Ralphie's Dad Drives Away with the Pivot/Lipton Questionnaire

Posted by Billy Christopher Maupin


Theatre IV's stage production of the motion picture classic, A Christmas Story, opens on November 30. Featured in this incredibly exciting production is "Old Man," Ralphie's dad, portrayed by Gordon Bass, recently seen as the Wizard in Theatre IV's The Wizard of Oz. "Ralphie's Dad" has shared with me his answers to the James Lipton questionnaire that he asks all of his guests on Inside the Actor's Studio.

So here goes:

1. What is your favorite word?
Simoniz
It's a brand of car wax. I just love polishing the hood of my car.

2. What is your least favorite word?
Clinker, like the clinkers that get hung in the furnace in the basement and I have to go down and extricate them.

3. What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
A new furnace.

4. What turns you off?
Bumpuse Hounds...the neighbor's dogs. They attack me everytime I come to the house. And they only attack me. They don't bother anyone else.

5. What sound or noise do you love?
The smooth purr of an Oldsmobile engine.

6. What sound or noise do you hate?
The Bumpuse Hounds.

7. What is your favorite curse word?
Cushlamochree

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Race car driver, I think.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
Dogcatcher

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

"Cushlamochree!"

Come check out Ralphie's Dad and all your favorite characters in Theatre IV's live stage production of A Christmas Story playing November 30 - December 23 at the historic Empire Theatre!

Munchkins in Oz

As Wizard and the Professor, I have a lot of time in between those characters to hang with the kids and their parents in the Little Theatre. I believe the reason we have such wonderful children auditioning for our Richmond, Va shows is a direct reflection of the great fun that is the Fairy Tale Ball. Where else can kids and parents go, each dressing up in their favorite outfit, and having the most enjoyable family evening in town! The bond that happens between kids is something that will last a lifetime.

I grew up in southwestern Virginia and had the great pleasure to go to Barter Theatre in Abingdon in the third grade to see Our Town. That experience set me on the road to the lifestyle that has sustained me all these years. I think the Fairy Tale Ball will have a similar effect on the kids that attend.

Ruby Red Robbery

I warn you this is a first hand account, and it may be disturbing to some readers.

"During the last run of The Wizard of Oz in 1999, we had very large slippers made of Styrofoam, all decked out in red glitter and mounted and wired up on the top of the marquee. One morning, I arrived at the theatre to find that one of the shoes was missing! I could not believe that anyone would have the intestinal fortitude to pull off the theft of the symbol of one of the most popular movies of all times. I called the police and after some careful investigative work, they followed the glitter trail up the sidewalk and up to an apartment above the street. There, they found the pieces of the shoe and after talking to the college age occupants of the apartment, found the rest of the ruby slipper in the dumpster out back. We were able to piece it back together and back up it went. We could not have bought all the press that the theft got us! Something good out of something bad..."

Gordon Bass
Tour Manager

Theatre IV

For info on the hoodlum(s) who took the REAL slippers from the movie check out these sites:
Tragedy Strikes Ruby Slippers
NPR: The Case of the Missing Ruby Slippers