admin
22 December 2023
I went to the Columbus Pet Expo last month. Most of you probably think this is strange given my legendary allergies to dogs and cats, but there was an attraction there that was just too bizarre to miss (other than the crab races).
Tim Leppard was a nationally-known rodeo clown (yeah, like you guys never heard of him) who had won countless awards for excellence in his field. He was voted "Rodeo Clown of the Year" for eleven straight seasons and was a five-time recipient of the prestigious "Funniest Rodeo Clown Act" award. Regardless of the accolades he received for his brilliant work, Tim was still not happy. He yearned for something more. That's when he decided to give up his rubber nose and floppy shoes, and devote his life to training cowboy monkeys. Thus, The Ghost Riders were born!
The act basically involved dressing up three monkeys in sequined, rhinestone cowboy outfits, complete with little fringes and black leather chaps. Tim's dedication and rigorous training routine has enabled these little simians to learn the time-tested art of horseback riding. Their steeds were Tim's three, well-trained sheep herding dogs, who graciously wear little saddles so the monkeys don't have to ride bareback. The show began as a small herd of horned sheep scampered out of their unlocked holding pen and proceeded to run amuck. Who could bring the sheep back under control before it was too late? The Ghost Riders flew out onto the field to the tune of The Monkees theme song, quickly rounding up the errant sheep and returning them safely to their pen.
Graciously, Tim agreed to sign autographs after the show. My friends and I scurried over to the signing table immediately after the three minute show reached its end. Much to our disappointment, we were greeted by Tim's personal assistant, so we asked how long until he would arrive. She turned to us and solemnly delivered a phrase that I thought I would never hear someone say with a straight face: "Oh, he'll be out as soon as he's done undressing the monkeys."
It was the best $6 I ever spent.
Tim Leppard was a nationally-known rodeo clown (yeah, like you guys never heard of him) who had won countless awards for excellence in his field. He was voted "Rodeo Clown of the Year" for eleven straight seasons and was a five-time recipient of the prestigious "Funniest Rodeo Clown Act" award. Regardless of the accolades he received for his brilliant work, Tim was still not happy. He yearned for something more. That's when he decided to give up his rubber nose and floppy shoes, and devote his life to training cowboy monkeys. Thus, The Ghost Riders were born!
The act basically involved dressing up three monkeys in sequined, rhinestone cowboy outfits, complete with little fringes and black leather chaps. Tim's dedication and rigorous training routine has enabled these little simians to learn the time-tested art of horseback riding. Their steeds were Tim's three, well-trained sheep herding dogs, who graciously wear little saddles so the monkeys don't have to ride bareback. The show began as a small herd of horned sheep scampered out of their unlocked holding pen and proceeded to run amuck. Who could bring the sheep back under control before it was too late? The Ghost Riders flew out onto the field to the tune of The Monkees theme song, quickly rounding up the errant sheep and returning them safely to their pen.
Graciously, Tim agreed to sign autographs after the show. My friends and I scurried over to the signing table immediately after the three minute show reached its end. Much to our disappointment, we were greeted by Tim's personal assistant, so we asked how long until he would arrive. She turned to us and solemnly delivered a phrase that I thought I would never hear someone say with a straight face: "Oh, he'll be out as soon as he's done undressing the monkeys."
It was the best $6 I ever spent.
artid
357
Old Image
3_7_cowboy.swf
issue
vol 3 - issue 07 (mar 2001)
section
stories