December, 2006
Back in December 2004 we traveled to Wyoming, where we encountered the Hotel Higgins Ghost. This year we returned for:
A Ghost Story Continued
The Show: Murder In Buffalo Chip
The Location: The Higgins Hotel, Glenrock, WY
The Audience: Short Powerline Services
Bearskin
The last time we were at the Higgins we photographed Heidi on a bearskin rug in the lobby. Apparently that rug was recently sold to a couple of guests who wouldn't leave without it.
Heidi, however, found one skin left at the Higgins, and here she is beside it.
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Parade!
Just before our show started, the town of Glenrock put on a Christmas Parade. The lighted tractors were great.
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Waiting For The Parade
We had one of the rooms at the front of the hotel, overlooking Birch Street. So we turned off the lights - always a good idea in a haunted hotel - and waited for the festivities to start.
Here is the Buffalo Chip gunfighter, played by Matt Launsby.
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Woman Of Slim Buttes, former white captive..
Played by Nadine Keaney.
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Mary Kate Mcleod, Postmistress in Buffalo Chip...
Played by Star Edgington.
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... and Kit Chance, the Rancher's Daughter
Played by Heidi Link.
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Ghost!
While the rest of us waited in the darkened room, Star walked out into the hallway. A few moments later she called out to us with soft desperation.
We found her like this, backed up against the wall and staring at a bible. She'd just seen one of its pages turn over by itself.
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I do believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks...
Needless to say, Star was a little freaked.
(I'm proud to report that, even though the ghost appeared outside my room, I wasn't the least bit afraid. I went to bed that night with neither qualm nor reservation...
...except, of course, for the holstered .45 I hung over the bedpost.)
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But The Show Must Go On...
We left the ghost and trouped downstairs to entertain the employees of Short Powerline Service and their families in the Paisley Shawl dining room. We - and they - had a great time.
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Cultural Exchange
Following the show, a real city girl in pj's and crocs meets real cowboys in Stetsons and Tony Lamas.
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Tired
After a 5-hour drive and closing a show, Doris is ready to hit the hay - and no ghost will bother her this night, if it knows what's good for it.
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The Show: Slaybells Ring
The Location: Riverside Baptist Church, Denver, CO
A Scrim Curtain...
... creates performance space in the gym.
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Green
The audience was enthusiastic right from the start. (Ethan Eager, in green hair, plays Rudi Pine.)
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So what am I? Chopped Liver?
Douglas looks for attention.
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You stay away from loose women like her!
Grandma Ivy has some advice for her son Donner.
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Ivy may have her wiles, but Holly sure knows how to cook.
Douglas faces a difficult choice.
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I had a good wife, Mama, but you drove her away!
Donner has issues with his mother.
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Grandma, why do you have to pick on Daddy like that?
Joy defends her father.
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Grandma, you're sucking the happiness out of Christmas!
Rudi steps in
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He's mine!
I saw him first!
Ladies, please...
The eternal love triangle leads to...
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Fire!
At last - we've caught in pixels the very moment when grandma gets electrocuted, with flame from the spark still coiling above our Christmas tree.
In the early days we used things like flash powder and 110 volts to create this effect. Now we've simplified it to flash cotton and 3 volts.
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Variations On A Theme
We did quite a few performances of Slaybells Ring this year, so we saw quite a few versions of the characters.
Donner Chestnut, John Deere Salesman
Ken Markus, Travis Wade, and Mike Stevens
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Douglas Firr, Retired Postman
Gene Johnson and Jermaine Butler
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Joy Pine, California Girl, and Grandma Ivy, Family Matriarch
(Clockwise from upper left:) Brandie Shroyer, Sue Breeze, Heidi Link, and JaNae Stansbery
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Aunt Holly, the Nice One
(Clockwise from top center:) Kat Brundage, Kathi Stehlik, Chris McDonald, and Kimberly Sudol.
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Aunt Holly, the Nice One
Liz Anderson
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Miscellaneous Scenes
Sarah...
... stole Donner's tutu on the train.
... and proceded to steal the show.
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Merry Christmas!
... from the staff of Royal Gorge Railroad...
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... And Happy New Year...
... from the servers in the dining car.
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Moonlight...
...shines through the Royal Gorge bridges.
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Snow!
Snow is a gift, and Colorado was blessed with lots of it in December. Here the RGRR tunnels through a night made glorious by the white stuff.
So from all of us at Red Herring:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!
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