MM: Well put! Your late Father is a "Legend". Many children of "Legends" such as yourself, tell me that this presents an enormous challenge in carving out an individual identity. How have you accomplished this?
___
GB: My Dad left some very big foot prints. My Mom was--and is---a hard "old school" business show person in her own right. She was a professional dancer and a professional night club singer. My Mom was the one that was my teacher of show business do's and don'ts. And when it comes to show business my family took it very seriously and did not pull any punches if they did not like something and were asked an opinion. They would tell you the truth. Some in magic have told me that my dad was better and what I do doesn't come close to what he did and what he could do, as an entertainer.
___
MM: Isn't that a bit harsh, if not abusive for someone to say?
___
GB: Well, perhaps. But then there are some that say I turned out just like my Dad. About 8 years ago I asked my Mom if I was a good as my Father and she said I was better. Because my show and ability was just as entertaining and as she put it. She said I was a better business man than my Dad was. Let me tell you...That was quite a moment!
___
MM: What a wonderful moment!
___
GB: Oh yeah, it was. I have also had magicians and other hard old school show people like Jack Pyle, Jim Ryan, Jay Marshall, Ben Tallman, Stan Kramien, Marshall Brodien, Roy Brown, Bev Bergeron, Frank Everheart, Don Alan, Terry Vecky - magicians and show business people that have said some very nice things about my magic and my ability to entertain an audience. Bev Bergeron was Rebo the Magic Clown on Mark Wilson's Magical land Of Alakazam on CBS. Marshall Brodien and Roy Brown were Wizo the Magic Clown and Cookie the Clown for the WGN Bozo TV Show. Don Alan was the star of the ABC Don Alan's Magic Ranch.
___
MM: Hmmm? You know something? I recognize a few of those names. Don't ask me why. But Jay Marshall, Jack Pyle and of course Mark Wilson are familiar.
___
GB: You bet! These people were hard "old school" show people and when they would stop and take time with me it was quite an honor. And not one of them pulled any punches when it came to telling me what they thought of my magic and my ability to entertain an audience. So when they said something positive about my work in front of my dad, I knew that I must be doing something right!
___
MM: Very inspiring, Glenn! I've asked this question once to our mutual friend Andy Martello (previously interviewed here) and I wanted to ask you as well. How do you strike a balance between being in such a demanding career and having a stable homelife? What a balancing act! No pun intended either!!
___
GB: (laughing) None taken! Well it is hard to do because show business often has long lay off times and it is often a life of feast or famine. So at the busy times when there is work you have odd hours and sometimes 14 to 20 hour days. I have driven five hours to a location to do a one hour hypnosis show. Five hours there and five hours home is ten hours driving time in a car to do a one hour show. Things like that. Then there are times when you have no shows and you have to pound the pavement to get more work. And because you have no shows and with a family, often you don't have the budget to really go after it the way you want to. How my wife and I handle it? Who knows? I guess God looks after fools and drunks. And since I do not drink that often I must fit into the fool category.
___
MM: Ha! I'm laughing because Andy Martello expressed similar gratitude and amazement at his own wife's ability to understand the overall nature of the business. Remarkable ladies! Well, the floor is yours, Glenn. What would you like to share as we close our visit?
___
GB: Orson Wells once said if he were to do it all over again he would want to spend less time chasing money to fund the projects. He said something like he wasted so much of his life chasing the money to fund his movies and not enough time doing the projects. He said 80% chasing money and 20% making movies was no way to spend a life. I wish that I could make enough money so I would not have to worry about my income and worry if I have enough to pay the bills. Because when that day finally arrives I can do more shows to help people. My goal is to be able to do more benefits and use my magic and my stage show and any name value (If I have any name value that is) that I have to do more shows to help others in need. Right now my life is about my family responsibilities. At this time my Family and my kids needs come first!
___
As I close this interview I would like to say thank you to Michael Manning for letting me talk this way. I think Michael Manning is tops and his ideas for TV programming are great and there is a real need for more good guys like Michael Manning in this cold dark show business world.
_____
That means a great deal, Glenn. Thank you.
_____
I would also like to thank Andy Martello for being such a great friend and a great guy in getting Michael Manning and I together through his fun and cool blog Andy Land. As I have said before Andy Martello is one of the best acts trouping today. The world would be a better place if it had more people like Andy who's humor and fun and talent I admire greatly. I don't know what others say what making it in show business really is but I have to be realistic about that. To me the secret of making it in show business is to KEEP making it in show business. My thoughts drift now to the Frank Sinatra song "My Way". "Regrets? I've had a few. But then again too few to mention". When the end comes I may not have lived my life "My Way" but as with all the show business people I have been lucky to meet in my life time - I may not be a success and I may not get rich - but in the end my life will be a great story. And in show business you're never finished and never washed up as long as you have a great story and someone or an audience to tell it to! Or as the magician in me might say - never washed up as long as you have your magic act and a new audience to perform magic and illusions for. And my kids continue to give the gift of magic as our small magical family circle continues to the next generation! Thank you!
_____
CLOSING NOTE FROM MICHAEL:
_____
Well, my friends there you have it. GLENN BISHOP! I'm heartened by this great guy. He's the "Real Deal" in a world that often discourages us by being cold, apathetic and unapologetic without manners. I am certain each of you, like myself, have faced this unpleasantness wherever you live and work and play. Thank God Glenn Bishop is clearly not part of this negativity; he is a "beacon of light". Andy Martello is quite the joker about mentioning him here so often. But Andy was gracious enough to send me an e-mail the other night where he mentioned that Glenn Bishop is sincerely "missed" in the Chicago market! Remember, that this is the market where Comics and Actors like David Schwimmer (from "FRIENDS" fame) have left Hollywood after a television series has completed its run and they hunger to go back to work in "The Windy City". In a market as brutally competitive as Chicago, Glenn is obviously highly respected. Glenn reminds me of Orson Welles' acceptance speech to the AFI (see my September 15th Blog) where he stated: "There are a few of us left in this conglomerated world of ours who still trudge stubbornly along the lonely, rocky road and this is, in fact, our contrariety. We don't move nearly as fast as our cousins on the freeway. We don't even get as much accomplished, just as the family-sized farm can't possibly raise as many crops or get as much profit as the agricultural factory of today. What we do come up with has no special right to call itself better. It's just different. No, if there's any excuse for us at all, it's that we're simply following the old American tradition of the maverick. And we are a vanishing breed. Glenn Bishop and Andy Martello are both "Mavericks"! If you want to read a truly different and refreshingly optimistic Blogsite for a change of pace, I'd recommend that you stop by and say hello to Glenn Bishop. He is awesome! And that goes without saying that if you learn of a "Live" performance of Glenn Bishop on tour, do NOT miss him! I am very proud that Glenn accepted my invitation to be my Guest. My Thanks to Glenn Bishop and to all of you who loyally come here for "THE INTERVIEW". Goodnight! And see you here soon!!
####
_____
Special Message from Michael: Due to the untimely death of CBS TV & Radio News Anchor Christopher Glenn yesterday, the posting of "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" at 12:01 AM Thursday will feature a film in memory of Christopher. Christopher Glenn was my role model in broadcasting for 16 years.
____________
14 Comments:
hey Michael! how you doing, mann???
OK, way too much of ME in this one.
Much better, thank you.
lol
Its interesting to hear about his life and how showbiz is not an easy life or one long party.
Karma: lol! I am fine and hope to write to you from a new city in mere days.
Andy: Au contraire!
hellbunny: You're right. Many young people overlook the difficult sacrifices that are required of people in TV, Radio, Stage, Screen and Music. JUst two days ago I read about an Actress (who shall remain unnamed here) who has become a diva in an ugly sense. A psychologist was asked to opine. He said that because she achieved her goals too early and never had to endure the frustrations associated with earning her success, she was prone to acting-out, where by comparison, seasoned performers in the biz like Glenn have used these experiences positively to keep a level head about themselves. The most respected people in the performing arts are those who have stuck out adversity and retained their humility. That's why I call Glenn a "Class Act". lol!!
Another great interview Michael.
You may remember that my niece and her husband are both in show (music) business and it's feast or famine. It may sound exotic that Russ just got back for Japan yesterday and will be jetting off to Germany tomorrow and Christine just got back from Brazil, but it's exhausting and they don't see each other as often as they'd like.
WhAAAT? You may be blogging from a new city in the very near future? Come clean, Michael - what's the story?!
Also, I'm sorry to hear of the passing of Christopher Glenn. It's never easy losing someone whom you have looked up to.
Hugs!
knitti-me: I should add that I never met or knew Christopher Glenn. He was for me every bit the important figure Walter Cronkite was. During our AFTRA strike of the 1980's I remember Chris went in front of the camera because all the talent was on the picket lines! His voice was just as Katie Couric described. He was magic. So while there is no emotional connection, as a fellow colleague I do mourn his passing. It's like how many more can we lose before the world looses all meaning. But that's just my thoughts. Frustrated and discouraged at the direction TV and Radio has taken and needless to say what passes for talent. Christopher Glenn was the best damn reporter on Radio. ews.
My move? Yes. Been blogging about it for ages. The only thing that has been more drawn out was the merger between Pan Am and Carnival Airlines! I'm not kidding when I say I am in a hotel awaiting the green light to launch ala Orson Welles! lol!!
I am very sad on the passing of Christopher Glenn. I remember his "In The News" that I used to watch on Saturday Mornings. He had a great speaking voice that he truly mesmerized the viewing audience. And he did not waist words and was sharp and to the point. Not a moment wasted and what was presented was crystal clear. The world has lost another friend and he will be missed.
I wanted to stop by and say thank you to Michael Manning for such a great interview. He has no idea how his positive approach to people and his positive attitude has inspired me in his blog. A really great guy and I wish him success with his move and his goals.
Also thanks to Andy Martello who is a great talent and a great friend over the years.
There is an old saying in show business about the people that make it and paying their dues. I think what Michael said above is a classic story about people that do make it in show business - with less experience and - less talent than others.
Then there are others that have paid their dues and have made it. It is easy to tell with these people because they paid their dues - they have more "staying power."
It is very interesting what knitti-me said about the travel. It sounds great but after a while the "getting there where the work is" can be the hardest part of show business.
And life on the road is rough and it is hard not to be sucked in by negative temptations that can happen on the road and can develop into life long or life ending bad habits.
I was lucky to have great parents that led the "life on the road" way of life before me. And waked this road of show business many times before I did.
Thanks to all for the kind words and I hope we have the chance to meet one day.
I hope to see you down the road!
Glenn: My sincere pleasure and I'm sure we will one day have that cup of coffee! I am a real believer that we artists MUST stick together. I realize others may disagree. But if one of us get's our break, we can lend an outsretched hand to another. See you soon Glenn and Thanks!
This was a great and inspirational interview, especially for the young. I hope your young readers can learn something form the old timers.
Andy, is great! My granddaughter is thrilled with him, and everytime she she's a penguin, she thinks it belongs to Uncle Andy. :)
Yayyyyyyyyyyy Andy Martello!
*whistles through teeth*
Nice to see you, Michael. Great job!
Ma: I laughed with Andy about your tale of trying to rent an apartment near the grandbabies! We were LOAO!!!! Glad you have such a great sense of humor!!!
Lisa: Always great to hear from you! I hope Andy never gets braces!
great interview Michael, thanks for sharing it with us
xx
shona
Shona: I hope you have made a new friend with Glenn as you have with me! Always a sincere pleasure whenever you stop by! lol! And see you soon!!
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home