Mallory Square, Key West,Fl.

[jeep caillouet]

Your right

Your right in many ways Don, I was working in NOLA in the middle 80's as a clown tying balloons at the entrance to Jackson Square, Chartres and ST. peter St. Michael James was across from me doing the most incredible act standing on the very top of a 8 ft. free standing ladder,juggling! He drew hugh crowds. Looking around I started noticing this guy(Tom Morrison) always hanging out sitting on his motorcycle. He'd get a call on his walke talke and leave then come back later. He was a messenger/delivery boy. By the way Michel is the only person that I ever saw do that stunt,most just cross over the top rung. Next thing you know Tom's got a set of juggling balls, then clubs, then a ladder. Tom practiced 10 12 14 hrs. a day for years trying to master that routine. And he became very good at it as well! I saw him do, this. Mark Riggs came along in the mid 90's. He saw me playing music in front of the A and P. and said to me "you mean anybody can do THIS" He then hooked up with Tom because Tom practiced all day every day. Mark learned HIS show and delivery as well. Next thing you know balls,clubs, unicycle ,and ladder it's showtime. Mark later came to Mallory because he new I worked in the Winter. Michael James use to work Mallory in the late 80's early90's. Will Soto Would put Michael down by the Wall, where the key house was when You, Gazzo, Mark and Casy got in to it, before the key house's time. Man this was the weeds, and you where just lucky if anybody came pass Dominic and his cats. You might could do a show for15 to 25 people. There are other great acts that could tell the story of working in the weeds at Mallory. Most of these great acts don't come to Mallory anymore! Now that we have a new and improved Mallory Square we have a plaza area ,as you know. Mark was the first act that worked the plaza that could draw nearly every person off the pier and pack the plaza. We all waited for Mark to finish because he had the whole crowd.Because of the seniority thing new comers now get the best spots in the plaza, we have to fill the pier first, which are smaller spots. Most of us old timers like the pier best ,because we get the best sun set crowd. Mark is one of the most talented performers to work Mallory. and nearly every performer that watched him learned something from him. Heck Alex did his routine word for word for awhile. But then, I remember a time when You, Michael Patrick, and Rondini all 3 did the same upside down escape act from a tri pod. Damn that must have been a good joint, I've rattled on here for an hour. I think I'll go have another beer. Come see us some time. Did you ever sell that tri pod?Toodleloo

[RINGON]

Gotta tell ya, Jeep. That's not quite the way it was, hmmmm. Mark, learned alot from many of the acts out there. Anyone can change. I wish Mark all the best.

[jeep caillouet]

Mark Riggs was reinstated to work at Mallory Square yesterday by the board. He was the first super act that worked in the Plaza here. That is he was the first act that could attract the entire square for his shows. His one night hats was bigger than a lot of the other performers weekly hats. Nearly every performer that worked Mallory Square has learned some thing from him, and or uses his lines or his show format. Some people just used his show for there's. He was busted for drugs a few years back and the board at that time kicked him off the pier. He is clean now and done all his legal stuff and probations. This current board determined he was wrongfully terminated and he was reinstated. This story and it's spin off stories will be around for a while. In other words the shits gett'en deep in Key West! From a lot of us welcome back Mark.