I just got off the phone with Rex "Count De Boxcar" Young. We had a wonderful conversation about Rex's career and have plans to meet up in a few weeks when I head up his way for some dates in Milwaukee.
Some of the things that I learned...
Otto Griebling is again singled out as being the best of the best.
Otto and Freddie Freeman would have disagreements and not speak to each other for weeks, all the time doing their Boxing Gag together two or three times a day!
Poodles Hanneford and Joe Jackson were the best of friends.
Poodles would not accept a dime from Rex for working the car act with him. Rex eventually got Poodles to agree to being paid a box of cigars a week.
While in Berlin famous bicycle clown Joe Jackson gave his Hinderburg tickets to fellow comedian Ben Dover. Dover narrowly escaped dying in the crash by leaping to the ground and breaking both ankles. For the rest of his life Joe was deeply beholden to Ben for saving his life as there is no way that Joe would have been able to save himself from the horrible disaster that way.
Interesting stuff and I look forward to sitting down and meeting Rex face to face and getting his memories down on video.
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