Rennie Memory Mime

[grnvixen]

Try saying that very fast 5 times :).

Last weeks memory mime got me thinking. I'm on LJ mostly because of my KCRF friends, and a lot of those memories involved faire sooooo, with the help of the handy 25 anniversary booklet that Carol K. did for faire, I am starting a KCRF memory mime, year-by-year. About once a week or so I will lj some information about a year at faire. I will try and do this in chronological order. Cut for length....

If you have any particulr memories of that year, as a performer or a patron, please post them. I'll start off with the first 3 years:

1977: ran for 3 weekends, Oct 8-23, this was the year of the Plaza flood and it rained every weekend. Official attendance: 7,500. King & Queen; Joe Kanter and Joicie Appel. 3 Lions, Mermaid and Downs listed as major projects.

1978: 4 weekends, Oct 7 - 29. 34,000 attendance. K&Q; Michael Bradshaw & Margaret Jacobs as King Arthur & Queen Guenevere. Gypsey wagon, bridges and improved drainage listed a major project. SCA's first year.

1979: 5 weekends, Sep 22 - Oct 21. 70,000 attendance. Queen; Patricia Williams. Enlarged front gate, Crown & Rose stage listed as major projects.

My memories:
1977: missed this one, heard about it too late and it was over, which meant I kept an eye out for it the next year.

1978: couldn't find anyone else to go with me so I went by myself, probably on one of the last 2 weekends as I remember the leaves were already changing. Not very many large shops so there was a lot of foliage to change L). No Wizard's Tower area, or Chapel area. Do not get me started on the costumes. Found the SCA and left my name but never heard anything back. Clearest memory is how reluctant I was to leave and how slowly I strolled back toward the gate.

1979: I was back on the first weekend and hauled some friends with me (including Charles). We were on the phone that week and working on the front gate by the second weekend, in the lanes full-time by the end of the run. I know only a Queen is listed in the memory book but I seem to remember a King strolling around too. This was back when the court/Royalty pretty much just strolled around by themselves, no guards etc. All the upper-class costumes seemed to have come from KC Costume. I don't remember if Steve Short was the ED yet or not. SCA there again, left my name and heard back from the local seneschal, started playing locally that winter.

Comments

[angelbedwell.livejournal.com]

What an excellent gift! I look forward to reading this. Mind if I put these in my memories?

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Nope :).

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful contribution. Thank you!

[rougewench.livejournal.com]

I know you realize that some of the years in that book are a mite mixed up. They didn't always get things in the right year, particularly the photos.

1979 was the first year I went as a patron. My friend titaniumdiva called me up and said her family was going to the Renaissance Festival, and did I want to go with them. She said she was going to dress up and that I should too. She wore, as I remember, a grey or periwinkle long dress (kind of like you'd see from Gunnysacks) with white lace on it. I wore a 3 tiered pesant skirt that was a dark green pattern, a cream colored peasant blouse (which was polyester double knit)...both pieces of clothing were just in my closet and of course made by my mother. I finished the outfit with brown leather boots which had side zippers...and 2 inch block heels. I always pity those women who choose to wear heels out there, as I know exactly how painful it is to do so.

As you remember, the site was very small then...no upper A area...the gate down in the trees, no Chapel area on the hill...you know, I don't even remember if there was a jousting field that year.

What I do remember was running into Little Mark, who I knew from Rocky Horror down at the Bijou, who was doing a very sweet little mime game on the bridge behind the Mermaid, and John Ludke, who I knew from Junior High/High School, who was there juggling. I bought a garland to match my outfit. I thought it was very, very cool. My feet hurt a lot.


D.

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know the book is occasionally confused :). I'm happy we have it though, so much of that information has gotten lost.

Sounds like you were dressed better than some of the participants :). I think I was originally in something mediveal (now I would call it a yorkist gown w/ a henin) but was developing the idea for the wench look.

And I believe The Downs was there, but there was no jousting. I seem to remember various local horsey groups doing shows, jumping, tilting at the rings, etc.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Oh, jaysus...ok...lemme go pull that book and I'll play along.

But it'll take me a bit. I'm trying to be good and stick to my goals of computer time that I just set yesterday! I'll add my two cents tonight...

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

And yes, Steve Short was ED in '79.

I'm not sure about '78 since I was only out two weekend that year doing scenes from "Much Ado About Nothing" with my friend John Horner. And yes, that was my first year out there.

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Then if I count the year I was a patron, we've been doing it about the same length of time :).

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and I just noticed that on the flyleaf of the back cover, all the folks who've been there forever are listed ...and got everybody but me; I'm left out. Jeez. Guess that shouldn't bother me, but it does.

[socialdragnfly.livejournal.com]

1980 I showed up as a kid with my grandmother to KCRF. She and I wandered all over the festival. Got my Face Painted and many more things. I remember I got a wooden duck on a rope puppet. If it was not for her and that duck I would have never meet you.

Sincerely,
Lauren

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Rein in those memories just a bit, 1980 will be in the next post :).

repeat after me: "antici.................."

[socialdragnfly.livejournal.com]

*giggle*

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

followed rougewench over here though you would enjoy my 1980's fest photos (http://pics.livejournal.com/starstraf/gallery/0000xpg8)

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I especially like the ones of T'ger since he has been wearing his hair short the last several years :).

[socialdragnfly.livejournal.com]

He's so cute there

1979 memories

[cepblionhearth.livejournal.com]

I believe John Williams was King that year, & Joycie Apelle was Queen. I counted tickets that first weekend, & hawked shows the following Sat. Joycie approached me about being cast as the younger prince, as a foil to the elder prince ( who played at being drunk all the time), I accepted-- & we princes were dubbed sot & fop! Grnvixen, thanks for introducing me to fair, & for my 1st costume.