So let's dance, take a chance, understand me

In honor of Juneteenth, and vamping on Steve's running series of unsung heroes, let's see a show of hands of how many folks remember The Gong Show?

Excellent! Then you must remember Gene, Gene The Dancing Machine from that show.

What you probably didn't know is that Eugene Patton was in real life a stage hand. And not just any stage hand, Gene was the very first African-American member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 33, (International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees, Hollywood!)

Performers are known for the trite but true saying 'the show must go on.' But what is rarely acknowledged is that no show goes on if the crew doesn't go on ... on time, on stage, in the studio and on the road, it's the crew that makes it happen.

So let's hear a big round of applause for Gene and all the other unsung heroes behind the scenes. (But especially for Gene!)

They don't make the magic, they make the magic happen.

Thank you, goodnight!