My first clue that this was not going to be a great ride home was when the driver left us at the show to go somewhere without letting us know.
Although I didn’t see her, some people said that he brought a woman back with him. But I do know this...while the rest of the corps partied and eventually went to sleep, I sat up in the front outside right seat to make sure this guy stayed awake and to remind him that the road was on the left and the woods were on the right.
He and I were doing okay, until he asked me if I could get him some vodka. I think I told him that mine was all gone and that the rest of the corps didn’t drink!
1.Take four “roomies” at the Circle Motel in Riverhead, LI cooking outside of the motel on a charcoal grill (camp weekend 1972).
2.Add one Pete Franceschina taking a bath when all four of us had one hour to shower, dress, and make it back for rehearsal.
3.Add one can of sauerkraut to Pete’s bathwater by Fred.
4.When Pete stands up in the tub, you get a small wiener with sauerkraut
George Knoebel brought a CO2 powered pellet gun with him and during a break he went into the woods to shoot at whatever. When he emerged, Bob King, the equipment truck driver was standing nearby, and George pointed the gun at him. Bob said, “Point that gun at me again and I’ll kick the crap out of you.” (Or words to that effect).
Well, George pointed it at him, right between the eyes and the gun went “Pfft” and nothing happened. There were some choice words exchanged between them and nothing else happened. However, a few minutes later, Pete Franceschina was carrying the gun around and pointed it at me. He shot from about 15 feet or so and hit me below my right rib cage. Bob King was lucky and I was luck, I had a jacket on and about 20 pounds of fat.
If Pete reads this, he’ll probably remember me pointing the gun at him, at Lake George the following winter!
John Kelley, 1969, 1972-1982: Sop, Mello, Bari, French Horn, Cymbal, Bass, Asst Director
