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Interviewer:
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Where were you born Michael?
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Michael:
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I was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I am the eldest of three sons.
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Interviewer:
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Where did you first perform?
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Michael:
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I think it was in Grade six. I was in a play where I played an old janitor. I remember falling down a lot and getting lots of laughs. My teachers told me that I should become a clown.
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Interviewer:
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Were you influenced at all by television as a child?
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Michael:
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Yes, indeed. I was fascinated by Patrick Watson's TV show, "Witness to Yesterday" and also, James Whitmore's portrayal of "Will Rogers", a one man play.
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Interviewer:
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When did you first perform as Charlie Chaplin?
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Michael:
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It was at The Hamilton Public Library in 1973.
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Interviewer:
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When did you first go on tour?
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Michael:
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I toured Ontario as a teenager with the Golden Seniors Band, under the direction of the late Harold Stevens. He was a truly talented and gifted mentor who played the saxophone and was an expert in vaudeville routines.
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Interviewer:
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When did the Press first become interested in you?
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Michael:
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When I performed as Charlie Chaplin at the Wentworth Lodge in Dundas Ontario. The article, "Charlie Wows Seniors", was in The Hamilton Spectator in 1975.
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Interviewer:
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When did you first appear in a parade?
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Michael:
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I was in the Hamilton Santa Claus Parade in 1976 as Hamilton's Charlie Chaplin.
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Interviewer:
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You did a stint on radio at one time. When was that?
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Michael:
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I had a daily music show from 1977 to 1980 on station CFMU at McMaster University in Hamilton where I played "Professor Herbert Shaver"
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Interviewer:
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Have you ever written a play?
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Michael:
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Yes, I wrote and played in "The Life and Times of Joseph F. Kenney" at McMaster University in 1977.
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Interviewer:
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You perform a lot in theme parks, do you remember your first?
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Michael:
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Yes, that would be Canada's Wonderland in 1985.
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Interviewer:
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Have you ever done commercials for TV?
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Michael:
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Yes, I believed my first was one called "On The Bus", for Winnipeg Transit, using the Charlie Chaplin character. It was aired in 1987 on local television.
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Interviewer:
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Do you perform at busker festivals, and if so, when was the first?
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Michael:
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Yes, very often. My first busker festival was at the Halifax Busker Festival in 1988.
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Interviewer:
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Do you perform outside of Canada? When was your first booking overseas?
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Michael:
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Yes, quite often. My first performance, outside Canada was at Expo '90 in Osaka, Japan.
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Interviewer:
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Have you ever done a music video?
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Michael:
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Yes, I played the role of a music director for the Rhinos in 1995.
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Interviewer:
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What made you decide to create the "Living Statue" characters?
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Michael:
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The idea came to me when I was on tour in New Zealand in 1996. I decided on the Sir John A. Macdonald character first, because he was Canada's first Prime Minister and "Father of Confederation". I wanted to promote Canadian history, culture, and heritage in a respectfully humorous way.
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Interviewer:
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Do you have a favourite mime performer?
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Michael:
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No not really. I think all of the clowns from the Silent Movies were wonderful.
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Interviewer:
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Do you have a favourite Movie?
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Michael:
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Yes. The one that stands out in my mind is "Children of Paradise", from 1946. I guess there are many others. This is a tough question.
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Interviewer:
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Who is your favourite author?
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Michael:
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Ernest Hemingway.
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Interviewer:
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What is your favourite novel?
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Michael:
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The Old Man and The Sea.
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Interviewer:
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Do you have a favourite life quote?
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Michael:
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Yes. It's from the diary of Jim Elliot. "He is no fool, to give what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose".
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Interviewer:
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What is your favourite artistic quote?
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Michael:
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Shakespeare: "All the World's A Stage"
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