The Arsons
on the Varsity Show

by Mark Thompson
(Edmonds, Wa )

The Arsons were invited to play on the Varsity show early in our career.

Dave Paxton (Farfisa Organ) and I were just beginning to skateboard. The skateboards in those days were narrow with steel wheels like roller skates and not really very forgiving.

Before the show started, we huddled with the producers and decided to skate onto the set right after our introductions.

The set-up was perfect.

We would cross each other's paths just as we got into camera range.

Unfortunately, we forgot about the cables spread all over the studio floor.

As we prepared to go live and when the 3-2-1 countdown was over we both shoved off and tried to cross each other. But with perfect timing, we both hit the cables. So the show opened with Dave Paxton and Mark Thompson doing headers onto the studio floor.

Quickly, we both jumped up with our best “We meant to do that” looks on our faces.

At that time the show was still being broadcast in black and white. If it had been seen in color, our faces would have been a bright beet red.

I don't remember much of the rest of the story. I do tend to remember the times I embarrassed myself in public pretty well, though.

BONUS

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