Young Bud's Photo Gallery

Some people have been skeptical that I actually began dancing at the age of four years, as I claim.
Thanks to my Mother's foresight, here is photographic proof.
 
I don't remember exactly when I began to perform with a partner, but here I am with my first, Cheryl Crutchfield.
Our Instructors were George and Polly Ellison, to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for this experience.
After George and Polly divorced, Polly stayed in Middle Georgia where she is now a well-known Ballroom Instructor, Paula East.


(left) Taken at the Macon, GA. YWCA 6-17-1952, making me four years old. I wouldn't turn five until November.


 
(center) Taken in Warner Robins, GA. on 6-16-1952. The day before the 1st picture.

(right) Taken several years later, location unknown, on 6-24-1956. Age 8 years
 
No dates or locations listed on these pictures, but they appear to be from the same era, about 1952.
Looks like I am hamming it up for the camera.
 
By the time I was six, I was an Announcer on the first UHF Television Stations in Middle Georgia.
(WNEX-TV, Channel 47).
By six years old, I was reading on a 3rd Grade level, but viewers could not believe I was actually reading those Cue-Cards.  I was so small they thought I could not be over 4 years old.
(About 1953)
 

Me with two aspiring ballerina's.
I don't remember the name of the girl on the left.
Genie McMillen is to the right.

Unfortunately, Cheryl's Father had to move due to a Promotion on his job, so I lost my partner.
None of the other girls my age had been dancing as long as I had and were not as experienced, so I was forced to partner with an "older" woman.
My new partner was Pat Jerrard who was 2 years older and about 4 inches taller.  The fact that I was very small for my age made it even worse.

There are no dates on these pictures but I appear to still be about 8 years old.
The Finale of our routine called for me to carry my partner off stage, piggy-back.  Unfortunately, Pat not only was taller than I was, she also outweighed me.
Rather than appear awkward, with this little boy staggering under the weight of this bigger girl, our Instructor decided to reverse the roles, with her carrying me.
We never dreamed that our Exit would become the show-stopper it did. 
The audience Loved it.

 
Later, at my parents insistence, I also became involved in Modern Jazz, Ballroom Dance, and even Ballet, performing several times with the Macon Ballet Guild under the tutelage of Madame Gladys Laskey, where I had onstage parts in "The Nutcracker", "Swan Lake", and "Copellia" 

 

With all this experience, before I was 10 years old, is it any wonder I grew up with a love of Dance and the Stage?
I believe this played a large part in both my career as a Dance Instructor and as a Stage Magician.
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