break it down! All this, washed down with iced champagne. Talk about your southern hospitality. A contingent of the Cayman Island Pirates were also on hand for the festivities, During the Mardi Gras parade that evening, Prince Lightning, the Jamaican fire spitter, cleared the path for us with his lippy blowtorch, as parade watchers; crowded into the streets of old Galveston. He also dances on nail boards and broken glass. You'd never know he was a mild mannered gentleman by the unlikely name of C. Bryan.

During the DIVE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (DEMA) in January of '87, the Cayman Island representatives invited the Seafair Pirates to Las Vegas, and few retired musicians in our group made their way down there (and back) in Ellard Bartlett's (Bart) motor home. Mike Lockwood from the Caymans was there with over twenty booths from the Cayman Islands, serving up Rum Punch to all visitors. There were some 3,000 people there, representing Dive Ships & Equipment from all over the world. We were the minstrels in pirate costume, making the rounds of the convention hall. Likewise, the Cayman Island people were all suited up in their pirate regalia. We slept in Bart's motor home, and never took off our pirate outfits all the time we were in Vegas, save for taking a shower and sleeping.

Admiral Jeff Hughes of Beaumont, Texas, is in charge of Hughes Productions, and we met him through Eileen Wagner during the Mardi Gras. Jeff filmed the Air Show at Boeing Field hem in 1988, and does shows for the INTERNATIONAL OUTDOORSMAN. He has over 40 films on Discovery Channel, which airs around the world. Jeff has hosted the Seafair Pirates, "Texas Style", at the Holiday Inn Beaumont Plaza, and at his Ascot Circle home, from Barbecue to Swimming Pool".

Jeff Hughes has the Seafair Pirates on film in Grand Cayman Island, which aired several times this year. In October of '87 a group of Seattle Pirates teamed up with the Texas Pirates and a Navy Band to welcome the Elissa, a beautiful square rigged sailing ship. Launched in 1877, in Aberdeen, Scotland. The Galveston Historical Foundation kicked off a two year appeal for a "Tall Ship for Texas" to complete the restoration.

Texas and Seattle Seafair Pirates made the rounds of schools in the Beaumont area, and entertained the kids, passing out gold and silver colored "doubloons" bearing a likeness of the Elissa. It was also Beaumont's sesquicentennial, 1837-1987. The kids took the "doubloons" home to their parents, who in turn, came down to the dock to pay for a tour of the Elissa, which is given loving and spirited care to keep her 202 feel of history in shape, that others might enjoy. Elissa is manned by all volunteers, save the Elissa master, who is licensed to command a vessel of this stature. Restoration exceeded more than four and half million dollars, and a gargantuan effort on the part of craftsmen and supporters. As the Seafair Pirates strolled her decks, we pondered about the condition of our own Wawona docked in Lake Union, and how she lay heaving at dockside for want of money and attention.

January, 1988 it was DEMA time, and a gathering of the Diving people in New Orleans. One Cayman Island connection forwarded four complimentary plane tickets to the affair and we're off again! We renewed our acquaintance with Mike Lockwood of the Cayman Island Pirates, (Mike was our Davy Jones during me of his visits to Seattle) George Norwak, otherwise the Barefoot Man, who is headliner at the Holiday Inn in Grand Cayman, a composer, commuter and leader of his own band. We wore place cards around our necks indicating a catch phrase, CAYMAN ISLAND SCUBADORES. Since our friends in the Cayman Islands wore paying the freight, and taking cue of our hotel expense, we represented the Cayman Island booth in New Orleans.

When they come to Seattle on an "exchange" program we often feel like poor relatives, as we can only come up with a pardon of the expense. But they understand this, as we get no monetary assistance from Greater Seattle, and our funds are limited. When Jeff Hughes was filming in Seattle last year, the locals wouldn't even talk to him! It's a lot like the fate of the Wawona, the local yokels in town don’t seem to grasp the significance of a promotion.

On April, 1988, Jeff Hughes Productions sent complimentary airline tickets to four Seafair Pirates. Buckwheat paid his own freight and we were off to Houston. From there, Jeff put is up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where we made the rounds of many schools, promoting an anti-drug campaign. We were joined by Blackbeard and his wife, (from the Carolinas) an orator in his own right, and a eager anti-drug campaigner. (Blackbeard was our guest last Seafair, his real name is Ben Cherry.) Jeff also put up few Caymanians, and we all worked together with the Texas Pirates, making the rounds of the schools. Transportation was furnished to the schools, Lisa Perry of the Convention and Visitors Bureau was our driver, and a Deputy Sheriff led the way! Our stay in Southwest Louisiana was enchanted by the participation in their parade. This is Contraband Days, and we had made a large flag with their logo. It's a pirate peering through a ship's telescope.

We also had an artist in the Seafair Pirates make up a pair of pants with all visitors wearing their jolly alligator on the forefront. A soft shelled crab painted, crawling out of the back pocket. The Buccaneers in Lake Charles are a very colorful group, and were extremely hospitable to the Seafair and Texas Pirates. They do the parade a little different than we do in Seattle. Everybody rides on a float, throws trinkets to the crowd as they do in New Orleans. None of the Pirates worked the bystanders or the kids on the parade route. We did, and felt more comfortable doing so, even though we were offered a place on the floats. All the Buccaneers have elaborate costumes, and their wives/and girlfriends have the same identical costume. If you're not color blind, it has its advantages. After the ball is over, you can usually find your Partner.

When we got to the school buildings, we usually did our entertaining in the lunchroom or gym. Other schools, we split the group up and did our bit in the classrooms, one on one. We thank Jeff Hughes Productions for all his gratefulness, and the warmhearted people of Louisiana for allowing the Seafair Pirates to enter their domain. October, 1988 an invite to Houston, Texas from Eileen Wagner to attend Lincoln Mercury's WORLD OF WOMEN SHOW at the Cayman Island Tourist and Convention Center in Houston, but the World of Women Exhibits showed us quite clearly why over 30% of the businesses in the United States are run and operated by women. There was a stage in the exhibitor's hall, where we put on a show with the Texas Pirates. We also met Bob Dorsey's mother there, (he is a fellow pirate with a business at the Sports Plaza in Everett, and couldn't get away.) They put the Seafair Pirates up at the Gallerinas Hotel, where we met a Seattle woman who noticed our Seattle Seafair decorated pants It was Mrs, Frazer, whose daughter went to Kennedy High with my granddaughters. Just goes to show you what can happen when Seafair Pirates get out of state. Seven Pirates went to the Cayman Islands from Houston to take part in their Pirate Weak. Tom Chase and yours truly wrapped it up and flew back to Seattle. Did I tell you that Eileen entertained the pirate crew at her summer place on Treasure Island before we left? Yes, the Seafair Pirates have a come a long way since that first gathering at the old Press Club 40 years ago.

In conclusion, it is hoped this magazine will be informative to the extent that the reader and public at large will know us better, and give us their approval and support.

To become a pirate, an aspirant is introduced at a business meeting as a candidate by his sponsor, who must be a member of the Society. The period of introduction of candidates is from the close of Seafair in August until Dec. 31st. A candidate is on probation for one year from his date of introduction. His experience must include participation in Seafair. Among other qualifications, be must be 21, of good character, an outgoing personality, and healthy enough to stand the rigors of being a Seafair Pirate.

He must attend meetings, but has no voting status, and is obligated to actively participate in the frequent public appearances. During his yearly candidacy he is observed and evaluated quarterly as to his conduct and ability in the role he plays in pirate costume.

He can be summarily dismissed for inactivity, unbecoming conduct, violation of the law or Pirate Code, and showing no potential as an asset to the organization. On his first anniversary as a full member, he must receive a majority favorable vote. Otherwise, he is dismissed and has no further connection with the organization.

Although it is impossible to please everyone, and some people are opinionated and biased, our actions are always intended to be colorful, amusing and entertaining to the young and old alike. What is considered a nuisance by one Person, will be joyous pleasure to another. But again, you can’t win 'em all. That's life in a pirate costume. After 40 years, we must have done something right, we're still boosters for Seattle, and we intend to increase the respect and admiration for us from all the children and people, who in the final analysis, are the only reason for being a Seafair Pirate.

Since 2% of the land of Seattle is downtown, we may miss you. Look for us in the other 98%.


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