Having Fun with New Pirates

We call new pirates candidates. They are required to do many things to obtain membership. They must learn songs (hopefully on key), they must give an enormous amount of time and energy putting together their individual costume, obtaining a sword and learning the rules of safety.

They are also temperament tested by having to serve the membership. And, every once in a while, they must be the object of a good natured, but embarrassing task. This is the story of three candidates and how they were had by the Seafair Pirates.

Gary Vance was a noted radio personality in Seattle. Somehow he was talked into becoming Davy Jones in 1982. He then decided to enter the candidate process of becoming a member the next year. Did he get the respect someone of his stature deserves? You be the judge! His task was simple - carry a 35 pound rock in all the parades! Some of these parades are six miles long! But Gary carried that boulder in every parade, thus gaining the respect of the crew and proving he had what it took to be a Seafair Pirate. He later became Captain Kidd in 1989. Later a member painted the famous rock with all of Gary's accomplishments as a Seafair Pirate and he treasures that rock to this day. It can be found in his office - proudly displayed.

This is the story of the Cannon Boy who forgot the cannon fodder. Gary Endicott was given a simple task in his candidate year of 1991. Load the cannon on the Moby Duck for all parades and make sure to have all the necessities. One of the things needed is toilet paper, as well as black powder and a ramming rod. Well, Gary forgot the paperwork, so to speak. So his penalty - wear a roll of toilet paper around his neck. There's only one problem - pirates kept giving him more rolls of paper to wear. Soon he had several rolls around his neck! One thing for sure, he never forgot the paper again. And the members didn't forget him when his membership came to vote.

Every candidate needs a good gimmick to entertain the public. I thought I would help Ben Cortez by bringing him a stuffed chicken for the Woodinville parade. Poor Ben forgot the chicken on Moby Duck. It was retrieved by a member who suggested I think of a just reward for Ben. Well, you know how much pirates love parrots? Instead of a parrot this Seafair, Ben will be wearing that chicken on his shoulder. He will learn funny things to say about his chickie and probably have a cute nickname too. So if you see a pirate talking to a chicken on his shoulder, be kind, He's becoming a Seafair Pirate.


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