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Seattle remembering J.P. Patches with memorial celebration at McCaw Hall

BY Jamie Skorheim  on September 6, 2012 @ 10:12 am (Updated: 7:19 am - 9/7/12 )

A public memorial will be held this Saturday for Seattle's legendary clown performer Chris Wedes, also known as J.P. Patches, who passed away July 22.

Northwest personality Pat Cashman, set to play emcee at the event at McCaw Hall, tells The Ross and Burbank Show that Patches Pals shouldn't expect a reserved, somber occasion.

"The guy was all about making people laugh and so to do something lugubrious wouldn't make any sense."

Cashman will be joined on stage by some of Wedes family and friends from the broadcast community, including Northwest TV veteran Stan Boreson, comedian John Keister, and longtime Patches Pal and KIRO host Dori Monson.

Chris Ballew, a band member in Seattle rock group The Presidents of the United States of America, will also be offering a special performance. Ballew, who also performs as child entertainer Caspar Babypants, will be playing an original song for Wedes.

"He has written a special song about Patches," says Cashman. "He feels like he owes a great debt to J.P. Patches because that's kind of what got him thinking about 'I should be a kid's entertainer' and not a rock and roll musician so much anymore."

There will also be a special video message from Bob Newman, who played Wedes' sidekick Gertrude on the long-running television series.

The whole tone of the event will be a celebration, says Cashman.

"We want anybody to come. It is ostensibly free. If you want to donate anything at all, any donations will go to Children's Hospital, which was Chris Wedes and J.P.'s favorite charity."

Recommended donations of $5 will be collected for Children's Hospital at the door. The event begins at 11 a.m. at McCaw Hall. More info can be found at JPPatches.com.

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.
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  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Patches pal forever!
    September 6, 2012 2:26 pm
    !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • C"mon Man wrote...
    No Script
    September 6, 2012 6:46 pm
    Waking up everyday in the late 60's?earky 70's to a bowl of Quisp or Quake cereal, before I hopped on my Schwinn Sting Ray, I would tune into J.P., Gertrude,snerdley the book worm,the I see u too TV,Gorse the friendly Phurple,Miss Smith delivery service,Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor birthday's to where two dudes would fun out of the kitchen with a stretcher with a hole cut in the center with the large silver bowl of ice cream and whipped cream, known as the Woodland Park Zoo,the ol' clock on the wall and the discloser of where birthday presents were stashed, all without a script! Thanks to the late- King Mitchell over at KIRO for a great start to every school day!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }