This brings back the memories. I just asked last night if anyone remembered the name of this theatre. The group was 50 to 65 years old. All I got was blank stares.
My most entertaining experience was in the early 1970’s, when I was a young Phoenix Police Officer. The Playhouse was in my beat this night and Rocky was playing. Not Stallone. These events always brought out the strangoids. The crowd was gathering awaiting entry when I was dispatched on a person threatening suicide. As I role into the Rear (West side facing 7th Street) the crowd of about 200 was gathered screaming “Jump, Jump, Jump in a rhythmic manner. I get out of my police car and follow the eyes and and see and young overweight man in this huge tree. He was dressed in black, wearing black makeup with a noosed rope around his neck. He was about 15 in the air and I had parked my car right under him. Knowing that I would get in serious trouble if my car was damaged I asked him to wait until I moved my car. He was ablating I moved it. AS I got out he screamed over the crowd that the "PIG” was not going to stop him and they began their chant again. I told radio to send an ambulance and my boss. Now I have to tell you this rope was about 2 inches in diameter and tied in a really cool looking noose. Before I could utter another word he jumped and with a loud thud he hit the ground. The crowd cheered and went wild. It seems he should have climbed higher because he brought a 25 foot rope. I walked up to him and he turned to me and said “Am I dead”. I said nope you just broke your legs. The ambulance arrive and took him away. The crowned went wild as the theatre opened and they all went inside. What a way to start the evening.
This brings back the memories. I just asked last night if anyone remembered the name of this theatre. The group was 50 to 65 years old. All I got was blank stares. My most entertaining experience was in the early 1970’s, when I was a young Phoenix Police Officer. The Playhouse was in my beat this night and Rocky was playing. Not Stallone. These events always brought out the strangoids. The crowd was gathering awaiting entry when I was dispatched on a person threatening suicide. As I role into the Rear (West side facing 7th Street) the crowd of about 200 was gathered screaming “Jump, Jump, Jump in a rhythmic manner. I get out of my police car and follow the eyes and and see and young overweight man in this huge tree. He was dressed in black, wearing black makeup with a noosed rope around his neck. He was about 15 in the air and I had parked my car right under him. Knowing that I would get in serious trouble if my car was damaged I asked him to wait until I moved my car. He was ablating I moved it. AS I got out he screamed over the crowd that the "PIG” was not going to stop him and they began their chant again. I told radio to send an ambulance and my boss. Now I have to tell you this rope was about 2 inches in diameter and tied in a really cool looking noose. Before I could utter another word he jumped and with a loud thud he hit the ground. The crowd cheered and went wild. It seems he should have climbed higher because he brought a 25 foot rope. I walked up to him and he turned to me and said “Am I dead”. I said nope you just broke your legs. The ambulance arrive and took him away. The crowned went wild as the theatre opened and they all went inside. What a way to start the evening.