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

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