A Senior's Citizen

A few years back there was a national television program called the "Pig and Whistle."  It was filmed on a set built to resemble an English pub.  

The series featured traditional British music-hall entertainment and attracted famous guests as Vera Lynn and Max Bygraves. Other ex-patriots such as comedian Billy Meek and "Pearly Queen" Anita Scot were regulars on that show. 

Billy sang and told stories. The program had a large following of people that came from the British Isles and it turned out to be the longest running show in that style on Canadian television.

As I said, Billy Meek's act was a regular feature. What was humorous about his presentation was that the jokes and stories were all told in his thick Scottish accent.  This is understandable as Billy grew up in Edinburgh.  He was from the old "sod."

 As he used to say to his audiences,  "You can tell I've been in Canada a long time as I finally lost my accent."  That line always brought on a chuckle because his speech was as thick as molasses in that almost indiscernible Scottish manner of speech.

Later on, I got a chance to back Billy at a lot of nursing homes.   He would be dressed in some sort of Scottish attire and I would also look the part and back him up on accordian. He would tell stories and I would get the people to participate in sing-a-long favourites. Along with his comedic talents Billy was also a very good banjo player.

Audiences always enjoyed him whenever we performed. They loved him and remembered him from his days on that program.  His jokes were even funnier because of his speech. If I had told the same joke it wouldn't have gotten anywhere near the response. There is something to be said about rolling those thick Scottish r's.

We did a lot of these senior's establishments and they were always enjoyable largely because of Billy's warm out-going personality. He was a congenial individual and a very talented entertainer. He loved people and the people loved him.

As he was getting on in age and had turned 80 his memory was starting to wane.   He would turn around during one of his jokes and whisper to me "What's the punch line?"   He couldn't remember it and I wasn't always able to help him out.  I may not have been paying attention or maybe I didn't even know the joke.

As we did more and more of these engagements I decided to take up the slack and learn a few stories of my own so that I could spell him off.  He just didn't have the energy any more. This is how I got to learn a lot of material that senior's liked to hear.

I was his best audience and would enjoy the jokes just as much as the people did, even though I had heard them many times before.  Here's one that is pure "Billy Meek."

Two elderly gentlemen were watching a parade.  They had been viewing the procession for over a half an hour when the older of the two said he was getting tired and was thinking of going home. 

"Don't go my friend.  The best is yet to come. The ending is the best part of the parade." Then he added excitedly, "At the end there is a naked woman riding a white horse."

"Well, that's different," said his buddy. "I guess maybe I will stay.  I haven't seen a white horse in a long time." 

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