Posts Tagged With: Levity

A “Thomas Jones” Carol

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Dave Taylor

With the holidays almost here, it’s time for another installment of Boothie Christmas caroling where we revise a classic Christmas Carol into a Lincoln assassination themed Boothie Carol. Today’s song is a revised version of, “Silver Bells”. I hope you all enjoy it in the humorous manner in which it is intended.

“Thomas Jones”

As sung to, “Silver Bells”

Easter morning, without warning,
Sam Cox comes down my street.
In the air there’s a feeling of danger.
I start going, without knowing
Why his dad wants to meet,
But I get to Rich Hill and I hear:

Thomas Jones, (Thomas Jones)
Thomas Jones, (Thomas Jones)
I’ve hidden Booth in the thicket
Lend a hand (Lend a hand).
Help this man (Help this man).
Make sure he gets river bound.

When I find him, Herold’s with him,
So I say to them both,
“We must wait for the troopers to leave here.”
He wants papers. I say, “Later.”
Then I give him my oath
No amount could cause me to betray

John Wilkes Booth, (John Wilkes Booth)
John Wilkes Booth, (John Wilkes Booth)
It’s not quite time to go boating.
Hunker down (Hunker down).
Don’t be found (Don’t be found).
Soon it will be rowing day!

Previous years’ Boothie Carols can be read here:
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Play” / It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
“We Bruti” / We, Three Kings of Orient Are
“Wilkes Booth the Head Conspirator” / Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
“Lewis Powell is Coming For You” / Santa Claus is Coming to Town
“Little Doctor Mudd” / Little Drummer Boy
“Boothie Wonderland” / Winter Wonderland

Categories: History, Levity | Tags: Carols, David Herold, John Wilkes Booth, Levity, Pine Thicket, Rich Hill, Samuel Cox, Thomas Jones | 7 Comments

The Boston Corbett Supper Club

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Dave Taylor

I stumbled across this oddity on eBay tonight. It is a menu from a restaurant called the Boston Corbett Supper Club.

The menu features a drawing of the avenger of Lincoln on the front and, on the inside, a few of the menu items are named after the famous sergeant from the 16th NY Cavalry. Corbett’s honorary dishes include a salad called the Boston Corbett Special containing a variety of cut vegetables, perhaps alluding to Corbett’s expertise with sharp blades. The Boston Corbett Quiche is “baked in a delicate crust” not unlike Corbett’s delicate mind. And under the heading of “Boston Corbett Favorites” is what must be the sergeant’s signature dish, Chicken Corbett, which is “broiled to a golden brown” not unlike John Wilkes Booth in the Garrett barn.

The rear of the menu contains a short biography of Boston Corbett’s life.

Noticeably missing from this brief biography is any mention of Corbett’s paranoia induced nervous breakdown in 1887 in which he made threats and waved a gun at representatives in the Kansas state house. For this mania he was committed to an asylum before managing to escape into oblivion.

After a little searching, I found that the Boston Corbett Supper Club had been located in Concordia, Kansas. Starting in 1878, Boston Corbett resided just north of Concordia in a dugout structure built into a hill. I drove out to Corbett’s dugout home, visiting other sites along the way, last summer. You can see my images and videos from that trip here.

The Boston Corbett Supper Club was used as a venue for wedding rehearsal dinners and receptions in the Concordia area and even supported Concordia’s annual 4th of July fireworks display. Unfortunately, a supper club based around the brave avenger of Lincoln who was also a partially crazed eunuch couldn’t make ends meet and so “Providence directed” it to close in the early 1990’s.

Though we missed out on our chance to dine at the Boston Corbett Supper Club, its menu has me thinking about opening my own Lincoln assassination restaurant in the future. For possible dishes I’ve thought of: Our American Couscous, Sic Semper Tilapia, Seward Skewers, George’s Beer-Battered Yellow Croaker, Physician’s Pie a la Mudd, and John Wilkes Bologna Sandwich.

Let me know your ideas for menu items in the comments below.

Categories: History, Levity | Tags: Boston Corbett, John Wilkes Booth, Levity | 10 Comments

Boothie Wonderland

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Dave Taylor

With the holidays upon us, it’s time once again for our annual tradition of revising a classic Christmas Carol into a Lincoln assassination themed Boothie Carol. This year’s song is a remixed version of the classic, “Winter Wonderland”. I hope you all enjoy it in the humorous manner in which it is intended.

Boothie Wonderland

As sung to, “Winter Wonderland”

A gun shot rings, are you listenin’?
In the lane, an assassin’s blitzin’
A terrible sight,
He slips through the night.
Fleeing in a Boothie Wonderland.

Far away, is his young guide,
“Old King Lincoln, has now died.”
They reflect on his deeds,
While exhausting their steeds.
Fleeing in a Boothie Wonderland.

At Surratt House they can get some whiskey,
From a man who’s had too much, himself.

Then they’ll find a doc who’ll fix him for free,
And later say he was dressed like an elf.

Later on, they’ll get tired,
As they wait, without a fire.
They’ll be dirty and bleak,
Waiting almost a week,
To go Boating in a Boothie Wonderland.

In Port Conway, they will meet three draftees,
Of the cause that Booth hoped to revive.
They lead them to the Garretts’ who were quite pleased,
To aid Booth, a wounded soldier in disguise.

But they’re found, ain’t it thrillin’?
With smoke and fire, the barn is fillin’.
The guide will bail out,
His master will pout.
Shot in a Boothie Wonderland

Categories: Levity | Tags: Carols, Levity | 6 Comments

What’s Missing? Episode 2

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Dave Taylor

Once again it’s time to test your Boothie knowledge, resourcefulness, and observational skills with a game called, What’s Missing?

Below you will find 20 images all related in some way to the Lincoln assassination story. Most of them have previously appeared on this website, either in the Picture Galleries or in one of the many posts. Your job is to look at the images carefully to see if you can determine “What’s Missing?” from the image. You can click on each image to enlarge it a bit and get a better look. When you’re stumped, or ready to check your answer, click on the “Answer” button below each image. Good luck!

What’s Missing A:

What’s Missing B:

What’s Missing C:

What’s Missing D:

What’s Missing E:

What’s Missing F:

What’s Missing G:

What’s Missing H:

What’s Missing I:

What’s Missing J:

What’s Missing K:

What’s Missing L:

What’s Missing M:

What’s Missing N:

What’s Missing O:

What’s Missing P:

What’s Missing Q:

What’s Missing R:

What’s Missing S:

What’s Missing T:

So how did you do? Let us know in the comments section below.

Categories: Levity | Tags: Booth Family, Boston Corbett, cleydael, Dr. Samuel Mudd, Edman Spangler, Escape, Ford's Theatre, George Atzerodt, john Surratt, John Wilkes Booth, Levity, Lewis Powell, Michael O'Laughlen, Our American Cousin, Rich Hill, Seward | 9 Comments

John Wilkes Booth Crossword Puzzle

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Dave Taylor

In April of 1980, Americana magazine published an article about Richard and Kellie Gutman. The pair had just completed their groundbreaking study on all of the known photographs of John Wilkes Booth. Their final product was the volume John Wilkes Booth Himself. The article highlighted the Gutmans’ six year search for Booth photographs in collections around the nation and also discussed some of the Gutmans’ own personal Booth treasures. Coincidentally, one item that formerly belonged to the Gutmans was an over-sized autograph of John Wilkes Booth to his brother Junius, which sold at auction for $14,000 ($17,500 after the 25% buyer’s premium) on January 24th.

The article was well written and helped bring awareness of “Boothophiles” (as the article termed them), like the Gutmans, to a wider audience. Even back then, Richard Gutman expertly explained what it meant to be a Boothophile/Boothie/BoothBuff stating:

“We’re not apologists for Booth. The enormity of his deed precludes that. But we are fascinated by Booth as a romantic, enigmatic character – by how a talented actor became unhinged enough to assassinate Lincoln.”

If you have a couple minutes to spare, I would highly recommend reading the three page article about the Gutmans which can be found here.

Due to the inclusion of the Booth article, the man in charge of creating the crossword puzzle for that issue of Americana decided to make the puzzle John Wilkes Booth themed. While not every clue is related to John Wilkes Booth, I thought it might be entertaining to post the crossword puzzle here for you all to print out and try on your own. Consider it another bit of levity and a nice rainy day Boothie activity like the coloring page I posted awhile back.

John Wilkes Booth Crossword Puzzle - Americana Magazine - April 1980

Click the puzzle to download (.pdf) or print

Have fun and let me know how you do!

P.S. How times have changed. At the end of the Gutman article was the following box of information:

While the Surratt Society still puts on their excellent John Wilkes Booth Escape Route Tours (BERTs), the price has gone up in the 35 years since this article was published. The price is now $80 for Surratt Society members and $85 for non-members. Also, I would have loved to have been around to pick up multiple copies of John Wilkes Booth Himself for the original price of $18.50. Nowadays, the asking price for this book is about $300 and up. It just goes to show you, forget buying stocks and bonds, the best long term investments are in Booths!

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: John Wilkes Booth, Levity | 3 Comments

A Victorian Christmas at the Dr. Mudd House Museum

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Dave Taylor

For one weekend every December, the Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House Museum in Waldorf, MD reopens out of season in order to present, “A Victorian Christmas”. A devoted team of volunteers work hard to elegantly festoon the house and grounds with Christmas decor. During the event, costumed docents fill each room of the house eager to discuss not only Dr. Mudd and his involvement with John Wilkes Booth, but also the Christmas customs and traditions of years past. The event is highlighted with Civil War reenactors, music, and a visit from Santa Claus.

Though I have been living in Maryland for three Christmases now, this year marked the first time I was able to attend this special event. The following are some of the pictures I took of my visit today.

Sadly, St. Nick was not present during my time at the house otherwise I would have been sure to photograph him. I did, however, use the festive opportunity to purchase a much needed item from the museum’s gift shop: a Dr. Mudd House ornament.

As you can see, the ornament looks great on my Christmas tree hanging right next to my ornaments of John Wilkes Booth and the Surratt House Museum.

For those of you who live in the area, “A Victorian Christmas” will also take place at the Dr. Mudd House Museum tomorrow, December 7, 2014 from 11 am to 8 pm. Admission is $8. If you can’t make it this year, be sure to keep an eye out for this annual event next December.

Since the Mudd house has effectively put me in the holiday mood, it seems fitting to close this post with another one of my Boothie Christmas carols. This revised rendition is entitled “Little Doctor Mudd” and it is sung to the tune of “Little Drummer Boy”. Enjoy!

Little Doctor Mudd
As sung to, “Little Drummer Boy”

“Come”, Dave told me,
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
“An injured John to see.”
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
“My horse, it fell on me,”
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
“As I was trying to flee.”
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd, Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd, Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd.
On my couch went he,
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
Down with a thud.

“We must make do.”
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
“This splint will see you through.”
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
“The troops will soon pursue.”
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
“I dare not harbor you.”
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd, Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd, Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
“We are joined, we two, Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd”
“In cold blood.”

When they left here,
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
Our story we made clear.
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
Our lies and truths cohere.
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
I knew we’d persevere.
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd, Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd, Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd

But, I had one fear.
Mudd Mudd-Mudd-Mudd Mudd
“Here’s a boot.”
“Crud!”

(You can read some of my previous Boothie carols by clicking here, here, here, and here.)

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Christmas, Dr. Samuel Mudd, Levity, Museums | 8 Comments

Lesson Learned

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Dave Taylor

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Levity, Mudd | 3 Comments

Lewis Powell is Coming For You

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Dave Taylor

Leading up to the holidays last year I posted three Christmas carols that I had rewritten to be Lincoln assassination themed. You can read them here, here, and here. Tonight, as many children are going to sleep and dreaming of a man in a red suit who will soon enter their house, I present one more carol about a different, less jolly man who entered a house on April 14th, 1865.

Lewis Powell is Coming For You
As sung to, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”

You better watch out.
You better not cry.
You better not pout.
I’m telling you why.
Lewis Powell is coming for you.

He’s made up his rounds,
He’s checked up on you.
He’s found all about,
Your injury, Sew.
Lewis Powell is coming for you.

He’ll wait ‘til you are sleeping.
He’ll say he has some meds.
He’ll follow Bell right up your stairs,
Then bash Fred in the head.

You better watch out.
You better not cry.
You better not pout.
I’m telling you why.
Lewis Powell is coming for you.

Then Lew will draw a dagger,
He’ll slash and hit your brace.
So you’ll survive another day,
With a scar upon your face.

So, you better watch out.
You better not cry.
You better not pout.
I’m telling you why.
Lewis Powell is coming for you!

On a serious note, thank you for your continual support and friendship. I hope all of your Christmases are merry and bright and that you have a blessed holiday season.

Sincerely,

Dave Taylor
BoothieBarn.com

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Carols, Levity | 7 Comments

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Posts Tagged With: Levity

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